MAC 1105 -- College Algebra
Course Syllabus
St. Petersburg College
Summer 2012

Professor:
   Sharon L. Morrison, M.Ed                                         Office:  Clearwater Campus, NM 132 
   Phone:  727-791-2564                                              Fax:  727-444-6286
   Email:   morrison.sharon@spcollege.edu

Academic Department
   Dean:  Sharon Griggs                                             Academic Chair:  Jimmy Chang
   Office Location:  SPG, SA-215B                            Office Location:  CL, NM 120
   Office Number:  727-341-4305                               Office Number:  727-791-2542

Prerequisite:
MAT 1033 (Intermediate Algebra) or appropriate score on the St. Petersburg College (SPC) College Placement Test (CPT) 

Textbook:  College Algebra:  Essentials, 3/e, Robert Blitzer, Prentice Hall
                     Hardcopy textbook only:  9780321577818
                     eBook textbook bundled with MyMathLab:  9780321562043 
                     May be purchased at one of SPC's bookstores (http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/bookstore.htm)
                     Graphing Calculator (TI - 83+) is strongly recommended

Required Course Sites:
(1)  Every course at SPC has an ANGEL site with all course information and support located at http://angel.spcollege.edu/ or accessed through MySPC.  You are expected to become familiar with our course site by perusing the folders and content available as you will be responsible for all assigned content.

(2)  Additionally, if you choose, your textbook may come packaged with the required online supplement to the curriculum for this course called MyMathLab (MML).  Click on the link in ANGEL under the Lessons tab and follow the process for registering at the MML site.  You must have both the (a) student access key which is shrink-wrapped with every new text or which can be purchased online at http://www.coursecompass.com/ccindex.html and (b) our specific course code which is available in the MyMathLab folder in our ANGEL course site.  You will be required to complete Unit Homework Quizzes located in MML as part of your overall course grade.  Additionally, part of your course grade consists in completing the section homework problems.  This curriculum site contains the full text as an e-Book, video lectures, tutorials on practice problems, study plans created by the section homework, and practice tests.  If you do not choose to purchase a hardcopy of the textbook, MML access is certainly complete with all resources you will need to be successful.

Course Description:
Major topics include: functions and functional notation; domains and ranges of functions; graphs of functions and relations; operations on functions; inverse functions; linear, quadratic and rational functions; absolute value and radical functions; exponential and logarithmic properties, functions and equations; systems of equations and inequalities; applications such as curve fitting, modeling, optimization, exponential and logarithmic growth and decay.  A complete set of course objectives can be found by following this link: http://www.spcollege.edu/clw/math_science/courses/MAC1105.htm. Three (3) credits and 47 contact hours.

Major Learning Outcomes:
(1)  The student will demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts of algebra when determining characteristics and properties of relations and functions and performing processes.
(2)  The student will demonstrate the ability to solve and graph a variety of equations and inequalities, relations and functions.
(3)  The student will demonstrate understanding of the concepts of this course.

Attendance Policy:
This is a very serious matter: Instructors are expected to verify that students are in attendance during the first two weeks of class.  Students classified as “No Show” for both of the first two weeks will be administratively withdrawn with a grade of ‘W.’  Regular class attendance is expected of all students in order for you to avail yourself of every opportunity for success.  For Fall and Spring terms, the maximum number of class absences is 4, and for the Summer term, the maximum is 3.  If you accumulate over that number of absences for any reason prior to the withdrawal deadline of June 22, 2012, you will be strongly encouraged to withdraw from the course as the likelihood of you succeeding in this class is forfeited by your lack of participation. You will no longer be withdrawn automatically by your instructor, so be very aware of the withdrawal deadline. 

Immediately following the withdrawal deadline (60% point of the term), each instructor is expected to verify which students are actively participating in class as defined in this Course Syllabus.  Students classified as not meeting the criteria for active class participation will be administratively withdrawn with a ‘WF’ punitive grade.  Active class participation for this class is defined as being within the instructor-stated allotted required attendance as outlined in the paragraph above and being on schedule (due dates can be found under the Schedule Tab).  If a student fails to attend class regularly (exceeding the standard set by the instructor) and/or is not "on schedule" by taking at least two of Tests 1 – 3 and completing at least two of the Unit Homework Quizzes in MML, he/she will be classified as not actively participating.  Students will be able to withdraw themselves at any time during the term; however, requests submitted after the 60% deadline will result in a ‘WF’.  Students and instructors will automatically receive an e-mail notification to their SPC email whenever a withdrawal occurs.

Remember, the last day to withdraw this semester with a grade of ‘W’ is June 22, 2012!

For access to the college academic calendar, click on this link: http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/admit/dates2.htm.  There you will find the last day by which a student may withdraw with a grade of W which does not impact your overall GPA. As a point of clarification, the Drop/Add period only lasts the first week of classes.  Only during that first week will you be eligible to receive a tuition refund for dropping this course.  Should you need to withdraw following the first week of class and prior to the last date for a student-initiated withdrawal, there is an Online Withdrawal Form available at http://www1.spcollege.edu/onlineforms/rfwform/rfwForm.html.  Early withdrawal from courses might result in financial penalties for students receiving financial aid.  As a reminder, since you registered for this course, your transcript will reflect a grade.  Consider the fact that W or WF grades are not a positive reflection on you both for your future academic career and your future life career.

All electronic devices such as cell phones, beepers, pagers, and related devices are to be turned off

prior to entering the classroom, library, and labs to avoid disruption.

