Syllabus Addendum

This addendum is provided as a resource to USAO students. This information supplements course syllabi and institutional policies, it does not replace them. It is the student's responsibility to understand course requirements and abide by University policies while enrolled at USAO.

IMPORTANT DATES

Academic Calendar

Final exam schedule

For more information on enrollment, adding, dropping, and withdrawing, see the USAO course catalog. You can also contact your advisor, the Office of the Registrar, and the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Financial Aid Policies and Procedures

INCLEMENT WEATHER AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS

Drover Alert is USAO's emergency notification system. Alerts are issued upon unplanned campus closures for weather related emergencies or confirmation of a serious threat or dangerous situation which threatens the safety of USAO students, faculty or staff. Drover Alerts may only be withheld if these alerts would compromise efforts to contain the emergency.

Review or update your emergency notification contact information.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic dishonesty in any form (plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, forgery, or any other) is a violation of the Academic Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated. For more on the Academic Code of Conduct please see the USAO student handbook.

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

The Student Success Center (SSC) is located on the top floor of Nash Library in room 305. The SSC exists to assist and support all USAO students. In addition to designated class tutors for some classes, there are free tutoring services, weekly study groups, and academic mentoring.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students are responsible for attending the classes for which they have registered. Students are responsible for reading assignments, meeting deadlines, understanding course requirements, and monitoring their progress. Faculty are available during office hours and by appointment to assist; tutoring and counseling services are available, but it is the responsibility of the student to seek assistance. No specific number of free absences is authorized. Instructors have the authority to determine the validity of student explanations given for absences. Students late for class should see the instructor at the end of the class period. Irregular attendance and habitual tardiness may seriously affect the course grade. When students representing the university must be absent during the school day, they should discuss (in advance) the proposed absences with their instructors and make the necessary arrangements for any work that will be missed.

ASSESsMENT

WHAT IS ASSESsMENT?

Assessment at USAO is the intentional, ongoing process of gathering and interpreting evidence about what and how students are learning. It includes a wide array of methods and tools, not just traditional tests, that evaluate academic readiness, learning progress, skill development, and individual education needs. Through both direct measures (like exams, projects, and performances) and more indirect measures (like surveys or observations), assessment helps identify strengths and weaknesses, guide instructional choices, shape academic and support programs, and inform decisions about accountability, instructor effectiveness, and school improvement efforts.

Institutional Assessment

This course may be selected to participate in USAO’s assessment of institutional learning outcomes. If so, you may be asked to complete a specific assignment or allow work you already do in the course to be used for assessment. The work may not be graded in the same manner as regular coursework, though you may receive credit for completing it. It is very important that you do your best on the assignment because your work helps us understand student learning and improve courses and programs.

Senior Exit Exams

As part of the requirements for graduation, students must complete a senior exit exam for their major(s). The exit exams are discipline‑specific, so they may take different forms for different majors. For example, exit exams might be tests, essays, performances, or portfolios. Exit exam results are used for program planning and improvement, not for individual evaluation of students or faculty. Even if you never see your exit exam score, doing your best matters because your performance represents your program and helps the university decide where to dedicate resources to best support students and faculty.

CANVAS

USAO uses Canvas as its learning management system. Instructors may use Canvas for their courses in a variety of different ways. Be sure to check Canvas daily for all of your courses. Access Canvas using your USAO email account. Click the Help button in Canvas for 24-hour assistance.

Canvas or https://canvas.usao.edu

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

USAO faculty and staff want you to succeed. Faculty have office hours every week to assist students. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The life of a USAO student is not always easy. Sometimes you might feel overwhelmed with academic, career, relationship, family, and other concerns. If you are feeling confused, overwhelmed, stressed, anxious or not even sure how you feel, you are not alone. We want to help you. The USAO Counseling Office is staffed by licensed mental health professionals who provide individual counseling for personal, social, family and academic concerns. Their goal is to provide services and activities that promote the development of healthy lifestyles and the acquisition of problem-solving and decision-making skills. Please contact us.

DISABILITY SERVICES

Office of Accessible Education assists USAO students with disabilities by ensuring that qualified students with disabilities receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations and services. USAO is committed to providing equal opportunities for higher education to academically qualified individuals who are disabled. OAE staff will serve as a liaison in arranging reasonable accommodations. Students with disabilities are encouraged to notify and collaborate with OAE to identify, establish the need for, and obtain accommodations. If you have a learning disability, psychiatric disability, or physical disability and need accommodations, or have questions about whether you qualify, please contact Disability Services to make an appointment.

LECTURE CAPTURE – PANOPTO VIDEO

Some classrooms are equipped to record classes. Lecture capture video (via the lecture capture system Panopto) may be made available to students registered for the class through Canvas. The use of lecture capture is intended to supplement, not replace, the classroom experience. Duplication or redistribution of lecture capture recordings is prohibited without appropriate consent. Furthermore, lecture capture recordings are for personal educational use in that course and no other use. Any other use is prohibited without appropriate consent. Students can request at any time to have lecture capture turned off should the lecture or discussion involve sensitive topics. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the instructor if they have any concerns or questions about lecture capture.

COPYRIGHT

Course materials provided by your instructor are protected by state common law and federal copyright law. As a student in the course you are authorized to utilize these resources for your own personal educational use and no other use. You are not authorized to distribute or copy any resources provided by your instructor or to make any commercial use of them without the instructor’s express permission.

NOTICE

Changes to the syllabus, procedures, assignments, and course may be made at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor will notify you of any significant changes.