PSCI 3345 280: Intro to Public Administration

PSCI 3345 - Intro to Public Administration: Intro to Public Admin-WIN

Spring 2025 Syllabus, Section 280, CRN 26129


Instructor Information

Dwight Vick

Email: dwight.vick@tamiu.edu


Dwight Vick, Ph.D.

Instructor

Email: dwight.vick@tamiu.edu

Office: Online

Office Hours:
TBA
If we have no specific class time, students can meet with me as needed.

Office Phone: 7735596418

Cell Phone: 7735596418

See Syllabus about Contacting Me by Phone


Times and Location

Does Not Meet Face-to-Face


Course Description


WIN-Designation

This course is designated as a writing-intensive (WIN) course. In this course, writing will not only be the subject of study, but it will also serve as a method of learning. Students will learn how communication in written, oral, and visual forms change according to purpose and genre. Brainstorming, drafting, revising, and peer-workshopping are integrated into the course curriculum and are the required components of this writing-intensive course. The final Research Paper is the designated assignment for WIN assessment.

Additional Course Information

Additional Course Information:

A more detailed syllabus with weekly instructions, expectations of assignments, and rubrics will be available on the syllabus posted on Blackboard.

The Political Science Program

The Political Science Program offers both a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in History & Political Thought with a Political Science Concentration. We believe that political science scholarship and research impact the global community and that our academic programs prepare students to meet the challenges of a future in which political and economic considerations are paramount. The discipline of Political Science develops experts in the workings of our political system, its economic foundations, and the political realities of a globalized international system. The Political Science program covers public administration, national politics, political thought, comparative political systems, and other supportive areas of study. As a result, the program facilitates the development of needed experts to function at the State, Federal, and International levels.

The Political Science Program’s Mission

The Political Science Program faculty and staff are dedicated to your academic attainment and committed to providing you with the best education possible. The mission of the Political Science Program is to provide you with the theoretical, empirical and substantive knowledge in the discipline, to provide you with a diversity of approaches, and to instill in you a desire for lifelong learning.

Our Programs

  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science: A 120 credit hour degree program that introduces students to the fundamental foundations of Political Science. The undergraduate program aims to produce students that can analyze and evaluate issues and phenomena using political science concepts, theories, and methods and effectively communicate original analyses in written and oral forms.
  • Master of Arts in History & Political Thought: This program of study is designed to prepare you to actively participate in the development of knowledge and policy responses to contemporary political and legal problems in the global community. A focus is placed on political history and theory, research in political science and policy and administrative responses to national and global socio-political issues. It is also designed to prepare students to conduct research and policy analysis, and to take an active leadership role as a professional in the fields of government and non-profit organization. Students may pursue either a thesis or non-thesis degree.
  • Master of Public Administration:  The Master of Public Administration program is committed to developing and preparing individuals employed in or seeking careers in the public and nonprofit sectors, to lead and manage public agencies, programs, and projects. Taking advantage of the location in the South Texas border region, we provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for leadership and management roles in a culturally diverse international society. Through commitment to innovative teaching, research, and community engagement, we emphasize excellence in education and training by teaching students to value public service, think analytically and critically, and communicate effectively.  TAMIU’s MPA program is not only nationally accredited but also considered to be one of the most affordable graduate programs in Texas.

Program Learning Outcomes

State/Program/Course Objectives:

State of Texas Mandated Core Course Learning Objectives:

  1. Critical Thinking:  Students will be able to identify and synthesize information about the American public administration including its history, constitutional and legal foundations, political values and ideas, and governing institutions.
  2. Communication:  Students will be able to examine and communicate ideas about the American public administration through strong arguments and analysis.
  3. Social Responsibility:  Students will explain their knowledge of bureaucratic responsibility by identifying the rights and duties of citizens, elected officials, and our bureaucratic agencies by discussing the positive impact of citizens’ involvement in national, state, regional, and local governments.
  4. Personal and professional responsibility:  Students will gain a broader understanding of the importance of public administration in our lives.

Student Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Expectations and Outcomes:

The course is designed as a senior-level seminar with the goal of acquainting students with the political, social, economic, legal, and technological context in which the field and discipline of public administration operate.  It aims at refining students’ understanding of what it means to be an effective public administrator in a democratic society while fostering appreciation of the depth, complexity, and dilemmas of US/global administration.

