LAMAR STATE COLLEGE ORANGE SYLLABUS

Science

BIOL, 2420, Microbiology Non Sci Major, 30

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor Name	Carol Gaspard
Building/Office Number	Academic Center (AC), Room 219A
Office Hours	WR 10:30am-11:00am
Virtual Hours	WR  6:00pm-7:00pm
Office Telephone	(409) 882-3384
Email Address	carol.gaspard@lsco.edu
Course Schedule	Building: Online, Room: TBA, Dates: 1/21/2025 - 5/13/2025, Days: TBA, Times: TBA
Course Description	BIOL 2420 - Microbiology for Non-Science Majors (Lecture + Lab) 4-3-2 Basic microbiology and immunology and is primarily directed at pre-nursing, pre-allied health, and non-science majors. It provides an introduction to historical concepts of the nature of microorganisms, microbial diversity, the importance of microorganisms and acellular agents in the biosphere, and their roles in human and animal diseases. Major topics include bacterial structure as well as growth, physiology, genetics, and biochemistry of microorganisms. Emphasis is on medical microbiology, infectious diseases, and public health. Prerequisite: BIOL 1406 (or BIOL 1306 + BIOL 1106) and BIOL 1407 (or BIOL 1307 + BIOL 1107); OR BIOL 2401 (or BIOL 2301 + BIOL 2101) and BIOL 2402 (or BIOL 2302 + BIOL 2102). Course Identifier 26.0503 AC

Required Textbook & Materials

Upon registration for classes, LSCO students are automatically charged $14 per semester credit hour for access to all required textbooks, lab manuals, lab codes, and electronic books on the first day of class through the Gator Book Pack. Information about the LSCO Gator Book Pack as well as responses to common FAQs can be found on LSCO's webpage. ALL STUDENTS WILL HAVE UNTIL THE SECOND DAY OF THE SEMESTER TO OPT-OUT OF THE GATOR BOOK PACK.

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


Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will acquire the following course learning outcomes:

Core Objectives

Course Level Learning Outcomes (ACGM or WECM) Core Objective Associated Course Activities/Assignments/Projects 1. Use and comply with laboratory safety rules, procedures, and universal precautions. CT, CM, EQ, TW Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 2. Demonstrate proficient use of a compound light microscope. CT Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 3. Describe and prepare widely used stains and wet mounts and discuss their significance in identification of microorganisms. CT, CM, TW Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 4. Perform basic microbiology procedures using aseptic techniques for transfer, isolation and observation of commonly encountered, clinically significant bacteria. CT, EQ Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 5. Use different types of bacterial culture media to grow, isolate, and identify microorganisms. CT, CM, EQ, TW Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 6. Perform basic bacterial identification procedures using biochemical tests. CT, EQ, TW Interactive Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 7. Estimate the number of microorganisms in a sample using methods such as direct counts, viable plate counts, or spectrophotometric measurements. CT, EQ InteractiveLaboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups. 8. Demonstrate basic identification protocols based on microscopic morphology of some common fungi and parasites. CT, CM, TW Laboratory Experimentation to learn and perfect skill, as an individual and in groups.

Course Topical Outline

Week One	Safety, Ubiquity of Microorganisms
Week Two	The Microscope
Week Three	Aseptic Inoculation Techniques
Week Four	Smear Prep and Simple Stain
Week Five	Gram Stain
Week Six	Acid Fast Stain
Week Seven	Review
Week Eight	LAB QUIZ I
Week Nine	Spring Break, no class
Week Ten	Media Types
Week Eleven	Media Types continued
Week Twelve	Antimicrobials
Week Thirteen	Antimicrobials continued
Week Fourteen	Review
Week Fifteen	LAB QUIZ II
Week Sixteen	Finals

Major Assignments Schedule

 

Weeks	ACTIVITY LAB MANUAL Assignments	Online Lab Assignments via McGrawHill Connect Virtual labs
Extreme Weather Week  1/22	Real Snow in SETX???
Week 2 1/29	Syllabus, Lab Safety Orientation, Ubiquity of Microorganisms -information and questions	Lab 1 homework 1.1, 1.2, 1.3      due Monday, 2/3
Week 3 2/5	Lab 2:The Microscope Lab Manual Lab Report due 2/10	Lab 2 Pre-lab assignment 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 due Monday, 2/10
Week 4 2/12	Lab 3:Aseptic Inoculation Techniques Lab Manual Lab Report due 2/17	Lab 3 Pre-lab assignment 3.1, 3.2 due Monday, 2/17
Week 5 2/19	Lab 4:Smear Prep and Simple Stain Lab Manual Lab Report due 2/24	Lab 4 Pre-lab assignment 4.1     due Monday, 2/24
Week 6 2/26	Lab 5:Gram Stain Lab Manual Lab Report due 3/3	Lab 5 Pre-lab assignment 5.1     due Monday, 3/3
Week 7 3/5	Lab 6:Acid Fast Stain Lab Manual Lab Report due 3/10 Review	Lab 6 Pre-lab assignment 6.1     due Monday, 3/10
Week 8 3/12	LAB QUIZ I Wednesday
Week 9 3/17-21	Spring Break, no class
Week 10 3/26	Lab 7:Media Types Lab Manual   (Set-up)	Lab 7 Pre-lab assignment 7.1     due Monday, 3/31
Week 11 4/2	Lab 7:Media Types Lab Manual (Results) Lab Report due 4/7	Lab 7 Pre-lab assignment 7.2 due Monday, 4/7
Week 12 4/9	Lab 8: Antimicrobials Lab Manual (Set-up)	Lab 8 Pre-lab assignment 8.1     due Monday, 4/14
Week 13 4/16	Lab 8: Antimicrobials Lab Manual(Results) Lab Report due 4/21 Review
Week 14 4/23	LAB QUIZ II Wednesday
Week 15 4/30	Review for Lecture Final
Week 16 5/5	Micro Lecture Final

 




Final Exam Date

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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.

This face-to-face class is worth 25% of the total grade earned for Microbiology. If a scheduled lab or practical is missed there is no time allotted to perform the hands-on lab or practical, and your daily attendance (part of your lab grade) will be recorded as zero.
 
Participation Requirement:
As mentioned under “lab attendance”, you are expected to:
 

1. complete all the online pre-lab assignments for each upcoming lab, and submit them by the due dates listed in the syllabus.
2. show up on time, pay attention during lab instruction, actively participate in all lab activities, and stay till the end.
3. complete all the questions in the lab report, and submit them at the end of each lab.
4. If you encounter technical issues with submission, it is your responsibility to contact the Helpdesk and CC your instructor immediately, and document all your communications with the Helpdesk.
5. If you have schedule conflict with any lab, please email me ASAP with documented evidence for a legitimate reason (doctor’s appointment, court duty, etc.). I will work with you on making up the missed lab.   
6. If you miss a lab without legitimate reasons nor documented evidence, your attendance portion will be a zero but you can still earn the credit for pre-lab assignments and lab reports if they are turned in on time. For completing the lab report on a missed lab, you will need to email me immediately about your absence and request “instructions for making up lab report for the missed lab”.

Make-up Work Policy

• Late Lab Manual assignments will be accepted with 20% deduction per day past the due date/time.
• If you miss lab quiz/practical 1 due to any reason, you cannot take it past the due date and the grade will be recorded as zero. However, we can replace this zero with your lab quiz/practical 2 grade.
• If you don’t miss quiz 1 and are satisfied with your score, you are not required to take lab practical 2. However, you can still take lab practical 2 (I strongly recommend it) and if your quiz 2 grade is higher, it can replace your quiz 1 grade.
• No make up for lab quiz/practical 2.  

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

• The lab exam will be proctored by an online proctoring service. You will need a webcam, microphone, computer and reliable Internet access for taking online exams and quizzes at home. If you have enrolled in this Third Party Platform for another class, you do not need to re-enroll.
• You may also request to take the scantron/pencil exam at LSCO testing center if you prefer to. You will need to make the request by emailing the instructor at least 3 days before the scheduled exam date.
• No giving or receiving any unauthorized assistance during the online exams. Take the online exam in a quiet place alone.
• No recording or sharing online exam questions in any form.
• The exam will be open as early as 4:00 am of the first listed date and due by 11:59 pm of the last listed dates. You many take it Anytime in-between. Please plan to take the exam early during the day. This way, in case of a technical issue, we will still have time to troubleshoot and find solutions for you in the afternoon when the campus Helpdesk and testing center are still open.  
• If you have schedule conflicts with any exam, please contact the instructor ASAP, arrangements can be made for you to take the exam before the originally scheduled date but not after that.
• If you run into any problem during an exam, first thing to do is to take a screenshot of the entire screen (if your screen freezes, use your phone to take a picture of the entire screen). Then follow these steps to trouble shoot. 
• If the problem is associated with Blackboard, email the Blackboard Helpdesk at bbhelp@lsco.edu or call 9364965378 immediately.
• For log in issues, email lsco.desk@lsco.edu
• Save all your email communications/Helpdesk ticket history. If the issues remain unsolved after working with the helpdesk, email your instructor along with your Helpdesk ticket history, a screenshot of the problem, and your course and section numbers. I'll respond by email ASAP during business hours. If you don't receive a response from me after 3 hours during business hours, please feel free to send me another email. Please note, without those documented evidences (helpdesk ticket and screenshots), I can't reopen the exam for you past the due date. 

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

The lecture component of the course is a required co-requisite.  You must be simultaneously enrolled in both the lecture component and the lab component.  Both components will receive the same letter grade, from which the lecture counts 75% and the lab counts 25% toward the common grade.  Both lecture and lab must be passed in order to receive a passing grade in either component.
 
Lab Grade will be derived from the following:

• 
  Online lab assignment/virtual labs (30%):

Online lab assignments are virtual labs (via McGraw Hill Connect). The links to access them are located on the your Blackboard course “Content” Page.  They are due by11:59 pm of the due dates.

• 
  Lab attendance (40%)

To get full credit for lab attendance, you need to:

1. 
   show up on time
2. bring your lab manual
3. pay attention during lab instruction, actively participate in all lab activities,
4. stay till the end
5. complete and submit your lab report before you leave the lab.

 

• 
  Lab Quizzes (30%):

There are 2 quizzes (Quiz 1 and Quiz 2, 15% each). They are given in the laboratory during the scheduled dates. You need to bring two pencils and an eraser to each lab quiz.
. 
Course total grade = (Lecture avg)(0.75) + (Lab avg)(0.25) = _____
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.)

As mentioned under “lab attendance”, you are expected to:
 

1. complete all the online pre-lab assignments for each upcoming lab, and submit them by the due dates listed in the syllabus.
2. show up on time, pay attention during lab instruction, actively participate in all lab activities, and stay till the end.
3. complete all the questions in the lab report, and submit them at the end of each lab.
4. If you encounter technical issues with submission, it is your responsibility to contact the Helpdesk and CC your instructor immediately, and document all your communications with the Helpdesk.
5. If you have schedule conflict with any lab, please email me ASAP with documented evidence for a legitimate reason (doctor’s appointment, court duty, etc.). I will work with you on making up the missed lab.   
6. If you miss a lab without legitimate reasons nor documented evidence, your attendance portion will be a zero but you can still earn the credit for pre-lab assignments and lab reports if they are turned in on time. For completing the lab report on a missed lab, you will need to email me immediately about your absence and request “instructions for making up lab report for the missed lab”.

NOTE ON TARDINESS and early leave: It is very important that everyone shows up on time and stay till the end. When you come in late or leave early, it can disrupt the flow of the lab activity, distract other students, impede learning of not just yourself but also everyone else in the class.If you have a legitimate reason for doing so, please notify the instructor in advance with documented evidence. And when you walk in late or walk out early, please do so quietly to minimize disturbance to the class.





Review of Test Grades

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



Student's Responsibility

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


Syllabus Content

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


Textbook and Required Materials Access

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


STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

Mental Health Resources

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


Advocacy Information

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


Equal Opportunity to Educational Programs

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


Title IX of the Education Amendments

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


Student Privacy

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