College Algebra for STEM Majors Syllabus for 2020-2021
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Office Location

Engineering 201B

Office Hours

I'll stay after class if you have questions or need help.  You can also contact me through email at tdholmes22@actx.edu.

Others by appointment

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

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 Student Service Center office 112. 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:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

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 .

Course

MATH-1414-003 College Algebra for STEM Majors

Prerequisites

Prerequisite:Scores on a state-approved test indicating college-level math skills Corequisite: MATH 0315

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 ResourcesStudent 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

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 4 lec)

Class Type

Tech Supported

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

College Algebra, 11th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall

*You will not need to purchase MyMathLab, as there will be no online homework*

Supplies

You will need a graphing calculator for this course. All computations and demonstrations in class will be done using a TI-84 Plus. If you already own another graphing utility you need to check with me to see if it is an appropriate calculator for this course.

You will need 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.

You will also need an Amarillo College student I.D. for testing and tutoring.

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:

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

 

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

Students are expected to behave in the classroom in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include but are not limited to: tardiness/leaving early, electronic device noises, talking during lecture, abusive, offensive, or disrespectful language and/or demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students and/or property. Students who fail to comply with the standards outlined in the syllabus and/or "Student Rights & Responsibilities" will be subject to disciplinary action which may include but is not limited to: removal from the classroom, consultation with department chair and/or other AC authority, withdrawal from the course and/or the college.

You will be required to sign and date a Course Contract, and return it to me, before you can take any exams. As stated in this contract, knowingly or unknowingly participating in scholastic dishonesty will result in an automatic "F" in the course. Further action at a higher level may be sought if necessary. Scholastic dishonesty is clearly defined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities in the Student Conduct and Responsibilities section.

Note that CELL PHONES are not allowed in the Testing Room. If your cell phone is out AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, while in the testing room, you will receive an "F" for the course.

Grading Criteria

Your semester grade (90-100 A, 80-89 B, 70-79 C, 60-69 D, Below 60 F) will be determined as follows:

Written Homework 20%
Major Exams 60%
Final Exam 20%

All grades will be posted on AC Connect under My Grades. Be aware that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, prohibits instructors from disclosing information regarding grades over the phone, via email, or to a third party. Thus, if you need to discuss your grade with me, you must do so in person or check online.

Homework:

Written homework problems will be assigned from each section once we have completed the section. Due dates will be announced.

If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to watch the video to get the material and any assignments due. You may also contact me by by email tdholmes22@actx.edu. 

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. I will be the judge as to what is neat and legible. 

Homework must be presented in an orderly manner with the problem running in a single column down the left half of the page.  One key way to be successful in any math course is to work the assignment neatly with the problem running vertically down the page using correct mathematical notation (such as '=' signs!).

Homework is graded as follows: "STAR" problems: 50% for correctness, 50% for neatness (I will determine what is neat!  HInt:  Use correct mathematical notation and do your assignments vertically down the page - as seen in class)

"Suggested" Homework problems - these problems are not required for your grade, but are highly recommended in order to be successful. If you do ALL of the suggested problems I will add 1.5 pts. to your final overall average at the end of the semester.

NOTE: STAR problems MUST be turned in by the due date.  You may submit them to the electronic dropbox provided for each assignment - whichever is easiest for you!

 Suggested homework problems may be dropped off in the Math Testing Center (Durrett 103)

Questions regarding the assignments will be discussed at the beginning of the class period as time permits. If you have questions that are not covered in class, you are encouraged to meet with me during my office hours or at a prearranged time. Note that late homework will not be accepted! The four lowest homework grades will be dropped.

Major Exams:
At least 3, potentially 4, major exams will be given during the semester. Note that no makeup exams will be given. If a student misses an exam, the grade will be replaced with the final exam grade. If the student does not miss any exams during the semester, the final exam grade, if higher, will replace the lowest major exam grade. Exams will be taken in the Math Testing Center over a given timeframe (dates provided in class). 

Final Exam: 

A comprehensive final exam will be given during the 6'th week of class - normally due by Thursday at noon (arrangements can be made on a case per case basis)

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. If an absence occurs, the student is responsible for the information and assignments covered in class. Remember: no late homework will be accepted and no late tests will be given. Attendance will not be taken after the course census date - however regular attendance is imperative to success in any Mathematics course.

Please remember the deadline for withdrawing from this class is Thursday June 24, 2021. 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.

Calendar

Tentative Schedule (subject to change at any time by instructor):

Week 1 Syllabus, Review Material, Sections: R7, 1.1-1.3
Week 2 Exam 1, Section: 1.4, 1.5, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3 - 3.5
Week 3

Exam 2, Sections: 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.6

Week 4 Sections: 5.3, 5.4, Exam 3, Sections: 6.1, 6.2
Week 5 Sections: 6.3 - 6.8, Exam 4, Sections: R8, 2.1, 2.4, 7.3. 7.4
Week 6  Sections: , 8.1 - 8.3, Final Exam

Additional Information

COVID-19 UPDATE:  Tutoring may be completed in the Academic Success Center for Math in person on campus (Durrett Hall Room 104) or virtually by Zoom.  Find more information at https://www.actx.edu/successcenters/.

To join an ongoing Zoom Meeting for tutoring, go to  https://zoom.us/j/541139851.  Use the Meeting ID:  541 139 851

Outreach Tutoring Center Hours
Monday - Thursday
8:00am - 8:00pm
Friday
8:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday
9:00am - 8:00pm
371-5119

 

Additional Contacts:  Penelope Davis, Department Chair    (806)371-5142

 

Note from the Instructor:  As you already know, success in a math class takes work, commitment, and perseverance.  As your instructor, I am here to facilitate your efforts to reach your educational goals.  I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you this semester.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need help.

Syllabus Created on:

05/23/21 5:39 PM

Last Edited on:

05/26/21 9:24 AM