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1) synthesize information about US public administration, including its history, constitutional, and legal foundations, political values and ideas, governing institutions, and policy making processes; 2) examine US public administration as a professional field of practice by exhibiting strong oral and written arguments and analysis; 3) confirm knowledge of civic responsibility by explaining how government and citizens’ involvement can have a positive impact on society; and 4) evaluate different public administration systems on the basis of philosophical argument, theoretical grounding, and empirical evidence.

Important Dates

Visit the Academic Calendar (tamiu.edu) page to view the term's important dates.

Textbooks

Group Title Author ISBN
Required The politics of the administrative process (9th ed.). Kettl, D. F. 978-1-0718-7555-1

Other Course Materials

To go to the bookstore, click here.

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Grading Criteria

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GRADE PERCENTAGE
A 91-100
B 80-90.9
C 70-79.9
D 60-69.9
F Below 60

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ASSIGNMENT VALUE
Assignment #1 percent or points
Assignment #2 percent or points
Assignment #3 percent or points

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of Agenda/Topic Reading(s) Due
1/20 Course Overview – includes Instructor information, Meet and Greet, Acknowledgement of Syllabus and Policies, Course Q&A Forum, Blackboard Orientation, and Student Resources Read Chapter 1: Foundations of Public Administration Read Case Study: “Preparing for the Next Pandemic” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 1: Foundations of Public Administration Read Case Study: “Preparing for the Next Pandemic”
See Online Book for Pages 27 January 2025 – Final Late Registration Day. Course changes continue through 5 February with the permission of the instructor
01/27/2025
1/27 Read Chapter 2: Accountability Read Case Studies: “Google Earth vs. Privacy in Riverhead, NY.” Answer the related questions
Read Chapter 3 – What Government Does – And How It Does It Read Case Study, “Are Private Markets Better than Governments? Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
Read Chapter 2: Accountability Read Case Studies: “Google Earth vs. Privacy in Riverhead, NY.” Answer the related questions
Read Chapter 3 – What Government Does – And How It Does It Read Case Study, “Are Private Markets Better than Governments? Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
02/04/2025
2/3 Read Chapter 4 – What Is Public Administration Read Case Study, “Jenga Federalism.” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 4 – What Is Public Administration Read Case Study, “Jenga Federalism.” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
See Online Book for Pages 5 February 2025 – 12th Day of Class! Census Date for Spring Session Last day courses may be dropped without record No registration for courses beyond this point
02/10/2025
2/10 Read Chapter 5 – Organizational Theory Read Case Study, “What Should Government Do about Sharks?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts First JAR Due by End of Week at Midnight Read Chapter 5 – Organizational Theory Read Case Study, “What Should Government Do about Sharks?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts First JAR Due by End of Week at Midnight 02/17/2025
2/17 Read Chapter 6 – The Executive Branch Read Case Study, “Representative Roy Issues a Call to Arms” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 6 – The Executive Branch Read Case Study, “Representative Roy Issues a Call to Arms” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
See Online Book for Pages 15 February 2025 Spring 2025 graduation application and payment deadline $100 Late Application Fee will be assessed to students applying after this date 17 February 2025 All fees are due
02/23/2025
2/24 Read Chapter 7 – Organizational Problems Read Case Study, “Who’s in Charge When Fires Strike?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 7 – Organizational Problems Read Case Study, “Who’s in Charge When Fires Strike?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts 03/03/2025
