LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS

Science

GEOL, 1403, Physical Geology, 80F

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name	Karen Stelly
Building/Office Number	Online Only,
Office Hours	By phone only; I live in South Carolina so I do not have an office on campus. 409-554-3493 9am-9pm Monday -Sunday By phone only; I live in South Carolina so I do not have an office on campus. 409-554-3493 9am-4pm text or call; 7pm-9pm text only Monday -Sunday
Virtual Hours	By phone only; I live in South Carolina so I do not have an office on campus. 409-554-3493 9am-9pm Monday -Sunday By phone only; I live in South Carolina so I do not have an office on campus. 409-554-3493 9am-4pm text or call; 7pm-9pm text only Monday -Sunday
Office Telephone	(409) 883-7750
Email Address	karen.stelly@lsco.edu
Course Schedule	Building: Online, Room: TBA, Dates: 8/26/2024 - 10/16/2024, Days: TBA, Times: TBA
Course Description	GEOL 1403 Physical Geology (40.0601) 4-3-2 Principles of physical geology. Study of the earth's composition, structure, and internal and external processes. Topics include minerals, rocks, weathering, soils, mineral resources, erosion, sediment depositions, crustal motions, ground water, caves, beach, etc. 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

Program-Level Outcomes

Course-Level Outcomes

1. Describe how the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth’s structure and processes.
2. Interpret the origin and distribution of minerals, rocks and geologic resources.
3. Describe the theory of plate tectonics and its relationship to the formation and distribution of Earth’s crustal features.
4. Quantify the rates of physical and chemical processes acting on Earth and how these processes fit into the context of geologic time.
5. Communicate how surface processes are driven by interactions among Earth’s systems (e.g., the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere).
6. Identify and describe the internal structure and dynamics of Earth.
7. Describe the interaction of humans with Earth (e.g., resource development or hazard assessment).

1. Classify rocks and minerals based on chemical composition, physical properties, and origin.
2. Apply knowledge of topographic maps to quantify geometrical aspects of topography.
3. Identify landforms on maps, diagrams, and/or photographs and explain the processes that created them.
4. Differentiate the types of plate boundaries and their associated features on maps and profiles and explain the processes that occur at each type of boundary.
5. Identify basic structural features on maps, block diagrams and cross sections and infer how they were created.
6. Demonstrate the collection, analysis, and reporting of data.

Course Topical Outline

All assignments, discussion background, and tests come from http://opengeology.org/textbook/

Week and date	Reading Lecture Textbook Discussion	Lecture Topic Discussion Topic	Lecture Due Dates Discussion Due Dates
Week 1 Aug 26	Lecture Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3	Understanding Science Plate Tectonics Minerals
	Discussion Board	Introductions	Due during Week 1
Week 2 Sept 2	Chapter 4 Chapter 5	Igneous Processes and Volcanoes Weathering, Erosion, and Sedimentary Rocks	Assignment 1 due Sept 8   TEST 1 Chapters 1-5 due Sept 8
	DQ 1	Discussion Tectonics and Volcanoes	Due Thursday Sept 5
Week 3 Sept 9	Chapter 6 Chapter 7	Metamorphic Rocks Geologic Time
	DQ 2	Discussion Rocks	Due Thursday Sept 12
Any work from weeks 1 and 2 not completed by end of week 3 will not be graded.
Week 4 Sept 16	Chapter 8 Chapter 9	Earth History Crustal Deformation and earthquakes	Assignment 2 due Sept 22 TEST 2 Chapters 6-9 due Sept 22
Week 5 Sept 23	Chapter 10	Mass Wasting
	DQ 3	Discussion Mass Wasting	Due Thursday Sept 26
Any work from weeks 3 and 4 not completed by end of week 5 will not be graded.
Week 6 Sept 30	Chapter 11 Chapter 12	Water Coastlines	Assignment 3 due Oct 6 TEST 3 Chapters 10-12 due Oct 6
	DQ 4	Discussion Problems with the Oceans	Due Thursday Oct 3
Week 7 Oct 7	Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15	Deserts Glaciers Global Climate Change
	DQ 5	Discussion Climate Change	Due Thursday Oct 10
Any work from weeks 5 and 6 not completed by end of week 7 will not be graded.
Week 8 Oct 14	Chapter 16   MONDAY AND TUESDAY ONLY	Energy and Mineral Resources	Assignment 4 due TUESDAY Oct 15   TEST 4 Chapters 13-16 Due  TUESDAY Oct 15
Any work from weeks 7 and 8 not completed by Oct 15 will not be graded.
FINAL EXAM	Comprehensive	FINAL EXAM	Due by FRIDAY Oct 18

