Penn State Greater Allegheny | Fall 2021 | Mondays | 6:00-8:30pm | Zoom

Professors: Zack Furness (zackfurness@psu.edu) & Zach Bigalke (zrb5110@psu.edu)

  • Your professors check email throughout the day but please allow up to 24hrs for a reply. If your email requires a long reply they may ask you to meet via Zoom. Also, if you have a question that is easily answered on the course website or in course materials, you will be directed there.

Weekly Class Meetings:  https://psu.zoom.us/j/96809550276

Canvas Website: https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2123395

  • Our weekly schedule of reading assignments, as well as due dates and important course documents, are all posted on our Canvas website. Students are expected to check the site on a regular basis for updates and any possible changes to our schedule.

Office Hours & Location: On Zoom every Tuesday from 1:30pm–2:30pm (access via Zoom tab on Canvas page) and by appointment.

Course Description

COMM 412: Sports, Media & Society is designed to help students develop a critical analysis of both sports and the sports-media complex that plays such prominent and multifaceted roles in modern life. We will examine the social, historical, and cultural relationships between sport and communication and the ways that they shape our perspectives about gender, race, sexuality, rituals, economics, and national identification. In addition to grappling with academic and popular research on these subjects, this course also draws attention to a diverse range of sports and media as a way to expand students’ engagement with different communication formats, technologies, texts, and practices. Students enrolled in this course will demonstrate their writing, speaking, thinking, and researching skills through class discussion, written and oral assignments, and a term paper/presentation that will be delivered during finals week.

Credit Information

  • This course fulfills requirements for ‘Additional Credits’ toward the Communications B.A. degree (COMUC_BA) at Penn State Greater Allegheny, as well as the Sports Administration Certificate (SPTADM_UCT).
  • This course also fulfills requirements for ‘Additional Credits’ toward the following B.A. degrees offered via the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications: Journalism (JOURN_BA), Media Studies (MEDIA_BA), Strategic Communications (STRCM_BA), and Telecommunications and Media Industries (TELCM_BA).

Required Texts

  • All reading assignments will be distributed for free in PDF format. See details for each week in the Module section of our Canvas page.

Technology & Web Info

  • Devices – Students enrolled in this course must have a way to regularly access course content from a remote location, whether that’s through a computer lab on your campus or by using your own laptop or desktop computer. Broadly speaking, students are strongly discouraged from accessing the course website using only their smart phones (meaning your phone shouldn’t be your primary tool for viewing content on this website). iPads and other tablets should work just fine for this course but if you have trouble accessing this website or Canvas using your tablet, please discuss the issue with the IT Helpdesk on your campus (PSUGA students can click here).
  • Web Browsers – Students are encouraged to access Canvas using either Firefox or Chrome. Safari sometimes has issues with Canvas and other Penn State interfaces.
  • Canvas Profiles – Please update your profile on Canvas with a picture of yourself. After you login, just click on Account and then click on Profile and select the Edit Profile button. Please post a clear picture so that your classmates and I can see your face when you post on discussions (it will appear in the little circle next to your name). After that, please edit the biography section to tell us a little bit about yourself.

GRADES & ASSIGNMENTS

There are 100 points possible in the class. Detailed guidelines for assignments are online.

Media Critiques / Blog Posts (40 points)

  • You will be asked to write four short pieces in which you will analyze/critique a specific media ‘artifact’ as a way to engage with readings and concepts that we will be discussing throughout the semester. Click here for details.

Leading Discussion (10 points)

  • Along with a partner, students will be responsible for picking out supplementary readings, authoring discussion questions, and helping to lead class discussion during a week of our class. Click here for details.

Final Project (35 points) 

  • Your final assignment is to write a 15-page research paper (including your bibliography) in which you will do a critical analysis of a specific social issue, question, problem or controversy concerning sports and media. In addition to utilizing ‘primary’ source material, your paper will incorporate at least six academic sources that reflect existing academic research on your subject (one of your previous Media Critiques can provide the basis for this assignment). Click here for details.

    Students will meet with the class for one final Zoom session on Monday of finals week to present their research to their classmates. Detailed guidelines for presentations will be posted on the website.

