Spring 2022 Course Syllabus Course: SPCH-1321- Section: 71 Business and Professional Communication

Instructor Information
Instructor	Casi Rekieta
E-mail	rekietacl@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6305
Office	Location: Educational I - Room: 114 Hours: MTWR: 8:30 to 11:00
COVID 19 Information	The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Course Information
Description	Study and application of communication within the business and professional context. Special emphasis will be given to communication competencies in presentations, dyads, teams and technologically mediated formats.
Prerequisites	None
Learning Outcomes	- Demonstrate communication competence and critical thinking through an understanding of the foundational communication models. - Demonstrate essential public speaking skills in professional presentations. - Demonstrate written and oral competencies as it relates to employment (including job searches, interviews, interpersonal interaction, conflict management, leadership and performance appraisals.) - Apply essential dyadic and small group processes as they relate to the workplace. - Utilize various technologies as they relate to competent communication. - Demonstrate effective cross-cultural communication.
Core Objectives	- Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. - Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. - Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view. - Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Textbooks	Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. This course will use Open Educational Resources (OER). You do not need to purchase a book for this class. Additional Materials Needed: - Notebook for writing and taking notes. - Must have materials for creating Visual Aids or access to Powerpoint. - Must have materials needed to record and submit speech presentations. - Must have the ability to print documents for class. - Must be able to access Blackboard.
Lecture Topics Outline	Introduction to Business Communication Understanding Business Meetings Developing Professional Presentations Developing Professional PowerPoint Presentations Public Speaking Online Email Etiquette Cover Letter Resume Career Search Job Applications Interview Group Communication Interpersonal Communication Intercultural Communication Working in Teams Managing Conflict on the Job
Major Assignments Schedule	SPCH_1321_71_202210_P00348224.pdf
Final Exam Date	May 9, 2022 - 8:0 AM   Through  May 11, 2022 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale	900- 1000 = A 800- 899 = B 700-799 = C 600-699 = D 0- 599 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Presentation - 10% Group Project - 20% Test - 10% Assignments & Activities - 60%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	Communication between students and the instructor is essential for success. You are required to check your LSCPA email every 24 hours. Students are expected to attend virtual meetings or watch the recording of virtual meetings, if applicable. The instructor will not conference with students regarding assignments 48 hours before the due date unless you have an appointment. Students must use their Lamar PA email account when sending emails to the instructor. Please allow 24 hours for a response to emails during the week and 48 hours over the weekend. The instructor's records will be the final determination of grades. Contact your instructor for grade discrepancies during designated office hours or by appointment within 48 hours of grades being made available. MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED AND WILL RESULT IN A ZERO ON THE ASSIGNMENT unless one of the following exceptions apply: (1) the student receives prior approval from the instructor, (2) has a documented medical emergency (3) or is at a school-sponsored event. Make-up assignments are determined at the instructor's discretion. All written work must be typed using correct grammar and spelling and submitted as specified in the assignment instructions. Plagiarism, written or oral, will result in a zero on the assignment (1st offense) and failure of the course (2nd offense). If a student plagiarizes an assignment, the instructor will regrade all previously submitted assignments. Students are required to complete a group project which requires students to communicate and collaborate outside of class. Students who are not cooperative and/or do not communicate with team members will be removed from the group and required to complete the entire project independently. Students must dress as specified in the assignment instructions on presentation days. Please turn off ringers before class begins. If you have a special need to keep your phone active during class, talk to me ahead of time. Videoing is not allowed during class unless prior approval is granted by the instructor. Students who violate this policy will be removed from the course. Verbal or physical confrontation is prohibited in this course. Students who are confrontational or hostile towards the instructor or their classmates will be removed from the course and will receive an F as their final letter grade. Class discussions are a significant portion of this course. Students are expected to contribute to discussions using kind, courteous, and respectful language. Class activities play a vital role in students improving their communication skills. All students are expected to participate in course activities and use professional behavior when working with classmates during activities. Profanity is prohibited during class discussions and presentations. The first violation of this policy will result in students being removed from the class and will receive a zero on the assignment. The second violation of this policy will result in students being permanently removed from the class and will receive an F in the course. Students are expected to serve as respectful and courteous audience members during their classmates’ presentations. Students who distract others during presentations will be removed from the class and will receive a zero on their speech. Several examples of distracting behaviors include using cell phones, walking in or out during a presentation, talking with classmates, or interrupting the speaker to ask the speaker or instructor a question. The first violation of this policy will result in students being removed from the class and will receive a zero on the assignment. The second violation of this policy will result in students being permanently removed from the class and will receive an F in the course. Speech presentation will be reviewed and critiqued by the instructor and classmates at the end of the presentation. This is a pedagogical tool to help the speaker improve their speech performance. Students are expected to give constructive feedback to their peers by using kind, courteous, and respectful language. The first violation of this policy will result in students being removed from the class and will receive a zero on the assignment. The second violation of this policy will result in students being permanently removed from the class and will receive an F in the course. Each class will develop ground rules for course discussions and speech critiques. Students are expected to abide by the ground rules established by the class.
Attendance Policy	Students are expected to attend or watch the recordings for all virtual meetings.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLSCPA	Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA.
Other	I will not discuss your grades over the phone. If you want to discuss grades, please contact me through your LSCPA email. All grades will be posted on Blackboard for your convenience. Please check Blackboard regularly for announcements, content, etc.
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Department	General Education and Developmental Studies Chair: Dr. Michelle Davis E-mail: davisml1@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6341 If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.