LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS

Science

GEOL, 1404, Historical Geology, 80S

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name	Karen Stelly
Building/Office Number	Online Only,
Office Hours	Email –   kstelly@lsco.edu       Phone hours – 10 am - 10 pm, 7 days a week, Central time, Sunday through Saturday
Virtual Hours	Email –   kstelly@lsco.edu       Phone hours – 10 am - 10 pm, 7 days a week, Central time, Sunday through Saturday
Office Telephone	(409) 883-7750
Email Address	karen.stelly@lsco.edu
Course Schedule	Building: Online, Room: TBA, Dates: 10/28/2024 - 12/11/2024, Days: TBA, Times: TBA
Course Description	GEOL 1404 Historical Geology (40.0601) 4-3-2 Principles of historical geology. Study of the earth's composition, structure, and internal and external processes. Includes the geologic history of the earth and the evolution of life. Topics include formation and progressive changes, changes within the atmosphere, oceans, position of land, life forms, 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

Course Objectives

 1.  Describe how the application of the scientific method has led to our current understanding of Earth history.

 2.  Explain the historical development of Geology as a science and how it was influenced by early interpretations of fossils and the theory of evolution.

 3.  Communicate how principles of relative and numerical age dating have been used to develop the Geologic Time Scale.

 4.  Describe the processes involved in the formation and differentiation of the Earth and identify major milestones in the physical evolution of the planet.

 5.  Identify the major milestones in the evolution of life from its initial inorganic stages, through development of the major animal and plant groups, to mass extinctions.

 6.  Explain how rocks and fossils are used to interpret ancient environments.

Course Topical Outline

Week 1	Science of Historical Geology Early Geologists Tackle History's Mysteries Time and Geology
Week 2	Rocks and Minerals: Documents That Records Earth's History Sedimentary Archives Life on Earth: What Do Fossils Reveal? Plate Tectonics Underlies All Earth History
Week 3	Earth's Formative Stages and the Archean Eon Proterozoic: Dawn of a More Modern World
Week 4	Early Paleozoic Events Late Paleozoic Events
Week 5	Paleozoic Life Mesozoic Events
Week 6	Mesozoic Life
Week 7	Cenozoic Events Cenozoic Life Human Origins

Major Assignments Schedule

Week 1	Read chapters 1-3 in textbook
Week 2	Read chapters 4-7 in textbook Written assignment 1 based on chapters 1-7 Discussion 1 geologic time Test 1 based on chapters 1-7
Week 3	Read chapters 8-9 in textbook Discussion 2 evolution
Week 4	Read chapters 10-11 in textbook Written assignment 2 based on chapters 8-11 Test 2 based on chapters 8-11
Week 5	Read chapter 12-13 in textbook
Week 6	Read chapters 14 Discussion Mesozoic life Written assignment 3 based on chapters 12-14 Test 3 based on chapters 12-14
Week 7	Read chapters 15-17 Discussion 4 changing climates Assignment 4 - group project based on tectonics, rocks and minerals, and climate of region chosen by group Test 4 based on chapters 15-17 Final Exam based on questions already seen in tests 1-4

Final Exam Date

December 12, 2024 - 12:00 AM   Through  December 12, 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.
Use of AI is not permitted in this class. Suspected AI will lose points. 

Identical papers or discussions will lose points.

You are expected to complete tests without use of books, notes, or other ways to get answers during a test.


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.

• Technology Requirements (emphasis on 'REQUIRED') 

  • You must have a computer with Windows 10 or above, MacOSX 10.13 or above, ChromeOS or more recent.
  • You must have MS Office, specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
  • You must submit all Lecture written assignments, and Lab Worksheeets in Word Format
  • 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. Your name must be in a specified location on whatever you need to take a digital image of. For such images, pdf or image format 

  **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

  
  
  **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

   

