Univ 100 K01 Spring 2023 – Introduction to Mason

Course Description

This course will help you succeed at Mason and get the most out of your college experience. We will cover topics such as strategies for effective studying and intellectual engagement, resources for academic, personal or career help, and ways to connect your work in the classroom and at Mason with life and experiences outside of it. 

A fundamental assumption of this course is that the knowledge, skills and habits that lead to success in college may seem obvious and natural, but they are not. They are learned. Some students enter with some or even most of what it takes to navigate college but many do not. And all students have something to learn on this topic. This course seeks to ensure that all new students will gain what they need for college success, for intellectual and personal growth, and for great preparation for future study or career.

I also hope that we will have fun. College years are special–there is nothing else in life like them–and we will celebrate them as we learn about being a student at Mason Korea.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of participating in UNIV 100, students will  

• Gain strategies for rich intellectual engagement and academic success as a member of the community of scholars
• Know how to access Mason resources for personal growth, academic development and career planning
• Enjoy meaningful connections with peers, faculty, and the larger Mason community
• Learn about and reflect on their experience and strengths in order better to accomplish their goals in and after college.

Responsibilities and Assignments

Participation: You are expected to attend and participate in all class activities and discussions; therefore, absences and late arrivals will reduce your participation grade. It is expected that you notify me if you will be absent or late, prior to the start of class. If an unforeseen circumstance prevents you from attending class, follow-up communication with me or the LA in a timely manner will be taken into account in calculating the participation grade. 

Participation points per class (39 points total): 

• 3 points: you arrive on time and are engaged in class discussions
• 2 points: you arrive on time for class and are not engaged in discussions
• 2 points: you are late to class and are engaged in class discussions
• 1 point: you are late to class and are not engaged in discussions
• 0 points: you do not attend class and it was not excused

Discussion Board: (39 points total) Prior to each class, you will participate in an online discussion about the topic for that class.  The discussion will take place on our class discussion board.The topic will open one week prior to the class, and close at 9:00 am on the day of that class. (If I accidentally forget to close the topic, but the date stamp is after 9:00 am on class date, the post will not count.) You can either reply to the original topic or reply to someone else’s reply. There is no set length for a reply, but a word, phrase, or just a couple of sentences is not likely to be very thoughtful. Points for posts to the discussion board are as follows:

• 3 points: Very thoughtful post
• 2 points: Thoughtful post
• 1 point: Minimally thoughtful post
• 0 point: No post

Late Discussion Board Posts: Since these posts are meant to help you prepare for class, no late posts will be accepted. No exceptions.

Assignments (96 points total): All assignments are available on this page. Links to specific assignments are also in schedule of classes and assignments below. For most assignments, you will upload your work to the class Blackboard site. Points for assignments are as follows:

• Assignment one: 12 points possible.  1 – 2 points for each correct response. Two points for completely correct answers, and one point for partially correct answers.
• Assignments two to thirteen: 0 – 6 points depending on the success with which the work fulfills the specific goal of that assignment.  All assignments will have detailed expectations that you should read carefully so you know how to fulfill that assignment’s specific goals.
• Assignment fourteen: 0 – 12 points depending on the success with which the work fulfills the specific goal of assignment fourteen, which will ask you to present on some important ideas you learned from UNIV 100. This assignment has detailed expectations that you should read carefully so you know how to fulfill that assignment’s specific goals.

Late Assignments: Assignments are due at by 9:00 am one week following their assignment. Do not skip class to finish an assignment, as it will be late in any case. Late assignments will be accepted, but will be assessed a late penalty of 5% per 24-hours late. Always turn in your assignments, even if they are late. Any points are always better than 0 points, and the feedback given on the assignment will benefit you regardless of when you submit the assignment.  

Writing Expectations for Posts: Because the discussion board provides an opportunity for brainstorming ideas, board posts can be casually written.  Although they should not be full of proofreading and grammatical errors, they do not, in contrast to assignments, need to be error free.

Writing Expectations for Assignments: All assignments should be double-spaced typed in a standard size 12-point font with normal margins. Assignments should be proofread for grammar and  typographical errors. Length will vary based on specific assignment. All assignments should be submitted electronically via Blackboard by the due date/time. 

Grading Scale 

The total number of points for this course is 174.  Your grade is determined by the number of points you earn divided by that total.  The final grade for the course corresponds to your percent of the total, as follows.

Mid-Semester Progress Evaluation Report: You will receive a mid-semester evaluation. This evaluation will indicate your grade in the course thus far and specifically note any issues that are adversely affecting your grade. At any time during the semester, please feel free to see me and/or the LA to discuss any challenges that you may be experiencing. 

Course Policies and Resources

Name and Pronoun Use: If you wish, please share your name and gender pronouns with me and indicate how best to address you in class and via email. I use he/him for myself and you may address me as Professor Matz in email and verbally. Please take note of the tools Mason provides to change your name and pronouns on Mason records. 

Inclusivity: As a member of the George Mason University and Mason Korea community, I will work to create an educational environment that is committed to anti-racism and inclusive excellence. I affirm that in this class, faculty and students will work together to interrupt cycles of racism against Black individuals, indigenous people, and other people of color so as to cultivate a more equitable, inclusive, and just learning environment for all participants, regardless of racial background and regardless of where we are teaching and learning in the world. 

