Interpersonal Communication Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

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 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.

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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:

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 .

Course

SPCH-1318-022 Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisites

Course Description

Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance and termination in relationship contexts including friendships, romantic partners, families and relationships with co-workers and supervisors.

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

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Tech Supported

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Interpersonal Messages, 4^th edition by Joseph Devito. You need the bundle package that includes Revel (this is the online book access code you will need to complete online activities. The online bookwork will count as 10% of your grade, so yes….you do need to purchase the book for the class.

Supplies

• Textbook w/REVEL code (see above)
• Access to computer or laptop w/CAMERA and MICROPHONE
• A USB stick or Google account (system for saving your documents)
• Old school, spiral or college composition notebook, pens, pencils, colored pencils for notes and expression of thoughts (optional)

Student Performance

Through reading the current literature, researching recent communication findings, and participating in group and individual oral assignments, the student will:

1. Exhibit understanding of interpersonal theories and principles.
2. Demonstrate ability to analyze and critique verbal and nonverbal interactions in mediated and face-to-face contexts.
3. Identify perceptual processes as they relate to self and others.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking ability by effectively researching, evaluating, and applying communication theories in oral and/or written assignments.
5. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of cross-cultural, co-cultural, gender and age influences on human communication.
6. Demonstrate ability to identify, evaluate, and apply conflict styles and conflict management techniques in dyads and/or groups.
7. Identify types of and barriers to effective listening.

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 required to turn on your camera's, dress appropriately in class & learn to apply "rule of thirds" when in class, in front of the camera.

Academic Honesty: All matters of academic dishonesty including plagiarism (the act of copying and pasting information from one source and inserting into a paper without proper citations, rewriting information from another source and inserting into a paper with proper citations, copying and rewriting from another student’s work and using as your own), collusion, fabrication, cheating etc. will result in a failing grade for the assignment in question.

Confidentiality: Students engage, in a level of self-disclosure, not usually characteristic of other courses. Different people will feel comfortable with varying levels of self-disclosure. While I would like you to draw from your personal experience, you may choose to talk about yourself or someone you know. If it is the latter, in the interest of confidentially they should remain nameless. Interpersonal Communication is an interactive course, meaning you will be learning from each other’s personal experiences and examples. For this reason it is encouraged for you to be open to sharing with the class. Additionally, because some individuals will be sharing personal stories, I expect there to be a level of confidentiality among the members of the class and respect for their classmates' privacy.

Cyber bullying or cyber-harassment includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyber bullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

Grading Criteria

Online Assignments	30%
REVEL	20%
Vocabulary Exams	30%
Discussions	10%
Attendence/Watermark	10%
	100%

In-Class Activities :
This class relies upon two major things

1) You participate in technically supported lecture, discussions and online class activities

2) A meaningful analysis of your own communication tendencies with family, friends, co-workers and people you meet. If these things occur along with attention to assignments and class readings you will find tools to better understand your own communication skills, relate better with others and succeed in this course.

Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory achievement. Your participation in lecture discussions and activities directly affect your grade. Daily attendance is recorded, in Aviso Engage, points will be deducted from your participation grade - regardless of the reason for the absence.

Late Work Policy: Pay attention to due dates, please, for full credit, turn work in on time. While a Master File, for Online Assignments and Exams, will be available, points will be taken off, for being late. Discussions cannot be made up.

Attendance

Attendance Policy for Lecture:

• This is a technically supported class; therefore, students are required to attend lecture.
• Attendance is monitored by Watermark (10% of your grade), one excused 
• POINTS TAKEN OFF: Online assignments and Discussions for day absent, over one excused
• It is the student’s responsibility to access the course online and complete all discussions, essays, and exams according to the course calendar.
• Students are expected to access the online course every day to complete all requirements. Communications emailed to the instructor must be sent through Blackboard. Attendance is required to succeed in the course.
• Attendance census report will be completed by 01/23/2024 If you have not logged in to Blackboard Collaborate to attend class, you risk automatically be withdrawn from the course.

Again, attendance is required to succeed in the course.  The attendance census report will be completed by 01/23/2024 If you do not attend class, you will be automatically be withdrawn from the course.

Disability Statement: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Disability Services Phone: 806-371-5436 as soon as possible.

Final date to withdraw from the course without a failing grade: 

Calendar

Additional Information

It is the responsibility of the student to check email messages, announcements and the course using AC Connect. Students will submit all assignments and discussions using AC Connect unless noted on the assignment or by the instructor.

Emails to the instructor must be through AC Connect and Blackboard. For any technical difficulties using Blackboard, please call 806-371-5992 for assistance.

The course syllabus is subject to change as needed.