Diverse Issues in Sociology Courses

Dear Students,

As you may be aware, Texas Senate Bill 17 is a law that prohibits Texas public universities from designating
special offices or programs that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, this law does not restrict
instructors from teaching about gender, race, class, and sexuality issues, which are typically addressed in
sociology courses. In other words, Texas House Bill 17 does not apply to classroom instruction and curriculum,
meaning that the content and teaching methods used in this class are designed to adhere to educational
standards and student learning objectives.

This course aims to broaden your knowledge about the social world, which may involve engaging with course
materials and readings that challenge or differ from your personal beliefs. It's important to understand that the
purpose of this course is not to persuade you to adopt any beliefs or values that are contrary to your own. Instead,
our goal is to expose you to various perspectives within sociology to enrich your understanding and critical
thinking skills about society and the human condition.

If the course content is fundamentally at odds with your personal convictions, consider enrolling in an alternative
course. I really hope you remain in this course; however, I respect your decision if you choose otherwise.

Assignments & Course Workload

This course is structured to support your academic success while promoting balance in your personal life.
Assignments are designed to be submitted during the week, with most deadlines falling on Thursdays or Fridays.
This schedule allows you to dedicate weekends to personal time, family, work, or other classes. While this
approach may not work for everyone, it encourages a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, most assignments
can be completed beforehand, allowing you to work at your own pace. Please note that exams will follow a
specific schedule and cannot be completed in advance.

Best regards,

Dr. Phelps

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 SOCI 2336-8W
Spring 2025
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Information
Instructor Dr. K. Phelps
Email [email protected]
Office Location Virtual via WebEx, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
Office Phone 346-416-6602
Student Success (Office) Hours T/W/Th, 11 AM – 2 PM via Email/WebEx/Zoom
Book time with Dr. Phelps
Executive Director of Online Teaching & Learning Dr. Jess Kelly

Course Information
Virtual Course Information
Course Subject & Number SOCI 2336 (8W4)
Course Title Criminology
Course Section 9001
Credit Hours 3
Term and Year Spring 2025: 3/17 – 5/11
Classroom Location Online Via Brightspace (D2L)
Class Days and Times Asynchronous Course
Holiday Spring Holiday, 4/18 - 4/20 (Offices Closed)

Course Overview
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
The course surveys various theories of crime, with an emphasis on understanding the social
causes of criminal behavior. The techniques for measuring crime as a social phenomenon and
the characteristics of criminals are examined. This course addresses crime types (such as
consensual or white-collar crimes), the criminal justice system, and other social responses to
crime.

PREREQUISITES:
Principles of Sociology (SOCI 1301)
CO-REQUISITES: N/A

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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In completing this course, you will: 1) Define key concepts associated with criminology.
2)Identify major criminological theories. 3) Describe the major categories of crime. 4) Explain
the various methodological approaches used to research crime and criminal behavior. 5)
Describe the components and explain the dynamics of the criminal justice system.

COURSE FORMAT:
You are enrolled in an asynchronous online course, meaning the instructor and students do
not meet and interact at the same time and place every week. However, this course is not
self-paced since you have weekly deadlines. All course activities, such as course
communication (e-mails/announcements), assignment submissions, exams/quizzes, etc. will
occur in D2L. This course is designed for high interaction. Again, this is not a self-paced
course where your grade is not contingent upon interaction. Therefore, take the time to
familiarize yourself with the expectations, deadlines, assignments, course deadlines, and
netiquette requirements. Please be aware of fast-approaching deadlines.
This course is designed to provide an online experience of at least 8 hours of online
instruction per week. Online coursework will be completed using Brightspace (D2L). Activities
may consist of presentations, readings, interactive lessons, discussions, quizzes, assignment
submissions, and exams. You will need access to the Internet and a reliable computer.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
In our efforts to prepare students for a changing world, students may be expected to utilize
computer technology while enrolled in classes, certificates, and/or degree programs within
Lone Star College. The specific technology requirements for this course are listed below:
● Access to a dependable computer with Internet connectivity (Required)
● Internet browser (Latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari) (Required)
o Typically, Chrome works best with LSC websites, D2L, & other software.
● Office tools such as Microsoft Office Online (Office 365 is free via LSC) (Required)
● Headset and/or mic and speakers
Technical difficulties are not considered emergencies. Servers go down, transfers time out,
files become corrupt, Wi-Fi is slow… the list goes on and on. This is part of the normal
production process, and any issues you may have with technology are no excuse for late work.
Protect yourself by managing your time, saving your work, and knowing where reliable backup
technology is available (computers with internet access are available in all LSC Campus
libraries for student use). If you encounter a technology issue with D2L, contact technical
support and submit a ticket immediately to the Office of Technology Services (OTS) or via
Virtual Learning Assistance Center (VLAC). Also, email me a copy of your completed
assignment before the deadline to prevent a reduction in points.