3/3 Read Chapter 8 – Administrative Reform Read Case Study, “Shark Tank for Public Administrators” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Second JAR Due by End of Week at Midnight Read Chapter 9 – The Civil Service Read Case Study, “What Should We Do about the Civil Service?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 8 – Administrative Reform Read Case Study, “Shark Tank for Public Administrators” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Second JAR Due by End of Week at Midnight Read Chapter 9 – The Civil Service Read Case Study, “What Should We Do about the Civil Service?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
See Online Book for Pages Submit JAR article via Blackboard
03/09/2025
3/10 Read Chapter 9 – The Civil Service Read Case Study, “What Should We Do about the Civil Service?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
Mid-Term Examination
Read Chapter 9 – The Civil Service Read Case Study, “What Should We Do about the Civil Service?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
See Online Book for Pages 15 March 2025 – Mid Semester
No Assignments Due This is also Spring Break Week. Mid-Semester I’ll try to open the test earlier so you can enjoy part of your break
03/18/2025
3/17 Read Chapter 10 – Human Capital Read Case Study, “Syncing the Public Service with Public Mission” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 10 – Human Capital Read Case Study, “Syncing the Public Service with Public Mission” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts 03/23/2025
3/24 Read Chapter 11 – Decision-Making: Rationality and Risk Read Case Study, “Pay to Spray? Fire Protection and the Free Rider Problem in South Fulton, Tennessee” Third JAR Due by End of Week at Midnight Read Chapter 11 – Decision-Making: Rationality and Risk Read Case Study, “Pay to Spray? Fire Protection and the Free Rider Problem in South Fulton, Tennessee” Third JAR Due by End of Week at Midnight
See Online Book for Pages Submit JAR article via Blackboard
03/31/2025
3/31 Read Chapter 12 – Budgeting Read Case Study, “Are Public-Private Partnerships the Future of Budgeting?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 12 – Budgeting Read Case Study, “Are Public-Private Partnerships the Future of Budgeting?” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts
Read Online Book for Pages 7 April – Registration for Maymester, Summer, and Fall, 2025. Please visit http://www.tamiu.edu/registrar/registration.shtml for assigned registration dates.
04/07/2025
4/7 Read Chapter 13 – Implementation and Performance. Read Case Study, “Crashing to Earth: Obama’s Signature Health Insurance Program Stumbles” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Chapter 13 – Implementation and Performance. Read Case Study, “Crashing to Earth: Obama’s Signature Health Insurance Program Stumbles” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts 04/14/2025
4/14 Read Chapter 14 – Regulation and the Courts Read Case Study, “Has the Supreme Court Upset the Administrative World” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Fourth JAR due by end of week at midnight Read Chapter 14 – Regulation and the Courts Read Case Study, “Has the Supreme Court Upset the Administrative World” Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Fourth JAR due by end of week at midnight
04/21/2025
4/21 Read Chapter 15 – Accountability and Politics Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Case Study, “Scary Words: Governments Must Start “Doing More with Less.” Read Chapter 15 – Accountability and Politics Participate in Weekly Online Discussions – Respond to three (3) posts Read Case Study, “Scary Words: Governments Must Start “Doing More with Less.”
Read Online Book for Pages 24 April 2025 – Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the University
04/28/2025
4/28 No Assignment. See Announcements in the right column No Assignment. See Announcements in the right column
3 May 2025 – Saturday. Last Class Day. 5 May 2025 – Reading Day 6 – 12 May 2025 – Final Examination period. The final examination will be open to you on 6 May. 13 – 14 May 2025 – Pre-Commencement Ceremonies 15 May 2025 – Commencement 16 May 2025 – Final grades are due by noon. 20 May 2025 – Final grades are posted on Uconnect 30 May 2025 – Diplomas and transcripts are available for Spring 2025 graduates
05/06/2024
5/5 Final Examination Final Examination 05/12/2023

