LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS

Academic Studies

ENGL, 2326, American Literature, 90S

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name Byron Lumpkin
Building/Office Number Academic Center (AC), Room 111
Office Hours Monday/Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Tuesday/Thursday: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Virtual Hours Friday: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Office Telephone (409) 883-7750
Email Address Byron.Lumpkin@lsco.edu


Course Description

ENGL 2326 3-3-0 American Literature (23.1402) Selected significant works of American literature. May include study of movements, schools, or periods. Prerequisite: ENGL 1301. AC.


Required Textbook & Materials

Upon registration for classes, LSCO students are automatically charged $14 per semester credit hour for access to all required textbooks, lab manuals, lab codes, and electronic books on the first day of class through the Gator Book Pack. Information about the LSCO Gator Book Pack as well as responses to common FAQs can be found on LSCO's webpage. ALL STUDENTS WILL HAVE UNTIL THE SECOND DAY OF THE SEMESTER TO OPT-OUT OF THE GATOR BOOK PACK.

Every student MUST have access to the required textbooks by the week of class. The student will be responsible for all assignments given. Failure to have a text may result in being dropped from the class. Failure to follow instructions (written or oral) will result in penalties.


Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will acquire the following course learning outcomes:

Core Objectives

Course Level Learning Outcomes (ACGM or WECM) Core Objective  
 
Associated Course Activities/Assignments/Projects
Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions. Critical Thinking, Social Responsibility Study.com lessons, Online Journal Writing Assignments, In-Class Discussion and Work, Exams, Critical Literary Analysis Essay
Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social, political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods. Critical Thinking; Social Responsibility Reading Assignments, Online Journal Writing Assignments, In-Class Discussion and Work
Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during different historical periods or in different regions.
 		 Critical Thinking; Social Responsibility Online Journal Writing Assignments, In-Class Discussion and Work, Exams, Critical Literary Analysis Essay
Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
 		 Critical Thinking; Communication; Personal Responsibility In-Class Discussions and Work, Online Journal Writing Assignments, Critical Literary Analysis Essay
Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature. Communication; Critical Thinking; Personal Responsibility Online Journal Writing Assignments, Critical Literary Analysis Essay, In-Class Work




Course Topical Outline

Weekly Schedule for American Literature 2326
(“Hyflex” 8-Week Term)

The schedule below contains the major and minor assignments of the course; it does not contain course readings. Course readings and other assignment information will be found in each weekly module. Assignments are bolded below:

 

Week 1 Module (October 23-29)

  • Introduction to Course: Review syllabus and course goals
  • Historical Lecture - The Birth of America
  • Begin Unit 1: Colonial and Early National Period
  • Textbook Readings:
    • “Beginnings to 1820 - Introduction":
      • Questions of Identity
      • Exploring Origins
      • Literary Backgrounds and Consequences of 1492
      • Literary New England
      • Enlightenment Ideals
      • Pursuing Happiness
      • Timeline
    • John Smith's:
      • “A Description of New England”
  • Week 1 Study.com Assignments due

Week 2 Module (October 30-November 5)
  • Complete Unit 1: Colonial and Early National Period
  • Textbook Readings:
    • Anne Bradstreet’s poems:
      • “The Prologue”
      • “The Author to Her Book”
      • “Before the Birth of One of Her Children”
      • “To My Dear and Loving Husband”
      • “A Letter to Her Husband”
      • “Upon the Burning of Our House”
    • Benjamin Franklin’s
      • “Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One”
      • “Information to Those Who Would Remove to America”
      • “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America”
    • J. Hector St. Jean de Crevecouer’s Letters from an American Farmer:
      • Letter III. “What is an American?”
      • Letter IX. “Description of Charles-Town; Thoughts on Slavery; on Physical Evil; A Melancholy Scene”
  • Online Quiz for Week 2
  • Journal Writing Assignment #1 due
  • Week 2 Study.com Assignments due

Week 3 Module (November 6-12)
  • Begin Unit 2: Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and American Gothic
  • Textbook Readings:
    • Ralph Waldo Emerson's:
      • “Self-Reliance”
    • Henry David Thoreau's:
      • Walden, Chapter 2, “Where I Lived and What I Lived For”
    • Washington Irving's:
      • “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
    • Nathaniel Hawthorne's:
      • “Rappaccini’s Daughter"
  • Week 3 Study.com Assignments due

Week 4 Module (November 13-19)

 
  • Complete Unit 2: Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and American Gothic
  • Textbook Readings:
    • Edgar Allan Poe's:
      • "The Fall of the House of Usher”
      • “The Masque of the Red Death”
  • Online Quiz for Week 3 & 4
  • Journal Writing Assignment #2 due
  • Week 4 Study.com Assignments due

Week 5 Module (November 20-26)

 
  • Module merged with Week 6
  • Carry over assignments from Week 4 due Wednesday, November 22nd, at the latest.