Technology & Assignment Submission: Course assignments must be submitted using PDF
format or Microsoft products (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, and Excel). As a student, you have free
access to Microsoft 365 for home use (full version). Please note that assignments submitted in
formats I cannot access will receive a zero. Access the link below to access the website. See
more information in D2L. Please contact the OTS Service desk or call 832.813.6600 (toll-free

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866.614.5014) if you need assistance. The OTS Service Desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, 365 days a year, and manned by Lone Star College employees. Click here for the
Microsoft Link.

Be advised that you will earn a zero for assignments submitted that are empty, blank, or
wrong, or if the document is not in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats (I do not accept
Pages, etc.). You will earn a zero, and the assignment is not eligible for re-submission. It is
your responsibility to double-check your submission. To review submitted assignments, click
the following link: Review your assignment history submission.

If you encounter a technology issue that prevents you from accessing or completing exams,
uploading assignments, or participating in the discussion board, contact the Office of
Technology Services (OTS) or VLAC immediately to submit a ticket to avoid the loss of
points. Forward the response and ticket number to the instructor. Please note that once an
exam has been accessed, the student cannot access the exam a second time. The student
may receive a different exam.

LEARNER TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND DIGITAL LITERACY EXPECTATIONS:

Students need to be comfortable using a computer and learning new technology to keep up
with the online nature of this course. Experience taking online courses is not required, but you
should be informed of the demands required of online learners. The following is a list of
technology skill expectations:
● Understanding of file management
● Basic keyboarding and mouse skills
● Medium comfort level with new application interfaces
● Communicating with email, including attaching files
● Media connectivity, such as webcam, microphone, speaker, and/or headset settings
● Familiar with basic expectations of an online learner, such as logging into the course on
the first day of class.

Students need to be aware of the expected digital literacy skill level and capable of the
following:
● Locate and gather appropriate information via search engines and library databases.
● Evaluate, apply, create, and communicate knowledge via technology.
● Cite information sources.

ONLINE COURSE ACCESS:

MyLonestar
Students’ main point of access for Lone Star College business and academic services is the
MyLonestar portal at https://my.lonestar.edu. There is support on the login page if you have
forgotten your LSC username or password. Once logged in, the link to your online course can
be found via the LSC-Online tile on the homepage.

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D2L Brightspace Access
This course is hosted by the Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace learning management system
and can be accessed from the class login link on the Lone Star College website or the direct
web address https://d2l.lonestar.edu. You will need a Lone Star College username and
password. The online course can also be accessed via the mobile app (Brightspace Pulse).

ONLINE STUDENT ORIENTATION:

If this is your first online course at LSC, you will be required to complete a short online student
orientation course to help familiarize you with the system before accessing your course.

VIRTUAL LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER:

Links to technical support and helpful guides can be found at https://vlac.lonestar.edu.

ONLINE LIBRARY: LSC-Online Library

E-mail for assistance: [email protected]
Library Research Guides & Resources

Course Materials
REQUIRED TEXT(S) AND MATERIALS:

Textbook Title: Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction, 10e (Free)

Edition #: 10th
Author: Frank Schmalleger
Website Link: Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction
Publisher: Pearson
Year: July 2021
ISBN: 9780137498680, ISBN10: 0137498683
Note: Access Code via Email (Receive after purchase)

LSC Bookstore:https://www.lonestar.edu/bookstore
Figure 1: Image depicts front cover of
textbook.

REQUIRED LEARNING MATERIALS:

GSS Data Explorer, Kanopy Video Access, LSC Library Card Access, LSC-Online Library, Microsoft 365,
Microsoft Teams, Adobe PDF

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Important Course Dates

Important Course Dates

Course Start 3/17/25
Course End 5/11/25
Course Length 8 Weeks
Official Day of Record (ODR) 3/24/25
Midpoint Day of Record (MDR) 4/23/25
Withdrawal “W” Deadline 4/25/25
Final Exam http://www.lonestar.edu/examschedule.htm
College Closures (Holidays) Spring Holiday, 4/18 - 4/20 (Offices Closed)

Grade Determination
Course Assessments
Your grade will be determined by the following course requirements:
Be advised that Week 1 assignments are required to remain enrolled in the course.

