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Communication in Organizations 1 CMST 105-Section 03 (Item #4730) 5 Credits Fall 2010 Instructor: Ms. Danielle Powell Class Time: T/Th 11am-1:05pm (9/27/10-10/10/10) Office: CC1-315 Classroom: CC3-135 Phone: 425.352.8215; (o); 425.678.8945 (h) Office Hours: T/Th 1:30pm- 2:30pm (f-2-f); W 11am- E-Mail: [email protected] 12pm (online) and by appointment Librarian: Danielle Rowland Website: http://library.uwb.edu/staff/rowland/ E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 425-352-3451 Course Description Students will explore the theory and practice of individual and group communication skills and strategies in organizations, such as professionalism, presentational speaking, teamwork, and collaborative problem-solving and decision-making. Emphasis is placed on developing and maintaining competencies in interpersonal, group, and organizational communication. Students will also work in collaboration with organizations on and/or off campus. 1 Please Note: The instructor reserves the right to change or modify the schedule and course contents (including assignments, assessments, dates, etc.) at any point throughout the quarter. Students will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.

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CMST 105 Powell

Communication in Organizations

CMST 105-Section 03 (Item #4730)

5 CreditsFall 2010

Instructor: Ms. Danielle Powell

Class Time: T/Th 11am-1:05pm (9/27/10-10/10/10)Office: CC1-315

Classroom: CC3-135Phone: 425.352.8215; (o); 425.678.8945 (h)Office Hours: T/Th 1:30pm-2:30pm (f-2-f); W 11am-

E-Mail: [email protected]

12pm (online) and by appointment

Librarian: Danielle Rowland

Website: http://library.uwb.edu/staff/rowland/

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 425-352-3451

Course Description

Students will explore the theory and practice of individual and group communication skills and strategies in organizations, such as professionalism, presentational speaking, teamwork, and collaborative problem-solving and decision-making. Emphasis is placed on developing and maintaining competencies in interpersonal, group, and organizational communication. Students will also work in collaboration with organizations on and/or off campus.

Course Learning Outcomes

This course addresses all four of Cascadia’s college-wide learning outcomes.

I. Learn Actively - Learning is a personal, interactive process that results in greater expertise and a more comprehensive understanding of the world.

· Develop a familiarity with concepts, theories and terms of communication principles and the process of communication

· Relate material learned in class to communication settings and interactions outside the classroom

· Conduct guided research on topics of interest for individual and team projects and presentations

· Apply effective problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution strategies in team projects

· Utilize computer applications and presentational software programs to prepare presentations and to design visual aids

II. Think Critically, Creatively and Reflectively - Reason and imagination are fundamental to problem solving and critical examination of ideas.

· Reflect on how experiences (personal and professional), cultural background, values and beliefs affect communication behaviors in organizations and in team settings

· Critically evaluate own and others’ communication behaviors based on effective communication strategies learned in class

· Compare and contrast a variety of conflict resolution strategies to solve problems that arise in diverse team settings

· Explore the ethical dimensions of communication within organizations

III. Communicate with Clarity and Originality - The ability to exchange ideas and information is essential to personal growth, productive work, and societal vitality.

· Discuss and apply communication principles and strategies in face-to-face and electronic contexts with classmates and business professionals

· Deliver presentations and write essays that are creative, original and that follow conventions of organization, coherence, ethics and scholarship

· Learn to listen effectively and respond appropriately to team members and business professionals

· Demonstrate principles of effective interviewing

· Demonstrate research skills through the use of source materials from a wide variety of databases, reference materials, and personal interviews; including the use of online resources in order to complete individual and team projects

IV. Interact in Diverse and Complex Environments - Successful negotiation through our increasingly complex, interdependent and global society requires knowledge and awareness of self and others, as well as enhanced interaction skills.

