Special Topics in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Syllabus for 2021-2022
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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.

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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.

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Course

MRTS-1191-001 Special Topics in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: Program Director consent

Course Description

Topics address recently identified current events, skills, knowledges and/or attitudes and behaviors pertinent to the technology or occupation and relevant to the professional development of the student. This course was designed to be repeated multiple times to improve student proficiency.

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

(1 sem hrs; 1 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Text Books:

Funeral Service Compend, Sixth Edition. Published by: Professional Training Schools, Inc.  (The practice exam questions, for the most part, will be taken from the Compend.  The book is a great resource if used wisely by the student.)

State Board Exam Study Guide, (Most recent volume) OR the National Board Exam Study Guide if you plan on continuing to your Associate's Degree to be an embalmer.  Must be purchased from the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB).  Website:  http://www.theconferenceonline.org/  Phone Number:  479-442-7076  

Prepare to Succeed: A Collaborative Collection of Questions to Test Funeral Service Knowledge - Funeral Service Education Resource Center - ISBN: 978-0-9979261-4-9

Funeral Directing and Funeral Service Management - Ralph Klicker (2008)  This is the book you used for a previous course

STUDENTS, PLEASE NOTE:  Because this is a REVIEW COURSE, you will utilize ALL the books you have used for your Mortuary courses as a review.

Supplies

You must have access to a computer, active internet service, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, RealPlayer, and exhibit computer competency

Printer: You must have a printer or access to one.  It is recommended you print off your weekly materials and create a notebook for the class.  It will help you remain organized and better prepared for success in this course.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD / DELIVERY:

 

 

Student Performance

Course Objectives:  The Texas State Board Exam is a 150 question test broken down into 5 sections.  They are:

• Funeral Directing (51 items)
• Funeral Service Marketing/Merchandising (21 items)
• Funeral Service counseling (22 items)
• Regulatory Compliance (36 items)
• Cemetery & Crematory Operations (20 items)

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Recognize the purpose of the FTC and its impact on funeral service.
2.  Identify who must comply with the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Industry Practices rule.
3. Recognize the price disclosures required by the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Industry Practices rule.
4. Distinguish what misrepresentations are prohibited by the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Industry Practices rule.
5. Demonstrate the skills needed to write a business letter, resume, and obituary.
6. Demonstrate the skills needed to create a death certificate, burial permit, obituary notice, Veterans Administration, and Social Security Administration forms, with sufficient accuracy to ensure acceptance by government agencies, a local newspaper, and legal requirements.

 

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 should:
 

1. Attend (log-in to Blackboard) class.  Log-in DAILY and check your email DAILY.
2. Be prepared.
3. Read and understand the required readings.
4. Read the assigned textbook material.
5. Be honest.
6. Do not violate the AC academic integrity policy. (Do not cheat).
7. Ask questions.
8. Actively participate in group discussions.
9. Do not judge other students.
10. Treat everyone with respect.
11. Follow and respect all rules and policies of this class, department, and Amarillo College.
12. Remember the oath of confidentiality.

*Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class and will result in a grade of 0 on the exam or assignment involved that cannot be replaced or dropped. Please see Student Rights and Responsibilities for a specific description of academic dishonesty. Any cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students at Amarillo College.

Grading Criteria

Grading Policy

The course grade will be based on a group of ten (10) course assignments, nine (9) State Board Exam content area review exams, one (1) Practice National Board Examination, and one (1) comprehensive Final Exam.

All exams will be closed-book.  NO LATE assignments will be accepted.  Please note**for this course, NO ONE will be allowed to take an exam or quiz if they are late.  You are considered late when the exam or quiz due date has passed.

Breakdown of Grade

• Nine (9) State Board Exam content area exams (Students are required to pass each content area BEFORE progressing to the next content area exam.)
• Class Portfolio of ten (10) course assignments (Test questions and Case Studies)
• One (1) Practice State Board Exam (Student will apply and purchase from The Conference $60)
• One (1) Comprehensive Final Exam

Grading Scale

• A=100-96
• B=95-88
• C=87-80
• F=79 and below
• A score of 75 or better is required to pass the State and National Board Exams. Please note that we gear our grading policy towards that standard.

Each student is responsible for ensuring the integrity of his/her own work. Cases of academic dishonesty will result in either zero points or administrative withdrawal from the Mortuary Science Program. There will be no tolerance for missed due dates, assignments, projects, quizzes, or tests. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET ASSIGNMENTS AND SUCH TURNED IN AND IN ON TIME. If you wait until the semester is over to resolve an issue with missing assignments, projects, exams, etc., then it will be too late. ALWAYS KEEP COPIES OF YOUR WORK (projects, assignments, clinical paperwork, etc.). Students should have a backup plan for computer problems. Most public libraries have internet access for students' use.

ALL course work is expected to be typed with correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Proofread your work before submitting it. Failure to do so will result in a lower grade.

MANDATORY SKILLS BUILDING/TUTORIALS

In an effort to improve student retention, the following policy is in place for this course:

The student is required to pass each content area exam before progressing to the next content area exam.  The final exam cannot be re-taken.  

