College Algebra Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Statement on State-Authorized Courses at Amarillo College

For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

Course

MATH-1314-DC011 College Algebra

Prerequisites

Prerequisite:Scores on a state-approved test indicating college-level math skills Corequisite: MATH 0314

Course Description

In-depth study and applications of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions, and systems of equations using matrices. Additional topics such as sequences, series, probability and conics may be included.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

Hours

(3 sem hrs 3 lec )

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

College Algebra, 11th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Pearson

MyMathLab Access Code required, textbook optional

Supplies

Basics:  Blue-lined notebook paper (8.5" x 11") and blue-lined graph paper - 4 or 5 squares per inch or engineering graph paper, stapler, a straight edge, pencils, erasers, a highlighter in your favorite color.  You can get free graph paper at http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/lite/.  

Graphing Calculator:  TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-84, or TI-84 Plus.  You are required to bring your calculator to every class.  The Math Department policy is that no TI-89's, TI-92's or TI-Nspire calculators may be used on tests. 

Graphing Calculator checkout:  Students unable to purchase a graphing calculator can apply to the Adult Students Program for the privilege of checking one out for the semester.  Bring a copy of your schedule to the Adult Students Program, Student Services Center, Room 130 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  You must complete an application and be enrolled in a math class to receive this assistance.

Students who lose (due to accident / theft / any other mishap) or damage in any way a loaner graphing calculator will be required to replace the lost, stolen, or damaged calculator with a new TI-84 or TI-84 Plus graphing calculator.  Failure to do so will result in immediate action(s) taken by Amarillo College.

Access to a working computer with internet access and a printer.  There are student computers located in the AC Library and the Math Outreach Tutoring Center for student use.  This enables you to access the course in Blackboard and the online homework found at www.mymathlab.com. 

Amarillo College student I.D. (for testing and tutoring).

MyMathLab code.

Student Performance

Learning Objectives:  After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the following topics as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program:

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of properties of functions, including domain and range, operations, compositions, and inverses.
2. Recognize and apply polynomial, rational, radical, exponential and logarithmic functions and solve related equations.
3. Apply graphing techniques.
4. Evaluate all roots of highter degree polynomial and rational functions.
5. Recognize, solve and apply systems of linear equations using matrices.

The following Developmental Math topics will be imbedded in this College Algebra/STEM course:  Factoring; Rules for Exponents; Factor expansion:  distribution, foil, conjugates; Completing the Square; Complex Numbers; Rational Numbers:  operations; and other topics as needed.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Student Responsibilities:  Students are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment.  Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:  the use of cellular phones, texting, making offensive remarks, reading newspapers, talking, use of personal music systems, doing homework or other personal projects during class time, or engaging in any other form of distraction.  For a full discussion of appropriate behavior and student responsibilities, please refer to the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook htt;://sites.actx.edu/catalog/notices/.

Cheating is defined in Webster's College Dictionary as "taking an examination in a dishonest way, as by having improper access to answers."  Improper access includes, but is not limited to, copying from another student's paper, copying from the homework solutions manual, or using any unauthorized sources of information while taking an exam or quiz.  If the instructor sees a cell phone out during any exam, the instructor will assume that student is cheating and the exam will be taken up and a grade of "F" will be received for the course. 

Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or Student Rights & Responsibilities will be subject to disciplinary action.

Food/Drink:  It is the policy of the Mathematics, Sciences & Engineering Department that food and drink be allowed in the classroom setting, at the instructor's discretion.  Food and drink are not allowed in the computer labs or in classrooms when laptop computers are in use by the student.

Phones/Pagers:  It is the policy of the Mathematics,Sciences & Engineering Department that cell phones and pagers must be turned off or in silent mode in the classrooms and the computer labs.

Policy on Cheating and Plagiariam:  Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in any math course at Amarillo College.  Cheating includes the use of cell phone calculators, the illegal use of books, notes, cell phones, and copying.  Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students to cheat on a test.

ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
1.  BE ON TIME.
2.  BE PREPARED.
3.  NO DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR will be tolerated.

Grading Criteria

The final average will be computed based on the following percentage basis: 

Quizzes ........10%, MML Homework ........10%, Exams........40%, Midterm Exam.......20%, Final Exam........20%

The final letter grades are assigned based on the following numerical result:

A ............90-100,   B............80-89,   C............70-79,   D............60-69,   F............59 and Below

Homework:

Homework will be assigned from each section once we have completed the section.  There will be two assignments for each section; written and online. Online homeworks will be updated every 3 weeks (during progress report time and six weeks time at the high school).

The written homework problems will be provided to you by your high school teacher and will make up 50 percent of your Monday Quiz grade. These will be graded as ALL or NOTHING. Late homework WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. If you are absent on a Monday when it is due, you must send pictures of your homework to me over email or send it in with a friend.

The written homework must be done in pencil. Anything that is wrong or needs to be corrected must be cleanly erased. Do not write, doodle, or perform mathematical calculations in the margins. Homework must be neat and legible. Your high school teacher will be the judge as to what is neat and legible. Do not tear your paper out of a spiral and leave jagged edges. If your homework extends over more than one sheet of paper, you must staple the sheets together.  All work must be presented in an orderly manner with the problem running in a single column.  

The online homework will be completed on MyMathLab (MML).  To register for the class, use the course code curtis59771. If you have use a Pearson MyLab or Mastering product before, login with your username and password.  If you have never used a Pearson MyLab or Mastering product, create a new account.  You will need a student access code, which is available at the AC bookstore. 

