Spring 2024 Course Syllabus Course: POFT-1321 (Section: 1H, CRN: 10254) Business Math

Instructor Information
Instructor	Emily Peters
Email	petersem@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6418
Office	Umphrey Industrial Technology Center - Room: 201A
Office Hours	T/R 10:30 am -11:00 am and 12:15 pm-12:45 pm, or as needed, by appointment.
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description	Study of an arithmetic-based, basic approach to business mathematics. It emphasizes a practical, skill-building approach from basic to more complex business mathematics topics.
Required 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. (1) Business Math, 17th edition, Mary Hansen, South-Western/Cengage Learning, ISBN# 9780538448734 (Hardback) or 9781133466482 (eBook). You may use either a physical book or an eBook version. Personally, I like having a physical book, but you are welcome to use whichever you prefer or is more economical.
Additional Materials/Resources	Students will need a standard function calculator. You may use the calculator function on your phone, but I suggest an inexpensive desktop/pocket calculator.  We will use financial calculators, but students do not need to go out and purchase one.  I will provide a link to one online.  Unless otherwise specified, the use of calculators is permitted to solve problems on assignments, quizzes, and exams. Students will also need a spiral to take notes and use as scratch paper.
Corequisites/Prerequisites	None
Learning Outcomes	Solve business math problems.
Program Student Learning Outcomes	*Demonstrates professionalism in the administrative workplace environment. *Uses appropriate business administration skills. *Uses appropriate office software applications. *Creates effective business documents by applying ethical communication practices. *Evaluates business documents.
Lecture Topics Outline	***NOTE: SCHEDULE/DUE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** Syllabus/Blackboard Overview Basic Math Skills Assessment/Review (Arithmetic, Place Value, Rounding, Fractions, Percent, Simple Word Problems, Measurement Conversions, etc.) Gross Pay (Chapter 1) Net Pay (Chapter 2) Banking (Chapter 3) Loans (Chapter 5)  Credit Cards (Chapter 4) Owning a Home or Car (Chapter 6) Insurance & Investments (Chapter 7) Budgets (Chapter 8) Business Costs (Chapter 9) Sales & Marketing (Chapter 10) Manage People & Inventory (Chapter 11) Business Profit & Loss (Chapter 12)
Major Assignments Schedule	Students can expect WEEKLY Assignments along with Quizzes on the topics above. These will typically be assigned on Tuesday and due the following week. Please check the calendar in Blackboard FREQUENTLY for specific weekly assignments/quiz due dates, as they are subject to change. I hope to incorporate multiple speakers throughout the semester on the topics above or other relevant business math topics; therefore, the schedule and due dates ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE based on the availability and schedule of speakers. Any changes will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard.  Exam Due Dates: *Exam 1 (Chapters 1-2) - Monday, February 12, 2024 *Exam 2 (Chapters 3-5) - Monday, March 4, 2024 *Exam 3 (Chapters 6-8) - Monday, April 8, 2024 *Exam 4 (Chapters 9-11) - Monday, April 29, 2024 *Final Exam Due - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Final Exam Date	April 30, 2024 - 11:0 AM   Through  May 7, 2024 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale	90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Exams (including Final) - 50%, Weekly Assignments/Quizzes - 50%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	Textbook/Supplies/Software: Every student MUST have a copy of the required textbooks by the beginning of the SECOND week of class. The student will be responsible for any assignments given. Announcements: I will post announcements weekly, usually early in the week. These announcements indicate upcoming due dates and notes important to your success in this course. You should READ these Announcements every week. I also recommend using the Blackboard app on your phone, with notifications, so that you immediately receive notices of new announcements for this class. Please use your LSCPA email to communicate with me. Assignments: Assignments will be posted weekly. They will typically be posted by Tuesday and due the following Tuesday night by 11:59 pm. This is subject to change.  Check Blackboard OFTEN for any changes to due dates.  No emailed work is accepted. You must submit all your assignments in Blackboard unless you have been given specific written instructions otherwise from the instructor. Exceptions to this may include worksheets provided in class.  DO NOT wait until the last minute to complete your assignments. The lowest assignment grade with be dropped. Quizzes: Quizzes will be given on Blackboard and often cover the vocabulary contained in the chapter. Quizzes are timed. Quizzes will typically be posted by Tuesday and due the following Tuesday night by 11:59 pm, the same as the weekly assignment. This is subject to change. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.  Exams: Exams will be provided within a Blackboard examination window. Even though the exams are administered through Blackboard and not given during class time, you MUST WORK ALONE while taking the exam. Cheating on exams is not acceptable and will be subject to violations of the Academic Dishonesty policy.  If you fail to complete an exam (including the Final) by the due date, you will receive a grade of zero.  