*Syllabus Quiz: A short online quiz covering important information in the syllabus. It is
required to remain enrolled, and it must be completed to access the weekly modules for the
semester. The syllabus quiz is due on the designated Friday at 11 PM.

Class Participation (Discussion Questions & Video Quizzes) - Class participation in this
class entails participating in weekly discussion boards. The instructor will provide a prompt,
and you will be required to post an original thread that addresses the prompt and comment on
two students’ posts in a substantial way related to the discussion topic. Topics will be assigned
using the D2L discussion tool. Each post will be evaluated for strictly adhering to the
instructions. Rubrics detailing the grading process are in the instructions guide in D2L. Please
note that engaging in discussions and occasionally debating different class topics is welcome
and an important part of your learning. However, disagreements should be expressed with
respect. Comments that are offensive or disrespectful to other students will not be tolerated
and will receive a grade of zero. Class participation also includes the completion of
assignments. Discussion questions are due on the designated Friday at 11 PM.

Video Quizzes: Online video exams will be assigned for some of the videos provided in the
modules. As you watch the video, it will pause to ask questions about previous content. These
are very straightforward multiple-choice and true-false questions. Video quizzes are due on the
designated Friday at 11 PM.

Group Assignments: This course includes a required group assignment designed to enhance
collaborative learning and problem-solving skills. All group activities will take place within the
virtual classroom and the designated discussion forums on our course platform. D2L is a
space for all team members to engage, discuss, and complete assignments effectively.
Participation in these group activities is essential for the successful completion of the course
requirements. The group assignment is due on the designated Friday at 11 PM.

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Social Research Assignments (UX): The exercises utilize real data. Students will
demonstrate their understanding of social issues by analyzing, interpreting, explaining, and
presenting social data. The social research assignment is due the designated Friday at 11 PM.

Chapter Tests: The chapter quizzes will cover chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and
14. The tests may contain questions from related materials, including readings, chapter slides,
video lectures, and guest speakers. The exam will be available for 17 hours (noted on the
course schedule), but once started, the exam must be finished within a time limit. The tests will
be available from 12:01 AM to 11 PM on the designated Friday. These are very straightforward
multiple-choice and true-false questions. Working with classmates is not allowed (you should
not complete the exam using the same IP address). You will need a secure internet
connection. Students are expected to adhere to the College’s Academic Integrity and
Dishonesty Policy.

Professional Enrichment Credit: Receive credit for attending a free professional (e.g.,
conference, seminar, workshop, online training, etc.) or student meeting (e.g., LSC student
government association, library seminar, etc.) or activity (e.g., LSC virtual campus event, etc.).

Tests: Tests cover the assigned weekly chapters and ALL related materials, including
readings, chapter slides, video lectures, and guest speakers. The exam will be available for 23
hours on a Friday (noted on the course schedule), but once started, the exam must be finished
within a time limit. The exam will be available from 12:01 AM to 11 PM on the designated day.
These are very straightforward multiple-choice and true-false questions. Working with
classmates is not allowed (you should not have the same IP address). You will need a secure
internet connection. Students are expected to adhere to the College’s Academic Integrity and
Dishonesty Policy.

Final Exam: The final exam will cover chapters 6, 7, 9, 11, & 12 and ALL related materials,
including readings, chapter slides, video lectures, and guest speakers. The exam will be
available for 23 hours on a Friday (noted on the course schedule), but once started, the exam
must be finished within a time limit. The exam will be available from 12:01 AM to 11 PM on the
designated day. These are very straightforward multiple-choice and true-false questions.
Working with classmates is not allowed (you should not have the same IP address as another
student). You will need a secure internet connection. Students are expected to adhere to the
College’s Academic Integrity and Dishonesty Policy.

Note: Unless otherwise directed, students must use the textbook, not dictionaries, Wikipedia,
Encyclopedias, etc., for source citations. Using sources other than the textbook will result in a
reduction of points.

Course Assessment
Details of required course tasks and activities are provided using the chart below.

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Final Letter Grade
Final course grades will be awarded using the chart provided below.