Every student must score at least 75% on the Practice State Board Examination in order to be eligible to take the State Board Exam and graduate.

Per our Amarillo College Course Guide for the Mortuary Science Program:

 To continue in the program, a student may repeat a MRTS course only one time and may repeat no more than two MRTS courses while enrolled in the program. The term “repeat” shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop, or unsatisfactory grade. A grade of C or higher is required for satisfactory completion of all major course requirements, PSYT 1325 or HPRS 2301. Students who receive an F in two or more major course requirements, PSYT 1325 or HPRS 2301 will be removed from the program. A student will have 36 months to complete all major requirements.

 

Attendance

Class attendance is required and will be evaluated based on online participation and testing. Students failing to take the required exams will be deemed to be absent from class. Due to the fact that this class is totally online and available continuously, no absence will be allowed unless approved in advance by the instructor. Students may adapt their class participation time to match their schedules. As long as all work is submitted by the assigned time students will have met the criteria for class attendance. 

ONLINE ATTENDANCE: This is an online course and is intended to give you flexibility. Oftentimes, changes have to be made and are announced through course e-mail and announcements. If you fail to log-in regularly, you may miss vital information concerning changes within the course. Online learning requires the student to be disciplined to keep up with online participation, assignments, scheduled quizzes and exams. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET ASSIGNMENTS AND SUCH TURNED IN AND IN ON TIME. If you wait until the semester is over to resolve an issue with missing assignments, projects, exams, etc., then it will be too late.

The successful Mortuary Science student is independent, self-motivated, willing to learn, willing to ask questions as soon as they arise, good with written instructions, good at expressing him or herself in writing with excellent writing skills, and aware of technology as a convenience, not a barrier.

Deadline to Drop the Course is: March 1, 2022

Guidelines
When taking an online test, follow these guidelines:

• Ensure you're in a location where you won't be interrupted
• Turn off all other devices (e.g. tablets, phones, second computers) and place them outside of your reach
• Before starting the test, know how much time is available for it, and also that you've allotted sufficient time to complete it
• Clear your desk or workspace of all external materials not permitted - books, papers, other devices
• Remain at your computer for the duration of the test
• If the computer, Wi-Fi, or location is different than what was used previously with the "Webcam Check" and "System & Network Check" in LockDown Browser, run the checks again prior to the exam
• To produce a good webcam video, do the following:
  • Avoid wearing baseball caps or hats with brims
  • Ensure your computer or device is on a firm surface (a desk or table). Do NOT have the computer on your lap, a bed, or other surface where the device (or you) are likely to move
  • If using a built-in webcam, avoid readjusting the tilt of the screen after the webcam setup is complete
  • Take the exam in a well-lit room, but avoid backlighting (such as sitting with your back to a window)
• Remember that LockDown Browser will prevent you from accessing other websites or applications; you will be unable to exit the test until all questions are completed and submitted.

Calendar

Additional Information

Course Links

www.theconferenceonline.org 

Texas State Board Exam

The student MUST successfully pass this class with an 80% overall score, and must achieve 75% on the State Board Practice Exam in order to be eligible to complete the final qualifying exam. 

The qualifying exam includes faculty evaluation of all coursework completed during the Mortuary Science Program, evaluation, and discussion of overall student skills and competency, as well as, evaluations from all clinical experiences. 

In order for the student to satisfactorily pass the qualifying exam, the student must have successfully completed this course and all course content; and, the faculty must reach a consensus that the student is academically prepared to be successful on the State Board Exam.

Once the student has successfully completed the Qualifying Exam, the Mortuary Science faculty will present the student with a "Contract to Test."   After the Contract to Test has been signed by all parties, the Program Director will submit the student's name to The Conference releasing the student to take the State Board Exam for Funeral Director Licensing.

REMEMBER:  If you are taking other classes to meet the MRTS.CERT course requirements while taking this course and drop one of them, you will NOT be able to complete this course and MUST withdraw. If you fail one of the other courses you are enrolled in, you will NOT be certified to take the Texas State Board Exam.

Disability Policy

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Disability Services (Student Service Center room 199) by phone at (806) 371-5436 as soon as possible. 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:

If a student has a grievance with the course instructor, the following "due process" protocol will apply.  The student must follow the protocol steps in the order shown.

1. Make every effort to resolve the concern directly with the course instructor.  The instructor should be contacted by the student before the conclusion of the course.
2. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the course instructor, the student should seek satisfaction from the immediate supervisor of the instructor within one week of the student-instructor meeting.
3. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Allied Health division chairperson, the student should seek satisfaction from Dean of Health Sciences within one week of the student-division chairperson meeting.
4. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the dean, the student should seek satisfaction from the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) within one week of the Student-Dean meeting.
5. If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, the student should seek satisfaction from the college President within one week of the student-VPAA meeting.  The decision of the President will be final.

I have read the above information and I hereby am in accordance with the obligations set before me by signature________________________________________________.