Course Number/Section/Name: MGT 6336-70 Advanced Human Resources Management Professor: Emily Ehrlich Hammer, M.B.A., SPHR, Ph.D.

Class Days/Times/Location or Other Format: Online Office Location: CC 215 Office Hours: MTW 9am – 11am; 12:30pm – 2:30pm; or By Appointment Office Phone: (806) 651-2504 Email:ehammer@mail.wtamu.edu Social Media: Keep up with the latest happenings of your COB on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wt-amucob and Twitter, #WTAMUCOB Terms of Use A student's continued enrollment in this course signifies acknowledgment of and agreement with the statements, disclaimers, policies, and procedures outlined within this syllabus and elsewhere in the WTClass environment. This Syllabus is a dynamic document. Elements of the course structure (e.g., dates and topics covered, but not policies) may be changed at the discretion of the professor. WTAMU College of Business Mission Statement The mission of the College of Business is to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate business education with a global perspective and ethical awareness. We accomplish this through emphasis on excellence in teaching, which is strengthened by faculty scholarship and supported by professional service. Learning Objectives of the WTAMU College of Business Programs The College of Business (COB) at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) seeks to prepare students in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Professional Accounting (MPA), and the Master of Science, Finance and Economics (MSFE) degree programs for careers in business and to foster their professional growth and advancement via key learning goals and objectives.

The learning objectives of the College of Business are as follows:

Leadership

Communication

Critical Thinking

Business Integration

Core Business Knowledge

Global Business Environment

Business Ethics and Corporate Governance

Course Description The purpose of this course is to provide students with an overview of human resource management (HRM) and an understanding of how HRM can enhance organizational effectiveness. Empirical research has shown that a solid human resources system is related to organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction. Unfortunately, the importance of human resources management has not been fully recognized in organizations, resulting in the shortage of talent and limiting their potential for growth. Throughout the course we will focus on the role of both managers and human resource professionals in developing and implementing effective and efficient human resource practices that support the strategic objectives of their organizations. This is a reading intensive course. You will be expected to read a lot of material and write based on what you have read/learned. A sampling of the core human resource practices that we will cover in this course include: strategic human resources management, job analysis, recruitment and selection, performance appraisal, labor relations, compensation, training and the legal environment. At the completion of this course, students are expected to:

1. Understand the impact of human resources practices on the competitive advantages of an organization. 2. Understand the importance of human resources management for the achievement of organizational

missions and strategies. 3. Translate organizational strategies into specific human resources policies. 4. Develop knowledge and skills that will improve human resources management in the organization that

you belong to. 5. Evaluate the potential pros and cons of the various human resources practices. 6. Create a more legal and ethical work environment.

Course Objectives Upon completion of the course the student should be able to demonstrate a sufficient command of the subject matter such as to meet the following objectives:

1. Develop skills as an effective communicator (HR Company Reports, Book Review, Exams). 2. Develop interpersonal and decision-making skills that will enhance the ability to lead an organization

and/or improve its performance (HR Company Reports, Book Review, Exam, Simulation Decisions, Reading/Quizzes).

3. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts and theories that can be used to understand and explain human resources management in organizations (Exams, Book Review, HR Company Reports).

4. Acquire the skills to analyze business situations, and apply theories and concepts to the solution of organizational problems (Simulation Decisions, HR Company Reports, Book Review, Exams)

Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Human Resources Management by their scores on the various grading elements comprising this course. The final objective is to assist in preparing you for future managerial roles and success. Course Materials (Text, calculator, etc.)

Human Resource Management 3rd Ed. 978-0997117158

Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins ISBN: 978-0060516406

Online Interpretive HRM Software (link available on WTClass)

Map from COB Learning Objectives to Specific Course Objectives College of Business Learning Goals are related to the course objectives for MGT 6336-70,are as follows:

1. Students will demonstrate competencies in writing, speaking, and technology communication via exams, book reviews, simulation decisions, HR Company Reports

2. Students will demonstrate their competencies in critical thinking via exams, book reviews, simulation decisions, HR Company Reports

3. Students will demonstrate their competencies in ethical decisions via exams, book reviews, simulation decisions, HR Company Reports

4. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the global and domestic environment and their relevance to the business contexts via exams, book reviews, simulation decisions, HR Company Reports

5. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of diversity for effective problem-solving via exams, book reviews, simulation decisions, HR Company Reports

6. Students will illustrate and explain theories and concepts related to a list of specific course/discipline concepts via exams, book reviews, simulation decisions, HR Company Reports