Final Examinations
A final evaluation activity will occur during the published final evaluation period. The
appropriate dean must approve any variation to this schedule.
http://www.lonestar.edu/examschedule.htm

Instructor & Course Policies

Students are responsible for knowing and following the guidelines and policies for this course.
Attendance

Federal Legislation requires Lone Star College to verify attendance for students who
receive financial aid each semester. If you are receiving financial aid, you must

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participate in an academically related activity in each course by the Official Day of
Record (ODR) of the enrolled semester.
Non-Attendance Drop (NA)
If you do not participate in an academically related activity by the Official Day of Record
(ODR), you will be dropped from your course and may lose financial eligibility for the semester.
Any financial aid funds disbursed to you or your account must be returned to the U.S.
Department of Education.
Academically Related Activities (FSA HB Sept.2019)
Academically related activities include, but are not limited to, physically attending a class
where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied
in the course; participating in an online discussion about academic matters; submitting an
academic assignment; taking an exam, an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction;
or attending a study group that is assigned by the school.
Academically related activities do NOT include activities where a student may be present, but
not academically engaged, such as logging into an online class without active participation,
participating in academic counseling or advisement, living in institutional housing, or
participating in the school’s meal plan.
In a distance education context, logging into an online class is not sufficient by itself to
demonstrate academic attendance by the student. A student must participate in class or
otherwise be engaged in an academically related activity, such as but not limited to,
contributing to an online discussion or contacting a faculty member to ask a course-related
question via approved communication channels. Completion of an online orientation or
syllabus quiz constitutes attendance.
In this course, completing assignments by the deadline is considered academically related
activity and class participation.
Course Attendance Policy
Attendance: You are enrolled in a distance learning course (remote), which means all class
activities will occur online via D2L. Regular attendance is expected for students to complete
the course objectives successfully, including actively logging into the course at least three
times per week, interacting with the instructor/classmates, and completing assignments. The
aforementioned is necessary for classroom interaction as well as being updated on any
changes to the course by the instructor. During the first week of classes, students must log in
to the online class environment (D2L) and complete Week 1 assignments by the deadline
to remain enrolled in the course. Otherwise, students will be dropped from the course.

Course Drop Policy

Student participation and engaging in academically related activities are important to the
successful completion of the course. Due to non-participation between the ODR date and the
course withdrawal date (“W” Day), students may be dropped from the course.

Communication
Your instructor’s responses via email or discussions will be answered within 24-48 hours. This
does not include the weekends or holidays (and campus closures). Although your instructor

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may be checking D2L or email on the weekend, it cannot be guaranteed throughout the
semester. Therefore, inquiries posted or emails sent after 2:00 pm on Thursday might not
be answered before the following Monday. Your instructor will post an announcement if not
available for an extended period.

Use the ‘General Questions’ discussion topic for general course or assignment questions.
There is a good chance a classmate might be able to answer a question before your instructor
does.
Use your instructor’s course email for questions of a personal nature.
Course chat and/or WebEx video conference times will be arranged based on student input.
Course announcements may periodically be posted on the D2L course homepage.

Please post any general questions related to the course content on the D2L discussion board
so that all students can benefit from the responses. Personal concerns, such as questions
about grades or class performance, should be sent by email. You will generally get a response
within 24 - 48 business hours. If you don't get a response within that timeframe, please email
again.

Office Hours/Student Hours

The instructor will host office hours during the fall and spring semesters from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays via email, WebEx/Zoom, discussion boards, and by
appointment. Office hours for summer courses will be offered from 11 AM to 2 PM on
Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Regarding email communication with your instructor:

Make sure that all communications to your instructors represent you in a way you want to be
seen by your instructors. Remember, email is formal written communication and should be
treated as such.
Use a clear subject line. The subject “Sociology Assignment” would work a bit better than
“heeeeelp!” (and much better than the unforgivable blank subject line).

Use a salutation and signature. Instead of jumping right into your message or saying “hey,”
begin with a greeting like “Hello” or “Good afternoon,” and then address your professor by
appropriate title and last name, such as “Prof. Phelps” or “Dr. Phelps.”

Use standard punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar. Instead of writing “idk what 2
rite about in my paper can you help??” try something more like, “I am writing to ask about the
topics you suggested in class yesterday.”

