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COURSE SYLLABUS

1. TITLE OF COURSE: ADVANCED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
PREFIX/NUMBER: AAA 109 CREDIT HOURS: 3
2. PREREQUISITE: 80+ on CPTR
3.

RESOURCES NEEDED:

TEXT:

Sharon K. Ferrett. Peak Performance: Success in College and Beyond. 3rd ed. Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2000.

SUPPLIES:

One large three-ring, loose-leaf binder with dividers for class activities and one for the Career Development Portfolio to be handed in as a term project.  Some instructors may give students the option of using a 3” disk for the Critical Thinking Log.
4.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Students will examine theories and practices associated with successful learning and adopt those that enhance their college success.  Critical areas for study include education and career planning; effective communication; personal management; critical and creative thinking; development of community and awareness of diversity; leadership, and techniques for successful academic performance. 
5.

COURSE GOAL:

To assist students in adapting to college and the world of work by acquiring learning strategies, motivations, and personal qualities that will enable them to overcome challenges and develop personal and career efficacy.
6. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The student who successfully completes this course should be able to:
A. Create educational and career plans.
B. Communicate effectively.
C. Demonstrate enhanced personal management.
D. Integrate critical and creative thinking in all activities.
E. Demonstrate an awareness of community and diversity.
F. Demonstrate leadership qualities.
G. Enhance personal strategies for improved academic proficiency.
7. EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
Exercises, Case Studies, Quizzes: 20%
Discussion, Participation, Projects: 20%
Critical Thinking Log 20%
Career Development Portfolio 40%
Grading Scale
Raw Score Range 		Letter Grade
90 to 100 A
80 to 89 B
70 to 79 C
60 to 69 D
0 to 59 F

Special Remarks:

A.

Attendance: College policy states that students may be dropped from enrollment when absent 20% of the scheduled class meetings. Reinstatement procedures are described in the PCC catalog.

B.

Tardy Policy: A student who is late three times (enters the classroom after the instructor has taken roll) will be charged with one full absence unless the student can provide valid reasons for one or more of these tardies.

C.

Assignments/Missed Exams: It is the student’s responsibility whether present or absent, to obtain all material presented and to complete all course assignments. If prior arrangements are made or extenuating circumstances exist, makeup of tests may be allowed. Late homework papers will not be accepted unless those same extenuating circumstances exist. Makeup of quizzes is to be at the instructor’s discretion.

D.

Food and drink are not allowed in classrooms and computer labs.

E.

Pagers & Cell Phones: Any communication apparatus brought into class must be set so that it does not make audible sounds. Students must leave the room to make phone calls.

8. COURSE OUTLINE
Instructors may vary the sequence slightly, but all indicated instruction will be presented during the course.  Ask individual instructors about their quiz and assignment schedule.
I.  Education/Career planning
A. Purposeful action
B. Academic plan completion
C. Career planning resources
II. Effective communication
A. Oral strategies
B. Written strategies
C. Interpersonal strategies
D. Intrapersonal strategies
III. Personal resource management
A. Time management
B. Materials organization
C. Personal/Campus/Community resources
D. Learning styles
E. Wellness/Academic success connection
IV. Critical/Creative thinking integration
A. Multiple creative thinking strategies
B. Multiple critical thinking strategies
C. Problem-solving/Decision-making strategies
D. Metacognitive awareness
V. Community and diversity
  A. Acknowledgement of diversity
B. Supportive academic community relationships
C. College mission, vision, and values
D. Community/Service learning participation
VI. Leadership development
A. Investigation/development of personal code of ethics
B. Personal interaction styles
C. Cooperative learning participation
D. Personal choice responsibility
E. Group dynamics
VII. Academic proficiency strategies
A. Analysis/Evaluation of multiple learning strategies
B. Application/Evaluation of technology
C. Exploration of academic topics
9. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Advanced Academic Achievement is a hands-on, interactive, process-oriented class. Students in this course should be prepared to utilize the textbook fully, which includes not only completing reading assignments as assigned by the instructor, but also completing exercises, case studies, and projects. Successful completion of a Career Development Portfolio will be an on-going process for students throughout the term, and will count significantly toward their final grade. To be successful in this course, students are expected to maintain good attendance, as well as actively participate in discussions, projects, and peer review activities.
10. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.
11. ADA NOTICE:
Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class. Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.