· Collaborate with classmates and business professionals to complete course related projects and assignments

· Engage in leadership roles and responsibilities within the team process

· Improve organizational and professional communication skills through in-class, online and out-of-class activities with classmates and business professionals

· Work effectively with others by applying communication principles, theories and strategies to influence the outcome of communication interactions

Course Information

Required Texts:

Adler, Ronald B. and Elmhorst, Jeanne M. (2010) Communicating at Work: Principles and Practices for Business and the Professions,, 10th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Bourhis, John, Adams, Carey, and Titsworth, Scott (2009). Style Manual for Communication Studies, 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Materials Needed:

· Course textbooks

· Consistent and reliable access to a computer and the Internet

· Access to Microsoft Office, including Word, Power Point and Excel

· A Current Email Account (for email and Angel purposes)

· Standard English Dictionary (may use an online version)

· Standard storage device (ex. Flash Drive)

· Current Cascadia College Catalog (may be accessed through our campus website)

· Access to Cascadia’s Online Student Handbook

· UW Net ID (may be accessed through our campus library resource guide: http://library.uwb.edu/cccnewstudent.html )

Assessments and Grading

The assessments in this course are intentionally multi-faceted. A range of assessment tools are used to encourage students to develop a variety of skills and to allow each student to express new knowledge according to his/her areas of strength. It is your responsibility to keep track of your grades and graded assignments throughout the quarter. Please use this sheet to track/record your grades on each assignment. Some assignments will be joint assignments that may be presented or submitted in the web foundations courses, but will be co-graded by the instructors. Students will be notified in advance as to which assignments will be co-graded.

CMST 105 Summary Assignment Guide

Name of Assignment or Project

Point ValuePercentageYour Score

Self-concept Presentation

25pts

(5%)

Self-concept Papers (2 @ 50 pts. each) 100pts

(20%)

_____________

Self Critique

25pts

(5%)

_____________

Listener Critique

25pts

(5%)

_____________

Team Progress Reports (2 @ 100 pts each)200pts

(40%)

Final Team Presentation

100pts

(20%)

(Team Assessment: 50; Individual Assessment: 50)

Peer Assessment

25pts

(5%)

_____________

Total Points Possible

500pts

(100%)

_____________

Cascadia and Course Grading Scale

% of Points

Grade

% of Points

Grade

95-100

4.0/A

77 (385)

2.2/C+

94 (470)

3.9/A

76 (380)

2.1/C

93 (465)

3.8/A-

75 (375)

2.0/C

92 (460)

3.7/A-

74 (370)

1.9/C

91 (455)

3.6/A-

73 (365)

1.8/C-

90 (450)

3.5/A-

72 (360)

1.7/C-

89 (445)

3.4/B+

71 (355)

1.6/C-

88 (440)

3.3/B+

70 (350)

1.5/C-

87 (435)

3.2/B+

69 (345)

1.4/D+

86 (430)

3.1/B

68 (340)

1.3/D+

85 (425)

3.0/B

67 (335)

1.2/D+

84 (420)

2.9/B

66 (330)

1.1/D

83 (415)

2.8/B-

65 (325)

1.0/D

82 (410)

2.7/B-

64 (320)

0.9/D

81 (405)

2.6/B-

61-63(305-315)

0.8/D-

80 (400)

2.5/B-

60 (300)

0.7/D-

79 (395)

2.4/C+

0-59

0.0/F

78 (390)

2.3/C+

Grading Standards

The following are standards for course evaluations:

4.0 (A) Exceptionally well-prepared and executed completion of assigned work indicating effort, personal initiative, and demonstrating a thorough understanding of course materials. Coursework is of exceptional quality and thoughtfulness.

3.0 (B) Creative, well-prepared work, demonstrating unusual effort, talent, or grasp of the materials that is distinctly superior to an “average” effort. Coursework is of good quality and with an above average attention to thoughtfulness.

2.0 (C) Satisfactory completion of assigned work at a level of effort and competency normally expected of the majority of students (basic completion, average performance, and reasonable effort). Coursework is of average quality and thoughtfulness.

1.0 (D) Unsatisfactory completion of work indicating mis-perceived objectives or

failure to grasp concepts and terms. Coursework is incomplete or missing completely. Connections with course materials are lacking. Quality of work is substandard.

