LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS

Real Estate Management

RELE, 1301, Principles of Real Estate I, 80F

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name	Martha Morian
Building/Office Number	Online Only,
Office Hours	Virtual Only
Virtual Hours	Monday-Friday 7:00am-7:30am, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Office Telephone	(409) 883-7750
Email Address	Martha.Morian@lsco.edu

Course Description

RELE 1301 ............................................ 3-3-0 Principles of Real Estate I (52.1501) A beginning overview of licensing as a real estate broker or salesperson. Includes ethics of practice as a license holder, titles to and conveyance of real estate, legal descriptions, deeds, encumbrances and liens, distinctions between personal and real property, appraisal, finance and regulations, closing procedures, and real estate mathematics. Covers at least three hours of classroom instruction on federal, state, and local laws relating to housing discrimination, housing credit discrimination, and community reinvestment. Fulfills at least 30 of 60 hours of required instruction for salesperson license. TEC.


Required Textbook & Materials
Modern Real Estate Practice in Texas, by Cheryl Nance, EdD, DREI, CREI: 18^th Edition
ISBN: 9-781475-463767


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 Learning Outcome 1	Core Objective	Associated Course Activities/Assignments/Projects
Compare and contrast the structures, reproduction, and characteristics of animals	Critical Thinking
UNIT 1 Chapter 1: Introduction to Modern Real Estate Practice When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to identify the various careers available in real estate and the professional organizations that support them; describe the five uses of real property; list the seven sources of real estate law ad give an example of each; describe the physical and economic characteristics of real estate; explain the operation of supply and demand in the real estate market; identify the economic, political, and social factors that influence supply and demand and the real estate cycle; explain the purpose of the education committee; identify the purpose of the licensing laws and how they influence how a license holder can and cannot practice real estate; and  describe the responsibility of TREC and the real estate licensing requirements. Chapter 2: Real Property When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to distinguish among the concepts of land, real estate, and real property; explain the rights that convey with ownership of real property; and  identify the characteristics of fixtures and trade fixtures, including the legal tests of a fixture. Chapter 3: Concepts and Responsibilities of Home Ownership When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to identify the various types of home ownership available to consumers; discuss the primary considerations for determining housing affordability; explain the tax benefits of home ownership; distinguish the various types of homeowners insurance policies and relate them to property-damage claims; describe the requirement for and the coverage provided by a flood insurance policy; and describe the concepts of mortgage payments, CLUE reports, and the co-ops and condos.		Quizzes, scenarios, activities, and tests
UNIT 2 Chapter 4: Real Estate Brokerage and Law of Agency When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to explain the types of agenciies and the processes by which agency can be created and terminate; describe an agent's duties to a principal, a principal's duties to an agent, and an agent's duties to customers as well as a broker's duties related to minimum service standards; identigy the broker's role in the disclosure of agency relationships and the types of agencies and the types of agency relationships and agency responsibilities created by Texas statute; distinguish emplyees from independent contractors and eplain why the distinction is important; list the requirements for broker compensation and some common situations in which a broker would or would not be entitled to a commission; describe the various types of antitrust violations common in the real estate industry; and explain the provisions of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act-Consumer Protection Act (DTPA) and its applicability to actions of real estate agents.  Chapter 5: Fair Housing Law When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to describe the historical development of fair housing laws; identify the classes of people who are protected against discrimination in housing by various federal laws; explain how fair housing laws address a variety of discriminatory practices; identify the exemptions allowed in the Fair Housing Act; list at least three examples of housing discrimination that HUD has addressed in regulations: explain how complaints against discriminatory practices are enforced in Texas; distinguish the protections offered by the Fair Housing Act ad subsequent amendments, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure At, and the Community Reinvestment Act; and  discuss the Fair Housing Act's prohibition of discriminatory advertising. Chapter 6: Ethics of Practice as a License Holder When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to describe the requirements of the Canons of Professional Ethics of the Texas Real Estate Commission.		Quizzes, scenarios, activities, and tests
UNIT  Chapter 7: Texas Real Estate Act When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to identify the purpose of licensing laws, the activities that require a license, the situations that may not require a license, and the types of license categories; describe the membership and the scope of authority of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the Texas Real Estate Broker-Lawyer Committee; distinguish the general and education requirements for real estate  broker and sales agent licensing and the procedures for receiving or renewing an active or an inactive license; explain the purpose and operation of the real estate recovery trust account; and identify the reasons for which a license may be suspended or revoked, the manner in which the Commission may investigate a license holder, and the disciplinary actions available to TREC. Chapter 8: Legal Descriptions When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to identify the three methods used to describe used to describe real estate; explain how to read a metes-and-bounds survey description, how to divide a section of land, and how to calculate the acreage in a tract of land; describe how a survey is prepared and how a datum and a benchmark relate to that process; and distinguish the various units of land measurement. Chapter 9: Real Estate Contracts When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to distinguish among express and implied contracts; bilateral and unilateral contracts; executed and executory contracts; and valid, void, voidable, and unenforceable contracts; identify the requirements for a valid contract and the state of limitations for contract enforcement; explain how contracts may be discharged and the remedies available to a nondefaulting party; describe the differences between promulgated contract, a broker's avoiding the unauthorized practice of law, and the computation of time; identify the purpose and procedures for a buyer's getting a property condition inspection; and distinguish between the option contract and a contract for deed, including the characteristics of each.		Quizzes, scenarios, activities, and tests
UNIT 4 Chapter 10: Interest in Real Estate When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to identify the limitations on ownership rights that are imposed by government action; describe the various estates in land and the rights and limitations they convey; list the nine lien rights that are foreclosable against Texas homesteads; explain concepts related to encumbrances, including the creation and termination of easements; distinguish among the surface and groundwater rights in Texas; distinguish between specific and general liens, voluntary and involuntary liens, statutory and equitable liens and give examples of each; describe the key components in each of the four phases of the annual tax levy process, as well as the steps for levying special assessments; identify the process through which real estate Texas become delinquent and/or become a lien, the enforcement options, and the equitable and statutory rights of redemption; and  explain the various types of liens other than taxes and how they are prioritized to satisfy unpaid debts. Chapter 11: How Home Ownership Is Held When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to explain the four basic forms of co-ownership and how each is created and terminated; describe the ways in which various business organizations may own property; state the common business entities through which real estate brokerages are organized and the filing requirements and License Act/TREC Rules by which they are governed; and  distinguish among cooperative ownership, condominium ownership, and time-share ownership Chapter 12: Listing Agreement (REPI) When you  have completed this chapter, you will be able to distinguish the different types of listing agreements and their terms; explain the listing process, the parts of the listing agreement, and the ways in which a listing may be terminated; describe the required property disclosures, the circumstances user which each one must be given to the buyer, and the ramifications to the seller or the real estate agent for nondisclosure; and identify the limitations on an agent's placing cold calls or sending fax and email advertisements to market real estate.		Quizzes, scenarios, activities, and tests

Course Topical Outline

Week 1 Jan. 16-19	Course Introduction Email Chapter 1: Introduction to Modern Real Estate pgs. 1-20 Chapter 1 Quiz
Week 2 Jan. 22-26	Chapter 2: Real Property  pgs. 21-30 Chapter 2 Quiz Chapter 3: Concepts & Responsibilities of Home Ownership  pgs. 31-48 Chapter 3 Quiz Unit 1 Test: Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Week 3 Jan. 29-Feb. 2	Chapter 4: Real Estate Brokerage & Law of Agency  pgs. 49-76 Chapter 4 Quiz Chapter 5: Fair Housing Laws  pgs. 77-108 Chapter 5 Quiz
Week 4 Feb. 5-9	Chapter 6: Ethics of Practice as a License Holder  pgs.109-114 Chapter 6 Quiz Unit 2 Test: Chapters 3, 4, 5
Week 5 Feb. 12-16	Chapter 7: Texas Real Estate License Act  pgs. 115-191 Chapter 7 Quiz Chapter 8: Legal Descriptions  pgs. 192-210 Chapter 8 Quiz
Week 6 Feb. 17-23	Chapter 9: Real Estate Contracts  pgs. 211-246 Chapter 9 Quiz Unit 3 Test: Chapters 7, 8, 9
Week 7 Feb. 26-Mar. 1	Chapter 10: Interest in Real Estate  pgs. 247-288 Chapter 10 Quiz Chapter 11: ;How Home Ownership is Held  pgs. 289-310 Chapter 11 Quiz
Week 8 Mar. 4-8	Chapter 12: Listing Agreement  pgs. 311-342 Chapter 12 Quiz Unit 4 Test: Chapters 10, 11, 12 Final Exam

Major Assignments Schedule

COURSE ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE- Assignment due dates are in red.

Week	Topic/Assignment	Reference	Points
1: Jan. 16- Jan. 19	Course Introduction Email Chapter 1: Introduction to Modern Real Estate Pgs.1-20 Chapter 1 Quiz	Email    1/19   Online  1/19	/100                /45
2: Jan. 22- Jan.26	Chapter 2: Real Property  Pgs.21-30 Chapter 2 Quiz Chapter 3: Concepts & Responsibilities of Home Ownership  Pgs.31-48 Chapter3 Quiz Unit 1 Test: Chapters 1, 2, 3	Online  1/22 Online  1/24 Online  1/25	/45                /45           /144
3: Jan. 29- Feb. 2	Chapter 4: Real Estate Brokerage & Law of Agency Pgs. 49-76 Chapter 4 Quiz Chapter 5: Fair Housing Laws  Pgs. 77-108 Chapter 5 Quiz	Online  1/30 Online  2/2	/45               /45
4: Feb. 5- Feb. 9	Chapter 6: Ethics of Practice as a License Holder Pgs.109-114 Chapter 6 Quiz Unit 2 Test: Chapters, 4, 5, 6	Online  2/5 Online  2/6	/45            /144
5: Feb. 12- Feb. 16	Chapter 7: Texas Real Estate License Act Pgs. 115-191 Chapter 7 Quiz Chapter 8: Legal Descriptions  Pgs.192-210 Chapter 8 Quiz	Online  2/12 Online  2/14	/45               /45
6: Feb. 17- Feb. 23	Chapter 9: Real Estate Contracts  Pgs. 211-246 Chapter 9 Quiz Unit 3 Test: Chapters 7, 8, 9	Online  2/20 Online  2/21	/45           /144
7: Feb. 26- Mar. 1	Chapter 10: Interest in Real Estate  Pgs. 247-288 Chapter 10 Quiz Chapter 11: How Home Ownership is Held Pgs. 289-310 Chapter 11 Quiz	Online  2/26 Online  2/28	/45                /45
8: Mar. 4- Mar. 8	Chapter 12: Listing Agreement   Pgs.311-342 Chapter 12 Quiz Unit 4 Test: Chapters 10, 11, 12 FINAL EXAM	Online  3/4 Online  3/5 Online  3/6-8	/45           /144             /384
Chapter Quizzes:  15 questions @ 3 points each= 45 points Unit Tests:             24 questions (8/chapter) @ 6 points each = 144 points Final Exam:            70 questions(7/chapter) @ 4 points each = 280 points		TOTAL POINTS EARNED	/1,600
Note:  All assignments will open at 6:00am on the scheduled due date and will close at 11:50pm that same day.  Your online assignments are timed. You will have 30 minutes for quizzes, 90 minutes for Unit Tests, and 180 minutes for the Final Exam.

 




Final Exam Date

March 6, 2024 - 6:00 AM   Through  March 8, 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.



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.

**REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE**- Orientation Email 


Complete the following task PRIOR TO the “Certification/Census Date” for this course which is 01/23/24. THIS IS FOR A GRADE (Week 1) AND FOR CENSUS CREDIT AND IS DUE FRIDAY, 01/19/24. 
 
Send an “Orientation” email to me, martha.morian@lsco.edu,prior to the certification date and include the following information: 

1. Your name, student I.D. and contact information 
2. Include a sentence that says: “I ___________________(student name) have read all of the information and instructions for the course, know how to contact my instructor, and am beginning the course.” (You  may “copy and paste” this sentence being sure to include your name.) 
3. Include some information about yourself and why you have chosen this certification pathway so that I may get to know you better. (optional) 

Make-up Work Policy

You must email me and let me know if you are planning on making up any missed assignments.  I will have to re-open the assignment for you in order for you to make it up.
 
You will be able to make up any work prior to the official ending date of the course.  All work MUST be completed by Friday, 3/8/24 @ 11:59pm.
 
Grades are due Monday, 3/11/24, so ALL make-up work must be completed before this date.




Classroom Etiquette

• Face-to-Face - No food, drink, tobacco, cell phones, etc.
• Online - Since face-to-face meetings in the classroom may be replaced by online meetings through discussion boards, emails, and/or Blackboard Collaborate, students are expected to follow the rules of netiquette in these forums.
• Hybrid - When face-to-face meetings in the classroom are replaced by online meetings through discussion boards, emails, and/or Blackboard Collaborate, students are expected to follow the rules of netiquette in these forums.

Exam Policy

Exam Policy:  

• Once you begin taking an exam, you must complete it. They are also timed.
• You may use your text and notes as resources when testing.
• Please do not cheat yourself by consulting someone while taking the test.  You need to do the best you can with what you have learned so you can truly prepare yourself for passing the TREC license exam.

Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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


Expected Time Requirement for this Course

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


Grading and Evaluation Method

Grading and Evaluation Method

 

Points	Percentages	Letter Grade
1440-1600	90-100%	A
1280-1424	80-89%	B
1120-1264	70-79%	C
960-1104	60-69%	D
944 or BELOW	0-59%	F
Assignments	Points	Totals
Orientation Email	1 @ 100 points	100 points
Chapter Quizzes	12 @ 45 points each	540 points
Unit Tests	4 @ 144 points each	576 points
Final Exam	1 @ 384 points	384 points
	Total Possible Points	1,600 points

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

For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. All Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as you would in the traditional, face-to-face class.

This course is entirely self-paced, and it is suggested that following the course schedule will greatly benefit your success in this course. 

The more dedicated you are to your reading and notetaking, the more prepared you will be not only for this course but for preparing to take the state licensing exam(s). 


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 3-days after receiving the grade.


Student's Responsibility

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


Syllabus Content

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


Textbook and Required Materials Access

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


STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

Mental Health Resources

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


Advocacy Information

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


Affirmative Action

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


Title IX of the Education Amendments

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


Blackboard Resources

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

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


Career Coach

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

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


Gator Assistance Services

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

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


Gator Success Center

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


Library Services

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


Student with Disabilities

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

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


Upswing 24/7 FREE Tutoring Services

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

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


INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Campus Closure

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


Civility

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

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


Contingency Plans

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


COVID Notification Policy

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


Credit Transfer

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


Criminal Background Policy

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


Drops and Withdrawals

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


Grade of "Incomplete"

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

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


Grade Appeals and the Academic Grievance Process

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

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

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


Institutional Educational Goals

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

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

MyGator and Log-In Credentials

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

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


Policies and Procedures

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


Prohibited Items in the Classroom

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


Student Privacy

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