I. Locator Information

VI. Course Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

Grade: You will earn points for each written assignment and activity required in the course as indicated above. Your final grade will be a percentage calculated by dividing the total pointed earned by 1000. The percentage will be converted into a letter grade as follows:

Interim Grades: Instructors will submit interim grades early in the semester if your attendance or academic performance becomes a matter of concern. At midterm instructors will submit Interim grades to indicate how you are doing in the course.  Interim Grades are not part of your permanent record and do not affect GPA. However, an X will become an FN at the end of the term if it is not removed.

Class Attendance Requirements: - University College expects regular attendance and participation. Unexcused absences will be penalized as follows:

• Late Arrivals and Early Departures: You must not only attend class, but you must arrive on time and remain in class for the entire period. Two unexcused late arrivals or early departures will count as one absence for the purpose of the attendance policy.
• Excused absences: Absences due to participation in university-sponsored activities, family medical emergencies, and personal illness will normally be excused if proper documentation is provided to the instructor. Other absences will be excused at the discretion of the instructor.
• Appointments, Meetings that Conflict with Class: Please note that you should not schedule appointments with a doctor or dentist or anyone else that conflict with your class time. Such excuses for missing class will be accepted by the instructor only if you provide documentation that the appointment was an emergency or that there were no more scheduling options.
• Policy on Missed Assignments, In-Class Activities, and Tests: Assignments will not normally be accepted late, and students will not normally be permitted to make up missed in-class assignments or tests. Exceptions will be made at the discretion of the instructor and will require appropriate documentation for illness, family emergency, or participation in University-sponsored activities.
• Policy on Missed University Programs: Students in Freshman Seminar are required to participate in several University Programs throughout the semester. Since information about these programs is provided far in advance, students are expected to arrange their schedules to attend these programs. For students who have documented, emergency conflicts with these programs, make-up work (usually attendance at another program) may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.

Expectations for Classroom Behavior: The instructor will respect all students and will make every effort to maintain a classroom climate that promotes learning for all students. Students must accept their responsibility for maintaining a positive classroom environment by abiding by the following rules:

1. Students are expected to arrive to class on time. Students may not leave or prepare to leave class until dismissed.
2. Students are not permitted to sleep in class.
3. Student/teacher relationships, as well as relationships among peers, must be respectful at all times.
4. Students are not permitted to wear headphones or other paraphernalia that may be distracting to the classroom environment.
5. Students must refrain from any activity that will disrupt the class. Cell phones, pagers, iPods, Blackberries, and other electronic devices are a distraction to the learning process and can be used to aid academic dishonesty. Therefore, they must be turned off and stowed out of sight for the duration of class time. If there is an emergency that requires you to be accessible during class, let me know ahead of time, set your phone to silent, and excuse yourself quietly if it should ring.
6. Students are not permitted to use profanity in the classroom. 
7. Students should not pass notes or carry on private conversations while class is being conducted.

Consequences of failing to abide by these rules: The first time a student breaks one of these rules, the instructor will warn him or her privately, either after class (in person, e-mail, telephone, or private note) or before the next class. (The instructor reserves the right to warn the student publicly if the activity disrupts class.) The second time a student breaks the rule, ten points will be deducted from the student's next assignment grade. Students who repeatedly violate these rules will be subject to disciplinary actions according to the FSU Code of Student Conduct.

College Reading and Integrated Study Skills (CRISS) Lab

Students whose placement scores, high school GPA and SAT verbal score indicate a need for academic support are required to attend the CRISS Lab. CRISS lab attendance is mandatory for assigned students until they demonstrate proficiency through examination or portfolio. Unexcused absence from the lab counts as an absence in UNIV 101/102. Students who accumulate a total of more than four unexcused absences in the lab will forfeit ½ of the points earned in the lab. Students earn points for performance, participation and attendance in the CRISS up to a maximum of 200 points in UNIV 101 and 100 points in UNIV 102. These points are included in the final grade for UNIV 101 and UNIV 102. Assigned students whose work in the lab for UNIV 101 indicates a need for continuing academic support will receive a grade for UNIV 101 based on the points earned in the seminar and lab. However, they will be required to attend lab sessions during UNIV 102. Students required to attend the lab in UNIV 102 who fail to do so will accrue unexcused absences and fail UNIV 102.