Use of any device in these areas is a violation of College Policy and subject to disciplinary action.

Every enrolled student has the right to a comfortable setting conducive to learning,

so classroom mutual respect is in order at all times.

Grading Policy:
Unit Tests (50% of your overall grade):  There will be a total of 5 chapter tests this semester. Types and modes of testing may vary, so be sure you are aware of any classroom or email announcements. No make-up tests are allowed; however, the score on your Final Exam will be used to replace your lowest test grade.  For all tests, there is a set of practice problems in ANGEL that you can use in preparation for the actual test in addition to completing all homework and the practice chapter test in the text or in MML. 

Test Review Practice Problems (10% of your overall grade):  For each chapter test you will find additional practice problems in our ANGEL course site.  Do these reviews as many times as you choose throughout the semester as your highest score will be used in your overall course grade; however, these are supplementary problems and do not necessarily reflect questions on the chapter test itself.

Unit Homework Quizzes (20% of your overall grade):  There will be 5 chapter required homework quizzes in MML  In order to be successful in completing these unit assignments, first practice the section problems assigned in MML 

Final Exam (20% of your overall grade):   At the conclusion of the course, a comprehensive cumulative Final Exam will be required of all students to show proficiency in the stated course objectives.  You are expected to pass the exam.

Final grades will be calculated based on the following scale and distribution:
 
  Test Reviews:  10%
  Unit Tests:  50%
  Unit Homework Quizzes:  20%
  Final:  20%       

A

90 - 100

B

80 -  89

C

70 -  79

D

60 -  69

F

 < 60

Communication in ANGEL:
   Course email:  Use the email system embedded in ANGEL to communicate with me as often student emails to my college email get placed in my spam folder and may go undetected.  Also, it is easier to keep track of all student emails in ANGEL.  There is an html editor available in the email screen which will allow us to more easily share mathematical questions and problems involving fractions, radicals, exponents, etc.  You should familiarize yourself with that functionality to make mathematical communication on specific problems more understandable by both you and me.
   Discussion board:  There may be occasional discussion postings which I expect you to read and respond to.

Extra Help:
I am available for questions during office hours which are posted outside my office door (NM 132 – Clearwater Campus) or located on my college website at http://it.spcollege.edu/course_info/.  There is a Resource folder in our ANGEL course site which contains various options for help that you can avail yourself of.  Free tutoring is available on all of SPC's campuses in the Learning Support Commons. 

Technical Support:
    SPC technical support:    1-727-341-4357 or onlinehelp@spcollege.edu or http://www.spcollege.edu/helpdesk/
    MyMathLab technical support:  http://info.coursecompass.com/website/support.html

Repeat Course Policy:
For clarification regarding state policy resulting in the 3rd attempt rule, be sure to check out this link: http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/Current/acad_average.htm.

Academic Honesty:
All students are required to abide by the following Academic Honesty Guidelines:  Each student is required to subscribe to the Guidelines upon registration each semester by signing the following pledge which is contained on the Registration and Drop/Add Form: "I understand that SPC expects its students to be honest in all of their academic work.  I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the College."  A copy of this form can be obtained at the Office of the Registrar.  Non-compliance will almost certainly result in a grade of ‘F’ being assigned as the semester grade.  Please consult your student handbook and the college catalog for further information concerning academic honesty.  There is an on-line summary at http://www.spjc.edu/webcentral/admit/honesty.htm.


Disability Statement:
If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability (http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/Current/ossd.htm), please make an appointment with the Learning Support Specialist on any SPC campus.  If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing.  The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities can be reached at 727-791-2628 or 727-791-2710 (Clearwater Campus), 727-341-4758 (St. Pete/Gibbs Campus), 727-394-6108 (Seminole Campus), or 727-712-5789 (Tarpon Springs Campus).


FDLE Statement:
Federal and state law requires a person designated as a "sexual predator or offender" to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).  The FDLE then is required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends or is employed by an institution of higher learning. Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an institution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus, by calling the FDLE hotline at 1-888-FL-Predator (1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website at http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/.  If there are questions or concerns regarding personal safety, please contact the Provost, Associate Provost, Campus Security Officer or Site Administrator on any SPC campus.


Federal Guidelines Related to Financial Aid and Total Withdrawal From the College:
The U.S. Department of Education has implemented rules for students who obtain a Pell Grant, Stafford Loan and/or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and subsequently totally withdraw from the college.  The rule requires you to refund to the Department of Education a portion of your financial aid if you completely withdraw from St. Petersburg College prior to the 60% point in the session.  You also may be required to repay funds to the College.  Should you consider totally withdrawing from all classes before this date, it is important that you consult the Scholarships & Student Financial Assistance office on your home campus to understand your options and the consequences of total withdrawal.

Counseling Information:
At all times, students may visit the SPC Counseling/Advising area (http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/admit/advising.htm) on a first come/first served basis.  Appointments may be scheduled during non-peak registration times.  As a reminder, students who are near completion of their degree requirements need to APPLY for graduation at the start of their last semester. Visit the Counseling/Advising area for complete academic planning and transfer information.

Emergency Preparedness:
In the event that a hurricane or other natural disaster causes significant damage to St. Petersburg College facilities, you may be provided the opportunity to complete your course work online.  Following the event, please visit the college web site for an announcement of the College’s plan to resume operations.  Log in to ANGEL to confirm that you have access, reporting any difficulty to the SPC Student Technical Call Center at 727-341-4357 or via email at Onlinehelp@spcollege.edu.