You are strongly encouraged to go to the Outreach Center if you feel you need extra help beyond meeting with your high school teacher or your Amarillo College Instructor of Record, or if you just want a place where you can do your homework and get help if you need it. The Outreach Center is located in Durrett Room 104.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be completed in class every Monday over the paper Homeworks. Grades will be updated every six weeks. 

Online Homework/MyMathLab Instructions:

Enrolling in the Course:

1.  Go to www.pearsonmylaband mastering.com.
2.  Click on Student under Register.
3.  Enter the course ID  curtis13666
4.  If you have a Pearson account, enter your username and password.  If you have never used a Pearson MyLab and Mastering product, click on Create to enter information to create your account.
      a.  Make sure you enter an email address that you check ofter.
      b.  Please, use YOUR name as you are registered for school.
5.  If you have used MyMathLab with this textbook and this Pearson account previously, you should see a page indicating that you are done.
6.  If you have not used MyMathLab with this textbook before, you have three options.
      a.  To use an access code that came packaged with your textbook or bought as a stand alone folder, click on Access Code.
      b.  To use a credit card or PayPal account to buy the access code, click on the box with the price approx$XXXUSD.
      c.  To get temporary access while you wait for financial aid, payday, etx., click on Get temporary access without payment for approx. 14 days at the bottom of the screen.  You will need to purchase an access code using one of the two methods above before the 14 day temporary access period is over in order to continue to work on assignments.
7.  You are now enrolled in your course and should see it listed on the Courses page when you login.
8.  Click on the course name in order to enter the course.

Course Homepage Menu:

1.  To work on an assignment, click on Homework, the assignment name, and then on question1.
2.  Each homework problem will usually have some of the following buttons to the right of the problem:  Help me solve This, View an Example, Video, Animation, Textbook, Connect to a Tutor, Ask My Instructor, Print, Study Plan, Tools for Success, Multimedia Library and HTML eBook.  Each of these are further explained under your course content in Blackboard.
3.  The Grade book will show you the assignment you have worked, the scores, and give you the chance to review any assignment (without changing the grade).

Other Information:

1.  When you send emails from the Ask My Instructor button on a problem, it generates and email that is sent with the reply email address as the email address you used when setting up your account.  To view/edit this, click on Account at the top left corner of the page and enter your login name and password.
2.  In general, you get 3 attempts on each problem.  The following equal 1 attempt.
      a.  Entering an incorrect answer on a short answer or numeric problem 3 times.
      b.  Entering an incorrect answer on a multiple choice problem 1-2 times depending on the number of answer choices.
      c.  Using the Help Me Solve This button. (View an Example does not use an attempt.)
3.  After each attempt, you will be presented with the correct answer and the Submit Answer button will become Similar Exercise (until 4 attempts have been used).  To get another attempt on your problem, click on Similar Problem and a similar problem (same problem, different numbers) will appear.
4.  You can print your assignments, work on them away from the computer, and then return to enter the answers.  On each problem, there is a button that will open a popup and ask if you want to print that page or the entire assignment.
5.  You do not have to "save" any work.  Once you click on Submit answer and see either a green check mark or a red box with hints, the answers are saved.
6.  If you open a homework assignment and see a green check next to a problem, you have received full credit for that problem.  A red X means you have attempted the problem, but have not received any credit.  If you have both a green check and a red X, you have received partial credit.
7.  Be VERY careful when entering an answer.  There are instructions written in blue below most problems, if you do not enter the answer in the specified format or with the requested rounding, the answer will be considered incorrect.  Recall that entering an incorrect answer three times is one attempt.

Exams:   Four major exams will be given via MyMathLab.   If you miss a major exam, the grade on your final exam will be used to replace the missing grade.  I do not offer make-up exams.  If you know ahead of time that you will be missing an exam, you may schedule to take the exam early.  If you miss more than one exam (remember the first missed one is replaced by your grade on the final exam) a second missed exam will be recorded as a zero.  If you do not miss any exam and your final exam grade is higher than your lowest test score, I will replace the lowest test score with your final test grade.

Midterm and Final Exams: The midterm will be in written form and will be taken at your high school: Monday, October 19 through Wednesday, October 21.  The final exam will be in written form and will be taken at your high school:  Monday, December 7 through Wednesday, December 9.  

Both midterm and final exams will have a 2 hour time limit.  The final exam is comprehensive.

I do not give extra credit work.

Free Help:  If you feel yourself getting behind in class or having problems with certain concepts covered, get help immediately.  It is YOUR responsibility to get help. 
The following are a few ways to get FREE help outside of class:
1.  Your instructor is your first, BEST resource for help.  Feel free to come to office hours or make an appointment.
2.MyMathLab has videos, examples, and helps for solving the problem at the click of a button as you work your online homework.  Remember that the key is to start your homework assignment EARLY so that you have plenty of time to work each problem as many times as possible to get the highest grade.
3. Get free tutoring from the Math Academic Success Center (Ware 4th Floor), 806-371-5119, Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 8pm.  In person and virtual hours are the same.  To join virtually, https://www.actx.edu/successcenters/math-outreach-center then click on "Join Zoom Meeting"

Attendance

Attendance:  Remember that the deadline for withdrawing from this class is November 30th.  If you stop attending class and your average drops below a 60 due to missed assignments and you do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an F for the course.  Discuss your situation with your high school teacher, parents and/or counselor, then have your high school teacher email in the request to withdraw.

Calendar

Additional Information

Additional Contacts: Penelope Davies, Department Chair (806)371-5901

 Staff Assistant (806) 371-5158.