Human Relations 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

HRPO-1311-DC001 Human Relations

Prerequisites

Course Description

Practical application of the principles and concepts of the behavioral sciences to interpersonal relationships in the business and industrial environment.

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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

A physical book is not required for this course. 

You do not need to purchase a book code for this course. Free Access to McGraw Hill will be provided to you. 

Supplies

Connect Code and Internet Access        *do not reply on your phone only

Student Performance

If your technology at home is not working or not working well, we have options to help you. The Underground will be open on Washington street and is following the CDC safety procedures to protect you, us and everyone else. The Underground has the technology you need as well as the people who can help you log-in, learn how to operate Blackboard or other tools you professor will use. You can be successful! AC will help you. 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. The students will evaluate human relations concepts including personality, diversity, perception, attitudes, values, ethics, self-esteem, and interpersonal skills to promote career success. SCANS* Information C5; Thinking Skills F7; Personal Qualities F14, F13; Interpersonal C9, C14

2. Students will identify and evaluate the causes and effects of stress in the workplace including transactional analysis, assertiveness training and methods of conflict resolutions. SCANS* Thinking Skills F9; Interpersonal C13; Basic Skills F5, F6

3. Students will learn the importance of learning styles and how to develop individual and group communication skills including listening, questioning, and paraphrasing. SCANS* Basic Skills F5, F6; Interpersonal C9

4. Students will list the steps in problem solving and decision making process including group involvement and participation. SCANS* Thinking Skills F7, F8, F9; Interpersonal C9

5. Analyze how theories of motivation and human behavior impact strategies of change management, time management, and career management. SCANS* Thinking Skills F7, F9

6. List and describe the behavioral and contingency leadership theories and how they apply to human relations. SCANS* Systems C15; Interpersonal C9, C12

7. Students will learn the importance of networking, negotiation, and ethical organizational politics. SCANS* Interpersonal C9, Thinking F7, F9, and Systems C15

*Meets Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)
Information: Acquires and uses information.
Interpersonal: Works with others, serves clients, exercises leadership.
Systems: Understands complex interrelationships (evaluates, monitors, improves social, organizational and technological systems).
Thinking Skills: Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn, and reasons.
Personal Qualities: Displays responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity, and honesty.

Students 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

Expectations

Technology issues are not acceptable reasons for the submission of late assignments. Students must have access to the internet and a computer. The Underground on the Washington Street Campus may be utilized if necessary. 

TEAMS is an online meeting tool available to you (we will also be using this tool when any or all of you meet with me). You can sign up for a free Basic TEAMS account. If you have questions about how to use TEAMS go to their Support page.

AI

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, it is crucial for students to understand the ethical considerations surrounding its use in academic settings. In this course, students are expected to use AI in a manner which upholds the values of academic integrity. In general, the use of AI should never compromise development in critical thinking, research, and analysis. Along that line, the use of AI to generate content, manipulate the tone of work, create data, or summarize/shorten an author’s work for quicker consumption is considered academic dishonesty and strictly prohibited.

Alternatively, students are encouraged towards using AI to assist in research and writing process in ways which encourage the learning process and mitigate menial tasks. For example, students may use AI to create a table to help visualize complex data, develop personalized learning and reading plans, and assist in correcting grammar and spelling errors.

Please note that any unethical use of AI in this course will be considered academic dishonesty and may result in disciplinary action. Students are responsible for ensuring that their use of AI is in compliance with the course policies on academic integrity.

Learning Activities

Currently, we are all expected to interact, work, and learn with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and lifestyles. Therefore, the students in this course are expected to be inclusive and respectful of differences and act accordingly when participating in class activities and discussions.  

 At all times practice good conversation and dialogue skills and exercise the rules of decorum.

All course participants will share the responsibility for the content, process, and outcomes of learning. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions and activities and will on occasion be responsible for presenting or leading class discussions as described in the course assignments section of this syllabus.

Learning activities may include lectures, guest speakers, fieldwork, required reading, class learning exercises, class discussions, written assignments, interviews, student presentations, and Internet resources.

Establishing a Safe, Respectful Classroom Environment 

Learning takes place best when a safe environment is established in the learning environment. I will seek to support an environment that nurtures individual and group differences, encourages engaged, honest discussions, and allows us to communicate across differences. I also hope that together we create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing and exploring ideas. In the course of class discussions, it is quite possible that disagreements will arise. I welcome disagreements in the spirit of critical academic exchange, but please be respectful of other points of view, whether you agree with them or not. In this class, derogatory comments based on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality will not be tolerated. Therefore,

• Everyone gets a fair hearing.
• Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
• Share “air time.”
• If you are offended, say so, and say why.
• Honest disagreements in the spirit of critical academic exchange are encouraged. While you can disagree, don’t personalize it; stick to the issues. No name-calling or stereotyping.

Derogatory comments based on race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality will not be tolerated.

• Speak for yourself, not others.
• One person speaks at a time.
• What we say stays here, unless we agree to change that. What we learn here, though, we can share with others.

Adapted from The Guide for training study circle facilitators (1998) by the Study Circle Resource Center, © Topsfield Foundation

Quality of Work and Expectations

All written work submitted must:

• Be of professional quality, neatly presented, grammatically correct, and free of spelling and punctuation errors. 
• Be on time. Late work is not accepted.

E-Mail Communication

Please send an email message to talexander25@actx.edu or via Blackboard message.

I will email you through Blackboard messages, so messages will go to your Amarillo College email account. You should make a point to check your messages daily while you are enrolled in this course. 