0.0 (E or F) Failure to complete assigned work through lack of reasonable effort, or failure to attain a passing average on either exams or communication assignments. Coursework is of poor quality due to lack of attendance or preparation.

Check your progress regularly! If you are concerned about your grade at any time please discuss it with me.

My Approach to Teaching and Learning:

Students must take responsibility for their learning. Education is not a commodity that can be purchased simply by paying for the right to sit in a classroom. Education is the result of meaningful learning, which involves applying information to real-world situations. Students must be actively engaged and present in the learning process for meaningful learning to occur.

My role is help facilitate the learning process and to provide you with learning opportunities. Your role is to be prepared for our online meetings and to fully take advantage of those learning opportunities. I value your feedback and will check in with you throughout the quarter to assess how your learning experience is going. However, you must also take responsibility for assessing your learning experience and for providing me with feedback when things are not working for you.

The quality of our learning environment is dependent on all of us. This is “our learning community.” Together we will establish what kind of learning environment we wish to create and adapt it as we see fit.

Some of what you will learn in this course may initially seem like "common sense." However, some of what you will learn might be shocking, surprising, or even make you angry. I hope you will be open to examining the information presented in the course.

Given the nature of the topics in this course, you can expect that there may be discussions and/or presentations on controversial or sensitive topics. These discussions/presentations may make you uncomfortable. Please trust that this is part of the learning process. If the discussions/presentations make you uncomfortable, please let me know. We will work together to provide a safe and respectful environment in which all students can express their ideas.

Our Online Learning Community will occur primarily through the internet. There are no requirements to meet face-to-face, though you may have to travel to a library to access materials that aren’t available online, and/or to access videos/DVDs that are not available online (you may also rent copies of videos/DVDs that will be used in class if they are available at one of your local video rental stores). You should be working as hard in on our online community as you would in a face-to-face class. There will be regular and challenging work that will require your attention on a regular basis.

Creating a Respectful Learning Community: Each class is unique and develops its own culture and personality. However, in order for learning to occur, there are certain basic conditions that must exist. Each participant in the learning community (instructor and student) has rights and responsibilities. The most important right/responsibility we have in this class is to create a respectful and safe environment. The following guidelines will help us in that process:

· Arrive on time. When you arrive late you miss important announcements and disrupt the learning process for everyone. I realize that life events may occasionally prevent you from arriving to class on time. However, chronic lateness is a sign of disrespect and will affect your grade and you forfeit your opportunity to earn extra credit points. If you must arrive late please try to be considerate of others when you enter the classroom.

· Plan to stay the entire class period. Arriving late and/or leaving early is disrespectful to the class. Please do not schedule other appointments or commitments during class time. If you must leave early on occasion, you should inform me in advance via email. Frequent trips outside of the classroom or frequent early departures from class will impact your grade and you forfeit your opportunity to earn extra credit points.

· Please turn OFF all cellular/digital devices (cell phones, pagers, 2-ways, PDA’s, MP3’s, etc.). These devices will not be used during class, as they are a disruption. Also, please do not send or check text messages during class times, or send instant messages of any kind. By doing so, you will be asked to leave the class and will be counted absence for that class period.

· There will be zero tolerance for disruptive or disrespectful behaviors/comments in this class. If disruptive or disrespectful behaviors occur we will follow a three step process: 1) instructor will speak to the student privately, 2) student and instructor will meet with the Dean of Student Learning, 3) student will be asked to leave the learning community.

What does it mean to be respectful in this class?

· Listen attentively when others are speaking.

· Do not monopolize class discussions. Think about your contributions before speaking. Make sure they are relevant and concise.

· Raise your hand and do not talk over others.

· Do not engage in side conversations (either face-to-face or online) when others are talking.

· It is appropriate to express disagreement with the ideas presented by the instructor and/or your classmates. However, please do so in a respectful way. Be aware of your tone and body language when you do so.

· When emailing, please begin your email by addressing your recipient (ex. Ms. Powell, or by your classmate’s first name; you may also include a salutation). At the end of your email, please include a closing salutation (ex. Sincerely, Ms. Powell or Thank you, Lisa Smith).