Do your part in solving what you need to solve. Instead of asking, “What’s our homework for
tonight?” you might write, “I looked through the syllabus and course website for this weekend’s
assigned homework, but unfortunately, I am unable to locate it.”

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Be aware of concerns about entitlement. If you appear to demand help, shrug off absences, or
assume late work will be accepted without penalty because you have a good reason, your
professors may see you as irresponsible or presumptuous.

Professional communication will be essential to your future success, so when contacting your
instructor, please adhere to the guidelines above. Emails that do not meet the guidelines may
be politely returned for a second attempt.
Late Work & Make-Up Assessments
Due dates for every assignment and exam are provided in the course syllabus and D2L course
shell. Unless otherwise stated, assignments are due on those days. Any assignment
submitted after the deadline will receive a zero unless the instructor approves prior
arrangements due to an unforeseen emergency. In an unforeseen emergency or when
students are conducting official work or engaging in campus activities, official documentation
(e.g., police report, medical excuse, etc.) must be submitted to the instructor within three
days of the missed assignment or exam. After submitting the official documentation,
students have one week to make up work from the missed assignment or exam date. If a
missed exam occurs, the student may receive a different one. Late work is not accepted in the
last two weeks of class. Note that students cannot retake exams to get better grades. In
addition, students cannot access the exam more than once. Also, work or a change in work
schedule is not considered an emergency.

Students must contact the instructor before missing a scheduled examination. An opportunity
to take a makeup examination will be offered to those who make prior contact with the
instructor. Students are not allowed to make up exams except in the event of an emergency
and absence from student activities (documentation must be submitted to the instructor).
If you encounter a technology issue that prevents you from accessing or completing exams,
uploading assignments, or participating in the discussion board, contact the Office of
Technology Services or VLAC immediately to submit a ticket to avoid the loss of points.
Forward the response and ticket number to the instructor. Please note that once an exam has
been accessed, the student cannot access the exam a second time. The student may receive
a different exam.

Course Policy

Assignment, Quizzes, Discussion Posts, and Exam Submission Deadlines

Weekly Assignments, Activities, and Quizzes

● Original Deadline: Unless stated otherwise, all required assignments, activities, quizzes, and
exams are due on Friday by 11:00 PM.
● Grace Period: There is a grace period between 11:01 PM and 11:59 PM on Friday. During
this time, you may submit your work without any penalty.
● Late Submissions: Assignments submitted after 11:59 PM on Friday are considered late and
will incur a 5% point reduction on the total points of the assignment.

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Extensions and Weekend Submissions

● No Questions Asked Extension: You can submit assignments, activities, quizzes, and exams
until Sunday without filling out the Absence & Emergency Form. Please note:
○ Saturday and Sunday Submissions: Assignments turned in over the weekend will
receive a 5% daily penalty. This means a submission on Saturday will incur a 5%
reduction, and one on Sunday will incur a 10% reduction.
● Post-Weekend Submissions: Assignments, discussion posts, and quizzes submitted after
Sunday require completing the Absence & Emergency Form, which is only acceptable in
documented emergencies or illnesses.

Tests

● Test Deadlines: Tests must be submitted by the deadline.

● Late Tests: Tests submitted after the deadline will receive a 15% point reduction daily until
the test is submitted. This policy is strict due to the importance of these assessments.

Discussion Posts

● Deadline Policy: Discussion posts follow the same policy regarding the original deadline as
other assignments. Ensure posts are completed by the deadline to avoid any penalties.

Additional Notes:

● Responsibility: Your responsibility is to manage your time effectively and ensure that
submissions are made according to the course schedule. Extensions and grace periods are
provided to manage occasional difficulties, but consistent late submissions can significantly
impact your overall grade.
● Communication: If you anticipate difficulty in meeting a deadline, please communicate with me
in advance. While the no-questions-asked extension provides flexibility, proactive
communication helps manage course expectations and your success in the class.

Absence & Emergency Form: Complete the Absence & Emergency form before make-up
work is granted. Please note that students are not automatically granted permission to make
up missed assignments, exams, or quizzes due to an absence or missing assignments/exams.
The instructor approves make-up work on a case-by-case basis.

Be advised that work schedules, scheduled doctor appointments, vacations, wedding

ceremonies, travel, etc., are not considered emergencies. Also, missed
assignments/exams/quizzes are not accepted during the last two weeks of the semester.