Course Grading Policies Your course grade will be calculated as a Weighted Average based upon the following weights:

HRM Simulation 30% Simulation/Reading Quizzes

Weekly Team Decisions

Analysis of Results (HR Company Reports)

Book Review 30% Exams (2 Exams) 40%

Total: 100% Final Grading Scale

A 89.5 – 100%

B 79.5% - 89.49%

C 69.5% - 79.49%

D 59.5% - 69.49%

F 0% - 59.49%

Grades will not be curved. This is a graduate course and only excellent work will receive an A. Course Assignment, Examination, and or Project Policies We will use a combination of methods: online notes, article readings, thought papers, cases, videos, current events articles, and a group course project. The use of this mixed methodology rests on the premise that learning comes not only from reading and writing, but also from interaction with others and systematic self-reflection. How successful you are in this course depends on what you bring to the class. The following is the basic structure of this course. Chapter Notes. During each week there will be assigned readings from the course textbook to provide you with the basic information related to HR issues. These chapter(s) will give you a solid foundation of the concepts that are important and serve as a springboard toward your understanding of the supplemental article readings. For each week’s chapter material I will provide you with a file of notes that summarizes the most relevant information from

that chapter. This should help you to focus your attention on the information that relates to the critical issues of the chapters and help you with your preparation for the course exams. HR Simulation This hands-on approach to application of HRM strategies, skills, and practices will enhance your current knowledge of running an HR department and give you the opportunity to run your own HR department. You will receive an e-mail

from Interpretive Simulations to your WT E-mail address with a login. You must first register at www.interpretive.com for the simulation and pay the $39.95 for it. Once registered, you need to read all materials, take the quiz, run 2 practice quarters to get used to the software. (The concept quiz is just a preview of information and will not count in your overall grade. The Case Quiz reflects how well you read the manual and will count in your overall grade.) Please be sure that you check your WT e-mail regularly. If you do not receive an e-mail, please let me know as soon as possible. You must be prepared, as in the real world, to compete in this competitive business environment. Your developed and applied strategies will determine your level of success in your HR department of your company. You will run an HR Department for 12 quarters or 3 years. The simulation will be run in a schedule throughout the semester. Your decisions for each quarter will be input on the website the morning the decision is due and the results will be reviewed and graded by the simulation that morning. DECISIONS MUST BE LOCKED BY 5:59AM ON THE DUE DATE! Simulation Decisions The simulation will be scored each week as a competition between you and the other students within the course. Your grade will be based upon your performance using the simulation scoring in proportion to 100%. This course gives you the opportunity to learn how to work within a complex HR Environment. You will be the leader of your OWN HR Department.

Simulation Scoring will be scored by the Interpretive software according to the following breakdown:

Unit Labor Cost 10% Minority % 2.5%

Budget Spent (Cumulative) 10% Productivity 10%

Quality Index 10% Absenteeism 5%

Turnover 10% Training 5%

Morale 10% Programs 5%

Accident Rate 10% Female % 2.5%

HR Company Reports are Due Annually. (Each decision covers a Quarter of your Annual Year). You will have a total of 3 HR Company Reports to submit as a group. Only one HR Company Report can be submitted per team to the Dropbox.

Your HR Simulation Company Report is a short 2-3 page paper on what you did over the quarter and why you

made the decisions you did. Analyze your results. The most recent decision data will not be available, so it will

not be required until the next report.

Explain your company’s strategy. How does it work? What have you learned? What would you do differently as

an HR Director? All papers should be double spaced, and typed in Courier font size 12 with 1” margins all

around.

References should be included on a separate page and do not count toward your 2-3 pages. Cover pages also do

not count toward your 2-3 pages.

For APA Formatting, please see Short Reports on Purdue OWL APA’s website.

Example of Simulation Grading: Weighted

Score (Grade)