Week 6 Module (November 27-December 3)

 
  • Complete Unit 3: Realism and Naturalism
  • Begin Unit 4: Modernism, Postmodernism, and Contemporary
  • Textbook Readings for Unit 3: Realism and Naturalism Era
    • Bret Harte's short story:
      • "The Luck of Roaring Camp”
    • Emily Dickinson’s poems:
      • 112, “Success is counted sweetest”
      • 269, “Wild Nights, Wild Nights”
      • 372, “After great pain”
      • 409, “The Soul selects her own society”
      • 479, “Because I could not stop for death”
      • 1096, “A narrow fellow in the grass”
      • 1773, “My life closed twice”
    • Robert Frost’s poems:
      • “Mending Wall”
      • “Home Burial”
      • “The Road Not Taken”
      • “Out, Out –”
      • “Fire and Ice”
      • “Nothing Gold Can Stay”
      • “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
      • “Desert Places”
    • Walt Whitman’s poems:
      • “Song of Myself”
  • Textbook Readings for Unit 4: Modernism, Postmodernism, Contemporary 
    • Flannery O'Connor's short story:
      • "A Good Man is Hard to Fiind"
    • Junot Diaz's short story:
      • "Drown"
    • William Carlos Williams' poems:
      • “The Young Housewife”
      • “Portrait of a Lady”
      • “The Red Wheelbarrow”
      • “This is Just to Say”
    • T.S. Eliot’s poem:
      • “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
    • Langston Hughes' poems:
      • “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”
      • “Mother to Son”
      • “I, Too”
  • Week 6 Study.com Assignments due

Week 7 Module (December 4-10)

 
  • Complete Unit 4: Modernism, Postmodernism, and Contemporary
  • Textbook Readings:
    • Ursula K. Le Guin's short story

      • “Schrödinger’s Cat”
    • Billy Collins’s poem:
      • “Forgetfulness”
    • Adrienne Riche’s poem:
      • “I am in Danger—Sir—”
    • Anne Sexton’s poem:
      • “The Starry Night”
    • Juan Felipe Herrera’s poem:
      • “Half-Mexican”
    • Tracy K. Smith’s poem:
      • “My God, It’s Full of Stars” 3. [Perhaps the greatest error is believing we are alone]
  • Online Quiz for Week 5, 6, & 7
  • Journal Writing Assignment #4 due
  • Stage 1 of Literary Analysis Essay due: Proposed Thesis
  • Week 7 Study.com Assignment due

Week 8 Module (December 11-13)

 
  • Term Wrap Up (All course assignments due on December 11th)
  • Stage 2 of Literary Analysis Essay due: Full Essay (with Works Cited)
  • Final Exam due (comprehensive material over Week 1-7)
  • Reflection Letter – Final Assignment due

 

NOTE: The instructor can and will change the syllabus, assignments, and policies of the course if they see fit for the progression of the course. This means that over the duration of the term, the dates, assignment requirements, and any other course information can change if the instructor feels that it must.

 


 




Major Assignments Schedule

See schedule above.


Final Exam Date

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COURSE POLICIES

Academic Honesty

Faculty who suspect violation of academic honesty, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, or abuse of resource materials may assign an academic penalty. Students must be notified of their right to appeal before the academic penalty is imposed.

Students subject to penalty due to academic honesty have the right to appeal the decision. Refer to the current LSCO Catalog for details on the appeal process.



Electronic Communication

LSCO students are required to use either their LSCO Blackboard account or their LSCO email account (Office 365 / Microsoft Outlook) for all electronic communication. In order to ensure the privacy and identity of the student communicating via electronic methods, LSCO faculty will direct students to use their LSCO email accounts rather than personal accounts. If a student has trouble accessing their LSCO email account, they should contact the LSCO Help Desk at (409) 882-3033 or helpdesk@lsco.edu.