· Avoid use of profanity or other degrading remarks (both in-class and online)

· Avoid checking text messages, emails, instant messaging, tweeting, etc. during class time

· (Students may add to this list)

Please Note:

· Intentionally or recklessly endangering, threatening, or causing physical harm to any person or oneself, or intentionally or recklessly causing reasonable apprehension of such harm is a violation of the code of conduct ( WAC 132Z – 115-090).

· Sexual harassment will not be tolerated at Cascadia Community College. Sexual harassment is engaging in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual recipient, causes discomfort or humiliation, or interferes with job or school performance (WAC 132Z-115-090).

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences…Audre Lorde

Academic Support: I am available to assist you with course-related materials and assignments. You may communicate with me during online or face-to-face office hours, email me, phone me or stop by my office for support. There are other support services available to you, so please inquire should you need any assistance.

· Academic Advising: Helps students make the connection between academic interests, degree requirements and career paths. They are located in the Kodiak Corner-Student Services Center (1st floor), or they may reached via email at [email protected], or by phone at 425-352-8860. Advisors can assist students with:

 

· Choosing a degree and major

· Advice on degree requirements and course scheduling

· Career interest inventories

· Information about course equivalencies and transfer policies

· Setting long-term academic goals

 

Students should plan to meet with an advisor at least two weeks prior to registering for classes.  30-minute advising appointments and walk-in advising are available daily during regular office hours.

· Disability Support Services: Cascadia provides accommodations and services to qualified students with documented disabilities through Disability Support Services (DSS). Cascadia is committed to ensuring that qualified students with documented disabilities are provided equal opportunity to participate in all educational programs, campus services and activities available at the college. If you have or suspect you have a disability and need an accommodation please contact Disability Support Services at 425.352.8383, or 425.352.8399 (TTY) by the end of the first week of classes to receive an accommodation form. Please submit that accommodation form no later than the beginning of the second week of class. Services and accommodations are not retroactive. You may also visit the Educational Support Services (ESS) office in Room CC1-130 for walk-in hours or to schedule an appointment.

· Counseling Services: Cascadia provides personal and emotional/mental support for students on campus on Tuesdays (from 2-6pm) and Thursdays (from 9am-5pm). These services are free to Cascadia students. Please contact Janel Fox (personal/mental health counselor from Northshore Youth and Family Services) by calling her at 425.352.8860 or by stopping by the information counter in the Kodiak Corner. 

    

· Math and Writing Center: The Math and Writing Center provides assistance in empowering and enhancing the skills of all students to reach their academic goals. They provide academic support and assistance in mathematics, writing, and reading skills. The Math and Writing Center is located in CC2-080. Hours vary by quarter. To contact them, please email: [email protected] or call: 425.352.8243.

· Open Learning Center: To support student success, Cascadia offers a variety of support services. The Open Learning Center (CC2-060, 425.352.8229) provides a computer lab where students can receive assistance with technology, including Angel, to support class assignments.

· You may find out about more learning resources by accessing this link through our campus website: http://www.cascadia.edu/campus_resources/learning_resources.aspx

Policies Regarding Participation and Submission of Assignments:

Participation: Participation points are generated by fulfilling the performance criteria of a given in-class assignment, activity or presentation, and by being present during course time. Moreover, the points are awarded at certain times throughout the quarter, depending on course materials or chapter information. There will be no make-ups for these assignments, activities or presentations. Excessive tardiness, absences, and lack of participation will impact your performance in the class. If you are experiencing a work conflict or personal issue that prevents you from attending class regularly, please speak to me about it immediately.

· According to the academic code of student conduct, students are responsible for collecting any missed assignments, handouts or other materials due to an absence (WAC 132Z-115-090). If you are absent please contact a classmate to get notes (do not do this during class time). Also, check Angel for any handouts you missed. Once you have taken care of these two tasks, please check with me regarding other material you missed. Please do this 1) during office hours, 2) before/after class or 3) via e-mail. Do not use class time to ask about the material that you missed. This is discourteous to other students.