Unit Labor Cost

Budget Spent

Quality Index

Turnover Morale Accident Rate

Grievances Productivity Absenteeism Female Pct

Minority Pct

A 63.9 (71) 59.19 3982513 60 9.9 69 325 30 219 408 15.9 19.6

B 74.7 (83) 60.17 3999000 65 7.9 70 223 36 218 324 24.9 20.0

C 87.9 (97.7) 59.94 3809450 68 8.2 65 204 23 224 321 39.3 32.1

Example Company C Grade Calculation: 87.9 *100= 8790 8790/90 = 97.7% (A) Reading the Simulation Manual is CRUCIAL to your success in the simulation component. Everyone can/should do well in the simulation as it is all about the best decisions you make for your company. We will talk more about these decisions and how the simulation operates as the semester begins. Book Review A review is a critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon. Above all, a review makes an argument. The most important element of a review is that it is a commentary, not merely a summary. It allows you to enter into dialogue and discussion with the work’s creator and with other audiences. You can offer agreement or disagreement and identify where you find the work exemplary or deficient in its knowledge, judgments, or organization. You should clearly state your opinion of the work in question, and that statement will probably resemble other types of academic writing, with a thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Typically, reviews are brief. In newspapers and academic journals, they rarely exceed 1000 words, although you may encounter lengthier assignments and extended commentaries. In either case, reviews need to be succinct. While they vary in tone, subject, and style, they share some common features:

First, a review gives the reader a concise summary of the content. This includes a relevant description of the topic as well as its overall perspective, argument, or purpose.

Second, and more importantly, a review offers a critical assessment of the content. This involves your reactions to the work under review: what strikes you as noteworthy, whether or not it was effective or persuasive, and how it enhanced your understanding of the issues at hand.

Finally, in addition to analyzing the work, a review often suggests whether or not the audience would appreciate it.

Once you have made your observations and assessments of the work under review, carefully survey your notes and attempt to unify your impressions into a statement that will describe the purpose or thesis of your review. Then, outline the arguments that support your thesis. Your arguments should develop the thesis in a logical manner. That logic, unlike more standard academic writing, may initially emphasize the author’s argument while you develop your own in the course of the review. The relative emphasis depends on the nature of the review: if readers may be more interested in the work itself, you may want to make the work and the author more prominent; if you want the review to be about your perspective and opinions, then you may structure the review to privilege your observations over (but never separate from) those of the work under review. What follows is just one of many ways to organize a review.

Introduction o Since most reviews are brief, many writers begin with a catchy quip or anecdote that succinctly

delivers their argument. But you can introduce your review differently depending on the argument and audience. In general, you should include:

The name of the author and the book title and the main theme.

Relevant details about who the author is and where he/she stands in the genre or field of

inquiry. You could also link the title to the subject to show how the title explains the subject

matter.

The context of the book and/or your review. Placing your review in a framework that makes

sense to your audience alerts readers to your “take” on the book. Perhaps you want to situate a

book about the Cuban revolution in the context of Cold War rivalries between the United States

and the Soviet Union. Another reviewer might want to consider the book in the framework of

Latin American social movements. Your choice of context informs your argument.

The thesis of the book. If you are reviewing fiction, this may be difficult since novels, plays, and

short stories rarely have explicit arguments. But identifying the book’s particular novelty, angle,

or originality allows you to show what specific contribution the piece is trying to make.

Your thesis about the book.

Summary of content

o This should be brief, as analysis takes priority. In the course of making your assessment, you’ll hopefully

be backing up your assertions with concrete evidence from the book, so some summary will be

dispersed throughout other parts of the review.

o The necessary amount of summary also depends on your audience. Graduate students, beware! If you

are writing book reviews for colleagues—to prepare for comprehensive exams, for example—you may

want to devote more attention to summarizing the book’s contents. If, on the other hand, your audience

has already read the book—such as a class assignment on the same work—you may have more liberty to

explore more subtle points and to emphasize your own argument.

Analysis and evaluation of the book

o Your analysis and evaluation should be organized into paragraphs that deal with single aspects of your

argument. This arrangement can be challenging when your purpose is to consider the book as a whole,

but it can help you differentiate elements of your criticism and pair assertions with evidence more

clearly.

o You do not necessarily need to work chronologically through the book as you discuss it. Given the

argument you want to make, you can organize your paragraphs more usefully by themes, methods, or

other elements of the book.

o If you find it useful to include comparisons to other books, keep them brief so that the book under

review remains in the spotlight.

o Avoid excessive quotation and give a specific page reference in parentheses when you do quote.

Remember that you can state many of the author’s points in your own words.

Conclusion

o Sum up or restate your thesis or make the final judgment regarding the book. You should not introduce

new evidence for your argument in the conclusion. You can, however, introduce new ideas that go

beyond the book if they extend the logic of your own thesis.

o This paragraph needs to balance the book’s strengths and weaknesses in order to unify your evaluation.

Did the body of your review have three negative paragraphs and one favorable one? What do they all

add up to?

