HEDS 1011 - Faculty & Staff, Georgia Perimeter College

HEDS 1011 – 201
Guide to College Success
Course Syllabus
Meeting Day and Time:
Monday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Classroom: NE-0340
Instructor:
Dr. Lisa Bratton
Office: D2000 #20
Phone: 770-274-5508
E-mail:
lisa.bratton@gpc.edu
Office Hours: Monday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Course Description: This course introduces students to important academic skills in higher
education. The course assists students’ adjustment to college, increasing their understanding of
the learning process, and helps develop study skills that will enhance academic performance.
Expected Educational Results: As a result of completing this course, the student will be able
to:
1. Demonstrate effective problem solving and critical thinking skills.
2. Describe personal values as they relate to the purpose of higher education.
3. Demonstrate effective goal-setting techniques.
4. Identify academic strengths and weaknesses.
5. Describe how values, goals, and needs correlate to academic success and personal career
plans.
6. Describe how applying the principles of teaching and learning styles enhance academic
success.
7. Utilize systematic strategies for note taking, textbook reading, listening, testing, and
managing time.

8. Use college resources and services.
9. Demonstrate involvement in college and community life.
Required Text: Cornerstone: Building on Your Best (Concise 4 th Edition), Sherfield,
Montgomery, and Moody. Prentice Hall. 2005
Withdrawals: Withdrawals must be initiated by the student. Students will not be withdrawn for
poor attendance. The last date a student can withdraw is October 13.
Course Requirements and Grading: Students will be evaluated as follows:
Exam 1: 10%
Exam 2: 15%
Final Exam: 15%
In-class assignments 20%
Homework Assignments 20%
Symposium Lecture Write-up 10%
Cultural Event/Lecture Write-up 10%
Exams:
100%
The two exams and final exam will all be a combination of multiple-choice questions and short
answers. Exam questions will come from the textbook, class notes, and in-class activities. The
final exam is comprehensive and will include material from throughout the entire semester.
Class Participation and Attendance:
Much of this course will be conducted in a seminar format, so class participation is essential.
Students must be present in order to participate in in-class activities and discussions and to turn
in and receive information about future assignments. In order to receive a high participation
grade, the student should come to class prepared, be actively involved in class discussions and
activities, make thoughtful comments and treat other students and the instructor with respect.
Disruptive and disrespectful behavior such as cell phone use, excessive tardiness, walking out
during class and idle chatter, will work against a student’s participation grade. Students should
turn off electronic devises before entering the classroom.

Assignments:
All homework assignments listed in the syllabus (except in-class assignments) must be typed and
are due on Monday or Tuesday of each week unless otherwise stated in class. Students should
buy a 3-ring notebook and use tabs to keep the class assignments, activities, and notes
organized.
Extra Credit:
Each student must attend at least one seminar in the Student Success Series
(http://www.gpc.edu/~dunss/success.htm). After completing this requirement, each course
attended will add two points to the student’s final grade.
Cultural Event/Lecture: Students must attend an off-campus educational or cultural event and
write a one-page summary/response. The student can choose which lecture/event to attend, but it
must be academic- or career- related. For the budget-conscious, Creative Loafing offers a wide
variety of free and low-cost events.
Late Work and Make-up Exams:
Students must attend class to hand in homework and receive points. Late work will be accepted
ONLY if you are absent, and with a documented reason (court date, accident report, doctor’s
note, etc.). Missed class activity points cannot be made up. No make-up work will be allowed
except under circumstances approved by the instructor. Make-up tests will not be allowed
except for documented emergencies.
Final Grades:
Final grades will be calculated using the Georgia Perimeter College grading scale as follows:
90 – 100%: A
80 – 89%: B
70 – 79%: C
60 – 69%: D
below 60%: F

PROPOSED COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1:
Chapter 1: Change
Introduction, Discussion of Course Objectives
DUE: Self-Assessment for Chapter 1 (pp. 6-7)
Note: For this week only! This assignment is due on Wednesday/Thursday. For the rest of the
semester, assignments are due on Monday or Tuesday unless otherwise stated in class.
Week 2:
Chapter 1 Change (cont'd.) and Chapter 2: Grow
DUE: The Change Implementation Model: (p. 23-24)
Week 3:
Chapter 3: Persist
DUE: Visit your academic advisor and one of Georgia Perimeter's on-campus services (see
pp. 71-72 for appropriate options) and write a one-page summary (each) of your
two experiences.
Week 4:
Chapter 4: Prioritize
DUE: Complete the budget exercise on page 118-119. Write at least a paragraph on the
benefits and challenges of living within your budget. What changes, if any, should you
make What budget items are non-negotiable Comment on your overall fiscal health.
Week 5:
Chapter 5: Read
DUE: Take notes on a chapter in a textbook you have for another class (IF this is your only
class, use Chapter 6). You may use any of the methods mentioned in the textbook.
Week 6:
Chapter 6: Learn
DUE: Personality Assessment Profile p. 186
Week 7:
Chapter 7: Listen
DUE: Write a paragraph about a person you know who is a great listener. Write a
paragraph about a person you know who is a poor listener. Compare and contrast why
you characterize them as such. What type of listener are you How can you best improve
your listening skills
Week 8:
Chapter 8: Record and Chapter 9: Remember
DUE: Prepare an outline for a research paper on a topic in your intended major OR watch
a 30- or 60- minute show on PBS and take accurate notes.