Attendance Requirements

Federal regulations require students who receive financial aid to have begun "attending" and participate substantially in each course for which they are enrolled on or before the official census reporting date outlined on the LSCO Academic Calendar. Students documented as "not attending" a course upon the census date are assumed (for financial aid purposes) to have not begun attendance for that course, negatively affecting their financial aid eligibility and disbursement.

Attendance in an ONLINE course is verified by substantial participation in the course on or before the census date published in the LSCO Academic Calendar. Substantial participation in this online course is defined as logging in and completing/participating in at least one requirement of the course. Note: Simply logging in to your online course does not constitute attendance.

Hybrid classes are a mix of face-to-face and online environments. Students will be expected to attend a certain number of classes as required by the instructor. (Include the policy on absences and tardiness.) In addition to classroom attendance, your weekly active participation in the online component (Blackboard and/or homework software) will be considered and expected.

Attendance Policy
Attendance for the course is mandatory; 100 points will be accrued over the semester and combined with the student's overall grade. Students who attend class 100% over the semester will be granted 50 bonus points toward their overall grade. These bonus points will be applied at the end of the semester.

Since this is a "hyflex" course, students can either attend class in person or view the lecture online presently. The professor will be sure to count students who attend lectures virtually. 

IMPORTANT: If a student is to miss class(es), they are to send an email to the professor so that they may be marked "excused" and mandatory points not be deducted from their grade. The student should enter their name and course they attend for the term in the email to the professor. If a student fails to notify the professor, their points will be deducted. 


Make-up Work Policy

24-Hour Late Policy
Please note that there is a 24-hour late window that allows students to submit late work within 24 hours after an assignment’s due date. After the 24-hour period, the student starts off an assignment at an 85% grade. Please contact the professor for any questions or concerns regarding this.


Classroom Etiquette


Exam Policy

Exams for this course will be taken online in Blackboard. They will be composed of multiple choice questions and short essay response questions. Each exam will have a time limit. There are a total of three Unit Exams and one Final Exam.


Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Students should use AI technology responsibly and ethically. This includes refraining from using AI to engage in harmful or unethical activities, such as generating false information, spreading misinformation, or engaging in malicious behaviors. The use of AI should align with the principles of academic integrity, honesty, and respect for others. Students are responsible for adhering to LSCO's Academic Honesty policy found in the Student Handbook. LSCO's full AI policy can be found at AI Policy | Lamar State College Orange (lsco.edu)


Expected Time Requirement for this Course

For every hour in class (or unit of credit) taught in a 16-week session, students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. Example: For a 3-credit hour class taught in a 16-week session, students should prepare to allocate approximately 6 to 9 hours per week outside of class studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit hour taught in a 10-week summer session, students should prepare to allocate approximately 10 to 15 hours per week outside of class studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit hour taught in an 8-week session, students should prepare to allocate approximately 12 to 18 hours per week outside of class studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit hour taught in a 5-week summer session, students should prepare to allocate approximately 20 to 29 hours per week outside of class studying and completing assignments.


Grading and Evaluation Method

Grade Determination (Point System) for American Literature 2326
(“Hyflex” 8-Week Term)
 
This American Literature course will be divided into weekly modules where the student will be provided course materials, information about assignments, documents, and links to other types of coursework.
 
The student's grade will be determined by compiling scores on exams (objective and short essay), online quizzes, readings, a critical literary analysis essay (a combined proposed thesis/”Works Cited” and critical essay), a reflection letter, final exam, and other assignments the professor sees fit for the course. The course assignments include:
Total Course Points = 1,050 points
 
Attendance- Attendance for the course is mandatory; 100 points will be accrued over the semester. Students who attend class 100% will be granted 50 bonus points toward their overall grade. Students can attend class physically or virtually.
 
Study.com- Study.com is a virtual classroom that will be free to the studentupon an account creation. Students will have a series of lessons each week that will be composed of videos and quizzes. The points accrued for the assignments will be an averaged running total (100 points). Students can retake the quizzes however many times they like; the average accumulated will be the grade. This means that students can keep re-taking the quizzes until they reach a 100% average for each week. However, if students wish to settle for a lesser grade, that is up to them. Understanding these requirements is crucial for student success. Please contact the professor with any questions or concerns.
 
Online Journal Writing Assignments - These online journal writings will be submitted online in Blackboard and individually completed as the semester unfolds. They will be a great aid in helping the student examine and interpret course texts and materials.
 
