GUST 0303
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Chyrell Botts                               Office Hours: Arrange time
Course Title: Study Skills                             Campus: 713 718-8051

Course description: This is a course designed to prepare students for the demands of college courses. Emphasis is on time management, effective listening and note taking skills, textbook marking methods, concentration techniques, retention of information, reading comprehension and test-taking skills. It also includes spelling and vocabulary skills.

Materials:    Learning Skills for College and Career, 2nd Ed., by Paul Hettich
                      Dictionary

Course requirements: Students are expected to attend class regularly and arrive on time. If you are not present at lectures or if you do not arrive on time you cannot expect to learn the material in this course. The state policy is that " a student should be dropped from a course for excessive absences after the student has accumulated absences in excess of 12.5% of the hours of instruction." This is four classes for the semester. This means that you have four absences available to you to use during the semester. Any absences beyond these four are unexcused no matter what those absences are for. Three tardies (later than 10 minutes) will equal one absence. If you are more than 30 minutes late you will be counted absent.

Class assignments/ Journals: There will be a number of written assignments. Class assignments are due at the Beginning of the class period on the day they are due. They will be graded and late work will be penalized. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to find out if assignments were given. If you are absent you are still responsible for turning your work in on time. If you have special circumstances regarding your participation in any aspect of this class, please discuss them with me instead of trying to work them out by yourself. You will also be required to keep a journal. We will discuss the requirements for the journal in class. You will also compose a paper in the area of career research and present it orally in class.

Reading: It is ESSENTIAL that you complete the assigned reading BEFORE the classes in which they will be discussed. You will not be able to contribute to class discussions or keep up if you haven’t completed the readings. You will have a number of quizzes based on assigned readings. You will be expected to take notes from class discussion.

Class participation: Participation includes asking and answering questions in class, your attitude in class, completing homework, arriving on time and staying for the complete class time and working with your classmates as a team. Thoughtful participation will be an important consideration in the final grade you receive in the course.

Examinations: There will be a number of examinations during the course: a mid-term, a final, and tests over the class material as we cover it. The questions may take a variety of forms, but all will require you to demonstrate the reading strategies and thinking abilities you have acquired in this class.

Class Behavior: If a student must have a pager or telephone for work-related or emergency purposes, it must be set on the silent mode. Students who repeatedly disrupt the class in this way will be asked to leave the classroom. This also applies to headphones, or anything else that disrupts the classroom atmosphere of serious study including excessive talking or sleeping at your desk.

Texas Academic Skills Program: The Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) is a statewide instructional program required by Texas law to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges and universities have the basic academic skills (reading, writing, and mathematics) needed to be successful in college-level work .All students who enroll in academic courses must take the TASP test, or an approved alternative, prior to enrollment in any college-level course work unless otherwise exempt. Texas law mandates that the student bear the cost of the test. The Texas Higher Education Coordination Board has approved the use of TASP alternatives assessment. HCCS has designated the ASSET to fulfill TASP requirements only on the student’s initial attempt. Subsequent attempts must be made by taking the TASP test only.

Services to Students with Disabilities: The Houston Community College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students or the operation of any of its programs or activities. The designated office for compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the HCCS Access and Equity Office.

The College will make its campuses and programs accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with the law. Where it is impractical to modify a specific area to make it accessible, the college will provide an accessible alternative. For instructional accommodations students should notify their instructor and contact the HCCS disabilities services staff through the Northeast College Counseling Office. Academic accommodation will be provided only after students have properly registered for services through designated disability services staff. Therefore, it is important for the student to declare his/her disability at the beginning of the semester (if not sooner), so that appropriate services can be provided.

Grades:             Midterm and Final 20% 
                         Journal 10%
                         Tests, Quizzes 20%
                         Assignments, journals 25%
                         Semester Project 20%
                         Class participation 5%

Grading Scale:        100-90 = A
                               89-80 = B
                               79-70 = C
                               69-60 = D
                               59- below = F

The contents of this syllabus and course calendar may be subject to change throughout the semester.