University/College Policies

Please see the University Policies below.

COVID-19 Related Policies

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please refer to the Student Handbook, Appendix A (Attendance Rule) for instructions.

Required Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend every class in person (or virtually, if the class is online) and to complete all assignments. If you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to communicate absences with your professors. The faculty member will decide if your excuse is valid and thus may provide lecture materials of the class. According to University policy, acceptable reasons for an absence, which cannot affect a student’s grade, include:

  • Participation in an authorized University activity.
  • Death or major illness in a student’s immediate family.
  • Illness of a dependent family member.
  • Participation in legal proceedings or administrative procedures that require a student’s presence.
  • Religious holy day.
  • Illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class.
  • Required participation in military duties.
  • Mandatory admission interviews for professional or graduate school which cannot be rescheduled.

Students are responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to faculty members within seven calendar days of their absence and return to class. They must substantiate the reason for the absence. If the absence is excused, faculty members must either provide students with the opportunity to make up the exam or other work missed, or provide a satisfactory alternative to complete the exam or other work missed within 30 calendar days from the date of absence. Students who miss class due to a University-sponsored activity are responsible for identifying their absences to their instructors with as much advance notice as possible. 

Classroom Behavior (applies to online or Face-to-Face Classes)

TAMIU encourages classroom discussion and academic debate as an essential intellectual activity. It is essential that students learn to express and defend their beliefs, but it is also essential that they learn to listen and respond respectfully to others whose beliefs they may not share. The University will always tolerate different, unorthodox, and unpopular points of view, but it will not tolerate condescending or insulting remarks. When students verbally abuse or ridicule and intimidate others whose views they do not agree with, they subvert the free exchange of ideas that should characterize a university classroom. If their actions are deemed by the professor to be disruptive, they will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action (please refer to Student Handbook Article 4).

TAMIU Honor Code: Plagiarism and Cheating

As a TAMIU student, you are bound by the TAMIU Honor Code to conduct yourself ethically in all your activities as a TAMIU student and to report violations of the Honor Code. Please read carefully the Student Handbook Article 7 and Article 10 available at https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/studenthandbook.shtml.

We are committed to strict enforcement of the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code tend to involve claiming work that is not one’s own, most commonly plagiarism in written assignments and any form of cheating on exams and other types of assignments.

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as your own. It occurs when you:

  1. Borrow someone else’s facts, ideas, or opinions and put them entirely in your own words. You must acknowledge that these thoughts are not your own by immediately citing the source in your paper. Failure to do this is plagiarism.
  2. Borrow someone else’s words (short phrases, clauses, or sentences), you must enclose the copied words in quotation marks as well as citing the source. Failure to do this is plagiarism.
  3. Present someone else’s paper or exam (stolen, borrowed, or bought) as your own. You have committed a clearly intentional form of intellectual theft and have put your academic future in jeopardy. This is the worst form of plagiarism.

Here is another explanation from the 2020, seventh edition of the Manual of The American Psychological Association (APA):

“Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, idea, or images of another as your own; it denies authors or creators of content the credit they are due.  Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism violates ethical standards in scholarship” (p. 254).  This same principle applies to the illicit use of AI.

Plagiarism: Researchers do not claim the words and ideas of another as their own; they give credit where credit is due. Quotations marks should be used to indicate the exact words of another. Each time you paraphrase another author (i.e., summarize a passage or rearrange the order of a sentence and change some of the words), you need to credit the source in the text. The key element of this principle is that authors do not present the work of another as if it were their own words. This can extend to ideas as well as written words. If authors model a study after one done by someone else, the originating author should be given credit. If the rationale for a study was suggested in the discussion section of someone else's article, the person should be given credit. Given the free exchange of ideas, which is very important for the health of intellectual discourse, authors may not know where an idea for a study originated. If authors do know, however, they should   acknowledge the source; this includes personal communications (p. 11). For guidance on proper documentation, consult the Academic Success Center or a recommended guide to documentation and research such as the Manual of the APA or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. If you still have doubts concerning proper documentation, seek advice from your instructor prior to submitting a final draft.

TAMIU has penalties for plagiarism and cheating.

  • Penalties for Plagiarism: Should a faculty member discover that a student has committed plagiarism, the student should receive a grade of 'F' in that course and the matter will be referred to the Honor Council for possible disciplinary action. The faculty member, however, may elect to give freshmen and sophomore students a “zero” for the assignment and to allow them to revise the assignment up to a grade of “F” (50%) if they believe that the student plagiarized out of ignorance or carelessness and not out of an attempt to deceive in order to earn an unmerited grade; the instructor must still report the offense to the Honor Council. This option should not be available to juniors, seniors, or graduate students, who cannot reasonably claim ignorance of documentation rules as an excuse. For repeat offenders in undergraduate courses or for an offender in any graduate course, the penalty for plagiarism is likely to include suspension or expulsion from the university.
    • Caution: Be very careful what you upload to Turnitin or send to your professor for evaluation. Whatever you upload for evaluation will be considered your final, approved draft. If it is plagiarized, you will be held responsible. The excuse that “it was only a draft” will not be accepted.
    • Caution:  Also, do not share your electronic files with others. If you do, you are responsible for the possible consequences. If another student takes your file of a paper and changes the name to his or her name and submits it and you also submit the paper, we will hold both of you responsible for plagiarism. It is impossible for us to know with certainty who wrote the paper and who stole it. And, of course, we cannot know if there was collusion between you and the other student in the matter.
  • Penalties for Cheating: Should a faculty member discover a student cheating on an exam or quiz or other class project, the student should receive a “zero” for the assignment and not be allowed to make the assignment up. The incident should be reported to the chair of the department and to the Honor Council. If the cheating is extensive, however, or if the assignment constitutes a major grade for the course (e.g., a final exam), or if the student has cheated in the past, the student should receive an “F” in the course, and the matter should be referred to the Honor Council. Additional penalties, including suspension or expulsion from the university may be imposed. Under no circumstances should a student who deserves an “F” in the course be allowed to withdraw from the course with a “W.”
    • Caution: Chat groups that start off as “study groups” can easily devolve into “cheating groups.” Be very careful not to join or remain any chat group if it begins to discuss specific information about exams or assignments that are meant to require individual work. If you are a member of such a group and it begins to cheat, you will be held responsible along with all the other members of the group. The TAMIU Honor Code requires that you report any such instances of cheating.
  • Student Right of Appeal: Faculty will notify students immediately via the student’s TAMIU e- mail account that they have submitted plagiarized work. Students have the right to appeal a faculty member’s charge of academic dishonesty by notifying the TAMIU Honor Council of their intent to appeal as long as the notification of appeal comes within 10 business days of the faculty member’s e-mail message to the student and/or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement. The Student Handbook provides more details.