· If you are absent on a day that we view a film please find out what the title is (check the syllabus, ask a classmate, or ask me) and either check the film out from the Campus Library or from me to view. Failure to return any materials belonging to the instructor will result in a hold on your academic record.

· It is imperative that you attend class on presentation days (even if you are not presenting). Every speaker needs an audience! Absences on presentation dates will result in a ½ letter grade reduction of your assigned grade for each absence. Missing your assigned presentation dates will result in a 0 (zero) on that assignment.

Submitting Assignments: Students are required to submit hard copies of all assigned work on the specified due date at the beginning of the class period. All submitted works must be fully complete and ready to turn in (no partial works allowed). Unless otherwise noted, all assignments must be typed in 12 point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced. Please note: Students must maintain backup copies of all submitted and graded works until the final grade has been posted to your transcript.

Late Work: Each student desires to do his/her best on all assignments but circumstances arise that may cause conflicts in your personal schedule of events. However, as responsible learners you are expected to plan well in advance and be prepared for the unexpected. If you believe you have a legitimate, verifiable emergency that prevents you from completing an assignment on time, send me an email BEFORE it is due and let me know 1) what the emergency is, 2) how you will verify it, and 3) your plan for submitting the late assignment. I will consider the legitimacy of your request. Keep in mind that intentionally making false claims or statements regarding late papers, projects or attendance is a violation of the academic code of conduct (WAC-132-115-090).

Legitimate, verifiable emergencies include:

· Serious health problems involving a doctor’s care (and documentation)

· Death of a loved one

They DO NOT include:

· Computer problems

· A busy work schedule

· A heavy course load

· Not feeling well

· Vacation

Please note: Late assignments will be assessed a ½ letter grade reduction for each day that the assignment is late. However, assignments will not be accepted or graded after the 6th day of the assigned due date and students will receive a grade of 0 on that assignment, no exceptions if it is not discussed with and approved by the instructor in advance.

Email Submissions: If an email submission is requested by the instructor, please send only your word or power point document and/or attachments in 97-2003 or 2007 format. Do not send any assignment written as a standard e-mail document. Make sure your name also appears on the attachment itself and in the subject line. Moreover, in the subject line identify the course and the assignment name or reference.

Neither the institution nor its instructors are responsible for any Internet Service Providers’ [ISP], (AOL, MSN, etc…) technological failures or mishaps. Therefore, students are encouraged to utilize their Cascadia student account for submitting coursework electronically. Moreover, students must send files in the appropriate format. Files must also be submitted before the start of the class period, unless otherwise noted by the instructor.

Teamwork: We may work in teams throughout the quarter. You will be assigned to a team at the beginning of the quarter. However, please note that team assignments may change throughout the quarter for certain projects. This arrangement helps establish and promote classroom norms for respectful behavior and allows students to work with a variety of other people. Peer assessments of individual contributions to the team learning environment will be conducted throughout the quarter. If you fail to participate in course work for team assignments, you may be fired/dismissed from your team and you will receive a grade of “0” on that assignment.

Angel: An Angel site has been created for this course. To access this site go to: http://angel.cascadia.edu and follow the login instructions. You should check Angel before each class period for important announcements, updates and to access course materials. For assistance with Angel, you should access the following:

How to Use ANGEL – Go to the eLearning page on Cascadia’s website at http://www.cascadia.edu/programs/elearning.aspx. You can also get basic assistance from the OLC with how to post, use email and other basic tasks.  The website has links to the following:

· Cascadia ANGEL site

· Week Zero tutorial from WAOL using ANGEL

· Online learning orientation

· And other helpful information

When having problems with Angel (i.e. something on the page is not working properly), then you should contact:

Presidium Help Desk –Contact the Presidium Help Desk, available 24/7 at 1-866-425-8412.

·         Students can also reach Presidium by e-mail and live chat through  http://www.waol.org/general_info/help_desk.aspx. 

·         Cascadia’s help desk does not support ANGEL.

