Course Materials 

This is a OER (Open Educational Resource) course. This means that you do not need to purchase any course material for this class. I have primarily assigned open educational resource (OER) materials, which are “freely” available to you either because the person who created them made them freely available online, because they are in the public domain, or because you have access to them through your campus library.

Office Hours 

Office hours will take place on Zoom, with date and times TBA. You can drop in any time to ask a question or chat. If you feel you are falling behind or need help, please get in touch with me. You can always email me, or talk to me before or after class. If you are unable to make these hours, just let me know and we can set up another meeting time. I understand that all of you have a multitude of real-life responsibilities outside this classroom, and I will be as understanding and accommodating as I can if you communicate with me.

Office hours link: TBA

Course Policies

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes. I will take attendance at the beginning of every class, so please be on time. Keep in mind that there is a strong, positive correlation between good grades and regular attendance. Arrive on time to avoid distractions to myself and your colleagues, and silence your cell phones while in class. Perpetual lateness and/or unexcused absences can result in a lower grade. If there are unavoidable circumstances that make it impossible for you to attend a class, please email me to let me know so that we can figure out a way to keep you up to date on class content.

Written Check-Ins: The other half of your attendance grade will be constituted from brief written check-ins. Often, we will have time to complete these IN CLASS and they will be submitted via our CUNY Academic Commons Group/Site. These will remain available to submit after the class session has ended. If you miss class, you will still be expected to submit these written check-ins. 

Participation

Do the readings. Be prepared to discuss them thoughtfully in class. Keep in mind the following while reading:

• What are the main points that the author/speaker is trying to make?
• What questions does this reading raise for you? What do you want to know more about?
• Did anything challenge what you know or thought you knew? Where does your perspective on this topic come from?
• What are some common themes between this reading and other readings that we have already discussed?

Answering these questions for yourself ahead of time makes you more prepared to have a meaningful and insightful class discussion.

Expectations of Mutual Respect & Community Care

• This class encourages active participation and engagement. As we enter the classroom together, the expectation is that we are operating from a place of mutual respect. When we are having class discussions, please refrain from having side conversations or speaking over other people. Operating with mutual respect means that you are expected to be actively listening when your classmates, myself, or a guest is speaking. 
• Our discussions may include topics and ideas on which we do not agree. This disagreement may be a part of the conversation. There is an expectation to be respectful of other individuals, even during these disagreements. If you encounter ideas that challenge or even contradict your current beliefs and points of view, I hope that you will approach the class with openness and curiosity.
• Respect privacy: At times, students may disclose personal information through class discussions. It is expected that the class will respect the privacy of their classmates. Personal/identifying information disclosed in this class should not be repeated or discussed with other students outside of the course.
• Let’s work together to keep racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of marginalization and violence out of this class.

It is my responsibility as an instructor to create an environment in which students feel comfortable discussing course topics with each other, and I take that responsibility very seriously. Please do not hesitate to speak to me privately or email me at any time if you have concerns in this area. I welcome all feedback.

Submitting Work

Deadlines: The due dates for this course include ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ deadlines to encourage you to pace yourself with your work. Missing a ‘soft’ deadline will not impede your ability to turn in an assignment/item. Please turn it in as soon as you are able to. If you are unable to turn in an assignment/item by the ‘hard’ deadline, please reach out to me to explain the situation. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis. However, unless we have previously spoken, additional points will be deducted from your grade each day that an assignment is late. The term goes quickly; please pay attention to these deadlines. 

• HARD DEADLINE #1 (all items assigned before this time must be turned in by this date): TBA
• HARD DEADLINE #2 : TBA

Extra Credit Policy: Extra credit will be offered throughout the term. Be on the lookout for specific instructions in the Course Schedule when it is offered. Not every opportunity for extra credit will be the same.

Academic Honesty & Integrity

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Learning involves the pursuit of truth, which cannot be accomplished by presenting someone else’s work as your own. This includes copying any portion of another student’s or author’s paper (without proper citation). In the rare instance that these activities occur, consequences for the student will range from receiving an F for the assignment to receiving an F for the course. In addition, I am required by University policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to the Office of the Dean of Students, which becomes part of your permanent file. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the Integrity Policy available on the University website. If questions remain, ask me. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for unacceptable practices.

Inclusive Accessibility

This course is intended for all students, including those with mental, physical, or cognitive disabilities, illness, injuries, impairments, or any other condition that may to negatively affect one’s equal access to education. Other courses may require you to show documentation to receive accessibility and accommodations services. For this course, I am not requiring official documentation; however, if you have specific accessibility and accommodations requests, please check in with me and share your needs at the beginning of the course via email, office hour, or the contact form in Week 1. If, at any point in the term, you find yourself not able to fully access the content or course, you are welcome (but not required) to contact me by email or during office hours to discuss your needs.

Gender Pronouns and Names: I affirm all forms of gender expressions and identities. Please let me know your pronouns, and if you would rather be called a different name than what is on the class roster in the contact form in Week 1.