 
All lab assignments and quizzes come from the PowerPoints

Week and date	Lab Materials	Lab Assignment	Lab Due Dates
Week 1 Aug 26	Lab 1 PowerPoints (ppt)	*** Acquire Lab Rock/Mineral Samples  Scientific Process, Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics	These will be used for Lab 2   Lab 1 due Sept 1
Week 2 Sept 2	Lab 2 ppts Rock and Mineral Identification Guides Rock and Mineral box	Minerals and Rocks	Quiz 1 due Sept 8
Week 3 Sept 9	Continue Lab 2		Lab 2 due Sept 15
Any work from weeks 1 and 2 not completed by end of week 3 will not be graded.
Week 4 Sept 16	Lab 3 ppt	Geologic Structures and Time	Lab 3 due Sept 22 Quiz 2 due Sept 22
Week 5 Sept 23	Lab 4 ppt Maps	Topographic Map Reading	Lab 4 due Sept 29 Quiz 3 due Sept 29
Any work from weeks 3 and 4 not completed by end of week 5 will not be graded.
Week 6 Sept 30	Lab 5 ppt Maps	Streams and Coastlines	Lab 5 due Oct 6 Quiz 4 due Oct 6
Week 7 Oct 7	Lab 6 ppt Maps	Karst And Desert Topography	Lab 6 due Oct 13 Quiz 5 due Oct 13
Any work from weeks 5 and 6 not completed by end of week 7 will not be graded.
Week 8 Oct 14			Quiz 6 due TUESDAY Oct 15
Any work from weeks 7 and 8 not completed by end day Oct 15 will not be graded.

 





Major Assignments Schedule

All assignments, discussion background, and tests come from http://opengeology.org/textbook/

Week and date	Reading Lecture Textbook Discussion	Lecture Topic Discussion Topic	Lecture Due Dates Discussion Due Dates
Week 1 Aug 26	Lecture Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3	Understanding Science Plate Tectonics Minerals
	Discussion Board	Introductions	Due during Week 1
Week 2 Sept 2	Chapter 4 Chapter 5	Igneous Processes and Volcanoes Weathering, Erosion, and Sedimentary Rocks	Assignment 1 due Sept 8   TEST 1 Chapters 1-5 due Sept 8
	DQ 1	Discussion Tectonics and Volcanoes	Due Thursday Sept 5
Week 3 Sept 9	Chapter 6 Chapter 7	Metamorphic Rocks Geologic Time
	DQ 2	Discussion Rocks	Due Thursday Sept 12
Any work from weeks 1 and 2 not completed by end of week 3 will not be graded.
Week 4 Sept 16	Chapter 8 Chapter 9	Earth History Crustal Deformation and earthquakes	Assignment 2 due Sept 22 TEST 2 Chapters 6-9 due Sept 22
Week 5 Sept 23	Chapter 10	Mass Wasting
	DQ 3	Discussion Mass Wasting	Due Thursday Sept 26
Any work from weeks 3 and 4 not completed by end of week 5 will not be graded.
Week 6 Sept 30	Chapter 11 Chapter 12	Water Coastlines	Assignment 3 due Oct 6 TEST 3 Chapters 10-12 due Oct 6
	DQ 4	Discussion Problems with the Oceans	Due Thursday Oct 3
Week 7 Oct 7	Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15	Deserts Glaciers Global Climate Change
	DQ 5	Discussion Climate Change	Due Thursday Oct 10
Any work from weeks 5 and 6 not completed by end of week 7 will not be graded.
Week 8 Oct 14	Chapter 16   MONDAY AND TUESDAY ONLY	Energy and Mineral Resources	Assignment 4 due TUESDAY Oct 15   TEST 4 Chapters 13-16 Due  TUESDAY Oct 15
Any work from weeks 7 and 8 not completed by Oct 15 will not be graded.
FINAL EXAM	Comprehensive	FINAL EXAM	Due by FRIDAY Oct 18