I will post the syllabus and all course documents, and quizzes on our Angel site. In addition, you may be required to post assignments or discussion boards as noted by the instructor.

· Files posted on Angel should be in MS Word or Power Point. We are not able to open MS Works documents so please use Microsoft Office products for all assignments.

· It will be your responsibility to make sure that your assignment has posted correctly. Always double-check!

· It will be your responsibility to print out any lecture notes, assignment guidelines and assessment forms.

· For those of you using MAC computers, you will need to download Mozilla Firefox and use that as your browser when uploading documents to Angel, as documents do not properly upload when using Internet Explorer through MAC computers.

Cascadia Community College Learning Agreement

Academic Integrity(please see the current catalog for a full disclosure of the college’s Academic Integrity Policy Statement, WAC 132Z-115-060): The College regards acts of academic dishonesty, including such activities as plagiarism, cheating and/or/violations of integrity in information technology, as very serious offenses. In the event that cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty are discovered, each incident will be handled as deemed appropriate. Care will be taken that students’ rights are not violated and that disciplinary procedures are instituted only in cases where documentation or other evidence of the offense(s) exists. A description of all such incidents shall be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Success, where a file of such occurrences will be maintained. The vice president may institute action against a student according to the college’s disciplinary policies and procedures as described in the Student Handbook. In this class, any work found to involve academic dishonesty will be given a grade of 0 and a description of the incident will be forwarded to the Dean and Vice President for Student Success. A second instance of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the course.

Acceptable Use Policy on Information Technology: In general, the same ethical conduct that applies to the use of all college resources and facilities applies to the use of Cascadia’s systems and technology. These systems may only be used for authorized purposes, using only legal versions of copyrighted software, and with consideration and respect for the conservations of resources and the rights of other users. For additional information, go to the Open Learning Center for a complete copy of the Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedures.

Diversity: Cascadia Community College affirms a commitment to freedom from discrimination for all members of the College community. Celebration of diversity and cultural differences is a hallmark of a true learning community. Pluralism, diversity and equity are therefore at the core of Cascadia’s mission. Individual difference is affirmed and celebrated in our community of learning.

Emergency Procedures: Emergency procedures are posted in each classroom. To reach campus security personnel, dial 425-352-5222 [www.uwb.edu/safety]. Fire and police may be reached by dialing 9-911. In the case of an evacuation, move to the north end of the campus toward the flagpole.

Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather affecting classes, there will be notification on the local media by 5:30 a.m. You may also call the main campus number: 425-352-8000 to hear a message that will be updated with the latest Cascadia closure information. You may also go online to www.schoolreport.org and click on Cascadia Community College to get the latest report. Should the weather deteriorate during the day, you may check online, listen to the main campus message, check email or the media to hear news about closures or class schedule changes. Because our class meets online, campus closures will not always affect our course schedule. Assignment due dates will still be applicable unless otherwise posted by the instructor.

· In the event that the campus is closed due to inclement weather or the flu pandemic, students will be notified via email and an announcement on our Angel page regarding course work deadlines. Please review the handout called: Flu Information for Students that is located at the end of this syllabus.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Cascadia Community College complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 concerning the information that becomes a part of a student’s permanent educational record and governing the condition of its disclosure. Under FERPA, students are protected against improper disclosure of their records (please see p. 83 of the 07-08 catalog for more information regarding FERPA).

Student Rights and Responsibilities: Inherent in the college’s mission, vision and goals are certain rights and freedoms, which provide to students the support and respect needed for learning and personal development. Admission to Cascadia Community College provides these rights to students but also assumes that students accept the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that does not interfere with the purpose of the college in providing education for all of its learners (WAC-132Z-112-010). See the Online version of the Student Handbook for additional information about this topic

National Communication Association (NCA) Credo for Ethical Communication

(Approved by the NCA Legislative Council in 1999)

Questions of right and wrong arise whenever people communicate. Ethical communication is fundamental to responsible thinking, decision making, and the development of relationships and communities within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media. Moreover, ethical communication enhances human worth and dignity by fostering truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for self and others. We believe that unethical communication threatens the quality of all communication and consequently the well-being of individuals and the society in which we live. Therefore we, the members of the National Communication Association, endorse and are committed to practicing the following principles of ethical communication:

· We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication.