Online Weekly Quizzes - These quizzes will concern the readings of each week and will be multiple choice, ranging from 10 to 20 questions. The student will complete these quizzes in Blackboard in the specific "Online Weekly Quizzes" folder located in the "Assignments" section of Blackboard.

Critical Literary Analysis Essay -This essay will be composed between 4-12 pages (submitted in Blackboard). The assignment will be produced in two stages where the student will 1.) Produce a thesis with a proposed “Works Cited” 2.) Produce a critical essay that involves researching credible sources and arguing a position of a particular literary work(s).
 
Final Exam - This comprehensive exam will be taken online on Blackboard and will be comprised of multiple choice and short essay questions over Weeks 1-7.
 
Final Assignment (Reflection Letter) -This is the Reflection Letter of the course. It is an open letter to the professor where the student can give feedback on the course (submitted in Blackboard). The student can write about materials, assignments, and their overall course journey.
 
24-Hour Late Policy - Please note that there is a 24-hour late window that allows students to submit late work within 24 hours after an assignment’s due date.After the 24-hour period, the student starts off an assignment at an 85% grade.
 
It is also heavily advised for the student to use the tutoring program called “Upswing”. This free online tutoring program is offered by LSCO; more information about the program can be found in the course “Information” tab on Blackboard. “Upswing” allows the student to upload an essay/paper to a specific or random tutor. This tutor will then contact the student and give edited feedback.
 
Submitting Assignments: When submitting any assignments for this course (whether they be the essay, journal writings, or other assignments), submit them to the Blackboard system through a desktop or laptop computer. Sometimes, submitting work through a phone or tablet can glitch and the student may have to restart the assignment. This can lead to frustration and annoyance. Also, when submitting essays or papers through a mobile device, the formatting may not be the same and full content may not transfer over into the Blackboard system. If you do not have a computer (desktop or laptop) at home, please use the library computers to submit any coursework. Also, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor if you do not have a personal computer (desktop or laptop). 

Instructor Response Time

The instructor will respond to emails within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. On weekends and holidays, the instructor will respond to emails from students within 24 hours of the first business day following the weekend or holiday.


Participation Requirements

Weekly participation and engagement in the course is important for student success. Students are expected to spend three hours a week reviewing course work and additional hours completing the assignments. Assignments should be completed by the due date. Students should also refer to the instructor’s attendance policy for additional information. (See LSCO Student Handbook, Class Attendance)


Review of Test Grades

If the student has an issue with his/her grade, the instructor must be contacted no later than three (3) days after receiving the grade.



Student's Responsibility

This syllabus contains information, policies, and procedures for a specific course. By enrolling, the student agrees to read, understand, and abide by the rules, policies, regulations, and ethical standards of Lamar State College Orange as those contained in the current LSCO Catalog and schedule of classes.


Syllabus Content

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus if deemed necessary. All changes will be provided to the students orally or in writing before the implementation of the change.


Textbook and Required Materials Access

Every student MUST have access to the required textbooks by the second week of class. The student will be responsible for all assignments given. Failure to have a text may result in being dropped from the class. Failure to follow instructions (written or oral) will result in penalties.


STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

Mental Health Resources

TimelyCare is a virtual health and well-being platform that is available 24/7 for all non-dual credit enrolled LSCO students. There is no cost to eligible students for this service. TimelyCare’s providers offer emotional support, mental health counseling, health coaching, psychiatry, and basic needs support. Non-Dual Credit students enrolled in classes can log in to the TimelyCare website or app available at timelycare.com/LSCO.


Advocacy Information

Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is encouraged to contact the advising office for guidance on how to identify possible resources. Please notify the instructor of your circumstance if you are comfortable doing so.


Affirmative Action

LSCO is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution which provides educational and employment opportunities on the basis of merit and without discrimination or harassment in full compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 503,504); Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; the Vietnam Era Veterans Assistance Act of 1974; Article 522lk V.A.C.S.; and Executive Orders 11246 and 11758.


Title IX of the Education Amendments

LSCO prohibits discrimination, including sexual harassment and retaliation, against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Any student who believes that he or she has experienced prohibited conduct or believes that another student has experienced prohibited conduct should immediately report the alleged acts to the Title IX Coordinator, Patty Collins, at patty.collins@lsco.edu.


