College Algebra for STEM Majors Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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.

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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.

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-1414-001 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook: College Algebra, 11th Edition

Author: Michael Sullivan; Publications: Pearson

ISBN:  9780135163047

A hard copy of the textbook is required. (e-textbook or pdf. is optional) No assignment online.

No assignment will be in My Math Lab for the entire course. All homework and exams are required to be in details and with step by step methods of neat and legible handwritten copies. 

Supplies

Required supplies for Math 1414-001 for this Summer I 2022 semester:

1) Hard copy of Text book for homework

2) Access to computer and internet to keep touch with blackboard/ email.

3) Notebook for taking class-note; Loose sheet papers for HW.

4) Pencils, erasers, highlighter and stapler.

6) TI-84/CE Graphing calculator. You may download "Calculate84" calculator-app to your iPhone, and "Webbitemau" for android smart phones (cell phones are not allowed for exams). You may also download the following emulator of TI-84 calculator in pc-laptop/desktop (not accessible for mac):

 http://wabbitemu.org/ 

You may watch the video how to download the above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCdK70jbZ_8

The recommended calculator is a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE.  Other forms of Texas Instruments or Casio graphing calculators will be permitted at the instructors discretion. 

Calculators are available to check out from Library located at the 2nd floor of Ware Student Building.  Students need to show their schedule and that they are registered for a class that requires a graphing calculator.  The calculator must be returned at the end of the semester, otherwise the student will be required to replace the calculator with a new TI-84.

Students need to access the blackboard regularly to be aware of course-assignments and course content with a reliable internet connection. Students may need to print course materials occasionally.

Students need an official Amarillo College student ID to scan into the Academic Success Center - Math Outreach Center and for Math Testing center.  

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 higher 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: 

1. Factoring
2. Rules for Exponents
3. Factor expansion:  distribution, foil, conjugates
4. Completing the Square
5. Complex Numbers
6. Rational Numbers:  operations
7. 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:  Minimum 10 hours of deeply-focused study per week is required for this 4-credit/ 6-week course! Syllabus is vast and more than usual in comparison to any other course!

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

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

It is required to attend classes regularly, attendance will be recorded for grading and mostly important for learning process. 

Student Responsibilities:  Students are expected to be ON TIME, PREPARED with homework completed on previous lessons, and PARTICIPATE DURING CLASS in a positive manner. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:  the use of cellular phones, texting, making offensive remarks, 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 Http://sites.actx.edu/catalog/notices/.  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:  You are allowed to have food or drinks in the classroom, but you must take the class notes responsibly.

Class-notes access:  Everyday class lecture notes will be posted in the blackboard, on 'Course Content'. Following lecture notes is REQUIRED for presentation style and required steps or work.

Grading Criteria

The final score will be computed based on the followings:

Grading Policy	Percentage	Grading Scale	Grade
Exam Reviews	5%	90-100%	A
HW Assignments Lab Assignments	10% 15%	80-89%	B
Chapter Exams	50%	70-79%	C
Final Exam	15%	60-69%	D
Att. & Participation	5%	59 and Below	F

I. Lab Assignments: Lab Assigned problems must be finished in class. This is a group work, students will make a group of 3-4, use whiteboard for group discussions, then to copy on paper to turn in from each group. Lab Assignment average is weighted by 15% on the Overall Average.

II. Homework Assignments: HW will be collected Chapter wise and according to the course calendar. You have to do the assigned homework problems in details, showing all necessary steps (not interested on correct answers only) . HW is weighted by 10% on the Overall Average.

III. Chapter Exams: Four Chapter Exams will be taken and a comprehensive Final Exam.  If you miss a Chapter Exam, the grade on your Final Exam will be used to replace the missing grade. If you don't miss any of them, then the lowest score will be replaced by the Final Exam score if that is higher. So, no make up for any missing exam. Each Chapter Exam is weighted individually by 12.5%.

(a) Exam 1 on: Exercises R.2, R.4, R.5, R.7, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

(b) Exam 2 on: Exercises 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5

(c) Exam 3 on: Exercises 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6

(d) Exam 4 on: Exercises 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.8

(e) Final Exam:  Additional Exercises for the Final Exam R.8, 2.1, 2.4, 7.3, 7.4, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.6.

IV. Final Exam: Final Exam is Required and mandatory!! Under NO circumstances will the final be given late (No Make Up)!  Final Exam is weighted by 15%.

V. Exam Reviews: Exam Reviews will be exercised in class before each exam. Completed Exam Reviews are to be submitted at testing center as exam ticket to take the exam. Exam Reviews are to be graded and weighted by 5%.

VI. Attendance & Participation: Daily attendance and spontaneous response and active class-participation are must for this course. This will be graded at the end of the semester. Attendance is weighted by 5%!!