· We endorse freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent to achieve the informed and responsible decision making fundamental to a civil society.

· We strive to understand and respect other communicators before evaluating and responding to their messages.

· We promote access to communication resources and opportunities as necessary to fulfill human potential and contribute to the well-being of families, communities, and society.

· We promote communication climates of caring and mutual understanding that respect the unique needs and characteristics of individual communicators.

· We condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity through distortion, intimidation, coercion, and violence, and through the expression of intolerance and hatred.

· We are committed to the courageous expression of personal convictions in pursuit of fairness and justice.

· We advocate sharing information, opinions, and feelings when facing significant choices while also respecting privacy and confidentiality.

· We accept responsibility for the short- and long-term consequences for our own communication and expect the same of others.

NCA Credo for a Free and Responsible Communication in a Democratic Society

Recognizing the essential place of free and responsible communication in a democratic society, and recognizing the distinction between the freedoms our legal system should respect and the responsibilities our educational system should cultivate, we members of the Speech Communication Association endorse the following statement of principles: 

· WE BELIEVE that freedom of speech and assembly must hold a central position among Americans constitutional principles, and we express our determined support for the right of peaceful expression by any communicative means available. 

· WE SUPPORT the proposition that a free society can absorb with equanimity speech which exceeds the boundaries of generally accepted beliefs and mores; that much good and little harm can ensue if we err on the side of freedom, whereas much harm and little good may follow if we err on the side of suppression. 

· WE CRITICIZE as misguided those who believe that the justice of their cause confers license to interfere physically and coercively with speech of others, and we condemn intimidation, whether by powerful majorities or strident minorities, which attempts to restrict free expression. 

· WE ACCEPT the responsibility of cultivating by precepts and example, in our classrooms and in our communities, enlightened uses of communication; of developing in our students a respect for precision and accuracy in communication, and for reasoning based upon evidence and a judicious discrimination among values. 

· WE ENCOURAGE our students to accept the role of well-informed and articulate citizens, to defend the communication rights of those with whom they may disagree, and to expose abuses of the communication process. 

· WE DEDICATE ourselves fully to these principles, confident in the belief that reason will ultimately prevail in a free marketplace of ideas. 

Flu Information for Students

Cascadia is taking steps to prevent the spread of seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) flu on campus. Please read the important information below and help Cascadia prevent the spread of flu.

· Make sure that Cascadia has your current contact information, just in case we need to reach you. Update your contact information by going to Kodiak Corner or online at www.cascadia.edu/campus_resources/online_resources.aspx. Under the Network Access and Personal Information heading, select the link to the Student Address Information.

· If you are ill, stay home and notify your instructor by phone or email. Continue to turn in your homework and assignments by email or as directed by your instructor. Return to Cascadia only when you are symptom-free without the use of medications.

· You are encouraged to be vaccinated this fall against both seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) flu. Vaccination is the best protection against contracting flu.

· Your instructors each have plans to continue teaching in the unlikely situation that the physical buildings on campus would need to be closed. Your instructors will provide details about how this will work for your particular classes.

Preventing the Spread of Germs

Health officials recommend the following precautions:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

· Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

· Try to avoid close contact with people who are ill.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

· If you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.

Symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu that happens each year. These may include fever, cough, and sore throat, as well as fatigue, body aches, headache, chills, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea. For complete information, visit the Washington State Department of Health website at www.doh.wa.gov/h1n1/

 

� Please Note: The instructor reserves the right to change or modify the schedule and course contents (including assignments, assessments, dates, etc.) at any point throughout the quarter. Students will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.

� Please note that the instructor maintains the right to modify or change these assignments and point values. Students will be notified promptly of any modifications/changes and will have ample time to complete assignments.

� Accessed at http://www.natcom.org/nca/Template2.asp?bid=514

� Accessed at http://www.natcom.org/nca/Template2.asp?bid=513