Email Response Time

Generally, I will respond to emails within two working days of receiving them. Please know that responses on weekends may be limited and will be made on an as-available basis, so try to anticipate questions for your weekend work in advance. Notification will be provided if I will not be available by computer for more than two working days. Also, please reply to emails received from your professor promptly. 

Amarillo College Policy

Amarillo College policies and Code of Student Conduct is strictly adhered to when dealing with plagiarism, cheating, and duplication of work product. Any evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or duplication of work product will result in a zero on the work in question. A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonestly can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=426 

SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS

The “Assignments” section in Blackboard will serve as a central place for you to submit weekly activities. Please include your name and date in the file name for any attachments. Use general titles in the file name like “week 1 assignment” or “interview” in the filename, versus descriptive titles you may use on a title page.  Assignments will not be accepted via email. Submit all assignments as an attachment in a Word Document in the assignments tab in Blackboard. 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria:

700 - 800 points = A

600 - 699 points = B

500 - 599 points = C

400 - 499 points = D

Below 400 = F

Grading

Chapter Quizzes (8) Each quiz is worth 50 points. You have a total of 400 points to earn on your Chapter quizzes. Your quizzes make up 50% of your final grade. 

•           You only have one attempt at each Quiz. Quizzes are open book. 

•           You must complete the Quiz once you open it. You cannot start a Quiz, exit out and come back. Once you exit the Quiz, your grade will be submitted as is.

•           The quizzes are due every Sunday night by 11:59 p.m, according to the Calendar below.

•           There will be NO make-up quizzes given under any circumstances. If you do not complete the quiz by the due date, you will receive a ZERO. 

Assignments (16) Each Assignment is worth 25 points. You have a total of 400 points to earn on your Assignments. Each Assignment is due Sunday by 11:59 p.m. (see calendar below). Your assignments make up 50% of your grade. 

•           If your computer crashes or you have technical difficulties, email me immediately, and I will decide on a case-by-case basis the appropriate solution. I highly recommend using Firefox or Google Chrome as your browser. If you consistently have technical problems, I will insist you take the quizzes at one of AC’s computer labs

*Note: SmartBook is an adaptive system; the time required is determined by your mastery. The system adds additional questions when accuracy is low. Students who thoroughly read the chapter prior to starting typically complete these assignments significantly faster than those who do not.

AI & Academic Integrity Policy: Use of AI to generate content for academic credit is strictly prohibited. All work submitted must be your original creation. The burden of proof for the originality of submitted work rests solely with the student. Students must be prepared to provide drafts, research notes, or supporting materials upon request to verify authenticity.

No Resubmission: If work is found to violate academic integrity or AI policies, the instructor is under no obligation to provide a second opportunity or a "re-do." Violations may result in an immediate zero or failure of the course.

College-Level Writing Standards: Your writing is a reflection of your professional credibility. All submissions must adhere to the following standard:

• Mechanics: Proper capitalization (sentences and proper nouns), standard punctuation, and correct grammar/spelling are mandatory.

• Tone: Maintain a formal, professional voice; avoid first-person language ("I," "me," "my") [unless specified] and slang.

Attendance

Attendance

Attendance Certification Requirement:

To be certified as attending for the census roster, students must complete at least 75% of the Week 1 module by the Sunday deadline. This includes reviewing all required materials and completing any assigned activities or assessments. Failure to meet this requirement may result in being marked as not attending.

Students must arrive on time and be present for all scheduled classes. Students who are late do not have to be admitted by the instructor. If students add or enroll in classes after the first day of class, the students are counted as absent from any missed class meetings.

Students must participate/submit work through assignments and/or the discussion board during the first week of class.

Students will be administratively dropped from the course if the student does not participate before the Census date. 

The student is responsible to determine if work is missing. 

Students are expected to attend class. *Please see guidelines below if you have enrolled in a Hybrid course; in some instances, online classes simply allow for more flexibility in your schedules.

 In an online class, log in a minimum of 3 times per week.

Attendance in Hybrid and Tech-Supported Courses

Students must arrive on time and be present for all scheduled classes. Students who are late or leave early may not be counted as present for that meeting and do not have to be admitted by the instructor. If students add or enroll in classes after the first day of class, the students are counted as absent from any missed class meetings.

Classes with a scheduled meeting time (hybrid and tech-supported courses): 

1. attendance is required and expected
2. students are aware of the course meeting times prior to registering for the class and agree to the posted schedule. By registering for this course students are accepting the schedule as written, this includes consideration of work schedules, child care, and other responsibilities. 
3. the student is entering the course agreeing to attend all classes as scheduled unless an extreme emergency prevents them from attending. Extreme (rare) circumstances will be communicated to the instructor within 24 hours of class meeting time.
4. excused absences will only be considered at the discretion of the instructor and if communicated before the class meeting occurs 
5. students are expected to attend the entire class session without leaving early unless dismissed

Classes without a scheduled meeting time (online):

1. Student attendance is determined by the instructor and requires substantial participation in the course content, such as working on assignments or participating in a course discussion throughout the week, versus the final hours before a deadline
2. Students are expected to log in to Blackboard within the first 48 hours of the weekly module being available. Example: course modules open on Sunday at 5:30 am, students are expected to log in and review content.
3. Students are expected to address any concerns or questions.
4. Technical obstacles including internet disruptions, personal computers issues, or failure, do not excuse participation in the class. Amarillo College provides resources to students needing assistance in these areas (see STUDENT RESOURCES).

Calendar

Additional Information

First day of class:       August 31, 2026

Census Day:               September 9, 2026

Last Drop Day:           November 24, 2026

Last day of class:        December 18, 2026