ELON 101 (COMMUNICATIONS FELLOWS)

Fall 2017 (T, 2:20-3:15 p.m.; McEwen 213)

How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest
shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it
so easy for you to be remarkable?
-- Seth Godin from Seths Blog

Instructor: Colin M. Donohue

Email: cdonohue@elon.edu
Twitter: @cmdonohue
Website: www.cdonohue.com
Office Phone: (336) 278-5850
Office: McEwen 101E
Office hours: 1-3 p.m. W, 10-11 a.m. F, and by appointment. E-mail and
Twitter are the fastest and easiest ways to reach me.

Teaching Assistant: Lillian Engel

Email: lengel2@elon.edu
Cell Phone: (203) 807-3705

Please read the syllabus carefully. NOTE: Actively check your e-mail. I will
often send class notices via e-mail.

Mission Statement

Elon 101 supports the transition of first-year students as they become active
participants in an academic community. To fulfill this mission, Elon 101 uses
a developmental model of advising that:

Designs class experiences to expand students academic and

interpersonal skills.
Provides opportunities to enhance students confidence and
competence.
Encourages students to make informed decisions, exercise social
responsibility and demonstrate personal integrity.
Fosters caring relationships and respect for individual differences.
Models passion for lifelong learning.
Course Objectives

Throughout this course, students will be able to:

Articulate the purpose of the Elon Honor Code and its significance to
maintaining a vibrant community.
Communicate the basic fundamentals of the First-Year Foundations
and the Elon Core Curriculum.
Utilize basic advising planning tools.
Articulate the underlying importance of a basic liberal arts foundation
to complement major requirements.
Identify basic campus resources to support their academic activities.
Locate and evaluate opportunities for campus-related involvement.
Communicate with their academic advisor about preregistration,
academic requirements, and social issues or concerns.

Course Materials

Readings as assigned.

Professional Standards Policies

The following minimum policies provide students with a clear understanding

and consistent application of course expectations. You are adult college
students now, and you will be entering disciplines with rigorous professional
standards.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend all classes. Just as
professionals go to work each day, we expect students to come to class on
time and be prepared to work. A student may miss one class without
penalty. Missing more than one may lead to a reduced grade. You earn
either an S or F for Elon 101, and missing multiple classes is the easy
way to an F. An exception may exist for a student who misses for a
sanctioned university activity, such as presenting research at a national
forum, class travel or university athletic travel. Students participating in
such events must submit a written request in advance to the instructor.

Coursework: If students miss a class because of illness, participation in a

university-sponsored activity, job interview or other causes, they have
missed valuable content and engaged learning. In this sense, excused and
unexcused absences are no different. To ensure that students avoid gaps in
the progression of a course, instructors may assign additional work. For
example, an instructor may require a student to write a 400-word summary
of material covered in a missed class session or complete an additional
assignment that demonstrates comprehension of material covered.

Moodle: Youll be posting one assignment to Moodle, but you should check
Moodle frequently because it features the syllabus and descriptions of each
weeks activity.

Class Blog: Youll be composing some targeted writing throughout the

semester that youll post to our class blog. In most cases, blogs are due by
noon the day before class. More information about this assignment is on
Moodle.

Assignments: Professionals meet deadlines. All assignments should be

submitted on time, and they are due on the assigned date. You will not be
overrun with assignments in Elon 101, but any youre assigned should be
turned in on time. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONE
CULTURAL EVENT DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER AND
COMPLETE A TWO-PAGE WRITE-UP ABOUT IT. You will be able to
choose from four options. The write-up is due two days after the event. More
information about this assignment is on Moodle.

Participation: I expect you to participate in classroom activities. Many

times students provide unique insights into class material that have lasting
impressions on the other students taking the course. There will still be
opportunities to engage in class discussions, and I will expect you to
participate actively.

Grading Procedures

In Elon 101, you can earn either an S (for satisfactory) or an F (for

failure.) While earning an S has no impact on your overall university GPA,
earning an F will affect your GPA negatively:
S indicates the student attended class, arrived prepared, participated
in class activities and turned in all assignments on time,
F indicates failure (meaning the student missed class, was
unprepared, avoided engaging in the class and failed to turn in
assignments).

Honor Code

Introduction: Elon University recognizes and affirms the importance of

character development and personal responsibility as essential elements of
an Elon education. Students are expected to uphold the four values listed
below for themselves and others in their decisions and day-to-day
interactions. Conduct affirming these four values should be followed in all
settings, including in and out of the classroom, on- and off-campus, and in
all domestic and international sites during study abroad or course-related
study experiences. Upon graduation, students are expected to have
demonstrated their commitment to academic excellence and honor.

Honor Code: Every member of Elon University has the right to live and
learn in an atmosphere of trust and support. Responsibility for maintaining
these values in our community rests with each individual member. Values
that promote this atmosphere include:

HONESTY: Be truthful in your academic work and in your relationships.

INTEGRITY: Be trustworthy, fair and ethical.
RESPONSIBILITY: Be accountable for your actions and your learning.
RESPECT: Be civil. Value the dignity of each person. Honor the physical and
intellectual property of others.

Honor Pledge: On my honor, I will uphold the values of Elon

University: honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect.