 
All lab assignments and quizzes come from the PowerPoints

Week and date	Lab Materials	Lab Assignment	Lab Due Dates
Week 1 Aug 26	Lab 1 PowerPoints (ppt)	*** Acquire Lab Rock/Mineral Samples  Scientific Process, Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics	These will be used for Lab 2   Lab 1 due Sept 1
Week 2 Sept 2	Lab 2 ppts Rock and Mineral Identification Guides Rock and Mineral box	Minerals and Rocks	Quiz 1 due Sept 8
Week 3 Sept 9	Continue Lab 2		Lab 2 due Sept 15
Any work from weeks 1 and 2 not completed by end of week 3 will not be graded.
Week 4 Sept 16	Lab 3 ppt	Geologic Structures and Time	Lab 3 due Sept 22 Quiz 2 due Sept 22
Week 5 Sept 23	Lab 4 ppt Maps	Topographic Map Reading	Lab 4 due Sept 29 Quiz 3 due Sept 29
Any work from weeks 3 and 4 not completed by end of week 5 will not be graded.
Week 6 Sept 30	Lab 5 ppt Maps	Streams and Coastlines	Lab 5 due Oct 6 Quiz 4 due Oct 6
Week 7 Oct 7	Lab 6 ppt Maps	Karst And Desert Topography	Lab 6 due Oct 13 Quiz 5 due Oct 13
Any work from weeks 5 and 6 not completed by end of week 7 will not be graded.
Week 8 Oct 14			Quiz 6 due TUESDAY Oct 15
Any work from weeks 7 and 8 not completed by end day Oct 15 will not be graded.

 



Final Exam Date

October 18, 2024 - 12:00 AM   Through  October 18, 2024 - 11:59 PM


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.
Plagiarism and cheating is not acceptable in this class, and will be dealt with by way of substantial point loss up to irreplaceable zeros.

Warning

Due to the passing around of various labs in the past, there are select grossly incorrect answers which, if seen, will result in 10 points lost for those specific questions. If more than three of those grossly incorrect answers show up in one paper, the entire paper will earn 0 (zero) points without opportunity to re-do. If you get -5, it's because the answer cannot be found on the map in question, and -3 for any stream direction indicated as 'downstream' or 'upstream', or otherwise not found in the provided materials (lab book or powerpoints). If you have questions, please ask me. 

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.

OTHER POLICIES

• Technology Requirements

  • You must have a computer with Windows 10 or above, MacOSX 10.13 or above, ChromeOS or more recent.
  • You must have a computer with a camera and microphone for proctored test taking. All tests and quizzes will be proctored with BioSig.
  • You must have MS Office, specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
  • If you do not have Office already you can use the free version in your school email Outlook, but you must save your document to your computer and not the cloud, I cannot open those. Alternatively, you can down load a free version called OpenOffice available at https://www.openoffice.org/download/
  • You must have a printer with scanner OR phone with camera for the purpose of making a digital image of some lab work

  **I cannot open a .pages file, google docs, or other cloud link, and neither can Blackboard. If you do not have Word on your computer (PC or Mac), please download the free version from the link above

• Discussion Rules of Engagement

  **Rules do not apply to introduction.

  **BB Ultra will automatically award zeros if you do not post your initial response by Thursday! IGNORE THAT! Participation is due after the initial responses so that you have time to read over the posts to find something to respond to. As always, early is good, and an automatic zero can be by-passed.

  Each point earning discussion is set up in 3 specific parts.

  The purpose of discussion is to exchange ideas and demonstrate a deeper level of learning and understanding of the topic. Please carefully review all of these rules and rubric.

  Response to discussion question (DQ) is due no later than Thursday of each discussion week (early is always good!). Students must reply to two (2) peers each discussion week for participation points by Sunday of the same week. Participation posts may be posted any of the 7 days of the given discussion week. The DQ response is worth 20 points, and each follow up reply to peers is worth 15 points each. Initial DQ responses posted between Friday and Sunday will lose 1 point per day. Discussion after the end of the given discussion week will lose 10 points per week after the given discussion week. Grammar and spelling count.

  Point earning responses to the DQ must address each part of the DQ, be as thorough as possible, with a minimum of 100-150 words. Grammar and spelling count. 