Participation (15 points)

  • Participating in class is not to be confused with simply showing up and occupying the same space as your fellow students. Participation means coming to class ready to ask questions, discuss weekly reading assignments, and engage in thoughtful, respectful conversation with your peers and the professor. In short, your participation grade is not a ‘freebie’ – it is earned. You will not receive an A as a reward for simply paying attention in class, as this much is expected of you in any college course. Moreover, this course is organized like a ‘seminar’ which means that our class meetings will be focused heavily around class discussion. This requires participation from every student.

Grading Scale

As a general rule of thumb, the following grading scale shall apply to all assignments:

A   93-100%
A-  90-92%
B+ 87-89%
B   83-86%
B-  80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C   73-76% *A grade of C or higher is required for courses in a student’s major or minor
C- 70-72%
D   60-69%
F   Below 60%

 

STUDENT SERVICES & CAMPUS RESOURCES

Student Need

Any student who is having difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, who lacks a safe and stable place to live, is experiencing a financial emergency, or has any other concern that could affect their personal well-being and/or academic success is urged to complete the Student Needs form linked below. Even if you are doing well we would love to hear from you.

  • Here is the link to the survey: PSUGA Needs Survey Fall 2021.
  • When you submit your response you will immediately receive a list of resources based upon the need(s) you’ve selected. If it doesn’t come to your inbox check your “junk” or “other” folder.
  • A staff member will reach out to you with any questions or concerns you may have. Feel free to contact Erica Willis (elc147@psu.edu) or Lorraine Craven(lac585@psu.edu) if you have any questions.

Center for Academic and Career Excellence (ACE)

ACE provides academic and non-academic services to students who meet federal eligibility requirements and agree to participate in the program. This includes first generation college students, those from low-income families, and students with disabilities. The ACE website is located here and their office is located on the Lower Level of the Kelly Library. To contact ACE, call 412-675-9491, or send an email to PSUGA-ACE@psu.edu.

The Learning Center

Clear and coherent writing is an important factor in your success in this class. Students in need of tutoring and/or extra help with study skills are encouraged to make a Zoom appointment with someone in the John H. Gruskin Learning Center, located in the Kelly Library, Lower Level. To schedule an appointment, call (412) 675-9088. One-on-one appointments are encouraged but not required.

  • Click here to download info about the Learning Center.
  • Click here to download info about registering for the Math 10 and Engl 5 supplemental courses.

Disability Resources

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. Information about services at Greater Allegheny are accessible here. In addition, the Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contact information for every Penn State campus: http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/campus-contacts. For further information, please visit Student Disability Resources: http://equity.psu.edu/sdr. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

  • The contact person for Penn State Greater Allegheny’s disability services office is Siobhan Brooks. She can be reached at 412-675-9454 or email: snb106@psu.edu.

Counseling & Psychological Services

Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Counseling and Psychological services are available through the Student Health Service Office in Suite 105A, lower level of the Student Community Center (SCC). Appointments with the Mental Health/Personal Counselor, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and Medical Doctor are scheduled by Campus Nurse Jennifer Ross. Her contact information is jur396@psu.edu, 412-675-9490. For more resources and information about Student Health Services at Greater Allegheny campus, see also: http://greaterallegheny.psu.edu/health-services. Counselor, Ann McCurdy, can be reached at 412-675-9475 or amm8809@psu.edu.

 

Title IX – Protection From Violence and Harassment

Title IX mandates that colleges receiving federal funding provide gender equity, not just in sports, but in all areas of campus life, meaning that all students should be able to study in an atmosphere free of harassment, sexual violence, and gender discrimination. Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources here:

  • Greater Allegheny Campus Police: (412) 675-9130
  • Greater Allegheny Title IX Resource Person: Lorraine Craven, Director of Student Services & Engagement | (412) 675-9034 | lac585@psu.edu
  • Penn State’s Title IX Coordinator: Chris Harris | (814) 867-0099 | Titleix@psu.edu
  • Pittsburgh Action Against Rape Hotline – Sexual Assault Hotline: (866) 363-7273
  • Additional related resources for PSUGA students are accessible here.
  • Penn State Title IX website: http://titleix.psu.edu

Educational Equity

Consistent with University Policy AD29, students who believe they have experienced or observed a hate crime, an act of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment that occurs at Penn State are urged to report these incidents as outlined on the University’s Report Bias webpage.