Academic Honesty: University College expects students to adhere to the FSU Code of Student Conduct, which can be found in the FSU Student Handbook distributed to all students in Freshman Seminar. Academic dishonesty is defined as "the giving, taking, or presenting of information or material by a student with the intent of unethically or fraudulently aiding oneself or another on any work which is to be considered in the determination of a grade or the completion of academic requirements" (Handbook, SC-3). This includes cheating, plagiarizing, and helping others do so.  Do your own work, and if you do get help, make sure you document it. Students should complete all assignments by themselves unless their instructor explicitly tells them they can work with others. Violations will be treated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Handbook.

In UNIV 101, students are required to:

1. Have daily access to the course textbook and an FSU catalog.
2. Attend all classes and required university programs;
3. Be in class on time each day;
4. Complete all assignments and tests in accordance with the assignment schedule;
5. Complete all surveys and questionnaires;
6. Contribute positively to the learning experience of other students
7. Refer to the syllabus and Academic Planner daily to keep informed of upcoming assignments;
8. Access the course website as needed to obtain course documents and complete online assignments.
9. Check e-mail daily for communications from your instructor and other university officials.

VII.  Academic Support Resources

Students have access to many academic support resources to help them succeed in Freshman Seminar:

1. The University College Learning Center (HTC 216C) provides peer tutoring in writing.
2. Smarthinking is an online tutorial service that also provides assistance with writing.
3. The CRISS Lab is also open to all students.

VIII. Course Outline and Assignment Schedule

Readings should be completed prior to the class in which they are discussed. Unless otherwise specified, assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Reading and assignment dates may vary slightly depending on the pace of the class and other scheduled activities. Instructors will announce any adjustments to the schedule in class. You are responsible for keeping up with assignments. If you miss a class for any reason, contact the instructor. Numbers in parentheses refer to the objective and competency served by this activity. All course activities serve specific course objectives.

Note: Flex Class Periods: These class periods are included at the end to accommodate the visits, tests, and surveys that classes will have so that these activities will not have an adverse effect on coursework. Flex hours are built in to prevent disruption of the flow of instruction in the Seminar classes. Flex hours can occur anywhere in the semester’s schedule. Several surveys are planned for the classes as well as visits.

FYI Events: Students are required to attend three FYI events on the University College Calendar, or other events approved in advance by the instructor. Each event is worth up to twenty-five points. Students must show proof of attendance at each event. To receive full credit, students must write a Cultural Event Reaction Essay (2.5). To receive any credit, students must turn in all materials no later than one week after each event.

VIII. Teaching Strategies

A variety of teaching strategies will be used in this class. The strategies that will be used most often are:

1. small group discussion and projects;
2. peer review and evaluation of student work;
3. computer assisted learning programs;
4. visits to various campus resources;
5. student presentations;
6. review of video and audio tapes;
7. lecture.

IX. Bibliography

• Carter, Carol, et.al. Keys to Success. Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2000.
• Chafee, John. The Thinker's Guide to College Success. 2d ed. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1999.
• DeLucia, Robert C. Urban Learners: Serious About College Success. 3d ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2003.
• Gardner, John. Your College Experience. 6th ed. New York: Wadsworth, 2005.
• Heiman, Marcia. Success in College and Beyond. Cambridge, MA: Learning to Learn, 1995.
• McGrath, Jane L. Building Strategies for College Reading: A Text with Thematic Reader. 3d ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.
• Reynolds, Jean A. Succeeding in College: Study Skills and Strategies. 2d ed. Needham Heights: Allen and Bacon, 2002.