The Honor Pledge is an abbreviated form of the Honor Code. Students sign
the Honor Pledge when they join the Elon community to publicly affirm their
intent to behave according to the values of the Elon community. They also
sign this pledge on papers, tests, assignments and other documents when
requested. The honor pledge is printed on signs in classrooms and residence
halls throughout campus.

Scope of the Honor Code: Elons honor code applies to both individual
student and organizational behavior:

occurring from the time of admission until the actual awarding of a

degree (It applies to behavior that occurs before classes begin or after
classes end, as well as during periods between terms of enrollment
unless a student has completed the process of withdrawal from the
university.)
in the classroom and at all locations and events on Elon University
owned or leased property
in locations and at events not occurring on campus, including those
involving non-campus individuals and organizations
in locations abroad, including involvement with all individuals and
organizations, and
in situations involving technology as a means of recording or
communication.
The assistant dean of students shall decide whether charges related to
community standard violations shall be applied to conduct occurring off
campus, on a case by case basis. Violations of community standards may be
subject to civil or criminal prosecution under local, state and federal law.

To clarify the types of violations, Elon has grouped them into policies that
cover social situations and policies that cover academic situations. These two
policies may overlap, with one or more types of violations being reported
from a single incident, when appropriate.

Academic Policies: Support honest exploration and thoughtful

contemplation of all ideas in an environment of honesty and trust. As such,
students are to refrain from lying, cheating, stealing or violating anothers
property, plagiarism, or facilitation of anothers academic violation. To be
clear about what academic behavior is unacceptable, Elon has listed areas of
the policy that clarify components of academic responsibility. Violations of
academic policy may result in the lowering of a course grade or assigning a
failing grade for the course (including an Honor Code F). Multiple or
egregious violations of academic policies may result in disciplinary
suspension or permanent separation from Elon University.

Social Policies: Support the shared values and communal expectations that
promote the development of the individual and the community. To be clear
about what social behavior is unacceptable, Elon has listed areas of the
policy that clarify components of social responsibility. Each area of potential
violation is defined, and typical sanctions are listed. In cases where more
than one violation has occurred as a result of an incident, sanctions will
likely increase in severity. Multiple or egregious violations of social policies
may result in disciplinary suspension or permanent separation from Elon
University.

Students with Challenges

Students with challenges, including physical challenges, learning disabilities

or serious health concerns, should discuss their needs with me and provide
me with the Elon documentation available to students with special needs. If
you have a concern, and you do not have documentation, contact Susan
Wise for more information. Office phone: 336-278-6500. E-mail:
swise2@elon.edu. Necessary accommodations can be arranged.
 ELON 101 Fall Course Schedule
Wk# Day Date Topic Assignments Notes
Sat 8/26 Elon 101 Meet from 10:30-
Introductory Session 11:30 a.m. in TBA
1 Tue 8/29 GOOOAAALLLL!!!! - BLOG POST
(Plus, Some Fun?) DUE by noon
Monday, Aug.
28
2 Tue 9/5 Tweet This: Elon - Sign up for a OUTSIDE EVENT
Scavenger Hunt Twitter account FRIDAY, SEPT. 8:
Attend the university Org
- BLOG POST Fair at 4 p.m. Friday,
DUE by noon Sept. 8 on Young
Monday Sept. 4 Commons.
3 Tue 9/12 Yeah, Youre 18ish, - Bring a copy of OUTSIDE EVENT
But Youll Need a your resume to THURSDAY, SEPT. 14:
Job/Internship at class We will attend the Call to
Some Point Honor Ceremony as a
- BLOG POST group. Meet at Fonville
DUE by noon Fountain (outside
Monday, Sept. Alamance) at 9:40 a.m.,
11 and well walk to the
ceremony in the
Academic Village
together.
4 Tue 9/19 Be a Lean, Mean Special Event: Head to
Learning Machine CrossFit Training Valley
(or Something Like as a class. Depart the
That) Elon Community
Church parking lot at
2:10 p.m.
5 Tue 9/26 Learn Stuff, You - BLOG POST
Know, Outside of DUE by noon
Class Monday, Sept.
25
6 Tue 10/3 Engaging in - BLOG POST
Educational DUE by noon
Experiences outside Monday, Oct. 2
U.S. Borders (or
How I Stopped
Worrying and
Learned to Love
Studying Abroad)
7 Tue 10/10 One-on-Ones (or - Sign up for a
Twos) time to meet
with Colin and
Lillian
8 Tue 10/17 No class No class
9 Tue 10/24 Fun Times Ahead: - Bring a copy of
 Navigating the your degree
Degree Audit audit to class
10 Tue 10/31 Time for a 4-Year - BLOG POST - Work on completing a
Plan DUE BY noon 4-year plan
Wednesday,
Nov. 1
11 Tue 11/7 Alamance County - Bring an - Group presentations
updated version about Alamance County
of your resume
to class
12 Tue 11/14 Supermarket Sweep - BLOG POST Special Event: Head to
DUE by noon Lowes Foods for a
Monday, Nov. shopping competition
13 (for a good cause).
Depart the Elon
Community Church
parking lot at 2:10
p.m.
13 Tue 11/21 No class No class
14 Tue 11/28 Yes, Were Going to
Talk about the
Social Scene
15 Tue 12/5 Super Happy Elon - BLOG POST Special Event: TBA
101 Fun Times DUE by noon
Monday, Dec. 4