COURSE POLICIES (OUR CONTRACT)

COVID Related

Mask Policy (Non-Negotiable): Penn State University requires everyone to wear a face mask in all university buildings, including classrooms, regardless of vaccination status. ALL STUDENTS MUST wear a mask appropriately (i.e. covering both your mouth and nose) while you are indoors on campus. This is to protect your health and safety as well as the health and safety of your classmates, instructor, and the university community. Anyone attending class without a mask will be asked to either put one on immediately or leave the classroom. Instructors may end class if anyone present refuses to appropriately wear a mask for the duration of class. Students who refuse to wear masks appropriately may face disciplinary action for Code of Conduct violations. If you feel you cannot wear a mask during class, please speak with your adviser immediately about your options for altering your schedule.

Email

All students are required to make use of their Penn State email accounts. While we recognize that you all have your preferred modes of digital communication (social media, messaging apps, Gmail, etc.), you will still be expected to check your school email account on a daily basis, and we will use that address to discuss all class related business throughout the semester. If your email requires a long reply we will ask you to see us. If you have a question that is easily answered on the course website or in course materials, we will direct you there.

Using Zoom

Having normal conversations via Zoom can be as easy, productive, and enjoyable as doing it face-to-face. Here are some useful guidelines to help facilitate good communication in your remote courses and meetings:

  • Broadly speaking, it’s preferable to keep your camera turned on for class meetings but it is not required.
  • Update your Zoom profile with a selfie so that people can at least put a face to a name if/when your camera is turned off.
  • Keep your audio muted when you are not speaking.
  • Keep the chat window open to see messages.
  • Utilize gallery view instead of speaker view if you want to see all of your classmates (or meeting participants) on the screen.
  • Be mindful that there can sometimes be slight lag times during synchronous meetings, so try to avoid interrupting people in order to keep conversations flowing smoothly.
  • When you wish to speak you can utilize the Raise Hand feature so that your professor and/or your classmates can easily see it.
  • It’s generally wise to wear pants when you’re on Zoom, as one does during any college course IRL. But you do you.
  • Dogs and cats who enter the chat are always welcomed, and also fun to look at.

Anyone with questions about using Zoom can check out Penn State’s rather comprehensive website here: https://zoom.psu.edu.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes and read the assignments prior to the start of class in order to be prepared for class discussion. Experience shows that there is a direct relation between attendance and performance in the course. Absences hurt your ability to learn and they hurt your grade. In short, come to class! Signing up for this class indicates that you are committed to being here for the full class period each class meeting. Students who miss an unreasonable number of classes during a given semester run the risk of earning a failing grade, as your professor reserves the right to fail any students who miss the equivalent of four weeks, or more, of class during the semester. It is your responsibility to inform the instructor regarding planned absences ahead of time. Whenever reasonable, a student should submit a class absence form a week in advance and email it to the professor as an attachment.

Penn State’s official policy on attendance is located here. The policy recognizes that on occasion, students may opt to miss a class meeting in order to participate in a regularly scheduled university-approved curricular or extracurricular activity, or due to unavoidable or other legitimate circumstances such as illness, injury, family emergency, or religious observance.

  • NOTE: The operative phrase in the paragraph above is “on occasion.” If your PSU-related schedule (for university-approved curricular or extracurricular activities) is going to significantly impede your ability to attend our class this semester, your professor strongly recommends that you either a) free up your schedule to ensure your attendance, b) sign up for a different section of this course this semester, if one is offered, or c) enroll in this course during another semester in which you are able to regularly attend class.
  • Students who participate in athletics must provide me with a digital copy of their athletic schedule at the beginning of the semester, sent via email. If you are only provided with a print copy by your team, please scan the document or take a clear picture of it, and send via email.
  • Religious observance can be a legitimate reason for an absence. Academic Administrative Policy and Procedure R-4, Religious Observances, provides further information and a link to an all inclusive list which provides both major and minor religious holidays, maintained by the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs.