Use of Work in Two or More Courses

You may not submit work completed in one course for a grade in a second course unless you receive explicit permission to do so by the instructor of the second course. In general, you should get credit for a work product only once. 

AI Policies

Your instructor will provide you with their personal policy on the use of AI in the classroom setting and associated coursework.

TAMIU E-Mail and SafeZone

Personal Announcements sent to students through TAMIU E-mail (tamiu.edu or dusty email) are the official means of communicating course and university business with students and faculty –not the U.S. Mail and no other e-mail addresses. Students and faculty must check their TAMIU e-mail accounts regularly, if not daily. Not having seen an important TAMIU e-mail or message from a faculty member, chair, or dean is not accepted as an excuse for failure to take important action.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to download the SafeZone app, which is a free mobile app for all University faculty, staff, and students.  SafeZone allows you to: report safety concerns (24/7), get connected with mental health professionals, activate location sharing with authorities, and anonymously report incidents.  Go to https://www.tamiu.edu/adminis/police/safezone/index.shtml for more information.

Copyright Restrictions

The Copyright Act of 1976 grants to copyright owners the exclusive right to reproduce their works and distribute copies of their work. Works that receive copyright protection include published works such as a textbook. Copying a textbook without permission from the owner of the copyright may constitute copyright infringement. Civil and criminal penalties may be assessed for copyright infringement. Civil penalties include damages up to $100,000; criminal penalties include a fine up to $250,000 and imprisonment. Copyright laws do not allow students and professors to make photocopies of copyrighted materials, but you may copy a limited portion of a work, such as article from a journal or a chapter from a book for your own personal academic use or, in the case of a professor, for personal, limited classroom use. In general, the extent of your copying should not suggest that the purpose or the effect of your copying is to avoid paying for the materials. And, of course, you may not sell these copies for a profit. Thus, students who copy textbooks to avoid buying them or professors who provide photocopies of textbooks to enable students to save money are violating the law.

Students with Disabilities

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal education opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Office of Student Counseling and Disability Services located in Student Center 126. This office will contact the faculty member to recommend specific, reasonable accommodations. Faculty are prohibited from making accommodations based solely on communications from students. They may make accommodations only when provided documentation by the Student Counseling and Disability Services office.

Student Attendance and Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy

As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides
LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule (Section 3.07) and the Student LOA Rule (Section 3.08), which includes the “Leave of Absence Request” form. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook (URL: http://www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs/StudentHandbook1.shtml).

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. A pregnant/parenting student must be granted an absence for as long as the student’s physician deems the absence medically necessary. It is a violation of Title IX to ask for documentation relative to the pregnant/parenting student’s status beyond what would be required for other medical conditions. If a student would like to file a complaint for discrimination due to his or her pregnant/parenting status, please contact the TAMIU Title IX Coordinator (Lorissa M. Cortez, 5201 University Boulevard, KLM 159B, Laredo, TX 78041,TitleIX@tamiu.edu, 956.326.2857) and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office, U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600). You can also report it on TAMIU’s anonymous electronic reporting site: https://www.tamiu.edu/reportit.