  Point earning participation posts must add something new to the topic in 75-100 words. Search the internet for something related to the topic you are responding to. Share a relevant website, pose a thought provoking question deeper than 'did you know...?', share a personal experience if you can. Things that DO NOT constitute substantive are complimenting a post, thanking a classmate, agreeing with a classmate, or irrelevant commentary. Any part of your participation posts that meet these factors do not count towards the length requirement.

  Always support your statements with logic and sound arguments, citing any sources referenced. Post your initial response early and check back often to continue the discussion. 

  A few words about courtesy. We all need to be polite. I don’t think any one of us would like to be the recipient of rudeness. Below are some pointers about proper netiquette: 

  • Know where you are in cyberspace
  • Respect other people's time
  • Make yourself look good online (spelling and grammar count)
  • Share expert knowledge
  • Help keep flame wars under control
  • Respect other people's privacy
  • Be forgiving of other people's mistakes
  • Don’t be judgmental

   

Make-up Work Policy




Classroom Etiquette

• Online - Since face-to-face meetings in the classroom may be replaced by online meetings through discussion boards, emails, and/or Blackboard Collaborate, students are expected to follow the rules of netiquette in these forums.

• Know where you are in cyberspace
• Respect other people's time and bandwidth
• Make yourself look good online (spelling and grammar count)
• Share expert knowledge
• Help keep flame wars under control
• Respect other people's privacy
• Be forgiving of other people's mistakes
• Don’t be judgmental

Exam Policy

Respondus Lockdown Browser are required for all tests and quizzes.

You have 1 hour to complete the test and 30 minutes for lab quizzes, you may only take the test/quiz once. Backtracking is permitted. Books, notes, and internet searches are NOT permitted. Prepare as if you are taking a pencil and paper test in a classroom. In the event you are kicked out of any test due to internet glitch, you MUST notify me by text, phone call, or email immediately for a re-set of the test.


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

Grading and Evaluation Method


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

Class participation will be seen by the posting of your assignments, taking tests, and discussion participation.


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.


Equal Opportunity to Educational Programs

Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is an equal opportunity educational institution and does not discriminate against any person regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, in admissions, educational programs, student activities or employment. For further information about this policy, contact the Accessibility Coordinator at (409) 882-3393.


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, Joseph Hargrave, at Joseph Hargrave@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.


OASIS (formerly) 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 Accessibility Coordinator at (409) 882-3393 or visit the Advising Office. 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.

Students with questions about the accommodations they receive in class should contact their instructor or the Accessibility Coordinator.


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.


Credit Transfer

Students should check in advance with the institution to which they plan to transfer credit to confirm transferability. Refer to the LSCO Catalog for details on how to handle and resolve transfer disputes with public institutions of higher education in Texas.


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 Court Reporting, 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 at least 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 (Complaints Related to Earned Grades)

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 Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, LSCO Faculty Handbook, and LSCO Catalog.


Prohibited Items in the Classroom

No food or tobacco (including smokeless) 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 Complaints (excluding Safety, Harassment, or Title IX)

Student-Staff and Student-Instructor Complaint Process excluding Safety, Harassment, or Title IX

LSCO believes that all matters involving a staff member (non-instructor) OR an instructor are best resolved directly with the employee. Should it not be resolved at that level, access and complete the Student Complaint Intake form within five (5) business days from the date of the offense. The Student Complaint Intake Form can be found in any of these locations:

• LSCO Website (Current Students)
• LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints)
• MyGator Card
• Blackboard (Student Resources, Student Services, Student Resources)

After a student completes the Student Complaint Intake Form, they will be contacted by an LSCO employee unrelated to the offense and provided guidance on how to proceed with the Complaint process.

Refer to the LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints) for details on the complaint process.


Student Complaints (involving Safety, Harassment, or Title IX)

Student-Staff and Student-Instructor Complaint Process involving Safety, Harassment, or Title IX:

Students who have experienced a safety, harassment, or title IX event should access and complete the Title IX/Clery: Anonymous Reporting Form found in any of these locations:

• LSCO Website (Sexual Misconduct & Title IX)
• LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints)
• MyGator Card
• Blackboard (Student Resources, Student Services, Student Resources)

After a student completes the intake form, they will be contacted by an LSCO employee and provided guidance on how to proceed.

Refer to the LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints) for details on the complaint process.


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 Catalog. Additional information regarding privacy for Distance Education students can be found in the Distance Education Handbook.