Blackboard Resources

LSCO students will access Blackboard through the MyGator portal. Login credentials will use the following format: username@my.lsco.edu and Password. For help in identifying your Username/Password, visit https://www2.lsco.edu/sspr/.

Blackboard student resource videos and help-sites are available at https://www.lsco.edu/distanceed/blackboard-student.asp.


Career Coach

Lamar State College Orange provides career advising services to all students and alumni through Career Coach, an online career planning tool. Career Coach assists students through all phases of developing, initiating, and implementing career plans.

Information regarding employment opportunities and career options are provided along with access to live local job postings. Full-time and part-time employment opportunities, as well as internships, are available through Career Coach. Visit https://www.lsco.edu/advising/career-planning.asp for more details on how to use LSCO's Career Coach to plan for and learn more about your future career.


Gator Assistance Services

Lamar State College Orange provides currently enrolled technical students support for daycare costs as well as other services.

Visit https://www.lsco.edu/advising/gator-assistance.asp for details on assistance services.


Gator Success Center

Students are encouraged to make an appointment or walk in to receive tutoring, support services, or access to an open computer lab. Face-to-face and online supplemental instruction sessions are available to help students through any LSCO course. Reach out to learning.center@lsco.edu for more information on how students can receive academic support.


Library Services

Students are encouraged to visit library.lsco.edu to find the library's current operating hours, access the catalog to locate print materials, and access GatorSearch to explore the vast electronic collection. The library provides over 77 electronic database collections that include eBooks, newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and streaming video. The physical library contains a specialized collection of research materials specifically chosen to support the degrees and courses offered. Additionally, Students with research questions or questions about library services are encouraged visit the library in person, call 409-882-3352, access the chat on the library webpage, or to email their question to lscolibrary@lsco.edu.


Student with Disabilities

Under the Texas State System, Lamar State College Orange complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, pertaining to the provision of reasonable academic adjustments/auxiliary aids for students with disability. We strive to provide reasonable academic adjustments/auxiliary aids to students who request and require them.

Students who believe they have a disability requiring an academic adjustment/auxiliary aid are encouraged to contact the Special Populations Advisor at (409) 882-3393 or visiting the Advising Office located on the first floor of the Ron Lewis Library Building (RLB) room 113. Students are encouraged to apply before the start of the semester when at all possible. The Accommodation Request Form and details regarding the appropriate documentation needed can be found here: https://www.lsco.edu/advising/disability.asp. Once approved, the signed accommodation form provided by the Special Populations Advisor must be submitted to the instructor at least two business days in advance of need.


Upswing 24/7 FREE Tutoring Services

Lamar State College Orange provides currently enrolled students with access to online tutoring through a partnership with Upswing, an online tutoring platform. Tutors are available 24/7 online in almost every subject.

Visit https://www.lsco.edu/tutoring/online-tutoring.asp for details on how to log-in to the FREE services.


INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Campus Closure

In the event of an emergency campus closure in excess of three class days, Lamar State College Orange's classes will continue via the use of Blackboard. In such an instance, the college website, www.lsco.edu, will have information concerning the event and anticipated re-opening plans.


Civility

Please be considerate of other classmates' feelings, ethnic background, cultural differences, situations, and level of maturity. Students will be asked to leave the course if disruptive or inappropriate behavior is exhibited in any of the course requirements. If your instructor feels that you have not contributed appropriately to course requirements, your final course grade may be reduced accordingly.

The instructor reserves the right to manage a positive learning environment and will not tolerate inappropriate conduct in the course. Rude correspondence (discourteous or impolite, especially in a deliberate way) in e-mails, telephone calls, in person, or comments made to other class members, the instructor, or the office staff.


Contingency Plans

Students should develop a backup plan should their computer system or their Internet provider fail. Computer or internet connectivity issues are not valid excuses for missing a deadline. The College provides many opportunities for using computer equipment, as do many public libraries. Refer to the LSCO website for operational hours of the Library and Success Center.


COVID Notification Policy

Students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 are required to report their condition to their instructor and to the College via the COVID Notification Form. Guidance on how to proceed will be delivered to the student's email after completing the required notification form.


Credit Transfer

Students should check in advance with the institution to which they plan to transfer credit to confirm transferability.


