OREN 105 – The Tusculum Experience

Syllabus

Professor: Corinne Nicolas Email: cnicolas@tusculum.edu Classroom Location: Virginia 216

Office: Virginia 308B Office phone: Ext. 5652 Office hours: M: 9-11 a.m., T: 8-9 a.m., W: 11a.m.-12p.m.. Th: 8-9 a.m., By appointments

Course Description: An interactive course designed to assist students in the academic and social transitions associated with life at Tusculum College. This course, which spans over two blocks, emphasizes the skills and resources essential for students’ academic success and personal growth, and serves as an introduction to the Tusculum College community. Throughout the course, students will engage in community-building exercises, and build interpersonal skills. They will be encouraged to use reflection to identify personal strengths and weaknesses, and identify educational and career goals. They will also participate in a community service project. –1 Credit hour

Commons Curriculum Outcomes

This course is part of Tusculum’s General education Curriculum, the Commons Program. It addresses the following Commons outcomes

- Students can identify information needs and to locate and evaluate information sources in traditional and electronic forms

- Students can communicate and interact civilly within diverse groups and under different social circumstances.

- Students are aware of the structures and contributions of the arts including the role of creativity and imagination in reflecting and shaping society.

-Students are aware of how their physical, emotional, and mental well-being is inter-connected to that of their communities

- Students have examined their lives, have developed habits of on-going reflection, and understand the relationship between their lives and the life of the community.

Course objectives:

1. To become acquainted with the Tusculum College community.

The following topics will be addressed: the history, heritage and mission of Tusculum College; ways to establish a productive relationship with your academic advisor and professors; academic and social policies at Tusculum College; the advising and registration process.

2. To provide use of , knowledge of and access to campus support staff and programs.
3. To become acquainted with the purpose of a Liberal Arts Education and the Civic Arts.

Topics: History and ideals of engaged citizenship and liberal arts education; Available resources and opportunities for involvement in the civic arts.

4. To participate in community service.
5. To assess and inventory current strengths and areas for growth.

Topics: Learning and teaching styles; Multicultural and interdisciplinary ways of knowing; Goal setting.

6. To explore and enhance transferable academic, personal, and career skills

This includes: Appropriate study skills for their academic topics; Wellness issues that contribute to academic and personal success; Various applications of technology as they relate to the college journey, including campus email system, the internet, and the critical evaluation of information technology.

7. To identify and apply interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills.

Topics: Informal and formal methods of critical thinking, including decision making and problem solving; Diversity issues that affect the individual, college and community.

8. To attend at least two events in the Arts and Lecture Series.

Topic: Appreciation for the impact of the visual arts on society and social change.

Required Materials:

Ellis, John. Becoming a Master Student.

Package of Index Cards

Journal

Tusculum College Catalog 2005-2006

Tusculum College Handbook 2005-06

Field Experiences: You will attend at least two Arts and Lecture Series events during Block 1.

You will participate in a community service project on Nettie Day, August 9^th.

You will attend a library orientation session. (Date to be announced.)

You will visit the Doak Museum. (Date to be announced.)

Assignments:

1. Quizzes: You should expect a quiz at every class session. Quizzes will usually take the form of short answer questions drawn from assigned readings in the Master Student.
2. Homework: You will be assigned homework in the Master Students for every class session. I will collect and grade your work for completion and understanding of major concepts. You will also complete a reflection journal. I will grade each journal entry for completion and demonstrated careful thinking.
3. Class contract: This portion of the grade includes
1. Class Participation as well as participation to required events. Your participation grade will be based on the following criteria:

9-10 points: Excellent (always makes contributions to group work and discussions/ always on task/ well-prepared/ always on time)

8-8.5 points: Good (actively engaged in group work/ contributes to class discussions regularly/ well prepared/ always on task/ always on time)

7 -7.5 points: Average (engaged in the group work most of the time/ on time/ usually prepared/ contributes to discussions)

6-6.5 points: Fair (reluctant to talk/ minimum involvement/ participation is not always relevant)

<5.5 points: Poor (not active/ always late or absent/ regularly unprepared/off task/ disruptive

2. Active Participation in Required Events: Two Arts and Lecture Series events, Library Visit, Museum Visit.
3. Active participation in Nettie Day
3. Goals Presentation: On the last day of this course, you will present the academic and career goals you set during the block. This will be a formal presentation.

Competencies:

Activities to develop Analytical Reading, Public Speaking and Civility are built into the course.

Grading

20 % Class Contract:

-Class participation /10 points

-Attendance to events /4 points

-Participation in Nettie Day /6 points

30% Journal/homework /30 points

50% Mastery of course outcomes

- 8 quizzes (5 points each) /35 points

- Goals Presentation: /10 points

Total: /100 points

The following grading scale will apply:

93-100 A 90-92 A-

80-82 B- 83-86 B 87-89 B+

70-72 C- 73-76 C 77-79 C+

60-66 D 67-69 D+ Below 60 F

How to earn an A in this course:

First, you must be committed to get a college education.

Attend class everyday. (The quickest way to an F is to miss more than three times this block (This includes the two Orientation sessions).

o Complete all the reading assignments,

o Complete all the homework assignments,

o Participate in class.

o Participate in the service project,

o Meet with your advisor as scheduled.

o Be prepared for class,

o Never sleep in class!.