SOME OTHER GENERAL POLICIES:

  At the top of the first page of all assignment script, you must place your name, your Math 1414, and the Assignment-title. Problems must be presented in details with all necessary steps of work. Each line must contain equal sign, "=" to show continuation of the previous line/step. Only the correct answer will not be examined!! All final answers must be boxed or circled to receive credit.  

 If you are absent, missing lecture-notes will be on the blackboard, but it is your responsibility to contact another student to understand the class-lessons for that class and/or any important class decision.  If needed, please send text message to my cell-phone 312-730-0708, or e-mail me at smuna@actx.edu, but you take the chance that I may not retrieve the email immediately.

JJJ Late/Early leaving: If you are late more than 10 minutes to join the class, or if you leave the earlier than dismissal without permission, then you will be marked as 'tardy' and two 'tardy' will be considered as '1' absent. Attendance is weighted by 5%!!

 Blackboard Connection: It is required for any Amarillo College courses to maintain regular touch with your blackboard and/or college email. I will post all important tasks on blackboard’s ‘Announcement’, and will send them also via your college email. You are responsible to check blackboard regularly, and especially when you miss a class.

Use Blackboard to print class materials, get your grades, contact your instructor, find class announcements, etc.:    Students are required to log in to Blackboard regularly to check the course announcements, calendar, e-mails, grades and print class handouts.  To access our course area:

1.  Go to https://acconnect.actx.edu and log in.  Your log in information is the same as your Web Advisor log in.  If you need help contact askAC at 371-5000 and they can lead you in the right direction.  You may also contact the STL helpdesk at 371-5992.
2.  Once you are logged in, click on our course
3.  Then you will see any links you will need on the left hand side of the screen.

JJJ Withdrawal: The deadline for withdrawing from any class at AC for Summer I 2022 is June 23 (Thursday).  To withdraw, contact me for my approval signature within Wednesday (June 22) so that you will not run late to submit your request to register office within the deadline. 

If you stop attending class and if you have no other option left but to withdraw, you need to see your instructor in-person to take approval signature by this date. If you do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an "F" for the course.

I guarantee that all the exams will be exactly similar to the assigned homework problems. You must focus on learning the methods and clarifying the conceptions of the assigned homework problems by heart. So that you will be sure to secure your expected grade for this course. And this is my policy to let you achieve the target level of the lessons for Math 1414.

No Extra Credit!! Because, we don’t have time for that!!

JJJ  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.  Please feel free to stay longer or remain in your classroom after the class is over to talk to me or to make an appointment.
2. The course website has links to helpful resources on each of the topics covered.  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. Free one-on-one tutoring at the Student Outreach Center in Durrett 104 is available.  You will need your AC ID to sign in.  Hours:  MTWR 8am - 8pm, Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat 9am - 8pm, Sun closed.
4. Get free tutoring from Student Support Services (Library, 371-5420)

 **** 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. You are strongly recommended to get tutoring-helped from our "Math Outreach Center".

1.  Feel free to see me at my office or make an appointment.

2.  Free one-on-one tutoring at the Student Math Outreach Center in Durrett 104 is available.  You will need your AC ID to sign in.  Hours:  MTWRF 8am – 8pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun closed.

Attendance

*See attendance policy in "Grading Criteria" section above.

If you are absent for any reason, please be responsible for obtaining the assignments and notes from me or from other class participants. Deadline for withdrawing from this class is Thursday, June 23, 2022.

To drop the class, student has to contact the instructor by official email to give the written withdrawal concern that needs to be documented. After receiving the drop request in proper format, instructor will provide  the "Withdrawal Request Form with approval signature on that". Then the student has to sign and fill out some blanks and then to submit to register's office within June 24, 05:00 pm.  Deadline for letting me know you want to drop is 5:00 pm on June 22, Tuesday.  

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.  Note:  Late drops will NOT be given under any circumstance.

Calendar

Additional Information

For any technical difficulties, please contact:

ctlhelp@actx.edu

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 outside of class.

The followings are the ways to get help outside of class:

1.  Please, contact your instructor to make an appointment if needed to see in-person.

2. To get immediate tutoring help, join virtual tutoring center by the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/541139851

Meeting ID: 541 139 851

3. In-person tutoring help is strongly recommended for fast-paced 6-wks math courses, and specially for STEM 1414 algebra. 

Tutoring Center Operational Hours:  Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm, Sunday Closed. Also, virtual tutoring is available and encouraged by the same time-frame. Above is the link for virtual tutoring.

4.  If you need help with AC Connect, you can contact the AC Help Center at 371-5000, or via email at askac@actx.edu (mailto:askac@actx.edu).

Math Testing Center (Durrett 103 )	Academic Success Center-Math (Outreach Center) (Durrett 104)
Monday - Thursday	Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 10:00 pm	8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday	Friday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm	8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday	Saturday
9:00 am - 8:00 pm	9:00 am - 8:00 pm
371-5088	371-5119

Hours for the Academic Success Center-Math (ORC) are subject to change with Covid-19.