Transitions Program - TRS 100 Syllabus - Fall 2008

Instructor: Julie Loppacher M.Ed.

Office: East Annex, Room 106

Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 581-1824

E-mail: julie.loppacher@umit.maine.edu

Class meeting time and location: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30-10:20 am, 237 North Stevens

Office phone: 581-2320
Administrative assistant: Lori Watson

Course Description:

The Transitions Program College Success class is a one (1) credit pass/fail course designed to examine the significant issues most common to first year students entering the University of Maine. As a learning community this course will provide the foundation for exploring and learning behaviors that are utilized by successful college students for optimum academic success. Students will have the opportunity to learn many proven strategies for creating academic, personal and professional success. Topics will include: accepting personal responsibility, discovering self-motivation, mastering self-management, employing interdependence, study skills, and an introduction to campus resources. This course will employ a plethora of resources on the University of Maine campus including but not limited to: the Career Center, Peer Educators, The Writing Center. Students will be required to engage in a variety of activities on the campus with various groups and organizations.

Course Objectives:

Students who successfully complete the TRS 100 seminar will:

• Examine academic and career paths through self-assessment of interests, abilities, and goals.
• Develop mutually supportive relationships with other students, faculty members and staff.
• Expand their knowledge of the resources and services of the University of Maine.
• Develop interpersonal skills through interaction in small group activities.
• Practice and refine critical and analytical thinking skills through both oral and written communication.
• Explore personal and social issues faced by most first-year students.
• Acquire valuable academic survival skills.
• Develop and utilize electronic communication skills.
• Achieve at least a 2.0 GPA.
• Continue on to TRS 105 during the Spring 2009 semester.

Disability Support Services:

If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation (for example, if you had an IEP in high school and you are not sure what accommodations are available) please contact:

Ann Smith, Director of Disability Support Services, 121 East Annex, 581-2319

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend class and participate in each and every class meeting. Students who anticipate missing a class are expected to contact the instructor PRIOR to the missed class. Appropriate documentation may be requested.

Class absence may result in not receiving an assignment. The student is responsible for obtaining any information missed due to an absence. The instructor is NOT responsible for getting assignments to students who were not in class.

Grading Policy:

TRS 100 is a one credit pass/fail seminar. Your class grade will be based on attendance, participation, and satisfactory completion of all 9 assignments.

All assignments must be completed by their due date, written assignments must be submitted by 4:00pm on the noted due date. Late/incomplete assignments will be handled at the discretion of your TRS 100 instructor.

PLEASE SEE THE TRS 100 ASSIGNMENT MANUAL FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON EACH OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS! If you have additional questions about an assignment contact your instructor for clarification PRIOR to due date of the assignment.

Academic Honesty:

Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism and all forms of misrepresentation in academic work, and is unacceptable at the University of Maine. As stated in the University of Maine's online undergraduate "Student Handbook" plagiarism (the submission of another's work without appropriate attribution) and cheating are violations of the University of Maine Student Conduct Code. An instructor who has probable cause or reason to believe a student has cheated may act upon such evidence, and should report the case to the supervising faculty member or the Department Chair for appropriate action.

ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED! Please proofread all of your work for correct grammar and spelling before submitting it in for grading. Papers should be double-spaced and use a font size of 12. The Writing Center is available to assist students with written work. This service is free of charge. Contact the Writing Center at 581-3828 for further details and/or an appointment.

TRS 100 Assignment Manual (MS Word document)

TRS 100 Syllabus Fall 2007 Tuesday & Thursday 9:30-10:20 am - 237 North Stevens
DATE:	TOPIC:	ASSIGNMENT/ACTIVITY:
Week 1 (Sept. 2 & 4)	Introductions Course Overview	Academic Calendar Semester Calendar Who Am I? Journal #1 Mandatory: Individual Meeting (#1). Sign up for 1st individual meeting to take place before September 17th, 2008.
Week 2 (Sept. 9 & 11)	First Class MaineStreet	Campus Resources University 101 TRS FAQ
Week 3 (Sept. 16 & 18)	Critical Reading Decision Making	Personal Responsibility Activities
Week 4 (Sept. 23 & 25)	Guest Speakers:  Jennifer Hubbard & Gus Burkett	Campus Activities Mandatory: Sign up for your 2nd Individual Meeting to take place before 10/10/2008. Journal Assignment #2
Week 5 (Sept. 30 &  Oct. 2)	Tutor Program	Time Management
Week 6 (Oct. 7 & 9)	Successful People!	Library Resources Journal #3
Week 7 (Oct. 16)	No Class Tuesday	"Best Face Forward"
Week 8 (Oct. 21 & 23)	Goal Setting	Value Sorts and Auction Mandatory: Sign up for your 3rd Individual Meeting to be completed By 11/6
Week 9 (Oct. 28 & Oct.30)	Academic Policy	Registration Procedures
Week 10 (Nov. 4 & 6)	Introduce Research Projects	Career Center Orientation
Week 11 (Nov. 11 & 13)	Research Projects Presentations	Mandatory: Sign up for your 4th Individual Meeting to take place before 11/25/2008
Week 12 (Nov. 18 & 25)	Presentations	Peer Educators
Week 13 (Nov. 25)	Thanksgiving No Thursday class!	MEOC Plan B!
Week 14 (Dec. 2 & 4)	Ceci and Catherine Preparing for Finals	Mandatory: Sign up for your 5th Individual Meeting to take place before 12/17/2008
Week 15 (Dec. 9 & 11)	Final week of classes	Final Projects due!