Your Book Review may NOT exceed 12 pages double-spaced with references. Anything that exceeds the allotted 12 ages will NOT be graded or even read by the instructor. Any references or citations that are not properly completed will be labeled as plagiarism and will result in a zero for the assignment and possible removal from the MBA program. When in doubt, cite it! Please visit Purdue OWL APA’s website for proper citing rules: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Exams You will have 2 exams in this course. Exams will consist of 40 multiple choice questions. 20 true/false questions and your choice of 2 out of 4 essay questions. Your essay questions will be worth 40% of your exam grade. The ideas behind your four topics for your essay questions will be provided in advance, but the exact questions will NOT be provided prior to the week of the exam when the exam is available. You will have 3 hours to complete the exam. This is MORE than enough time to complete a quality essay of a minimum of 1 page. You should integrate sources from your textbook, novel, and simulation experiences into your essay questions to have the opportunity to receive full credit. This is NOT the time to impress me with your vocabulary skills and ability to use the Thesaurus function in MS Word. This is the time to show me what you know and have learned throughout the half of the course of which you are being assessed. This is a graduate level course, and as a result, you should be providing me with graduate level work. Exams will cover content that is listed up to the point of the exam on the Course Calendar. NO MAKE-UPS will be given for exams. You will have the entire week to complete the exam at the time of your choice. You will NOT be able to see the results of your exam until after I grade the essay sections once all of your peers have completed their exams AFTER the due date. Please allow me AT LEAST 1 week to complete the grading of your exams. Course Topics - Tentative Calendar of Readings, Topics, and Due Dates The following is a tentative outline of the course. Exact dates and topics are potentially subject to change depending on the needs and progress of the class. Students are responsible for keeping track of any changes made in this class. Any changes will be communicated with students by email or announcement through WTClass. You can work ahead if you like except on the Simulation Reflections and Decisions.

Week Of Lepak et. al. & Collins Reading Assignments

Simulation Due Dates Other Assignments

January 16 – January 22

The Best of the Best – Collins Lepak – Chapter 1

Practice Decision 1 DUE January 22 at 6am

January 22 – January 29

Clock Building, Not Time Telling – Collins Lepak – Chapter 2

Practice Decision 2 DUE January 29 at 6am

January 29 – February 5

More Than Profits – Collins Lepak – Chapter 3

Decision 1 DUE February 5 at 6am STAFFING DECISION

Simulation & Case Quizzes DUE February 5 at 6am

February 5 – February 12

Preserve the Core/Stimulate Progress – Collins Lepak – Chapter 8

Decision 2 DUE February 12 at 6am SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

February 12 – February 19

Big Hairy Audacious Goals – Collins Lepak – Chapter 4

Decision 3 DUE February 19 at 6am EMPLOYEE HEALTH, ASSISTANCE & WELLNESS

February 19 – February 26 Exam 1

Decision 4 DUE February 26 at 6am JOB DESIGN

HR Company Report 1 DUE on February 26 at 6am

February 26 – March 5

Cult-Like Cultures – Collins Lepak – Chapter 5

Decision 5 DUE March 5 at 6am

SAFETY ISSUES

March 5 - March 12

Try a Lot of Stuff and Keep What Works – Collins Lepak – Chapter 9

March 12 – March 19

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES

March 19 – March 26

Home-Grown Management – Collins Lepak – Chapter 10

Decision 6 DUE March 19 at 6am CRISIS MANAGEMENT

HR Company Report 2 DUE on March 26 at 6am

March 26 – April 2

Good Enough Never Is – Collins Lepak – Chapter 11

Decision 7 DUE March 26 at 6am REFERENCES

April 2 – April 9 The End of the Beginning – Collins Lepak – Chapter 12

Decision 8 DUE March April 2 at 6am PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

April 9 – April 16

Building the Vision – Collins Lepak Chapter 14

Decision 9 DUE April 9 at 6am COMPENSATION PLANNING

Book Review DUE on April 9 at 6am

April 16 – April 23 Prepare Final Company Report &

Study for Final Exam

Decision 10 DUE April 16 at 6am HEALTH CARE LAW CHANGES

April 23 – April 30 Prepare Final Company Report &

Study for Final Exam

Decision 11 DUE April 23 at 6am SELF-MANAGED WORK TEAMS

April 30 – May 7 Final Exam

Decision 12 DUE April 30 at 6am WAGE NEGOTIATIONS

HR Company Report 3 DUE on May 7 at 6am

I reserve the right to make changes to this schedule to meet the needs of the course as I deem appropriate. Additional Course Policies Communication: Your instructor will make every attempt to stay in communication with students in this class by email regarding their current grade situation. E-mail is the most effective way to communicate to ask questions, set-up appointments, or anything else. Please notify the instructor in writing if you believe that an error in the grading process has been made (either scoring your work or recording the final grade). Mistakes have occurred in the past; HOWEVER, if you believe a grade has been recorded inaccurately, you must notify the instructor within one week of receiving the grade. Following one week, grades will be assumed to be accurate as previously recorded. .