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Regarding emergencies, you must provide verifiable documentation of the emergency in the
form. Before considering makeup work, this form must be completed and uploaded to the
D2L Dropbox (Emergency Form). Do not email the form to the instructor.

Submit the form within three days of the missed exam, quiz, or assignment. *Please review
the Absence & Emergency policy and form in D2L.

Note: All assignments must be submitted as an attachment via the Dropbox tool in
Brightspace (D2L). Assignments must be submitted in Word formats (.doc or .docx) or PDF. I
do not accept Pages or other formats. Assignments submitted in other formats will reduce
points if the assignment is re-submitted after the assigned due date. All assignments have
been pre-loaded before the first day of class, which means you can complete assignments
before the due date (except for exams and follow-up discussion posts). You do not have to
submit assignments in order. Please be advised that you have until the day of the assignment
and quizzes to submit for credit. Work will not be accepted beyond the stated due date. All
assignments will occur online unless directed otherwise.
Be advised that you will earn a zero for assignments submitted that are empty, blank, wrong,
or if the document is not in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats (I do not accept Pages, etc.).
You will earn a zero, and the assignment will not be eligible for re-submission. It is your
responsibility to double-check your submission. To review submitted assignments, click the
following link: Review your assignment history submission.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a valuable tool for academic purposes and is permitted in
this course as a supplementary resource for students. AI may assist with generating ideas,
writing pseudo code, creating images, checking grammar, and improving writing skills and
other class-related tasks, but it should not be relied upon solely. Students are expected to
demonstrate independent thinking and analysis and use AI to supplement their work. Any
work submitted must be the student's own, and using AI to generate entire assignments or
portions of assignments is strictly prohibited and will result in academic consequences. To
promote transparency and accountability, students must document their use of AI in their
assignments, including the prompts or instructions they provided to the AI and any
additional notes about the AI's output or their analysis. Plagiarism, including using AI to
generate assignments, not only cheats the student out of learning but is considered a form
of academic misconduct and will result in disciplinary action. For more information on the
appropriate use of instructional resources, please
visit https://www.lonestar.edu/instructional-resources.htm.

Student Behavior
Classroom and online discussions should be civilized, respectful to everyone, and relevant to
the topic we are discussing. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Classroom and online

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discussions are meant to allow us to hear a variety of viewpoints. This can only happen if we
respect each other and our differences.

The Lone Star College Catalog [Student Conduct, Section 562.01d] states, “Disruptive activity
that hinders other students’ learning or deters an instructor from effective teaching will not be
tolerated under any circumstances.”

Students must participate in class discussions, activities, online discussion posts, complete
assignments, etc. Sometimes viewpoints clash, which is fine; however, we must respect
individual opinions. Hateful and hurtful comments towards other individuals, students,
groups, peoples, and/or societies will not be tolerated! Contact the instructor immediately if
you should experience and witness inappropriate comments or discussions within the
discussion posts (hostile or disrespectful students). Send the instructor a screenshot of the
offensive communication and/or language.

Additional Instructor Policy

COURSE REPEAT:
Students repeating the course cannot submit the same assignments as they did in the
previous course.

Syllabus Disclaimer
While every attempt has been made to prepare this syllabus and class schedule in its final
form, it will be your instructor's prerogative to make any changes as may be deemed
necessary in order to meet the learning outcomes of the course. Students will be notified in
writing of any changes.

Lone Star College Policies

Students are encouraged to read the Student Handbook and LSC Catalog for a
comprehensive list of college guidelines, policies, and procedures. On the Lone Star College
Syllabus Policies web page, you will find the most up-to-date versions of LSC policies,
procedures, and student success information. It is your personal, academic, and legal
responsibility to know and adhere to the information provided.
Prominent policies and their corresponding links are provided in the table below.