TAMIU advises a pregnant/parenting student to notify their professor once the student is aware that accommodations for such will be necessary. It is recommended that the student and professor develop a reasonable plan for the student’s completion of missed coursework or assignments. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (Lorissa M. Cortez, lorissam.cortez@tamiu.edu) can assist the student and professor in working out the reasonable accommodations. For other questions or concerns regarding Title IX compliance related to pregnant/parenting students at the University, contact the Title IX Coordinator. In the event that a student will need a leave of absence for a substantial period of time, TAMIU urges the student to consider a Leave of Absence (LOA) as outlined in the TAMIU Student Handbook. As part of our efforts to assist and encourage all students towards graduation, TAMIU provides LOA’s for students, including pregnant/parenting students, in accordance with the Attendance Rule and the Student LOA Rule. Both rules can be found in the TAMIU Student Handbook (https://www.tamiu.edu/scce/studenthandbook.shtml).

Anti-Discrimination/Title IX

TAMIU does not discriminate or permit harassment against any individual on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity in admissions, educational programs, or employment. If you would like to file a complaint relative to Title IX or any civil rights violation, please contact the TAMIU Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator, Lorissa M. Cortez, 5201 University Boulevard, Killam Library 159B, Laredo, TX 78041,TitleIX@tamiu.edu, 956.326.2857, via the anonymous electronic reporting website, ReportIt, at https://www.tamiu.edu/reportit, and/or the Office of Civil Rights (Dallas Office), U.S. Department of Education, 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, Dallas, TX 75201-6810, 214.661.9600.

Incompletes

Students who are unable to complete a course should withdraw from the course before the final date for withdrawal and receive a “W.” To qualify for an “incomplete” and thus have the opportunity to complete the course at a later date, a student must meet the following criteria:

  1. The student must have completed 90% of the course work assigned before the final date for withdrawing from a course with a “W”, and the student must be passing the course;
  2. The student cannot complete the course because an accident, an illness, or a traumatic personal or family event occurred after the final date for withdrawal from a course;
  3. The student must sign an “Incomplete Grade Contract” and secure signatures of approval from the professor and the college dean.
  4. The student must agree to complete the missing course work before the end of the next long semester; failure to meet this deadline will cause the “I” to automatically be converted to an “F”; extensions to this deadline may be granted by the dean of the college. This is the general policy regarding the circumstances under which an “incomplete” may be granted, but under exceptional circumstances, a student may receive an incomplete who does not meet all of the criteria above if the faculty member, department chair, and dean recommend it.

WIN Contracts

The Department of Biology and Chemistry does not permit WIN contracts. For other departments within the college, WIN Contracts are offered only under exceptional circumstances and are limited to graduating seniors. Only courses offered by full-time TAMIU faculty or TAMIU instructors are eligible to be contracted for the WIN requirement. However, a WIN contract for a course taught by an adjunct may be approved, with special permission from the department chair and dean. Students must seek approval before beginning any work for the WIN Contract. No student will contract more than one course per semester. Summer WIN Contracts must continue through both summer sessions.

Student Responsibility for Dropping a Course

It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course before the final date for withdrawal from a course. Faculty members, in fact, may not drop a student from a course without getting the approval of their department chair and dean.

Independent Study Course

Independent Study (IS) courses are offered only under exceptional circumstances. Required courses intended to build academic skills may not be taken as IS (e.g., clinical supervision and internships). No student will take more than one IS course per semester. Moreover, IS courses are limited to seniors and graduate students. Summer IS course must continue through both summer sessions.

Grade Changes & Appeals

Faculty are authorized to change final grades only when they have committed a computational error or an error in recording a grade, and they must receive the approval of their department chairs and the dean to change the grade. As part of that approval, they must attach a detailed explanation of the reason for the mistake. Only in rare cases would another reason be entertained as legitimate for a grade change. A student who is unhappy with his or her grade on an assignment must discuss the situation with the faculty member teaching the course. If students believe that they have been graded unfairly, they have the right to appeal the grade using a grade appeal process in the Student Handbook and in the Faculty Handbook.

Final Examination

All courses in all colleges must include a comprehensive exam or performance and be given on the date and time specified by the Academic Calendar and the Final Exam schedule published by the Registrar’s Office. In the College of Arts & Sciences all final exams must contain a written component. The written component should comprise at least 20% of the final exam grade. Exceptions to this policy must receive the approval of the department chair and the dean at the beginning of the semester.