WTAMU COB Student Code of Ethics Each student enrolled in COB courses accepts personal responsibility to uphold and defend academic integrity

and to promote an atmosphere in which all individuals may flourish. The COB Student Code of Ethics strives to set a standard of honest behavior that reflects well on students, the COB and West Texas

A&M University. All students enrolled in business courses are expected to follow the explicit behaviors detailed in the Student Code of Ethics.

Code of Ethics

Do not use notes, texts, solution manuals, or other aids for a quiz or exam without instructor authorization.

Do not copy the work of others and/or allow others to view your answers or copy your work during a quiz, exam, or on homework assignments.

Do not allow other parties to assist in the completion of your quiz, exam, homework, paper, or project when not permitted.

Do not work with other students on projects or assignments without authorization from the course instructor.

Properly cite and specifically credit the source of text, graphic, and web materials in papers, projects, or other assignments.

Do not forge the signature of an instructor, advisor, dean, or another student.

Provide truthful information for class absences when asking faculty for excused absences or for a make-up for a quiz, exam, or homework.

Provide truthful information on your resume including work history, academic performance, leadership activities, and membership in student organizations.

Respect the property, personal rights, and learning environment of all members of the academic community.

Live up to the highest ethical standards in all academic and professional endeavors.

Students violating the Student Code of Ethics will be reported to the Dean’s office and are subject to penalties described in the West Texas A&M University Code of Student Life, which may include suspension from the University. In addition, a violator of the Student Code of Ethics may become ineligible for participation in student organizations sponsored by the COB and for recognition for College academic honors, awards, and scholarships.

COB Student Resources Link The COB has developed a Student Resources repository (e.g., APA writing style information, business core reviews, facilities, and other helpful supplements), which can be found on the COB Website: http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-business-facilities-and-resources.aspx . Additionally, WTAMU has developed an Academic Study Skills information site to assist students (e.g., study habits, supplemental instruction, tutoring, writing and math skills), which can be found on the WTAMU Website: http://www.wtamu.edu/student-support/academic-study-skills.aspx . For WTAMU Writing Center information (for students needing writing assistance, guidance, and feedback), please visit: http://www.wtamu.edu/academics/writing-center.aspx . COB Communications Component Students earning a BBA degree must complete at least one course with a communications component as part of the business core requirements. The COB communications component is a requirement in the following courses: ACCT 4373 (Accounting Communications), BUSI 4333 (Cross-Cultural Issues in Business Communications), BUSI 4350 (Current Issues in Management Communications), BUSI 4380 (Conflict Resolution and Negotiation), BUSI 4382 (Emerging Media Law), CIDM 3320 (Digital Collaboration and Communication), ECON 4370 (Economics of Health Care), FIN 3350 (Personal Financial Planning), FIN 4320 (Investments), FIN 4321 (Portfolio Theory), MGT 3335 (Organizational Behavior), MGT 4380 (Conflict Resolution and Negotiation), and MKT 3342 (Consumer Behavior). Students in a communications component course are explicitly required to demonstrate knowledge of communication skills. Specific objectives may include but are not limited to the following concepts put forth by the National Business Education Association: (1) ability to organize a written and an oral message coherently and effectively, (2) ability to use technology for communication, (3) ability to research a topic, prepare a report, and present the findings to all organizational levels, and (4) ability to demonstrate critical-thinking skills. Specific course requirements and the role of the communications component with respect to student grading policy are at the discretion of the course instructor of record. Student Travel Opportunities In multiple business courses, there may be opportunities for student travel supplemented by student fees. If you have an interest in such opportunities as they become available, please notify a faculty member. Dropping/Repeating the Course Should a student decide to drop the course, it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the final drop dates and adhere to the WTAMU Add/Drop policy. Any student participating in the course after the WTAMU posted drop date will be considered active and a grade will be administered at the end of the course for that student. Students are charged a fee for any course attempted for a third or subsequent time at WTAMU other than a non-degree credit developmental course or exempted courses. Scholastic Dishonesty It is the responsibility of students and instructors to help maintain scholastic integrity at the University by refusing to participate in or tolerate scholastic dishonesty. Commission of any of the following acts shall

constitute scholastic dishonesty. This listing is not exclusive of any other acts that may reasonably be said to constitute scholastic dishonesty: acquiring or providing information for any assigned work or examination from any unauthorized source; informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the examination is given in subsequent sections of the course or as a makeup; plagiarism; submission of a paper or project that is substantially the same for two courses unless expressly authorized by the instructor to do so; submission of a paper or project prepared by another student as your own. You are responsible for being familiar with the University's Academic Integrity Code, as well as the COB Student Code of Ethics listed in this document. Academic Integrity

