This document provides an overview of an online college success course including information about the instructor, required texts, course competencies, student learning outcomes, assignments, policies, and grading. The key details are: the instructor's contact information is provided; there are no required texts; students will develop strategies for academic and career success using campus resources; assignments include weekly discussions, tests, profiles, activities, and meeting with an advisor; and the course is graded based on completion of various assignments worth a total of 1000 points.

1. FYE 100: Strategies for College Success Course Fall 2015 - Online
Instructor: Penny Riley
Office: Owensboro Community and Technical College
4800 New Hartford Rd., Learning Resource Center, Room 224
Owensboro, KY 42303
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: penny.riley-smith@kctcs.edu
The best way to contact me is through e-mail. I try to respond to emails within 24 hours during the
week.
Phone: 270-852-8615
Blackboard IM (Instant Messenger)
Blackboard Technical Support (24x7): 866-590-9238
Course Description
Introduces students to strategies and information that promote success in the college environment
including educational planning, campus resources, and academic success skills. (one credit hour)
Required Texts – No textbook required.
Course Competencies
Students enrolled in FYE 100 will be required to do the following:
 Develop strategies and techniques for self-management, academic, and career/transfer success,
utilizing a variety of campus resources.
 Proactively communicate with their advisor in order to foster a mentor/mentee relationship.
 Demonstrate competent use of information technology, such as KCTCS email, Blackboard,
Student Self-Service (PeopleSoft), Starfish, and SNAP alerts.
 Engage in campus activities, including but not limited to: Attendance at fall and spring flings,
common reading events, welcome back cook-out and Student Fest, classroom observation, and
lectures featuring guest speakers.
 Demonstrate an awareness of diversity, which is defined as an understanding of ethnicity,
culture, religious identity, gender identity, physical and learning disabilities, and socioeconomic
challenges.

2. Student Learning Outcomes
Goal 1: Students will identify their personal and professional goals
 SLO 1: Students will demonstrate improved self-awareness through the identification of
individual strengths and challenges, and the exploration of personal and career goals.
 SLO 2: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of their rights and
responsibilities as members of the campus community.
Goal 2: Students will understand and utilize resources needed to achieve their identified goals.
 SLO 3: Students will apply self-management techniques and utilize the tools necessary for
success.
 SLO 4: Students will have positive interactions with the campus community.
 SLO 5: Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of campus services.
 SLO 6: Students will engage in campus and community services.
Read your syllabus
The syllabus is your most important tool to understanding the course requirements, due dates,
assignments, and other specifics for the class. Please read the syllabus carefully and thoroughly, and
refer to it often. Most questions you might have can be answered by reading the syllabus carefully and
by paying attention to due dates in the syllabus calendar.
Merit Activities
Students are required to attend no less than five Merit activities during the semester. Merit activities
will be announced before and after the general sessions, and events will be added throughout the
semester. Activities include Common Reading events, World Affairs Council lectures, participation in
student organizations (serving as an officer or volunteer), and classroom visits (to learn about other
programs and majors).
Merit: http://owensboro.kctcs.meritpages.com/
Guidelines for Merit activities
 Academic in nature
 Instructor led
 Service to the college
 Soft Skills workshop
 Approximately one hour in length, minimum

3.  Student organization participation (may count as 1 of the 5 activities)
 Student organization leadership (may count as 1 of the 5 activities)
 Service Learning project participation (may count as 1 of the 5 activities)
All activities must be “Merit Approved” on the OCTC website or approved by the VP of Student Affairs.
Technology Needs & Resources
It is expected that all students who enroll in the course have internet access and a basic understanding
of computer use (e.g., using e-mail, sending attachments via e-mail, using web browsers, and using word
processing software such as Microsoft Word). It is also expected that students will regularly and
consistently check Blackboard and their email accounts assigned by OCTC. Your instructors will
correspond with you often via your OCTC email account.
Materials and Equipment Required
 Access to a desktop or laptop computer with a recent version of Word or another word processing
program is required. Do not use tablets or smart phones to attempt assignments on Blackboard.
You will encounter many compatibility problems.
 It is also a good idea to have multiple web browsers installed on the computer you are using.
Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers work best with Blackboard.
 If for any reason you cannot view the course in Blackboard, try using a different browser. Often this
will remedy any technical issues you may be having. If switching browsers does not resolve the
issue, try using a different computer. Computers are available to you in the OCTC Cyber Center
located in the library.
Academic Integrity
Students are required to do their own work for this course. Copying and pasting information from
websites, passing off other people’s work as your own, or word-for-word reiterations from textbooks,
primary sources, or websites are all examples of plagiarism. Any form of cheating or plagiarism will be
punished to the fullest extent allowed by the college, which will include a zero on the assignment in
question, and a recommendation to the Dean’s office that offenders receive a final grade of “E” for the
course. DO YOUR OWN WORK.
Please refer to this link for more information regarding the OCTC Student Code of Conduct:
http://www.kctcs.edu/students/admissions/academic_policies/code_of_student_conduct.aspx
Attendance
Students are expected to take responsibility to avoid unnecessary absence. In the case of extenuating
circumstances the instructor should be informed. Attendance will be taken each week. Make sure to
log on to the course in Blackboard at least once a week to keep up with assignments and
announcements.

