UNIV 1131: Freshmen Seminar

UNIV 1131-119
FRESHMEN SEMINAR
Fall 2015
Updated: 08/24/2015

Peer Academic
Leader:

Zachary Chavez

Phone #:
UTA E-mail:

Faculty Mentor:
Phone #:

zachary.chavez@mavs.uta.edu
rd

UTA E-mail:

Office Location:

Ransom Hall 3 floor Lounge

Office Location:

Classroom
Location:

Trimble Hall 119 (TH 119)

Classroom Location:

Office Hours:

1:00pm-2:00pm
Monday/Wednesday
11:00am 1:00pm Friday

Office Hours:

Study Group Hour:

COURSE INFORMATION
Description
UT Arlingtons Freshmen Seminar course is reserved exclusively for students enrolled in our Maverick
Scholars Freshmen Interest Groups and is designed to assist students in their transition to UT Arlington. The
course is team taught by a distinguished UT Arlington faculty or staff member and a student Peer Academic
Leader.
Student Learning Objectives
The Freshmen Seminar was designed with the following Student Learning Objectives in mind. By the end of
the fall semester, students will:
Develop a sense of self-awareness through collaborative efforts with other individuals in the program.
Utilize the VARK self-assessment to identify personal strengths related to their academic and social
success in college.
Recognize and utilize the various academic and personal student resources available at UT Arlington.
Apply various learning and study strategies to their college classes.
Required Texts
No Limits: Foundations and Strategies for College Success by Dr. Dawn Remmers (1st Edition)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance
Due to the participatory nature of the Freshmen Seminar, student attendance is required for every class
meeting. In the most extreme circumstances certain absences will be excused. For additional information
about attendance, please carefully read the Attendance Policy below under the Course Policies section of
this syllabus.
Grading
The Freshmen Seminar course is a one-credit hour course and is graded on a PASS / FAIL basis (passing is
considered 75% or higher). Hence, it is just as easy to earn a failing grade as it is to earn a passing grade.
Be careful! Course grades will be determined according to your successful participation and completion of the
following activities:

UNIV 1131: Freshmen Seminar

ASSIGNMENT

% OF FINAL GRADE

Attendance

40%

Participation

30%

Homework

30%

TOTAL

100%

A grade of incomplete for the course will not be awarded without prior consultation with the instructor.
The student is responsible for initiating this conversation with the instructor. Incompletes will be given only
for such reasons as medical emergencies, serious emotional distress, etc. The instructor reserves the right to
make the final decision regarding incompletes.
Participation
Every student is expected to actively engage in every class meeting. Engagement is defined as paying attention,
responding to Instructors questions, raising your own questions, adding your opinion to classroom
discussions, participating in classroom activities, and generally positively contributing to the learning
environment. Please note that sleeping, reading the newspaper, working on other course work, writing notes,
playing with phones or mp3 players, and daydreaming are not acceptable. You will be invited to leave the
classroom if you participate in these negative behaviors, and you will be marked as unexcused absent for that
class meeting.
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Integrity
It is the policy of the University of Texas at Arlington to uphold and support standards of personal honesty and
integrity for all students consistent with the goals of a community of scholars and students seeking knowledge
and truth.
Furthermore, it is the policy of the University to enforce these standards through fair and
objective procedures governing instances of alleged dishonesty, cheating, and other academic/non-academic
misconduct.
You can assume responsibility in two ways. First, if you choose to take the risk associated with scholastic
dishonesty and any other violation of the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline, you must assume
responsibility for your behaviors and accept the consequences. In an academic community, the standards for
integrity are high. Second, if you are aware of scholastic dishonesty and any other conduct violations on the
part of others, you have the responsibility to report it to the professor or the assistant dean of
students/director of student judicial affairs. The decision to do so is another moral dilemma to be faced as
you define who you are. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the University. Since
dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic
dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
Attendance Policy
You are required to attend all class meetings. 10% of the grade will be deducted for each unexcused absence.
Entering late or leaving early (5 minutes or more) without prior consent two times equals one full unexcused
absence.

UNIV 1131: Freshmen Seminar

Reasons for excused absences include medical emergencies or illness. In such situations, students are
expected to contact the Peer Academic Leader in advance or as soon as possible after the absence. Proof of
the illness or emergency will be required along with evidence that the event correlates with the time of the
missed class. Make up assignments to remove absences from your attendance record will not be
permitted.
Classroom Technology
Although laptops are an essential part of our educational process in todays techno-savvy era, the Freshmen
Seminar course requires that if you bring a laptop into the classroom, its use is restricted to classroom
activities pertinent to that days subject only. This means that students may not bring a laptop into the
classroom and use that laptop for checking their email, browsing Facebook, surfing the web, or use it to
complete other course work. NO EXCEPTION WILL BE MADE. If a student is found using their laptop for
anything other than Freshmen Seminar coursework, that student will be invited to leave the class for that day
and will be marked as an unexcused absence.
Cell phones, MP3 players, beepers, and any other personal technology device should be placed on silent mode
during class time. Interruptions such as ringing, beeping, vibrating, etc. will not be tolerated. Should a device
go off during class time, the student will be invited to leave the class and will be marked as an unexcused
absence.
Final Review Week
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations will be designated as FINAL REVIEW
WEEK. The purpose of this week is to allow UT Arlington students sufficient time to prepare for final exams.
During this week, there will be no scheduled or required Freshmen Seminar activities such as field trips,
seminars, or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of
similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabus.
During Final Review Week, an instructor will not give any exams constituting 10% or more of the final grade,
except make-up tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor will give any portion of the final
exam during Final Review Week.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal
equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With
the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities
enjoyed by all citizens.
As your instructor, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities,
so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing
faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated
administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic
accommodations can be found at www.uta.edu/disability. Also, you may visit the Office for Students with
Disabilities in University Hall or call them at (817) 272-3364.
University College Programs
The University of Texas at Arlington provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students
develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related
to their courses. These resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education,
advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals to
resources for any reason, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline via email at
resources@uta.edu, by phone at 817-272-6107, or visit www.uta.edu/resources for more information.

UNIV 1131: Freshmen Seminar

COURSE TIMELINE

*All class topics and their dates are subject to changed

Date
August

September

October

November

December

Class Topic
31
2
7
9
14
16
21
23
28
30
5
7
12
14
19
21
26
28
2
4
9
11
16
18
23
25
30
2
7
9

Note

Introduction
Study Skills
Labor Day Holiday
VARK!
Note-Taking & Critical Listening
Studying from Textbook & library Resources

Test Preparation & Test Taking

Time Management
Goal Setting
True Color
Healthy Life Styles
Test Stress & Test Success

Meeting with Advisors & UTA policy

Proper Email Etiquette
Mental Health
Invite Professor
Money Management
Safe sex
Invite Professor
Myers Brigg
McNair Scholars Program
Career Center
Internship/Engineering study services
Leadership Center
Professor presentation
Body Language
Holi-Daze
Refresher
Battle Plan For Finals
Last Day of Class

Assignments due dates will be assigned at the end of classes. Reading assignments are subject to change at any time.
Your PAL is the final authority on due dates for all assignments.