Policy Description & Link

Lone Star College promotes the importance of personal and academic
Academic Integrity & Dishonesty
honesty from its students, instructors, and faculty members as defined
in the College’s Academic Integrity and Dishonesty Policy. Detailed
information for students can be found in the Academic Integrity
brochure.
Lone Star College students are expected to follow the Student Code of
Student Code of Conduct
Conduct. Violation of conduct policies can result in disciplinary action,
up to and including suspension.
Undergraduate students enrolling as first-time college students at a
Course Withdrawal &
public institution of higher education in Texas will be limited to a total of
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 Policy Description & Link
Six Course Drop Limit six dropped courses during their entire undergraduate career. Lone
Star College uses the term “withdrawal” to refer to a dropped course.
Withdrawals occur between the official day of record (ODR) and the
posted withdrawal “W” day for the course. Withdrawing from a course
will result in a grade of “W” on the official transcript.
Drops/withdrawals prior to the official date are not considered
"dropped" courses and are not posted on the transcript. No credit will
be awarded for a course earning a “W.” It is the student’s responsibility
to withdraw prior to the course’s “W” date. Lack of attendance does not
constitute as a withdrawal.
Course evaluations are the students’ opportunity to provide feedback
Course Evaluation
about their experience in the course. The evaluation questionnaire can
be accessed through “Links” under the Student menu in myLoneStar.
An academic appeal is a formal request brought by a student to change
Academic Appeals
a grade or to challenge a penalty imposed for violation of standards of
academic integrity. A request to change a grade or to challenge a
penalty must be made within twelve months of the action. Detailed
information can be found on the College’s
Student Complaints page.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal
Family Educational Rights and
law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under
Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA, records may not be released without consent of the student.
Additionally, Lone Star College is permitted to release certain “directory
information” without student consent. Detailed information and consent
form may be found on the LSC FERPA page.
Title IX is Federal legislation that helps protect individuals from
Title IX
discrimination, including but not limited to, acts of harassment and
violence, based on sex in education programs or activities. Lone Star
College strives to create and provide a safe and supportive learning
environment for all students following the guidelines under Title IX.
Detailed information can be found on the College’s Title IX page.
Lone Star College is committed to providing a safe environment
College Safety & Security
in which to learn, study, and work. The LSC Police Department
provides information and resources related to the College’s safety and
emergency procedures.
Lone Star College has established rules and regulations regarding
Campus Carry
enforcement of the Texas “Campus Carry” law. LSC prohibits
concealed carry in some areas of LSC campuses, known as exclusion
zones. Detailed information can be found on the LSC Campus Carry
page.
Law strictly prohibits unauthorized copying of software purchased by
Software Piracy
Lone Star College for use in laboratories. LSC administration will take
appropriate disciplinary action against anyone violating copyright laws.
Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using portable data
Computer Virus Protection
storage devices (USB drive, SD card) on more than one computer
creates the possibility of infecting computers and devices with a
computer virus. This exposes the computers of the campus, your
personal computer, and any others you may be using to potentially
damaging viruses. The campus has aggressive anti-virus procedures in
place to protect its computers but cannot guarantee that a virus might
not temporarily infect one of its machines. It is your responsibility to
protect all computers under your control and use and ensure that each

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 Policy Description & Link
storage device you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been
scanned with anti-virus software. Since new viruses arise continually,
your anti-virus software must be kept current. And, since no anti-virus
software will find every virus, keeping copies of data (backups) is
extremely important.

Student Support Services

One of our cultural beliefs is Student Focused, which means Lone Star College is committed to
your success. If you are experiencing challenges achieving your goals academically or
personally, please know that Lone Star College has resources to support you. The table below
lists the support services available to students. Additional resources may be found on the
Virtual Learner Assistance Center (VLAC) page or the Student Services website.

Student Service Description & Link

Lone Star College provides Advisors and Counselors to support
Advising & Counseling
students achieve academic success.
Disability Services (DS) assists students by determining and
Disability Services &
recommending appropriate academic support services. A student
Accommodations (ADA)
requesting accommodations for a disability must contact the Disability
Services office to register for services. VLAC has a section on
Accessibility that includes instructions for assistive technology tools
available through D2L.
LSC Libraries support the educational experience by providing a
Library
variety of resources, services, and programs. For a full list of services
provided by the Library, please visit the Library Services:
Students page.
Lone Star College Testing Centers provide a variety of testing
Testing Centers
services to students. For more information on Testing Center services
and locations, please visit the Testing Centers page.
The Office of Technology Services provides software that students
Software Available for Home Use
may use at home to support their success in their courses. Review the
Software for Home Use Article to access all available software.
Tutoring and learning support services are available to students
Tutoring &
throughout the Lone Star College system. Detailed information is
Learning Centers provided on the Tutoring and Learning Center pages.
For a comprehensive list of services offered by Lone Star College,
More Student Services
please visit the main Student Services page.

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 Tentative Course Schedule
The course schedule contains an outline of course topics and activities by week.
The course calendar is also in the Syllabus module (under START HERE!) in D2L.

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