Week 9:
Chapter 10: Assess
DUE: Write a page on how you prepare for tests. What strategies from the text can you
use to improve your study skills What strategies will not work for you Explain your
answers.
WEEK 10:
Chapter 11: Think
DUE: Consider a problem you are currently facing. Use the problem-solving concepts in
the text and write how you can creatively or critically solve this problem OR develop a 5-
step plan using the information on page 315.
Week 11:
Chapter 12: Communicate
DUE: Write a well analyzed, persuasive answer to one of the four bulleted questions on
Page 313. You can choose the length of this assignment--just be sure your argument is
persuasive and sound.
Extra Credit: Use the ten steps and other helpful information in the text to develop a wellprepared
and well-presented speech. This exercise is limited to the first five students to
come by my office and register with me in person. This exercise can earn up to ten points
added to your final grade.
Week 12:
Chapter 13: Relate
DUE: Interview a person who is a different race, ethnicity or religion from you. Try to find
someone who is as "different" from you as possible. Ask the questions on Pages 385 -
387 and at least three more that you create. Write one page about what you learned about
that person and his or her race/ethnicity/religion...
Week 13:
Chapter 14: Live
DUE: Make at least one healthy change in your life and maintain that practice for least
two days. Choose something that has been a challenge to you for at least six months.
(Examples include: no smoking, taking the stairs, no meat/candy/fast food...) Write a page
about how that made you feel.
Activity: Actions Plan for Wellness p. 429
Week 14:
Chapter 15: Dream

Due: Interview your mentor. If you do not have a mentor, identify someone you would like
to have as a mentor. List three academic or career-related questions you have and ask that
individual their opinion on how best to handle them. Write at least one page on this
experience and what you learned from your mentor.
Week 15:
Semester wrap-up and final exam prep
Comprehensive Final Exam: December 8 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Revisions to Course Schedule, Due Dates, and Exam Dates:
Although the instructor will attempt to adhere to the course schedule, it is impossible to predict
with complete accuracy the pace at which the class will proceed through the course material.
Revisions to the schedule may also be necessary to accommodate the schedules of guest
speakers. The final exam date will not change.
Academic Honesty (Cheating/Plagiarism) Policy:
Cheating is against school policy. Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead
the instructor in arriving at an honest grade assessment, and may include copying answers from
other students or using unauthorized notes during tests. Plagiarism is a particular form of
cheating that involves presenting as one's own the ideas or work of another, and may include
using other people's ideas without proper attribution and submitting another person's work as
one's own. Violations of the cheating policy will result in a grade of '0' for the assignment in
question, and may result in a failing grade for the course at the instructor's discretion. See the
Student Conduct Code in the Student Handbook for details and for a review of the appeals
procedure. Additional information related to Academic Honesty as it applies to courses taken in
the Department of Social Sciences on the Dunwoody Campus may be found on our website at
http://www.gpc.edu/~bbrown/socialsciences/academichonesty.htm.
Americans With Disabilities Act Statement:
If you are a student who is disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act
and requires assistance or support services, please seek assistance through the Center
for Disability Services. A CDS Counselor will coordinate those services.
Statement Of Non-Discrimination:
Georgia Perimeter College supports the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order
#11246, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. No person shall, on
the basis of age, race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or
disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any program or activity of the college.

Any individual with a grievance related to the enforcement of any of the above
provisions should contact the Assistant Director of Human Resources, Ombudsperson.
Affirmative Action Statement:
Georgia Perimeter College adheres to affirmative action policies to promote diversity
and equal opportunity for all faculty and students.
The Regents’ Test:
The University System of Georgia requires that all students enrolled in undergraduate
degree programs in University System institutions (including Georgia Perimeter College)
successfully complete all parts of a competency examination in reading and English
composition. This competency examination is commonly called “the Regents’ Test”,
and it is free of charge. A student has two attempts to pass this test before
accumulating 45 hours of collegiate credit. Please sign up for the Regents’ Test when
you enroll in English 1102. Do this in time to have two attempts before accumulating 45
credit hours!