Mental Health and Well-Being

The university aims to provide students with essential knowledge and tools to understand and support mental health. As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer access to Telus Health, a service available 24/7/365 via chat, phone, or webinar. Scan the QR code to download the app and explore the resources available to you for guidance and support whenever you need it. The Telus app is available to download directly from TELUS (tamiu.edu) or from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Distance Education Courses

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Regular and Substantive Interaction (Note to Instructors):
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has issued Regular and Substantive Interaction: Background, Concerns, and Guiding Principles which went into effect on July 1, 2021. Under the new regulations, the U.S. Department of Education requires that all online courses and programs for which students may use Title IV funds (federal financial aid) include regular and substantive interaction between students and their instructors. This ruling applies to both synchronous and asynchronous courses, with the primary focus being asynchronous courses. The Department of Education has the authority to audit courses and programs at institutions, like Texas A&M International University, with online offerings.

Be sure that your course provides for regular and substantive interaction between faculty and students, students and students, and students and content. (C-RAC, OSCQR, QM, SACSCOC, SC)

  1. Regular and substantive instructor-to-student expectations and predictable/scheduled interactions and feedback are present, appropriate for the course length and structure, and are easy to find. (OSCQR, SACSCOC, SC)
  2. Expectations for all course interactions (instructor to student, student to student, student to instructor) are clearly stated and modeled in all course interactions/communication channels. (OSCQR, SACSCOC, SC)

Be sure to add clear statements on your syllabi about these instructor-to-student expectations.

Visit for additional guidance on including Regular and Substantive Interaction: https://www.tamiu.edu/distance/faculty/regular-and-substantive-interaction.shtml

Online Courses and On-Campus Meetings

Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter J, Section 2.202, defines distance education as the formal educational process that occurs when students and instructors are not in the same physical setting for the majority (more than 50%) of instruction. Distance education includes hybrid and 100% online courses and programs as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB):

  • Hybrid Course - A distance education course in which more than 50 percent but less than 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations.
  • 100-Percent Online Course - A distance education course in which 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations. Requirements for on-campus or in-person orientation, testing, academic support services, internships/fieldwork, or other non-instructional activities do not exclude a course from this category.

In this online course, be sure to confirm what in-person meetings may be required of you (if applicable).

Course Structure

[Description of how students should approach the course regularly. A description of course menu items and their contents may be found here. The description may also describe how students should approach the materials per lesson/module/week. It should include what type of materials students may encounter, the types of activities and assessments they may see, and other expectations from the students in each module. This section should help the student understand how to navigate the course.]

Student-Instructor Communication Policy and Response Time

Announcements/Course Messages/Emails
[The instructor must provide information on the type of communication that will be provided to students on a regular basis, including the frequency of this communication (such as “Announcements will be posted regularly on Mondays.”). Also, information on the turnaround time for communication from course messages or emails sent to the instructor.]
Assignments and Assessments
[The instructor must list the turnaround time for providing feedback to students on their submissions of an assignment or assessment. Expectations on how students will receive feedback should be listed for each type of assignment.]

Course Communication Guidelines (Netiquette)

There are course expectations concerning etiquette or how we should treat each other online. We must consider these values as we communicate with one another. Visit Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ web page on Netiquette for further instruction.

Accommodations/Accessibility Policy

Texas A&M International University seeks to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified persons with disabilities. This University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Director of Student Counseling and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodation. For more information, contact the online at Office of Disability Services for Students (DSS), via phone at 956.326.3086 or by visiting the staff at the Student Center, room 118. A link to the Disabilities Services for Students site has also been included under the "Resources" tab inside the course.

Student Support Resources

The University wishes to have all students succeed in their courses. To provide support to our students, an array of services in the areas of technology support, academic support, student support, and accessibility support may be found at the University. For more information, visit the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services page on University Resources and Support Services.

Computer/Technology Requirements

[Technology requirements must be listed for the course. Information on how to obtain software for purchase or download should be provided. See the following example. Customize technologies to include those that pertain to your course:]

When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technology involved in order to have a successful course. Online students will need regular access to a personal computer that runs on a broadband Internet connection.

It is recommended that you meet the technical requirements listed on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage when using the learning management system (LMS) of the University.