Email: Students must use their Mason email account to receive important University information, including communications related to this class. I will not respond to messages sent from or send messages to a non-Mason email address.

COVID-19: Please refer to the updated Mason Korea COVID-19 Guidelines if you suspect you may have been exposed to COVID-19. While wearing masks is not mandatory inside the Mason Korea building, I request that you do wear a mask when attending office hours. I will provide a mask if you do not have one. 

AI Text-Generators and You: We have multiple writing assignments in this class. Because the act of composing a response in your own words actually increases your learning, it is important that you complete the task yourself, rather than rely on an artificial intelligence (AI) tool. Completing these writing assignments yourself will help strengthen your performance in this class on later assignments and activities, as well as help you develop professionally and succeed in your career goals. You should also be aware that AI text generation tools may present incorrect information, biased responses, and incomplete analyses; thus they are not yet prepared to produce text that meets the standards of this course. If you do choose to experiment with AI text generation, you are expected to indicate your usage of it and give credit for text that has been generated by AI. Use of AI-generated text without proper attribution is a violation of academic integrity. 

Open Door Policy: Both the learning assistant and I are open to your comments, suggestions, and feedback on the course at any time. Feel free to email either of us or see us before or after class to discuss your ideas and concerns. Office hours are a time for you to meet with me or LA to ask for help or clarification or just to talk. Always feel free to come by during office hours; no appointment is needed. 

Academic Resource Center: The Academic Resource Center at Mason Korea can look at your papers and projects and help you improve your academic achievement in the area of Writing, Communication, Mathematics, Accounting, Statistics, and Economics. You are invited to use the faculty and student tutor services at a variety of stages in your academic activities, including checking to see that your project specifically meets the directions specified by your instructor. As tutors helping you in your writing or projects, they can also identify particular error patterns that emerge in your work.

Students with Disabilities: Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of the laws that ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. Under the administration of University Life, Disability Services implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services that afford equal access to university programs and activities. Students can begin the registration process with Disability Services at any time during their enrollment at George Mason University Korea. If you are seeking accommodations, please visit http://ds.gmu.edu/ for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process. Disability Services is on the Fairfax campus, although there is a disability officer located at Mason Korea as well. Only registered disabilities are eligible for accommodations, so please reach out to Disability Services for more information on the accommodation process. Email: ods@gmu.edu  

Notice of mandatory reporting of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and stalking:  As a faculty member, I am designated as a “Responsible Employee,” and must report all disclosures of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and stalking to Mason’s Title IX Coordinator per University Policy 1412.  If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s confidential resources, such as the Student Care and Conduct Coordinator, Joanna Park (spark214@gmu.edu). You may also seek assistance from Mason Korea’s Title IX Coordinator, Prof. Kent Zimmerman (dzimmer2@gmu.edu).  

Food and Drink: You may bring drinks and snacks to class; however please refrain from eating whole meals and be courteous when eating or drinking. I retain the right to rescind this policy if it is violated or becomes problematic.  

Technology: The use of computers, translation devices, smartphones, and social media should not distract you from class or distract your classmates. Absolutely no phones should be out while our guest speakers are talking. I reserve the right to restrict the use of technology during class should it become a hindrance to the course. 

Syllabus: You should consider this syllabus as your contract for the course. You must follow the directions for each assignment and ensure that you submit your work on time. This class can be successfully completed if you manage your time effectively, come to class prepared, and turn in work in a timely and high quality fashion. These are behaviors that will enable you to be academically successful in your other classes as well. 

University Policies and Resources 

Honor Code – oai.gmu.edu/mason-honor-code/ 

This class operates in accordance with the University Honor Code, stated as follows:  

“To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of the George Mason University community and with the desire for greater academic and personal achievement, we, the student members of the university community, have set forth this honor code: Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, or lie in matters related to academic work.” 

All suspected honor code violations will be reported to the honor committee for appropriate action. 

Code of Student Conduct – http://studentconduct.gmu.edu/university-policies/code-of-student-conduct/ 

Underlying the University’s mission are basic values which must be respected if these goals are to be achieved. These indispensable community values include: 

• The importance of personal integrity.
• The right of every individual to be treated with respect and dignity.
• The freedom of intellectual inquiry in the pursuit of truth.
• The freedom of speech and open exchange of ideas.
• The acceptance and appreciation of diversity.
• The freedom from discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, and political views.
• The freedom from violence aimed at limiting freedom, interfering with, or disrupting university activities.

Important Dates

• Last Day to Drop Classes (with 100% tuition refund) : Mon Mar 6
• Last Day to Drop Classes (with 50% tuition refund) : Mon Mar 13
• Unrestricted Withdrawal Period (100% tuition liability) : Tue Mar 14-Fri Mar 31
• Mid-Term Progress Reporting Period : Mon Mar 20-Fri Apr 14
• Selective Withdrawal Period (100% tuition liability) : Sat Apr 1-Fri Apr 28

Course Schedule

Subject to change, with advanced warning.