All work must be completed individually unless otherwise stated. Commission of any of the following acts shall constitute scholastic dishonesty: acquiring or providing information for any assigned work or examination from any unauthorized source; informing any person or persons of the contents of any examination prior to the time the exam is given in any subsequent sections of the course or as a makeup; plagiarism; submission of a paper or project that is substantially the same for two courses unless expressly authorized by the instructor to do so. For more information, see the Code of Student Life.

Viewpoints/External Websites Disclaimer The views expressed in this document, web-based course materials, and/or classroom presentations and discussions are those of the professor and do not necessarily represent the views of West Texas A&M University, its faculty and staff, or its students. Views expressed by students are likewise those of the person making such statements. It is understood and expected that each individual within this course will respect and allow individual difference of opinion. Neither the professor, the COB, nor WTAMU are responsible for the content of external websites discussed in the classroom and/or linked to via online course materials, emails, message boards, or other means. Referred websites are for illustrative purposes only, and are neither warranted nor endorsed by the professor, COB, or WTAMU. Web pages change frequently, as does domain name ownership. While every effort is made to ensure proper referencing, it is possible that students may on occasion find materials to be objectionable for reasons beyond our control. Acceptable Student Behavior Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (Code of Student Life). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior may be instructed to leave the classroom. Inappropriate behavior may result in disciplinary action or referral to the University’s Behavioral Intervention Team. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. Technology Requirements

All technological requirements for the successful completion of this course are the responsibility of the student, including access to a working computer and or to a device with secure broadband Internet connection, data storage and retrieval, and state-of-the-art security. The student is responsible for all technological problems not related to WTAMU, including but not limited to equipment failures, power outages, and Internet breakdowns. Furthermore, students are responsible for all necessary technical and operational skills for completing this course, and for being familiar with WTClass (the Blackboard Learning System) both in a general sense and in a specific sense as pertaining to this course and any materials stored within. The professor is not responsible for any technical matters related to WTClass. Students must contact WTClass if they have problems accessing and/or using the WTClass environment. Physical or Educational Access - ADA Statement West Texas A&M University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with Student Disability Services (SDS) and to contact faculty members in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations. Contact Information: Student Success Center, CC 106; www.wtamu.edu/disability; phone 806-651-2335. Title IX Statement West Texas A&M University is committed to providing a learning, working and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free of sexual misconduct and discrimination. Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. Harassment is not acceptable. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources

here:

WTAMU Title IX Coordinator Becky Lopez – Kilgore Research Center 147, or call 806.651.3199

WTAMU Counseling Services – Classroom Center 116, or call 806.651.2340

WTAMU Police Department – 806.651.2300, or dial 911

24-hour Crisis Hotline – 800.273.8255, or 806.359.6699, or 800.692.4039 https://www.notalone.gov/

For more information, see the Code of Student Life.

WT Attendance Policy for Core Curriculum Classes For the purposes of learning assessment and strategic planning, all students enrolled in Core Curriculum or developmental courses at West Texas A&M University must swipe their Buff Gold cards through the card reader installed in the classroom/lab for each class/lab meeting. Evacuation Statement If you receive notice to evacuate the building, please evacuate promptly but in an orderly manner. Evacuation routes are posted in various locations indicating all exits, outside assemble area, location of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations and emergency telephone numbers (651.5000 or 911). In the event an evacuation is

necessary; evacuate immediately do not use elevators; take all personal belongings with you; report to outside assembly area and wait for further information; students needing assistance in the evacuation process should bring this to the attention of the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Copyright All original content in this document, all web-based course materials (be they text, audio, and/or video), and/or classroom presentations are subject to copyright provisions. No distribution without the express written consent of the author. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor.

* Syllabus template approved by COB Curriculum Committee May 2016. Annual review of the syllabus is a formal part of the COB continuous improvement process.