  Discussion	50 points total
  	10 points	7 points	4 points	1 point	0 points
  Completion	Addresses all components of questions in DQ, meets 100 word minimum.	Addresses most of the components of questions in DQ, is between 75-100 words.	Addresses some components of questions in DQ, is between 50-75 words.	Addresses few components of questions in DQ, is less than 50 words.	Did not respond to DQ
  	20 points	15 points	10 points	5 points	0 points
  Comprehension	Demonstrates full comprehension of material within DQ response	Demonstrates adequate comprehension of material within DQ response	Demonstrates fair comprehension of materials within DQ response	Demonstrates little comprehension of materials within DQ response	Did not respond to DQ
  	10 points	7 points	4 points	1 point	0 points
  Participation Response 1	Substantive reply is 5 or more sentences long adding new information to the topic being responding to, or poses a question that would expect a researched answer, or provide a different perspective of the topic, or provides research and answered a question by peer or instructor.	Reply is 3-4 sentences long, somewhat adds to the topic being responding to, or poses a question that does not expect a researched answer, shows limited deeper perspective, or provides inadequate answer to question by peer or instructor.	Reply is 1-2 sentences long, marginally adds to the topic being responding to, or poses a question that does not expect a researched answer, or shows little to no deeper perspective.	Reply does not add anything new to topic.	Did not post reply to fellow learner or instructor.
  	10 points	7 points	4 points	1 point	0 points
  Participation Response 2	Substantive reply is 5 or more sentences long adding new information to the topic being responding to, or poses a question that would expect a researched answer, or provide a different perspective of the topic, or provides research and answered a question by peer or instructor.	Reply is 3-4 sentences long, somewhat adds to the topic being responding to, or poses a question that does not expect a researched answer, shows limited deeper perspective, or provides inadequate answer to question by peer or instructor.	Reply is 1-2 sentences long, marginally adds to the topic being responding to, or poses a question that does not expect a researched answer, or shows little to no deeper perspective.	Reply does not add anything new to topic.	Did not post reply to fellow learner or instructor.
  Things that take points off		-1 point	-2 points	-3 points	No points awarded.
  Timeliness	Initial response to DQ posted on or before Thursday.	Initial response to DQ posted Friday.	Initial response to DQ posted Saturday.	Initial response to DQ posted Sunday.	Posted after discussion week.
  Spelling and grammar	No errors, full sentences, no text shortcuts (e.g. using bc for because)	Less than 3 spelling errors, incorrect grammar, or use of text shortcuts	3-6 spelling errors, incorrect grammar, or use of text shortcuts	6 or more spelling errors, incorrect grammar, or use of text shortcuts

    

Make-up Work Policy

Discussions must be completed within the given discussion week. Posts after the end of that week will not earn points.
Assignments and Tests that are missed will be accepted within 7 days after the due date except Assignment 4 and test 4
No regular course work will be accepted after December 12

Once a missing grade is manually zeroed out by the instructor, it will no longer be accepted for a grade.




Classroom Etiquette


Exam Policy

Tests 1-4: You have 1 hour to complete the test, you may only take the test 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. 

Final Exam: The final is composed of 25 questions from each of the 4 regular tests. To help you prepare for the final, study the questions from the previous 4 tests.  To find the questions with answers by going to My Grades, then click on the name of the test, then click on the score for that test. This should give you what you need.

In the event you are kicked out of any test due to internet glitch, you MUST notify me by text (preferred), 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

Evaluation Method:
Lecture Grades:
There will be 4 short tests (50 questions, 100 points), the final exam will be comprehensive (100 questions, 200 points). Discussions are 50 points each, and 4 assignments 50 points each. Lecture is 75% of grade, lab is other 25%.  
 
Discussions    200 (4 at 50 points each)
Assignments 170 (40 points first 3, 50 group assignment)
Test 1             100 (2 points each of 50 questions)
Test 2            100
Test 3            100
Test 4            100
Final exam    200 (2 points each of 100 questions)
Total             970
 
 Lab Grade: Each lab is worth 50 points, each lab quiz is 50 points. There are 6 labs and 6 quizzes, for a total point availability of 600 points. The total lab grade is 25% of your full grade, other 75% is lecture grade. 
 
The grading scale for Lecture is as follows:
1000-900 points – A  (100-90%)
899-800 points – B  (89-80%)
799-700 points – C  (79-70%)
699-600 points – D  (69-60%)
599 and lower – F  (59 or lower)

The grading scale for Lab is as follows:
600-540 points – A  (100-90%)
539-480 points – B  (89-80%)
479-420 points – C  (79-70%)
419-360 points – D  (69-60%)
359 and lower – F (59 or lower)
 
To calculate your combined score, please use spreadsheet in the Content area of the Lecture section of class.


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

Graded discussion initial response will be due by end of day Thursday of the given discussion week. Students musts also post 2 substantive responses to their peers no later than Sunday of that week. (Weeks start on Mondays, end on Sundays, early is always good!)


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.