Additional Hardware. For this class, you will need the following additional hardware: [list any additional required hardware here. Additionally, and if applicable, you may use the following statement:] Recently purchased laptops may have these built-in web cameras.  If you do not have this equipment, it is recommended to purchase a stand-alone webcam, microphone, or a webcam with a built-in microphone from your local electronic store or any online store.

NOTE: Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services may check out available webcams to students on a first-come, first-served basis. To check out a webcam, please stop by Killam Library, Room 259, and request an available webcam.

Additional Software. You will need the following additional software: [list any additional software required here. Additionally, and if applicable, you may use the following statement:] TAMIU Students may access online versions of this software through their Dusty Office 365 account at https://dusty.tamiu.edu/. This site also provides students access to download the Microsoft suite for educational use. See instructions for downloading the Microsoft Office suite.

Note: Students, if you do not own the required hardware or software or do not have access to the Internet, it will be highly challenging for you to make any progress in this class. However, my goal is to assist you in finding solutions and guide you appropriately most of the required materials can either be found free of charge at TAMIU’s library, classrooms, and available computer labs. Visit Media Services’ web page on the availability of on-campus computer labs. In addition, you may also purchase any of these items at any electronic store.

Learning Management System (Blackboard)

Students are provided with an orientation (*eLearning (Blackboard) Student Orientation*) and access to guides on how to use the Blackboard LMS. Guides may be available at Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services' Student eLearning Tutorial Videos page or by contacting the eLearning team at elearning@tamiu.edu.

Minimum Technical Skills Expected

[The description of the minimal technology skills is linked to OIT’s statement of minimal skills. Faculty are required to update statements for additional technological skills from students.]
When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technology involved in order to have a successful course. Students in distance education should have knowledge of basic computer and Internet skills, as mentioned on the Instructional Technology and Distance Education Services’ webpage.

Technical Support Services

Because of the nature of distance education courses, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) computing and information services are vital to the success of online students. This webpage covers contact information for Distance Education Services (Blackboard Support), the OIT Help Desk, and E-mail support: Technical Support Services.

Web Conferences/Synchronous sessions

[Instructors that host synchronous virtual meeting sessions should list details on how students will meet with the instructor in this section and whether these meetings are optional or required. Include the frequency of these meetings and a general explanation of the purpose for these sessions.]

Grading Scale/Schema (after Grade Breakdown section)

In determining the final course grade, the following scale is used in percentage or point value.
•    xxx = A
•    xxx = B
•    xxx = C
•    xxx = D
•    xxx = F

[Faculty can augment this area as necessary to accommodate their grading criteria. Faculty should also use this area to convey when students can expect feedback on their assignments and assessments.]

Rubrics (may be included here and in the Syllabus and Overview in the course)

[The inclusion of rubrics in the syllabus is usually up to the instructor. If rubrics are not included in the syllabus, this area should convey to students that rubrics are included in the course and will provide an understanding of how they will be assessed on the course’s assignments.]

Late Work Policy

Instructors should include the policy stating what may or may not be acceptable for late assignments.

Course Evaluation

At the end of this course, students are encouraged to complete a course evaluation that will be distributed to them via email and through a course link.

Turnitin Policy Or Other Types of Assignments in Other Systems

[Instructor’s policy on assignments held within the Turnitin system.]

Proctoring

[Respondus LockDown Browser/Monitor OR Examity. Contact elearning@tamiu.edu for the syllabus statement and other information.]

Accessibility and Privacy Statements on Course Technologies

[Information on the accessibility and privacy policies of all course technologies must be provided to the students. At TAMIU, the eLearning team has compiled a list of accessibility and privacy statement links on their website. Link to these pages and contact eLearning if any new technologies should be listed on their pages. See the following example. Customize technologies to include those that pertain to your course:]

At Texas A&M International University, we believe that all students should have equal technology opportunities in the classroom. These technologies/sites may also require user data, such as the creation of a username and password. You may find the accessibility and privacy policies of the technologies used in this class on the following pages: Accessibility Statements and Privacy Statements.

In this class, we will utilize: [insert the technologies here].

Syllabus Subject to Change

While information and assurances are provided in this course syllabus, it should be understood that content may change in keeping with new research and literature and that events beyond the control of the instructor could occur. Students will be informed of any substantive occurrences that will produce syllabus changes.