Requests for makeup exams or other arrangements are granted ONLY if you have an exceptional reason for missing an exam, such as a medical emergency, or death in the family. It is your responsibility to initiate arrangements for a makeup or other arrangements. Approval should be cleared with me PRIOR to the date of absence. If it is not possible to contact me prior to the exam, please e-mail me within 48 hours after missing the exam and cite the reasons you missed the exam. The format of a makeup exam may differ from that of the regularly scheduled exam. As a word of precaution, please do not use mobile or wireless devices for exams.  FINAL EXAM: At the end of the semester, prior to the final exam, if you have an average of 85 on all prior exams (with no one exam grade less than 80) AND an overall average of 90 or above in the course, you are not required to take the final exam.  Late Work: All assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects must be completed and submitted before the due date. Because you have ample time to complete assignments, LATE WORK is not accepted without specific approval of the instructor. Such approval is at the instructor’s sole discretion and will require appropriate documentation suitable to support the work being late. When possible, any requests for additional time must be submitted PRIOR to the due date. Technical problems on the due date are NOT an excuse for turning in assignments late.  In circumstances where the instructor has granted an extension, any late work that is accepted may be subject to a penalty, such as a maximum grade of 70, regardless of your score. Grades: All grades will be posted on Blackboard under the Gradebook. I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by e-mail. If you want to discuss your grades, you must schedule a meeting with me, either in person or via TEAMS. Extra credit may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor but should not be expected. Students should check their grades ion Blackboard often and keep a record of their grades/average. Instructor will not average grades for students. If you notice a discrepancy, please talk to me about it early. Do not wait until the end of the semester. Academic Dishonesty: Copying, stealing, and/or submitting someone else's work is considered a violation of the Academic Dishonesty policy. Academic Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. A student violating this policy will receive a ZERO on any assignment (first offense); a second incidence of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the class and meeting with the program coordinator and/or department chair. Software Requirements: If you are in a course that is using a specific software, you MUST have the software available to you either on your home computer or you must use the open lab provided in the Gates Library. Access to Microsoft Office (Excel and Word) will be necessary for this course. Reliable Internet access is required for ALL courses. Computer failure and lack of internet access are not acceptable excuses for missed assignments, projects, quizzes, or exams. There is access available on campus in the testing center and the Gates Memorial Library. DO NOT wait until the last minute to complete class work or exams. Do not complete assignments, quizzes, or exams on a phone or Chrome book, as they may not submit properly. E-Mail Etiquette: Please use your LSCPA email to communicate with me, not voice mail, as I do not have a permanent office on campus.  Students must use appropriate e-mail etiquette when corresponding with instructor, for example, complete sentences and a full subject line with your name and course name.  . Classroom Etiquette: We will respect each other and their personal space. Always be considerate and treat others how you would like to be treated.  The following behaviors will result in the student being asked during class time to cease the action and/or leave the classroom: using cell phones, talking, or keying while the instructor is giving instructions or during class discussions; surfing the Internet during lecture; and/or displaying a rude or negative behavior toward the instructor or other students. No cell phones should be heard during class. No Bluetooth technology or recording of lectures in any format (unless approved by the instructor). No charging of cell phones or plugging in of other devices in the classroom
Attendance Policy	Poor attendance is a leading reason for termination from a job in all areas of employment. With this factor in mind, the instructor monitors student attendance daily and via Blackboard reports of logins and interaction with course. In addition, attendance on a regular basis is necessary for proper skill development.  This is an IN-PERSON class and attendance is expected unless other prior arrangements have been made and approved by the instructor. Tardiness is not acceptable and is disruptive to the class. Frequent tardiness to class will result in a meeting between the student and instructor. Continued tardiness could result in a ten-point penalty on the student’s final course grade. Students are responsible for completing all assigned homework, including reading assignments, by the required due dates and for being prepared for each class meeting. If we completed an assignment in class, you will still be responsible for it even if you were absent from the previous class meeting.
Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA	Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
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.
COVID 19 Information	The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
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.
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect	As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct	LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting	For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
Grievance / Complaint / Concern	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.
Department Information	Business and Industrial Technology Chair: Sheila Guillot Email: guillsr@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6381