Leadership and College Experience, Fall 2007
Section 27, TTH 12:35pm, Scott Hall Lobby

Instructors: Tanisha L. Jenkins & Rory G. James
828-227-2276
tjenkins@email.wcu.edu & rjames@email.wcu.edu
Office hours: Monday-Friday by appointment

Catalog Course Description: Leadership and College Experience (2 credit hours) is an introduction to the university and to higher education. Discussion of issues involved in the transition from high school to college. Emphasis on academic and career planning and personal development.

Purpose and Objectives:

The Goals of the University Experience Course include the following:

1. To help you orient yourself at WCU by making you familiar with academic policies, programs and support resources;
2. To help you cope successfully with the stresses that often accompany major life transitions, such as coming to college;
3. To create a context in which you can clarify values and continue to develop a sense of responsibility for your academic, personal, and career development;
4. To guide you to develop empathy, respect, and appreciation for others who are different from you in terms of the ways our society defines human and group differences, including race, ethnicity, religious backgrounds, linguistic differences, socioeconomic levels, age, geography, sexual orientation, and national origins.

The University Experience Course is meant to get you off to a good start in college, and to motivate you to successfully complete your college education.  It is the place to get your questions answered, explore and establish your goals, and discover resources that will help you be successful.  Your instructor is also a mentor, a “go-to” person, when you have questions, insecurities, indecisions, or other difficulties—please take advantage of this both in class and individually!

Attendance in USI 140:

Much of a person’s learning and thinking originates in, and is supported by, interactions with other people.  What happens inside the classroom is the “meat” of the USI 140 course.  Therefore, your performance on in-class activities and contributions to class discussion are important to you and to your fellow students, and will be the basis for your course grade.

The University’s Undergraduate Catalog, The Record, states the following regarding class attendance: “Western Carolina University expects students to recognize the positive effect on academic success of class attendance and participation.  All undergraduates are expected to attend all meetings of the courses in which they are enrolled: any absence is incurred at the student’s own risk… A student with more unexcused absences in a 100-(freshman) or 200-(sophomore) level course than the semester hours given for the course can expect the instructor to lower the course grade.”  You are encouraged to consult the complete statement of this policy in the Undergraduate Catalog.

You are allowed up to two absences provided that your instructor excuses the absence.  Acceptable excuses include the following:

• Clear evidence that you are too ill or otherwise indisposed to benefit from being in class and will be a risk or distraction to others in the class;
• Documented evidence of your required presence in a court of law;
• Documented evidence of a personal or family emergency requiring your presence away from campus;
• Documented evidence of your participation in an approved university activity (field trip, athletic event, etc.; documentation will be provided by the university official in charge of the activity, and must be presented before the time of the absence);
• Other circumstances approved by your instructor, preferably prior to the absence.

You must request IN WRITING that each absence be excused before the next regular class period.  Your written excuse must be presented to your instructor as soon as possible after the absence occurs.  If you miss class for what you believe is a good reason, you still must ask, in writing, that the absence be excused—we want to see that you are acting responsibly about class attendance.  Even if you miss class unexpectedly or accidentally, don’t compound the error by failing to turn in a request for an excuse; if you act responsibly, you might be granted an excuse even with a poor reason.  It is up to your instructor to grant excuses, so don’t ever assume your absence won’t be excused until you have communicated with your instructor.

Attendance affects your final grade as follows:

• If you have more than two excused absences, you cannot earn a final grade higher than a C, regardless of your performance on course assignments;
• If you have more than four excused absences, your instructor may assign a grade of F, regardless of your performance on course assignments;
• If you have ANY absences that are not excused, you will receive a grade of F, regardless of your performance on the rest of the course assignments.

Keep in mind that if you miss a class meeting, you are still responsible for the material addressed during that meeting and for submitting assignments due at the meeting.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities.  Students who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services.  All information is confidential.  Please contact Disability Services for more information at (828) 227-2716 or 144 Killian Annex.

Course Content:

• The value of college and liberal learning; the Liberal Studies program;
• College Life Issues: time management; coping with college classes and schedules; use of Academic Success Centers; use of professional advisors; interacting with professors; class attendance and keeping up with class work; extracurricular activities;
• Academic policies as covered by the Catalog; the purpose and consequences of grades;
• Information on selecting a major and preparing for a career;
• Responsible living, including keeping balance in your life, interpersonal relationships, drug and alcohol use, and safe sex practices;
• Diversity and ethical considerations;
• Brief discussion of Western Carolina University and its history.

Classes must meet once per week for the whole semester; all classes are scheduled for two class meetings per week to accommodate special activities, individual meetings with students, or meetings with small groups from a class.  Classes will meet during both meeting times for the first couple of weeks so students have ample opportunity to get help with adjustment issues.  Some kind of final assessment activity is required of all classes, to be completed according to the final exam schedule during final exam week.

Textbook:  Manz, C. & Neck,C.  (1998). Mastering Self Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence (2nd Edition).

Basis for Student Evaluation:

Individual Conference: 10
Attendance:  10
Campus Events:  25
Class Participation: 25
Class Assignments: 50
Presentations:  30
Final Exam:  50
Total:   200

Schedule for USI-140

WEEK 1
8/21  Introductions, Retreat Reminders
8/23  Introductions, Retreat Reminders

WEEK 2
8/28  Syllabus, Retreat Re-cap
Assignment #1 – “Freshmen Retreat Experience”
8/30  Why WCU?
Assignment #1 DUE
  
WEEK 3 (Reading Assignment: Chapter 1 – The Journey of Leadership)
9/4  Class discussion on Reading, In-class assignment
9/6  WCU Scavenger Hunt

WEEK 4 (Reading Assignment: Chapter 3 – Rough Roads, Detours, and Roadblocks)
9/11  Academic Success Center
Assignment #2 - TBA
9/13  Class Discussion
Assignment #2 DUE

WEEK 5
9/18  Project C.A.R.E. Updates – A Visit from Western’s B.E.S.T.
9/20  Chapter 5 Exercises (pgs 76-77; 80)

WEEK 6 (Reading Assignment: Chapter 9 – The Destination)
9/25  In-class assignment
Assignment #3 – College Case Studies
9/27  Guest Speaker – Academic Advising (Yashica Martin)
Assignment #3 DUE

WEEK 6
10/2  “What it means to be Greek”
10/4  Individual Conferences

WEEK 7
10/9  Career Development, Career Services

WEEK 8
10/16  Guest Speaker – Jane Adams-Dunford, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Assignment #4 – Maturity Test
10/23  Advising Day (NO CLASSES)
Assignment #4 DUE

10/30  OPEN

11/6  OPEN

11/13  Group Presentations

11/20  Group Presentations

11/27  FINAL EXAM

****Schedule is subject to change****