If you are going to miss a class, please take note of the following:

  • You are still responsible for whatever material was covered in lecture and discussion that day.
  • Please do not email me to find out what you are going to miss (or already missed). Instead, please just check the schedule on the course website or make a point to speak with me during my office hours.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures (for in-person courses only)

Your professor finds people entering and leaving the classroom during lecture to be very unpleasant and distracting. Please be on time for class, and if you know that you must leave early on a given day, please let him know before the class starts. Please make your visits to the bathroom and drinking fountain before and after class. If you arrive late or leave early (or if your excretory system presents you with an emergency in the middle of class), please enter or leave the classroom quietly. If you are more than 25 minutes late, then please don’t come to class. Repeat offenders will find their semester grades reduced.

Please don’t leave class unless it is absolutely necessary. Walking in and out of class is distracting and disrespectful. The longest you will ever be in my class (before a break or the end of the period) is about an hour and 15 minutes. If this presents a legitimate problem for you physically then you need to make me aware of your situation at the beginning of the semester.

Students With Children

If you are a parent and for some unexpected reason you are unable to secure your regular child care on a day we have class in-person, please feel free to bring your kid with you to class, so long as they are comfortable entertaining themselves or being held. Having your child with you during our synchronous remote classes is obviously 100% fine.

Assignments and Extensions

Completing your assignments is a vital part of succeeding in this course. Information about all course assignments – including weekly readings, papers, speeches and/or presentations – will be provided well in advance of due dates.

  • All assignments must be completed and submitted on time for full credit.
  • There is a limited window in which to submit late work: Written assignments will be accepted for up to 2 days after the due date, with a full grade deduction for each day they are late (the highest grade one can earn a day late is a B, the highest grade after two days is a C, etc). Assignments submitted more than 2 days after the due date will not be accepted without permission from your professor.
  • Missing an in-class assignment due to an unexcused absence will result in an automatic F for that assignment. This applies to speeches, presentations, quizzes, group work, and graded participation activities.
  • Clear and coherent writing is an important factor in your success in this class. We urge you to visit the Learning Center on campus and make use of their tutoring services before you hand in written work. We will also be more than happy to look at rough drafts during office hours.
  • Any student who misses the equivalent of four weeks worth of class participation will automatically earn a failing grade for the course, without exception.

The “Sh*t Happens” Clause: If, for whatever reason, you are unable to submit a written assignment on time, you can invoke the “Sh*t Happens” clause and submit the assignment up to two days late for full credit without any additional explanation or justification. You may only use this freebie one time throughout the semester and it only applies to written assignments – not to quizzes or your final project.

Translation Assistance

If you are a non-native English speaker and you would like to access course materials in your native language, there are a few different tools you can use to make this happen:

  • Use Google Chrome as your main web browser and download the Google Translate extension online, via the Chrome Web Store (click here for the link). After installing the extension, you will see the extension icon in the top right corner of your web browser. Whenever you access a webpage that you want translated, just click on the icon and then click again where it says “TRANSLATE THIS PAGE.” A new bar will then appear on the browser (right underneath the bookmarks bar) and you can select whichever language you prefer. It looks like this:
  • If you have any trouble with the Google Translate extension, the other alternative is to go into the settings on Chrome and change your language preferences to your native language and make sure the button is selected where it says: “Offer to translate pages that aren’t in a language you read.” I’m more than happy to show you how this works in person if you have any questions.
  • You can use the website translate.google.com to translate any content that is copied/pasted into the box. You can also upload different kinds of files for translation, including Word docs and PDFs. Some PDFs don’t translate very well, so if you run into problems don’t hesitate to ask me for assistance.