Criminal Background Policy

LSCO awards some certificates and degrees in which a criminal history MAY disqualify candidates from becoming licensed, certified, and/or employed upon degree/certificate completion. Students with a criminal background enrolling in courses leading to a degree/certificate in Criminal Justice, Cosmetology, Emergency Medical Technology, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Vocational Nursing (VN), Registered Nursing (RN), Pharmacy Technician, Real Estate, or Teacher Preparation program are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to discuss the certification and/or licensing regulations of the program with the program director listed in order to learn more about the current guidelines related to criminal history as well as the right of individuals to request a criminal history evaluation letter.


Drops and Withdrawals

Never attending or ceasing to attend classes DOES NOT constitute a drop or withdrawal. You remain registered until you request a drop from the instructor. Failure to act in a timely manner will result in an "F" grade for the course. It is the student's responsibility to follow up with the LSCO advising office to ensure that all drops/withdrawals are processed as desired.


Grade of "Incomplete"

The grade of "I" may be given when any requirement of the course, including the final examination, is not completed. Students seeking an incomplete should have completed 75% of the course requirements and be passing the course at the time of the request. Arrangements to complete deficiencies in a course should be made in advance of the end of the semester with the instructor. The instructor will process the Incomplete form online, and a confirmation will be sent to the student's LSCO email.

Incomplete work must be finished during the next long semester. If not, the Office of Admission and Records must change the "I" grade to the grade of "F." The course must then be repeated if credit is desired. An "I" grade also automatically becomes an "F" if the student registers for the course prior to removing the deficiencies and receiving a grade change. The instructor may record the grade of "F" for a student who is absent from the final examination and is not passing the course.


Grade Appeals and the Academic Grievance Process

Grade determination and awarding of grades in a course are the responsibility of the instructor and should be calculated according to college policy, procedures, and written details provided in the course syllabus. NOTE: Final grades are available to students within 48 hours of the instructor posting the grade in Banner. Students may view final grades by logging into MyGator and then accessing Gator Self-Service.

An academic appeal process is afforded to students who desire to dispute a grade or any decision that affects the student's ability to complete and earn a grade for the course provided it is not related to a violation outlined in the LSCO Student Code of Conduct. If an informal conference with the faculty member regarding an academic complaint fails to reach the outcome requested by the student, the student may initiate the formal process outlined below. Even after initiating the formal complaint process, students are encouraged to seek informal resolution of their concerns. A student whose concerns are resolved may withdraw a formal complaint at any time.

Refer to the current catalog or for details on the formal grade appeal process.


Institutional Educational Goals

Lamar State College Orange has identified seven educational goals to specify the knowledge and skills that students should gain from completing academic and technical programs with the College. These goals are:

  1. Critical thinking (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to demonstrate creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.
  2. Communication (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to effectively develop, interpret and express of ideas through written, oral and visual communication.
  3. Empirical and quantitative skills (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to manipulate and analyze numerical data or observable facts and create informed conclusions.
  4. Teamwork (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.
  5. Social responsibility (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to recognize and acquire a sense of intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national and global communities.
  6. Personal responsibility (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making.
  7. Professional competency (Technical) - Students will be able to recognize or demonstrate skills and that depict professional values and employability. If the career has licensure or certification requirements, students may prepare for the licensure and certification in a capstone course and sit for the licensure or certificate at the end of the program.

MyGator and Log-In Credentials

Current students will access many LSCO applications through the MyGator portal. Login credentials will use the following format: username@my.lsco.edu/Password. For help in identifying your username/Password, visit https://www2.lsco.edu/sspr/.

It is a violation of College policy, state laws, and federal laws for anyone to gain or help others gain unauthorized access to MyGator or any LSCO application or service. All accounts shall be for use by a single individual - the person for whom the account was approved or assigned. This includes Blackboard accounts as well as any application within MyGator. Sharing or loaning accounts is strictly prohibited, can be construed as a form of cheating, and violates College policy, state laws, and federal laws.


Policies and Procedures

LSCO adheres to the policies and procedures established in the Texas Education Code, Texas State University System Rules and Regulations, LSCO Faculty Handbook, LSCO Student Handbook, and LSCO Catalog.


Prohibited Items in the Classroom

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. It is inappropriate for minor children to be on campus due to the potential liability to the College, the risk of harm to the children, and decreased employee productivity due to distractions and disruptions.


Student Privacy

The privacy of all students, including Distance Education students, is protected through strict adherence to the rules of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. LSCO's statement regarding the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act can be found in LSCO's Student Handbook, page 70. Additional information regarding privacy for Distance Education students can be found in the Distance Education Handbook, appendix D.