LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS

PTAC, 1408, Safety Health Environment I, 02D

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name Alan Dougherty
Building/Office Number
Office Hours Alan.Dougherty@LSCO.edu
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.

Office Hours:
Mon Wed from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Room #: Wilson Bldg, Classroom 115
Stop by during office hours, or, you can make an appointment via email or Blackboard request.


">Alan.Dougherty@LSCO.edu
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.

Office Hours:
Mon Wed from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Room #: Wilson Bldg, Classroom 115
Stop by during office hours, or, you can make an appointment via email or Blackboard request.


">Instructor:                            Alan Dougherty
Office:                                   Wilson Building
Class time:                           Mon Wed 7:30 am – 9:10 am
Classroom/Building:           Room # 115, Wilson Building
Phone:                                  409-882-3025

Instructor Office Hours
Instructor’s email:  Alan.Dougherty@LSCO.edu
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.

Office Hours:
Mon Wed from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Room #: Wilson Bldg, Classroom 115
Stop by during office hours, or, you can make an appointment via email or Blackboard request.



Virtual Hours Virtual Office Visits can be considered.  A request via Blackboard Message should be submitted.
Office Telephone (409) 882-3025
Email Address Alan.Dougherty@lsco.edu
Course Schedule Building: Wilson Building (WB), Room: 0000115, Dates: 8/25/2025 - 12/16/2025, Days: MW, Times: 7:30am - 9:10am
Course Description PTAC 1308 Safety, Health and Environment (41.0301) 4-4-0 Development of knowledge and skills to reinforce the attitudes and behaviors required for safe and environmentally sound work habits. Emphasis on occupational safety, health, and environmental practices and associated equipment including: safety mindset and attitude; personal safety equipment; general safety policies and procedures; hazards communications; HAZWOPER/emergency response; first aid and CPR; industrial hygiene; exposure monitoring; and regulatory compliance issues. This course will give students an overview of various governmental regulations mandated by OSHA, EPA, SARA, RCRA, DOT, NFPA, etc. TEC.
Required Textbook & Materials
Safety, Health, and Environment, Second Edition, 2020, New York
ISBN-10: 0-13-557249-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-557249-8


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

Describe the components of a typical plant safety and environmental program and the role of a process technician in relation to safety, health, and the environment; identify the functionality of safety, health, and environmental equipment used.


1. Identify process industry types of hazards and their effects.
2. List various hazard controls for various hazards (such as: engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE). discuss methods of applying these controls.
3. Identify monitoring equipment and its use.
4. Discuss emergency response for fire, for rescue, and emergency response equipment.
5. Identify various safety agencies promoting safety of plant personnel in process industry.

Detailed Chapter Objectives are summarized below:


Session		 Topic/Title Objectives
1 Introduction to Safety, Health, and Environment 1.1 Explain the necessity of occupational safety regulations.
1.2 Discuss industrial accidents and other events in the process industries that have affected safety, health, and the environment.
1.3 Describe governmental agencies and regulations that address safety, health, and environmental issues.
1.4 Discuss how individuals can have an impact on safety, health, and environmental issues.
1.5 Describe good safety habits and safe work practices.
2 Types of Hazards and Their Effects 2.1 Identify the main types of hazards to health, environment, and safety.
2.2 Explain the various routes of entry that chemical and biological hazards use to enter the human body.
2.3 Describe the short- and long-term effects that hazards can have on an individual’s health and safety.
2.4 Describe the short- and long-term effects that hazards can have on the environment.
3 Recognizing Chemical Hazards 3.1 Identify the various chemical hazards (gases, liquids, and particulates) found in the process industries and discuss the potential effects such chemicals have on safety, health, and the environment.
3.2 Identify specific categories of hazardous chemicals used in the process industries and describe the potential health and environmental hazards posed by each.
3.3 Explain the purpose and function of labeling systems found in local process industries.
3.4 Explain the purpose and components of an SDS.
3.5 Discuss the primary government regulations relating to chemical hazards.
4 Recognizing Biological Hazards 4.1 Identify the following potential biological hazards found in the process industries and discuss their potential effects on safety, health, and the environment.
4.2 Describe how bloodborne pathogens can affect the human body.
4.3 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address biological hazards.
5 Equipment and Energy Hazards 5.1 Discuss the equipment and energy hazards posed by certain activities performed in the process industries.
5.2 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address equipment and energy hazards.
6 Fire and Explosion Hazards 6.1 Identify specific physical hazards present in the process industries and explain the following potential safety, health, and environmental hazards.
6.2 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address fire and explosion hazards.
7 Pressure, Temperature, and Radiation Hazards 7.1 Name specific hazards associated with pressure and pressurized equipment used in the process industries and discuss the specific hazards posed by this equipment.
7.2 Discuss the hazards of temperature extremes in the working environment.
7.3 Explain the effects of ionizing and nonionizing radiation.
7.4 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address pressure, temperature, and radiation hazards.
8 Hazardous Atmospheres and Respiratory Hazards 8.1 Describe the effect of hazardous atmospheres on respiration.
8.2 Name specific hazards associated with hazardous atmospheres, ventilation, and other respiratory-related issues.
8.3 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address hazardous atmospheres and respiration hazards.
9 Working Area and Height Hazards 9.1 Name specific hazards associated with work areas, such as the following.
9.2 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address working surfaces, means of egress, height, and confined space hazards.
10 Hearing and Noise Hazards 10.1 Identify noise levels and specific hazards associated with noise generated in a process industry environment.
10.2 Describe how these variables can affect hearing.
10.3 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address noise and hearing protection.
11 Construction, Maintenance, and Tool Hazards 11.1 Name specific hazards associated with construction and maintenance tasks in a process industry environment.
11.2 Describe how hand and power tools can be hazards.
11.3 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address construction, maintenance, and tool hazards.
12 Vehicle and Transportation Hazards 12.1 Name specific hazards associated with vehicles and transportation used in the process industry environment, including.
12.2 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address vehicle and transportation hazards.
13 Natural Disasters and Inclement Weather 13.1 Name specific hazards associated with natural disasters that could impact the process industries.
13.2 Describe how emergency preparedness plans address natural disasters.
14 Physical Security and Cybersecurity 14.1 Identify physical and cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the process industries.
14.2 Describe the nature of threats to physical security and cybersecurity.
14.3 Describe the activities involved with maintaining physical security.
14.4 Describe the tasks associated with protecting electronic information through sound cybersecurity practices.
14.5 Describe the government regulations that address physical security and cybersecurity.
15 Recognizing Ergonomic Hazards 15.1 Name certain activities performed in the process industries and discuss the potential ergonomic hazards posed by these activities.
15.2 Demonstrate proper lifting techniques.
15.3 Demonstrate proper ergonomics for repetitive motion.
15.4 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address ergonomic hazards.
16 Recognizing Environmental Hazards 16.1 Identify specific categories of hazardous chemicals used in the process industries.
16.2 Identify the various factors that can lead to leaks, spills, and releases.
16.3 Describe the potential dangers of leaks, spills, and releases in the environment and the community.
16.4 Explain the EPA regulations that impact the process industries.
17 Introduction to Hazard Controls 17.1 Describe the three major types of hazard controls.
17.2 Discuss why, when, and how these controls are applied.  
18 Engineering Controls: Alarms and Indicator Systems 18.1 Describe the role of alarms in providing a warning of conditions that can lead to emergencies, leaks, spills, and releases, and discuss the dangers of improper responses or failures of alarms.
18.2 Identify various engineering controls, specifically alarm and indicator systems, used by the process industries to minimize and/or eliminate threats to health, safety, and the environment.
18.3 Discuss actions required by process technicians when alarms occur. (NAPTA Engineering Controls, Alarms)
 
19 Engineering Controls: Process Containment and Process Upset Controls 19.1 Identify various engineering controls, specifically process containment and control systems, used by the process industries to minimize and/or eliminate threats to health, safety, and the environment.
19.2 Describe various engineering controls, specifically process upset control systems, used by the process industries to minimize and/or eliminate threats to health, safety, and the environment.
19.3 List common process fluids used in the process industries and describe the potential safety and health hazards posed by these materials.
20 Administrative Controls: Programs and Practices 20.1 Describe various administrative controls, in the way of specific company SHE programs, used by the process industries to eliminate and/or minimize threats to safety, health, and the environment, including housekeeping and permits in auditing.
20.2 Produce a site safety inspection and/or audit to identify potential workplace hazards.
20.3 Complete a safe work observation and provide feedback to coworkers on safe and potentially unsafe work practices.
20.4 Discuss the impact of government regulations and industry organization guidelines.
21 Permitting Systems 21.1 Describe the function and purpose of permitting systems found in local plants.
21.2 Use locks, tags, and blinds to isolate a piece of equipment.
21.3 Complete a job safety analysis and complete a safe work permit to ensure the work environment is safe prior to beginning a job.
21.4 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address permitting.
22 Personal Protective Equipment and First Aid 22.1 Describe basic first aid responses.
22.2 Discuss the selection, function, and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the process industries.
22.3 Describe the levels of protection of PPE.
22.4 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address medical and first aid responses and PPE.
23 Monitoring Equipment 23.1 Explain the function and purpose of testing equipment found in local plants.
23.2 Describe industry guidelines and government regulations that address usage and permitting of monitoring equipment.
24 Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Response Equipment 24.1 Explain the function and purpose of fire, rescue, and emergency response equipment typically found in the process industries.
24.2 Demonstrate the proper selection and use of fire and rescue equipment.
24.3 Demonstrate the correct use of chemical and gas exposure equipment.
24.4 Participate in a tabletop drill in preparation for emergency response to a fire, release, or spill.
24.5 Describe government regulations and industry guidelines that address fire protection and emergency response.
 



Course Topical Outline

Week Date Days Topic Test*
1 8/25 2 Welcome, Dept Review, Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2  
2 9/1 1 Chapters 2, 3  
3 9/8 2 Chapter 4, 5  
4 9/15 2 Chapter 1-4 Review, Test 1 X
5 9/22 2 Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9  
6 9/29 2 Chapters 9, 10, 11  
7 10/6 2 Chapters 5-11 Review, and Test 2 Chapters 5-11 X
8 10/13 2 Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15  
9 10/20 -- Fall Break  
10 10/27 2 Chapters 16, 17, 18  
11 11/3 2 Chapters 12-18 Review, and Test 3 Chapters 12-18 X
12 11/10 2 Chapter 19, 20  
13 11/17 2 Chapter 21, 22  
14 11/24 1 Chapter 23, 24  
15 12/1 2 Chapters 19-24 Review, and Test 4 Chapters 19-24 X
16 12/8 1 Review Test 4, Close Out Class, Finals Week Begins  
17 12/15 0 Finals Week, No Class, No Final  
* Dates may vary due to unforeseen closure days, as such may be subject to change with adequate notice of new scheduled dates.
- Course content may change at instructor discretion.




Major Assignments Schedule

Covered above in the Course Topical Outline is the schedule for tests.


Grades		 Points % Grade
Attendance 100 10%
4 Exams 660 66%
2 – Safety Assignments 100 14%
Chapter HW Assignments 140 10%
Total 1000 100%
     
Extra Credit    
Participation/Note Portfolio 30 3%
Safety Minute, 2 Assignments 50 5%




Final Exam Date

~ExamMonthName~ , 2025 - :00


COURSE POLICIES

Academic Honesty

Faculty who suspect violation of academic honesty, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, or abuse of resource materials may assign an academic penalty.

Incidents of academic dishonesty are a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. 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, including academic dishonesty.



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.

Class Attendance
Much of the learning occurs in the classroom setting, and cannot be made up by reading the textbook or review of class slides. Therefore, class attendance is critical to effective learning of the course material. Class attendance will be taken, and contributes to 10% of your course grade. 
- Missing more than (3) classes requires a scheduled out of class discussion with the instructor
- At the instructor's discretion, deduction of additional attendance points (up to full 10%) may be imposed on the final course grade for attendance less than 75% for the course
Attendance expectations are also covered in more detail within LSCO Technical Program Guidelines accessible within the Blackboard Course materials.





Make-up Work Policy

Make-Up Policy





Classroom Etiquette


Exam Policy




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


Point Grading		  
A = 900-1000
B = 800-899
C = 700-799
D = 600-699
F = Below 600



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/Notebook Portfolio
Your participation is a key part of your learning and what you take from this in-class course.  The students receiving high grades in class are shown to be those who:




Review of Test Grades




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, Rebecca Gentry, at Rebecca.Gentry@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:



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:



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.