Tech Issues

Problems related to computers, printers, electronic devices, software and/or email are your responsibilities to address; they are not legitimate excuses for late work or incomplete assignments. Here are some easy ways to avoid problems with hardware and software can and do arise:

  • As a responsible student, you should always anticipate potential issues and plan accordingly. First and foremost, you should always keep backup copies of your papers and regularly backup your computer and electronic devices. External hard drives are cheap and don’t require an Internet connection or third party support. Online storage services are also great options. All Penn State students have a vast amount of free online storage space via Microsoft Office 365 and Google Drive, so there’s no good reason not to use one of them.
  • Another easy way to ensure the safety of your written assignments is to write them using Google Docs. Documents composed on Google Docs are saved in real time and can be accessed from any device with the connection to the Internet.
  • Avoid doing work on your smartphone. Beyond the obvious visual benefits of working on a computer or tablet, some smartphones (and, occasionally, some tablets) can limit the functionality and/or features of certain applications or course management systems you are required to utilize as a Penn State student – for example, comment attachments on Canvas are sometimes not visible on iPhones. Such problems can be avoided by simply working on a computer, or your iPad, or using a computer located in a campus computer lab. If you don’t have much experience operating a regular computer, it’s especially important to learn how while you are in college since you will undoubtedly be required to use one regularly in your post-graduate career.
  • If you regularly work on an iPad, we strongly advise you to invest in a Bluetooth keypad and a stand, or to find a case that has them built in. You can find any of these items cheap on Amazon (like this), and we also have a couple extra compact Bluetooth keyboards that we can lend out for the semester if you need one (just ask).
  • Take your devices to the IT Helpdesk on campus if you need assistance with anything, or get in touch with them directly via email or phone.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University’s Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment by all members of the University community not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

A bit of clarity here about plagiarism is worthwhile given that it’s one of the most common violations of academic integrity. Simply put, plagiarism consists of using someone else’s ideas as your own in formal writing. If you use someone else’s ideas, you are expected to cite them. If you use someone else’s exact words, even if it is just part of a sentence, then you must put quotation marks around the phrase or sentence and properly cite the author. I may not be the smartest person in the world but we are professional nerds who do research and grade papers for a living. For all intents and purposes, we are the Bruce Lees of spotting plagiarism. Consequently, we strongly recommend that you do not try to pass off other people’s writing as your own because, to put it bluntly, we don’t mess around. In light of Penn State’s stated regulations and my own desire to administer my plagiarism policies fairly – regardless of the individual responsible for the offense or his/her intentions – our standing policy is this:

  • Any intentional incident of plagiarism in a written assignment will earn you an automatic ‘F’ for this course. We will not submit the incident as part of your official Penn State record, but you will most certainly fail the course at the end of the semester. If you wish to contest my judgement, you are well within your rights to do so according to Penn State’s Academic Integrity procedures, which are linked above. Please note that if you choose to contest the charge and ultimately lose your appeal, the incident will be officially documented with the university. We don’t say this to scare anyone away from exercising their right to an appeal, we simply state it as a matter of fact and for the sake of clarity.

Penn State’s official policies on Academic Integrity can be found online in the University Faculty Senate Policy 49-20 and in Academic Integrity, Undergraduate Bulletin 2019-2020.

Grading Policy

Grades shall be assigned to individual students on the basis of the instructor’s judgment of the student’s scholastic achievement. Grades are final and we grade exams and assignments based on your performance, not your intentions. Effort will be recognized in your participation grade for the course. We are eager to help you do well on exams and assignments before they are due. Please visit during office hours to ask questions when you are working on an assignment or reviewing material. Here are the circumstances under which we would change a grade: (a) if we have made an error, or (b) if we have failed to hold you to the same standard as everyone else. In the event that you feel you received an undeserved grade, you should make your case in writing to your instructor within two weeks of receiving the grade. Finally, there are very few circumstances in which the professor will award a grade of “incomplete” for the course. If you feel like such circumstances apply, please discuss it with us before the end of the semester.

Non-Discrimination & Educational Equity

As professors at Pennsylvania State University, we value equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity. In addition to Penn State’s official nondiscrimination policy, and within the bounds of the course, we also do not discriminate on the basis of one’s personal opinions or political affiliations. In the simplest terms possible, this means that you do not have to agree with me in order to do well in this course. So long as you demonstrate an understanding of, and informed engagement with, the course material, you are under no obligation to agree with your professor, your classmates, or anything we read (you don’t even have to agree with yourself all the time). If there is something we can do to make the class more hospitable, please let us know. Be assured that we will treat students with respect, and we will promote a safe and conducive environment for learning. We expect all students to do the same. This means that, in accordance with college policies, we will not tolerate discrimination or harassment in my class, whether on the basis of race, gender, class, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical ability. If you have questions about the school’s policies, please consult the Student Code of Conduct online at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/conduct/codeofconduct/.

