COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name	Todd Gautreaux
Building/Office Number	Wilson Building (WB), Room 106
Office Hours	Tuesday/Thursday 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual Hours	None
Office Telephone	(409) 882-3030
Email Address	Todd.Gautreaux@lsco.edu

Course Description

PTAC 2446 Process Troubleshooting (41.0301) 4-3-3 Instruction in the different types of troubleshooting techniques, procedures, and methods used to solve process problems. Topics include application of data collection and analysis, cause-effect relationships, and reasoning. Prerequisite: PTAC 1302, PTAC 1332, PTAC 1410, and PTAC 2436. Co-requisite: TECM 1303. TEC.

Required Textbook & Materials
Troubleshooting Process Operations ISBN: 978-1-4283-1100-8
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

COURSE OBJECTIVES

TOPIC		OBJECTIVES
Overview	1.	Discuss why we need to troubleshoot. •Murphy’s Law
	2.	Brainstorm and identify things that could go wrong within a process.
	3.	Define proactive and reactive and give examples of each.
	4.	Discuss the consequences of proactive and reactive. Safety and health Process upset Equipment damage Environmental compliance issues Downtime Loss of production Financial impact
Monitoring Instruments and Equipment	1. 2.	Discuss the importance of monitoring instruments and equipment as it relates to troubleshooting Discuss ways monitoring instruments and equipment will aid in troubleshooting a process
	3.	Discuss instrument indicators when a process is operating abnormally Process variables Alarms Controller output Trends
	4.	Discuss equipment indicators when a process is operating abnormally Pressures (pump suction/discharge) Differential pressure (across filters) Leaks Abnormal sounds Abnormal temperatures Abnormal vibrations Abnormal smells Cavitation of a pump Surging on a compressor, etc.
Relationships between Equipment and Instruments	1. 2.	Discuss the basic parts of a control loop and how they relay information Discuss how failure of one instrument in a control loop would affect another
	3.	Discuss how a control loop will respond to change in set point
	4.	Discuss how a control loop will respond to an upset such as: Loss of pump Loss of instrument air

PTAC 2446 Process Troubleshooting
2

TOPIC		OBJECTIVES
Relationships between Equipment and Instruments (cont.)		Plugged filter Steam trap failure Fouled exchanger Power failure
	5.	Discuss how instrument or equipment failure may affect systems. Loss of a reflux pump on a distillation column Level indicator on a condensate pot Control valve failure on a feed line to a reactor Loss of temperature indication on a reactor
Relationships between Systems	1.	Discuss the domino effect among interrelated systems (i.e., how one system affects another) Product of one system is feed stock for the next Thermal interconnectivity (i.e., hot fluid from one system used to preheat feed to another)
	2.	Given a scenario, explain how a problem in one system can affect other systems: Reformer in a refinery provides hydrogen for other processes Reactors producing a mixture of products that need to be separated by distillation (feed composition change) Heat from reactor product stream used in a waste heat boiler to generate steam
Troubleshooting Tools	1.	Given a process scenario, use tools provided to explain how each would be used in troubleshooting a problem Process Flow diagrams Process & Instrument Diagrams Material balance Statistical Process Control charts Historical trends Energy balance Lab analysis / on-stream analyzers How instruments, equipment and systems inter-relate Field verification Hand-held devices such as temperature sensors, vibration monitors, etc. Baseline information Operating procedures/training manuals Engineering and equipment specifications Cause and Effect diagram What is it supposed to do What is it doing What would cause it to do what it is doing
Troubleshooting Steps	1.Identify and document the symptoms of a problem: Recognize normal conditions Recognize abnormal conditions Collect and document applicable data

TOPIC	OBJECTIVES
Troubleshooting Steps (cont.)	•Identify potential problems and the magnitude and urgency of the problem based on the data collected Communicate the problem Determine what communication is needed Discuss with team members to help troubleshoot the problem and identify the possible causes Identify the most likely cause: Eliminate causes that do not fit the data Evaluate and prioritize remaining possible causes Determine the most likely causes(s) Collect additional data to confirm most likely cause Develop a plan to take corrective action(s) based on priorities Short-term solution (compensating action to keep plant/unit running) Intermediate term solution (temporary action to prevent extended downtime) Long-term solution (action to eliminate problem(s)) Document incident Upset Troubleshooting steps Corrective action(s) Cause
Troubleshooting Exercises or Scenarios (Guidelines)	Apply troubleshooting steps to an everyday problem (for example, car engine failure, washing machine runs over, car brake failure, remote for VCR fails, etc.) Given a scenario, preferably that reflects an industry within your area, use troubleshooting steps to identify symptom(s), identify cause(s) and develop corrective action(s) for a process upset. Note to Instructor: The following list suggests potential problems. a)Equipment problems Pump cavitation Filter plugging Loss of heat transfer Tube failure Agitator failure Power failure to equipment Coupling failure •Loss of cooling Etc. b)Instrument problems Loss of instrument air Plugged air filter Wet instrument air supply Computer failure
TOPIC	OBJECTIVES
Troubleshooting Exercises or Scenarios (Guidelines) (cont.)	Loss of power to transmitter Calibration problems with transmitter Break in thermocouple Short in thermocouple Incorrect valve position I/P calibration and/or failure •Blocked in transmitter •Etc. c)Process problems Composition change Contamination Inhibitor present or absent Change in feed ratio Bad or spent catalyst Loss of feed Weather-related changes •Incorrect valve alignment Etc.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