Behavioral Expectations:

While I will occasionally lecture, most class sessions will involve directed discussions, individual and group activities. You are expected to come to class prepared, which means:

-you have read the assigned reading materials,

-you have completed the homework assignments,

-you have your own book, a pen and paper,

-you come to class on time,

-you are awake and active.

Classroom discussions should be civilized and respectful to everyone and relevant to the topic we are discussing. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Classroom discussion is meant to allow us to hear a variety of viewpoints. This can only happen if we respect each other and our differences.

Any continued disruption of class will result in a report to the Associate Dean of Students for a conduct code infraction. After one warning, if the disruption continues, you will be asked to leave the classroom for the remainder of class.

Class attendance:

You must attend all classes sessions. Except for Nettie Day, we will meet from 9:00 until 10:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week during block 1.

A maximum of three excused absences will be tolerated. Two times tardy or two early departures (5 minutes or longer) will count as one absence. You are responsible for all work and assignments missed during absences.

Excused absences are absences due to college-sponsored events (i.e. games).

In case of an excused absence, you are expected to present your homework and to make up the work you missed within a period of one day after you come back. After that period, you will receive an F for the work.

Quizzes cannot be made up.

Each unexcused absence will bring your final grade down a letter grade.

If you are absent more than three times, whether with a valid excuse or not, you will fail the course.

Cheating and Plagiarism Policy: You are expected to do your own work. Cheating, plagiarism and any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Please refer to the Tusculum College Student Handbook and Catalog for the expectations which all students must observe. Grade penalty that will be issued to you should you be found guilty of academic dishonesty will be (F in course, F on assignment, 1 letter grade lower in course, redo assignment, etc.).

Learning Center : The Advising Center, which also houses the Disabilities Office, is located in Room 100 in Annie Hogan Byrd. Please contact the Disabilities Offices for any disability-related services or inquiries.

If you need extra help with the course, don’t wait. Go to the Tusculum Advising Center or contact Jill Jones at (423) 636-7300 ext. 5683, or 1-800-729-0256 ext. 651. You may also email directly at jjones@tusculum.edu.

Block One Schedule

Date	Outcomes	Homework
8/12/05 Orientation	Know everyone’s name Establish rapport Build community Address Questions/Overview Reflection on date rape presentation	NA
8/13/05 Orientation	Getting ready for class Saturday August 13^th. Prepare for first classroom experience
8/16/05—Learning Styles	Identify learning style and how it effects you in the classroom	Read “Making Transitions” Chapter: pp. 3-4, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14, 16, 18-19, 25-26, 33-36-52. Complete the Discovery Wheel Exercise, and the Learning Style Inventory exercise. Bring your Block 1 course syllabus to class.
8/18/05—Class Contract	Collaborate with peers on a project Develop positive relationships with peers Assume responsibility for own learning Apply the theory of learning styles Create class banner	Paper: Educational Biography Journal entry 6 p. 61. Start Time Management Chart p. 62-66. Read pp. 248-260.
8/20/05—Arts and Lecture Series 7 p.m. Note: You must attend at least TWO Arts and Lecture Series events this block	Deivika Nrityam: The Dance Divine
8/23/05—College Skills	Define and demonstrate civility Evaluate personal time-management (Lifeline p. 94) Identify and apply active reading strategies	Continue Time Management Chart Journal entry 7 p. 67 Ex. 7 p. 69 Be prepared to tell the class which article you find most helpful in Chap. 2 and why you found it helpful. Read pp. 135-146. Journal entry 11 p. 146.
8/25/05—College Skills	Identify and apply note-taking strategies Identify test taking strategies	Test taking: Read pp188-200. Prepare quiz p. 213. Prepare journal entry 12 p. 159. Read pp. 160-169, 172-177
8/28/05—Arts and Lecture Series 2 p.m. Note: You must attend at least TWO Arts and Lecture Series events this block	World's Greatest Chamber Music
8/30/05—Multicultural Ways of Knowing __Arts and Lecture Series: Civic Arts Speaker: 7:30 p.m.*	Identify various viewpoints resulting from an individual’s background, culture and education Identify the complexity of human diversity including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age and physical abilities Distinguish between interdisciplinary ways of knowing	Read pp. 217-233. Complete ex. 20 p. 234. Read pp. 281-293, 300-301.
9/1/05—Civic Engagement	Define civic arts in the framework of the history of Tusculum College/Commons
9/4/05—Arts and Lecture Series 2 p.m. Note: You must attend at least TWO Arts and Lecture Series events this block	"Ananse! Early in the Day"
9/5/05—Civic Engagement	Identify ways to be involved in the community Assess and strengthen self-awareness and personal skills related to service and leadership Understand expectations of representing TC in the community activity	Journal entry: Describe an experience with community volunteering. Read pp. 383-388, 294-297.
9/8/05 Nettie Day 8:30-12:30	Participate in a service opportunity and use reflection to identify learning
8/10/05 Celebrations/ New OREN Class		Journal entry: Describe your Nettie Day experience, and explained what you learned.
Library Visit Date to be announced.
Museum Visit: Date to be announced.