4. Late Assignments/Make-up Exam Policy
Unless prior arrangements are agreed to by the instructor for extenuating circumstances, assignments
are due on the specified due date & time. All times in Blackboard are in Eastern Standard Time (EST). If
an assignment is due at 11:59 pm on Blackboard it is due at 10:59 pm if you are in Central Standard Time
(CST).
Late assignments will be reduced by 10%.
Assignments will NOT be accepted after one week past the due date.
Tests should NOT be missed!
Last Day to Withdraw
A student may officially withdraw from any class up to and including the date of midterm with a W
grade. After the date of midterm and through the last class of the semester or session, any student may
officially request to withdraw from a course and receive a W, which may be given at the discretion of
the instructor. Each instructor shall state on the first or second class meeting the factors to be used in
determining if a student will be allowed to withdraw during the discretionary period. An instructor shall
not assign a student a W for a class unless the student has officially withdrawn from that class in a
manner prescribed by the college. The grade of W may be assigned by the College Appeals Board in
classes involving a violation of student academic rights or for academic offenses.
http://www.kctcs.edu/students/admissions/academic_policies/enrollment.aspx
Right of Revision
Owensboro Community and Technical College reserves the right to change any statements, policies or
scheduling as necessary. Students will be informed promptly of any and all changes.
Starfish: We Care About Your Success!
This course is part of a student success project between our institution and Starfish Retention Solutions.
Throughout the term, you may receive emails from Starfish® regarding your course grades or academic
performance. Please pay attention to these emails and consider taking the recommended actions. They
are sent to help you be successful!
In addition, your instructor may: (1) request that you schedule an appointment by going to Starfish, or
(2) recommend that you contact a specific campus resource, such as tutoring or counseling. You may
also be contacted directly by one of these services.
Netiquette
The term "Netiquette" refers to etiquette on the Internet. In other words, adhere to standards of
conduct making discussions and other forms of discourse more polite and friendly, to avoid
misunderstanding and confusion.

5. Here are some general rules:
 Use correct spelling and grammar. Do not use
internet or text message “slang”. You should
type as you would speak as a professional
student. Don’t point out spelling mistakes or
typographical errors of others.
 Don’t respond with one or two words. Make
your postings thoughtful and meaningful.
I expect to see your best work.
 Respect everyone’s right to have personal opinions. Never refer to
someone’s ideas in a negative way.
 Be respectful of other’s time. Do not send trivial messages or attachments,
only the important ones.
 Protect other’s privacy like you would protect your own. Don’t give other’s
email addresses, phone number, addresses.
 Respect the discussions engaged in within this class. Don’t discuss outside
of class what individuals talked about in class (discussion boards, chat,
emails, group projects…).
 Humor is okay but be sure that it is written in a way that can’t be
misunderstood.
 Be patient with others. Remember that you will be interacting with people
of all levels of expertise with the technology. Some will be novices and will
not have the experience that you may have. Share your expertise when it is
needed.
Disability Accommodations
Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aids or
services) for this course must contact the Disability Services Office in the Counseling Center, Campus
Center Building, room 102B. The DSO telephone number is 270.686.4528. Dial 711 for TDD
protocol. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the instructor without a letter of
accommodation from the Disability Services Office.
Students in global on-line classes are to contact their Home College for disability accommodations and
inform their instructors. The Home College DSO contact information is located at this KCTCS
website: http://www.kctcs.edu/students/distance_learning/disability_services.aspx . Once the student
has contacted the Disability Services Officer at the Home College, the Home College DSO will
communicate with the student's instructors and/or the Disability Services Officers at the Delivering
College in order to coordinate and/or provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to the
student.
In compliance with federal law, including the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans With Disabilities Act of
1990, Owensboro Community & Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex,
religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or military service in its programs or activities: its

6. admissions policies; scholarship and loan programs; athletic and other College-administered programs;
or employment. In addition, the College does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation
consistent with KCTCS nondiscrimination policy. Inquiries or comments regarding these issues should be
directed to the Disability Services Officer/504/ADA Compliance, Owensboro Community and Technical
College, 4800 New Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303. Telephone (270) 686--4528, FAX (270) 686-
4648.
Procedures relating to Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct
1. If a student thinks that he/she has been discriminated against, the student shall inform the chief
student affairs officer or his/her designee with thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of the alleged
incident. The chief student affairs officer or his/her designee shall conduct a preliminary investigation of
the discrimination grievance.
2. The student, chief student affairs officer or his/her designee, and other involved parties shall work
informally to negotiate a solution within fourteen (14) calendar days. The informal student
discrimination grievance procedure shall be completed within forty-four (44) calendar days of the
occurrence of the alleged incident.
3. If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student through the informal grievance
procedure, the student may file a formal appeal according to the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct.
4. If a student feels he/she has been subject to sexual misconduct, those complaints should be made to
the College Title IX Coordinator or other college administrator. Such complaints shall be handled in
accordance with the Sexual Misconduct Procedure.
Grading
Assignment Points per assignment Number of assignments Total points % of grade
One-minute paper 30 10 300 30%
Pre-tests 10 8 80 8%
Post-test (Final) 80 1 80 8%
Instructor assignments 20 8 160 16%
Starfish profile 10 1 10 1%
Merit profile 10 1 10 1%
Merit activities 40 5 200 20%
16 Personalities 40 1 40 4%
Campus Clarity 40 1 40 4%
Library scavenger hunt 40 1 40 4%
Meeting with advisor
and completing official
academic plan
40 1 40 4%
Total 1000 points 100%