OUTCOME	METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
1.Discuss how equipment and/or instrument malfunctions may affect a system	Students will successfully solve equipment of instrument problem(s) on a decanter process on exam 1.
2.Discuss the domino affect between interrelated systems (how a malfunction in one system affects another system).	Students will successfully solve a problem(s) on using a combination of two or more of the following: reactor/boiler, distillation, or absorption/stripping process on the final exam given a scenario.
3.Demonstrate the ability to identify a problem through monitoring instruments and equipment (collecting data) and communicate effectively.	Student will successfully solve problems in the unit operations lab on individual hands-on tests using a six step process and recording the data in the lab book.
4.Demonstrate the ability to use troubleshooting steps and tools to identify the most likely cause(s) and take corrective action(s).	Student will successfully solve problems in the unit operations lab on individual hands-on tests, once the source of the problem is identified the problem will be corrected.
5.Given a scenario (paper, simulator, trainer, etc.) with a problem, demonstrate the ability to utilize troubleshooting tools and steps to identify most likely cause(s) and take corrective action(s).	Students will successfully solve a problem(s) on a reactor/boiler, distillation, or absorption/stripping process on the final exam given a scenario.

SKILL STANDARDS LEARNING OUTCOMES

The following list of learning outcomes are Key Activities from the Chemical/Refining
Process Technician skill standards, developed by the North American Process Technology Alliance (NAPTA), and recognized by the Texas Skill Standards Board (TSSB). These outcomes have been integrated into PTAC 2446, Process Troubleshooting.

Diagnose Malfunction or Abnormality.
Remedy Equipment/Process Malfunction.

Course Topical Outline

4/29Monday/Wednesday	Final Exam Final Exam Makeup
1/15 Monday/Wednesday	MLK Day OFF, Chapters 1, 3
1/22 Monday/Wednesday	Chapters 2, 4
1/29 Monday/Wednesday	Chapters 5, 6
2/5 Monday/Wednesday	Review Chapters 1-6, Test 1 Chapters 1-6
2/12 Monday/Wednesday	Chapters 7-8
2/19 Monday/Wednesday	Chapters 9-10
2/26 Monday/Wednesday	Chapter 11, Lab 1 HOT Unit LOTO & T/S
3/4 Monday/Wednesday	Review Chapters 7-11, Test 2 Chapters 7-11
3/11 Monday/Wednesday	Spring Break Week
3/18 Monday/Wednesday	Chapters 12-13
3/25 Monday/Wednesday	Good Friday Week
4/1 Monday/Wednesday	Review Chapters 12-13, Test 3 Chapters 12-13
4/8 Monday/Wednesday	Chapters 14-15
4/15 Monday/Wednesday	Troubleshooting Review, Lab 2 Glass Distillation Column
4/22 Monday/Wednesday	Review Chapters 14-15, Test 4 Chapters 14-15
5/8 Wednesday	Final Grades Due by 3:00pm.

Major Assignments Schedule

Reading each chapter required before scheduled class day.
Two Labs will be completed during the semester.
Classes will consist of Lecture and equipment demonstrations.

Final Exam Date

April 24, 2024 - 6:00 PM Through May 1, 2024 - 8:30 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.

Electronic Communication

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

Attendance Requirements

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

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

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

Attendance: Attendance and tardiness for each class will be recorded. Students are expected to attend regularly. Excessive absenteeism will result in a reduction of the “Class work” portion of the final grade.

Excused Absences: With an excused absence, Labs and Exams Grades will have a ZERO Grades recorded in the Grade Book until the missed exam is made up. If the exam is not made up by the next Exam date, the grade will remain a ZERO Grade. Any Lab that is missed will require the student to complete an additional assignment for a make up grade.

Unexcused Absences: If a Lab or Exam is missed due to an unexcused absence, it will result in a ZERO Grade. If a regular class day is missed due to an unexcused absence, it will result in a ZERO Grade and will affect the Attendance Grade.

Attendance (Cont.)

In order to prepare students for successful transition into the workforce, the LSCO Technical Programs will maintain high standards for attendance and punctuality.

To be counted present, a student will be present at his or her work area, and dressed in the appropriate attire, at the appropriate time.
While enrolled in the LSCO technical programs, students are responsible for attending class on all days that LSCO holds class.
Student holidays and activities at individual high school campuses do not excuse students from college classes. If a student has a schedule conflict, arrangements must be agreed upon in writing prior to the first day of class, and signed by the associate dean.
School related absences must be communicated in advance, in writing, by the school coordinator, confirmed, and approved by the associate dean.
Students are expected to be present and on time for class and remain until dismissed.
If a student is removed from class for any reason, the student will be counted absent.
Students should visit the restroom prior to class, not during class.
A student who has accrued more than three absences in a sixteen-week course (two for an eight-week course) has not met the minimum requirements of the program. See Probation section.