Consistent with University Policy AD29, students who believe they have experienced or observed a hate crime, an act of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment that occurs at Penn State are urged to report these incidents as outlined on the University’s Report Bias webpage.

Respectful College Classroom Behavior

One of the ways in which college differs dramatically from high school or the workplace is that you are all here by your own choice. As tuition-paying adults who have made the conscious decision to take a course that either sparks your curiosity or is required for your major (or both), we presume that you want to be here and that you are eager to learn. As your professors, you can presume that we also want to be here and that we are eager to teach you everything we can about the subject matter. In order to get the most out of that experience, it’s important for everyone to keep some of the following things in mind:

Practice good netiquette online. If you don’t know what the term netiquette means, here is a useful primer. In a nutshell, it means that you need to pay attention to the manner in which you engage with people online, particularly if you’re not in the habit of doing so. Whereas face-to-face communication provides us with myriad opportunities to read other people’s body language and nonverbal cues in real time, online communication does not afford us such luxuries. This is compounded by the fact that all of us have spent years inadvertently reading tons of nasty online comments that have partly conditioned us to be more antagonistic and more defensive with our online behaviors.

  • As a writer, you need to recognize how your statements, responses, and arguments can potentially be interpreted by people…and you should make an effort to write accordingly. Do your best to explain yourself, clarify your ideas, make succinct points, and support your positions.
  • As a reader, you should be similarly generous with other people’s writing – give people the benefit of the doubt, don’t assume the worst, and try not to read too much emotion into peoples’ statements simply because they agree or disagree with you.

No ad hominem attacks. Simply put, we won’t tolerate anyone making fun of other people in the classroom or in online spaces. If it happens – and fortunately it almost never does – the person responsible will be asked to leave the class that day. Any such incidents that include the use of racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or other abusive, discriminatory language will be grounds for getting permanently booted from the course.

No excuses for not bringing the readings to class. We can’t have productive and intelligent conversations about course material if you don’t bring copies of the assigned readings to our weekly class meetings (digital or print).

Be mindful of your communication practices. This includes turning off your phone’s ringer before class, keeping your phone away during class meetings, and no texting, social media, etc. If you are required to be on call at all times (for ex. you are a parent, or caretaker, or work in emergency services), please let your professor know at the beginning of the semester. As far as other general in-class decorum, please avoid chatting with your friends in class during lectures and film screenings. If you want to sit and talk to your friends, there are plenty of other places to do it on campus.

  • Broadly speaking, please do not put your professors in the awkward position of having to reprimand you in front of your peers. We shouldn’t have to remind anyone about the kinds of disrespectful behavior that can make it difficult for your peers to learn and for us to teach. Consequently, in the rare instance that a student’s disruptive behavior becomes a pattern, that student will be asked to drop the course.

No Recording, Reproduction, or Distribution of Course Materials

Students are encouraged to take notes and utilize the course materials that your professors provide to the class, i.e. lecture notes, slide presentations, etc. These materials are for you to use but they may not be sold or otherwise monetized for personal gain by students or third parties (for instance, by for-profit note-taking services) without your professor’s expressed, written prior consent.

Photos and both audio- and video-recordings of class proceedings are explicitly prohibited without the professor’s expressed, written prior consent. Under no circumstances may they be posted online.

Academic Calendar

For important dates pertaining to adding/dropping courses, withdrawal, etc. please consult the appropriate Penn State Academic Calendar.

Schedule

All weekly reading assignments (and links to the readings themselves) are accessible through the menu heading on the website, labeled Schedule. Your professors are likely to make small changes and updates to the schedule during the first week of class.

Compliance

By staying enrolled in this class, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to abide by our policies, as well as Penn State’s official regulations (i.e. the accepted codes of conduct and academic integrity). Failure to follow the letter and the spirit of these reasonable guidelines can result in a reduction of your final grade, failure of the course, and/or other penalties set by the university.