EXPECTATIONS 

This is a college course, so you will be busy! You have about 15 weeks to complete many chapters and 8 written assignments or "papers".  I suggest that you print out the Course Schedule, which is the next document in this section, and hang it by your computer. I will be opening each module on the first day it is assigned. This is a 24 - 7 course: available 24 hours a day - seven days a week. Assignments frequently have a due date that falls on a Monday. Pace your on-line and off-line activity with this in mind. 

 If you don't keep up, you can't catch up! 

My Expectations --based in part on material from William Pelz, Herkimer CC, SUNY
This is a regular college course. I expect the same commitment to time and quality as I do in the classroom. The big difference is that Internet study is student-centered rather than teacher centered. This means that you are responsible for your own learning and success. If you are highly motivated, logon and participate at least 6 times in each module, and produce a high quality paper - you will be successful. However, if you logon sporadically, participate minimally, or submit poor work - you will not. Online higher education is aimed at independent learners. If you require the structure of a classroom, this method will not suit you.

We will complete the entire text! If you do not read the text in advance of the discussions, your lack of knowledge will be obvious to me and to the other students. It is not uncommon in these courses for students to provide strong, public criticism of other students who "waste their time" with ill-informed posts.

I expect the successful student will spend an average of about 9-12 hours per week on this course. Although that may seem like a lot - remember this: A traditional classroom-based course requires 45 hours of "seat time" plus 2-3 hours outside of class for each hour in class. It adds up to around 180 total hours.

Temporal Requirements for a 3 hour course for 15 weeks
In the Classroom	Online
Seat time :                        45   hours	Seat Time:                               0   hours
Home time:                     90 hours	Reading:    4 hrs  x 15 weeks = 60
	Online:       5 hrs x  15 weeks =  75 hours
TOTAL Time: 135 hours	TOTAL Time:      135 hours

 Now of course there is no way that you can be or will be monitored to insure that you are keeping apace of the course.  You are able to skip a day or two.  However, should you fail to complete your written assignments on time and fall behind you will be placing yourself in a very unfavorable situation.  You will loose points on the assignment, you will be barred from earning points for a discussion and you will fall behind on the material.  The course WILL MOVE ON.

So,   PLEASE set up a schedule for doing your work:   a time each day or,  at the very least, every other day to  log on the computer  to participate in class time for doing your   reading in the textbooks and a time for writing   your papers.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

 QCC   

As stated in the current QCC catalog, any student who needs specific accommodations based upon the impact of a disability should register with the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) to be eligible for accommodations, which are determined on an individual basis. The SSD office is located in the Science Building, room S132 (718-631-6257). Students should also contact me privately to discuss their specific needs.

 Services for Students with Disabilities

Accommodations for students with disabilities

As stated in the current QCC catalog, any student who needs specific accommodations based upon the impact of a disability should register with the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) to be eligible for accommodations, which are determined on an individual basis. The SSD office is located in the Science Building, room S132 (718-631-6257). Students should also contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs.  

The QCC Office of Services for Students with Disabilities issues the "Accommodations Card" , a new card being issued by Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).   SSD will issue these cards to QCC students who have properly registered with our office and have been approved for appropriate reasonable accommodations and/or academic adjustments as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   The Accommodations card will go into effect for the Fall 2011 semester

1: What if a student is taking classes at a distance?  Can they fax the SSC Card to the faculty member or have some other way of "presenting " it? 

Either they can present such an Accommodations Card in person to the faculty member or if they cannot meet on campus, then in such a case  a letter/email from SSD would be needed.   The letter/email must be requested by the student and , if needed,   can be sent from SSD to the faculty member upon student consent.

2.What is the purpose of this new card? 

Until now, Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)  has required students request, and present,  "Accommodation" letters to their professors every semester in order to confirm approval of testing and/or classroom accommodations.  In most cases this new Accommodations Card will replace these letters and a student can produce the card when accommodations are needed in a particular class. We do realize some accommodations will still need an accompanying letter, and/or email, to explain certain situations. 

3. What information does the Accommodations card contain?

The Accommodations card will be printed with the students CUNY ID number as an identifier (verifiable by class roster) and contain their personalized testing and/or classroom accommodations as approved by SSD.   

4. Does the Accommodations Card replace the QCC ID Card? 

No,  the Accommodations card is not an official QCC ID card. 

5. How will it work? 

If a student is entitled to classroom accommodations under the ADA, he/she must show you their card at the beginning of  the semester to make you aware of their needs. We advise students to produce the Accommodations card to remind you of their  testing accommodations each time they request you complete and sign our  "yellow"  SSD Testing Accommodation Form when scheduling exams to be proctored by SSD. 

6. Once a student "self Identifies" as having a disability, must they utilize exam accommodations for each exam?

 No. Students, as adults, have the right to take exams with or without accommodations any time they choose to do so on their own free will.  But, if a student chooses to take an exam without accommodations,  they do not have the right to request a retake of the exam due to lack of accommodation.

CONTACT: 

• Ben Freier, Director

• Services for Students with Disabilities

• CUNY Assistive Technology Services

• Queensborough Community College

• 222-05 56th avenue S-132

• Bayside New York 11364

• Tel. 1- 718-631-6257

• Fax.  1-718-281-5733