Extenuating Circumstances

The competencies taught in the LSCO technical programs are critical to the safety and productivity of our local workforce. Due to the nature of the environment for which we are training workers, it is imperative that each student receiving credit for a course be proficient in each competency.

Therefore, if a student knows in advance that he or she will need to be absent more than three days in a term, the student will need to meet with the associate dean to make arrangements to take the course during another term. If a student is absent more than three days without advance arrangements and a legitimate, unavoidable reason, the student will need to meet with the associate dean to determine whether or not the student is a good fit for the program and industry. Consequences for a fourth absence may include a failing grade for the course, and/or withdrawal from the program.

Probation

Students who accumulate more than three absences during a sixteen-week course (two for an eight-week course) will be placed on probationary status and may have the option of completing a project to regain credit for the course.

Questions or Concerns

For questions and concerns, please make an appointment with the associate dean - keith.jones@lsco.edu.

Make-up Work Policy

Excused Absences: With an excused absence, Labs and Exams Grades will have a ZERO Grades recorded in the Grade Book until the missed exam is made up. If the exam is not made up by the next Exam date, the grade will remain a ZERO Grade. Any Lab that is missed will require the student to complete an additional assignment for a make up grade.

Unexcused Absences: If a Lab or Exam is missed due to an unexcused absence, it will result in a ZERO Grade. If a regular class day is missed due to an unexcused absence, it will result in a ZERO Grade and will affect the Attendance Grade.

Classroom Etiquette

Attire

While participating in technical programs, students are required to be dressed and equipped according to industry standards. Specific requirements will be outlined in the syllabus for each class. At a minimum, at all times while on campus, students should be dressed according to the following guidelines:

Closed toe shoes or boots
                Covers entire foot
Soles should offer adequate protection
Work Pants
Full length jeans or other durable material (no pjs, joggers, onesies, tights, etc.)
Properly fitted (not excessively baggy)
Worn at the waist (no sagging)
In good repair (no holes, tears etc.)
Work Shirt
                Collared with buttons
                 Pollo or Work Shirt
                No graphics, slogans, etc. (LSCO graphics are allowed)
Safety (Starting Fall 2023)
Although only required in certain situations, each student will at all times be in possession of: Eye protection, Hearing protection, and Work gloves.

***The LSCO technical programs faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that every student is able to realize his or her potential without financial constraints placing anyone at a disadvantage. Any student who is unable to obtain the appropriate attire or equipment may communicate their need to the instructor or program director with confidence that shared information will be kept confidential.

LSCO Technical Programs
Electronic Devices Guidelines

Electronic Devices

Students may not use a cellular telephone or other electronic device in the classroom or lab area at any time for any reason. A student who accesses an electronic device during class will be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the day and counted absent. See section on absences for further information.

A student who is unable to go ninety minutes without accessing an electronic device is not a good potential fit for the type of work for which we are training. Repeat infractions of the electronic devices guidelines will result in removal from the program and career counseling to choose a more appropriate career path.

Exam Policy

If an exam is missed due to an excused absence, it can be made up during regular office hours. If the exam has not been made up by the next exam date it will be counted as a ZERO Grade.

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

A = 90 - 100%, B = 80 - 89, C = 70 - 79, D = 60 - 69, F = Below 60

Instructor Response Time

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

Participation Requirements

Weekly participation and engagement in the courses are critical for student success. Assignments should be completed by the due date. Students should also refer to the instructor's attendance policy for additional information. (See LSCO Student Handbook, Class Attendance.)

Review of Test Grades

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

Student's Responsibility

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

Syllabus Content

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

Textbook and Required Materials Access

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

STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

Mental Health Resources

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

Advocacy Information

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

Affirmative Action

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

Title IX of the Education Amendments

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

Blackboard Resources

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

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

Career Coach

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

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

Gator Assistance Services

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

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

Gator Success Center

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

Library Services

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

Student with Disabilities

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

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

Upswing 24/7 FREE Tutoring Services

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

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

INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Campus Closure

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

Civility

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

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

Contingency Plans

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

COVID Notification Policy

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

Credit Transfer

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

Criminal Background Policy

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

Drops and Withdrawals

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

Grade of "Incomplete"

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

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

Grade Appeals and the Academic Grievance Process

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

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

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

Institutional Educational Goals

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

Critical thinking (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to demonstrate creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.
Communication (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to effectively develop, interpret and express of ideas through written, oral and visual communication.
Empirical and quantitative skills (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to manipulate and analyze numerical data or observable facts and create informed conclusions.
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.
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.
Personal responsibility (General Education, Technical) - Students will be able to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Professional competency (Technical) - Students will be able to recognize or demonstrate skills and that depict professional values and employability. If the career has licensure or certification requirements, students may prepare for the licensure and certification in a capstone course and sit for the licensure or certificate at the end of the program.

MyGator and Log-In Credentials

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

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

Policies and Procedures

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

Prohibited Items in the Classroom

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

Student Privacy

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

LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS