Welcome Letter CSS 225 Fall 2022

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CSS 225 College Success Studies

Fall 2022, CRN 73393, 3 credits

Instructor: Rachel Pass

Email: rachel_pass@cuesta.edu

Call or text: 805-380-5283

 

Weekly class meetings on campus in San Luis Obispo: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in High Tech/Special Services Room 3308 (click here for a link to the SLO Campus mapLinks to an external site.)

Weekly student drop-in hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays time TBA (will depend on student availability)

Link to syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17tCmEECqqJSnbZEn3xvDLwU9YuNGAl2Z/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106712038344236717620&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

Instructor Contact Expectations

The best and fastest way to contact me is email or text. In general, I will respond to your emails and texts within 24 hours during weekdays. During busy times of the semester, the response time may increase to 48 hours. On weekends, I will do my best to get back to you ASAP, but it I may not be able to respond until Monday morning. 

Course Environment

This is an in-person course. However, you will have the opportunity to turn in work online via a Web-based Learning Management System called Canvas (Links to an external site). as the method to share information. Canvas provides the framework for the course and is where you will find all course content (e.g. PowerPoint presentations, reading materials, etc.), the tools to receive and send course materials and assignments, and a grade book. You can communicate with me and with fellow students using the Canvas Inbox (it’s like email), and you can share materials and ideas with other course participants via the discussion forums and groups.

Regular Effective Contact Policy


Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through weekly instructor initiated threaded discussion forums; weekly announcements to students; timely and effective feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and virtual office hours.

Timeline for Assignment Feedback

Quizzes are automatically graded and available for viewing in Canvas the Monday after they close, unless they include components that need to be graded by hand. I grade writing assignments and discussion posts manually and they will be completed within 72 hours after the submission deadline. I will provide feedback for your discussion contributions by using the

Course Description

3-Credit Gradable Course

Focuses on sentence structure, punctuation, and common errors in writing. Provides extensive practice in grammar usage to improve writing effectiveness and reading comprehension. Instruction is contextualized through student reading and writing assignments.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply effective and specific study strategies to academic coursework.
  2. Identify and describe campus resources that will help students succeed.
  3. Utilize technology strategically to find and evaluate information and utilize research to set achievable academic, professional, and personal goals.

Textbook and Materials

Technical Support

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or email support@instructure.com.

If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.

Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome. This may solve your problem! Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site..

Accommodations

Course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services)Links to an external site. or at 805-546-3148.

College & Course Policies

Academic Honesty Policy: I expect all students to complete the coursework assigned to the best of their ability. This means turning in your own work, using your own words, and citing your sources to avoid plagiarism. Violating these policies will lead to a discussion with me and you may end up with a 0 for the assignment. In addition to my course policy, please note that all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct. Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of conductLinks to an external site.

Add / Drop Policy: It is best to join online classes when they begin. However, if there is still space in the course, I will be happy to have you join us later in the term. Please contact me as soon as possible if you add the class after the first day so that I can help you get up to speed.

If you are registered for the course and you do not log in for 7 consecutive days, you may be dropped from the course. Please contact me right away if you are having trouble logging in or if you are experiencing other challenges that make it difficult for you to participate in class. I will work to help you overcome those obstacles and succeed in class.

In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy and dates for adding and dropping courses:

Waitlist Policy: Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site..

Respect for Diversity 

I am glad that you are here. Your knowledge, perspective, life experiences, home languages, and cultural background are strengths. When you bring these parts of yourself into class, you make our learning community stronger, too. I understand that bringing your whole self to class can feel scary. It takes trust. I will do my best to earn and keep that trust by making a safe space for all of us to learn and grow together. This means ensuring that our class activities, materials, and learning environment are respectful and welcoming of diversity of all types, including but not limited to gender identity, sexuality, ability, age, socioeconmic status, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, language, immigration status, and culture. To that end, we will express our viewpoints respectfully, listen attentively to one another, and respond with kindness. 

We will be reading, writing, and thinking about the world, communities, and ourselves this term. Words matter. We will use your preferred name and pronouns in class. Please let me know if your name or gender is different from what’s recorded in Canvas, and I will be happy to help you update your Canvas profileLinks to an external site.. If you speak another language, please feel free to use that language in class, especially for process writing or to discuss ideas with your classmates. Talking and writing in your first language can help you retain information and think through new ideas.

I want you to succeed, and I encourage you to communicate with me openly and often about any help you need to do that. Please let me know if you need extra help with classwork or if you are experiencing challenges that make it difficult to attend or succeed in school. If, at any time, you feel uncomfortable with something that happens in class or in our Cuesta College community, please let me know. You can talk with me directly through email, over the phone, or during office hours. You can also pass this information along to me anonymously through a classmate, friend, academic counselor, or another trusted faculty member. I will work to resolve the issue and take steps to prevent it from happening again.

Write back to say hello!

I look forward to meeting you very soon! Please feel free to say hello before the course begins by sending me a brief email at rachel_pass@cuesta.edu.  You can introduce yourself and include any of the following information plus anything else you'd like me to know. (Please note, this is not required, but I'd love to hear from you.)

  • Your name and pronouns
  • General reason you are taking this course
  • Location where you completed high school or earned your GED
  • A question (or several) you have about this course

I will look forward to seeing you at our first class meeting on August 16! (If you have any trouble finding us, please send me a text at 805-380-5283 and I'll do my best to give you directions!)

Sincerely,

Rachel Pass

she/her

Instructor in College Success Studies

Cuesta College

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