Common Syllabus Links for Students

All undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in the JSU V.I.B.E. program. For students who are participating in the V.I.B.E. program, digital textbooks and/or course materials will be automatically loaded into Canvas by the first day of class.  If digital versions are not available, hard copies can be picked up at the JSU Campus Store. 

If you do not want to participate in JSU V.I.B.E, you will need to opt out at the beginning of the semester. Participation in the JSU V.I.B.E program is all-in or all-out so students cannot opt out and opt-in for individual courses. Students are encouraged to visit the Campus Bookstore website to determine if the JSU V.I.B.E. will be the most beneficial and economic choice. In some cases, JSU V.I.B.E. will not be the lowest-cost option for a student, particularly if the student is enrolled in courses that have no adopted textbooks.

Any questions related to the V.I.B.E. program or textbooks can be directed to the JSU Campus Store (jsu@bkstr.com or 601-979-5801). For more information about JSU V.I.B.E, please visit https://www.jsums.edu/auxiliary/jsuvibe/.

Jackson State University is committed to creating a community that affirms and welcomes persons from diverse backgrounds and experiences and supports the realization of their human potential. We recognize that there are differences among groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, exceptionalities, language, religion, sexual orientation, and geographical area. All persons are encouraged to respect the individual differences of others.

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As a result, you should know that University faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct, including harassment, sexual violence, dating/domestic violence, stalking and gender discrimination to the University’s Title IX office so that the victim may be provided appropriate resources and support options. As the instructor for this course, I have a mandatory duty to report to the university any information I receive about possible sexual misconduct.  This includes information shared in class discussions or assignments, as well as information shared in conversations outside class.  The purpose of reporting is to allow JSU to take steps to ensure a safe learning environment for all.  The university also has confidential resources available, who can provide assistance to those who have experienced sexual misconduct without triggering a mandatory reporting duty.  More information about confidential resources is available at 

http://www.jsums.edu/titleix/

If you are the victim of sexual misconduct, Jackson State encourages you to reach out to these resources:

• Title IX Office: 601-979-1315 or titleix@jsums.edu 
• Department of Public Safety – 601-979-2580

Academic honesty is the foundation of a fair and supportive learning environment for all students. Personal responsibility for academic performance is essential for equitable assessment of student accomplishments. Students are advised to adhere to the Jackson State University Honor Code and Student Collegiate Code of Conduct which can be found at https://www.jsums.edu/studentsuccess/. Students should also be familiar with the definitions of cheating and plagiarism.  An expanded discussion can be found in the JSU Student Handbook.

JSU Honor Code: I will be honest in all of my academic coursework and will not indulge in or tolerate the academic dishonesty of my counterparts or peers. I will not partake in any type of misconduct, misrepresentation, or immoral behavior that will harm, damage, or endanger any person, property, or myself or reflect negatively against me or hinder my academic continuance. I will strive to achieve excellence and to complete degree requirements without hesitation. I am a valuable part of the Jackson State University family, and proud of it.

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating includes:

• Submitting material that is not yours as part of your course performance, such as copying from another student’s exam, allowing a student to copy from your exam;
• Using information or devices that are not allowed by the faculty; such as using formulas or data from a home computer program, or using unauthorized materials for a take-home exam;
• Obtaining and using unauthorized material, such as a copy of an examination before it is given;
• Fabricating information, such as the data for a lab report;
• Violating procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of an assignment, test, or other evaluation;
• Collaborating with others on assignments without the faculty’s consent;
• Cooperating with or helping another student to cheat; and
• Participating in or performing other forms of dishonest behavior, such as having another person take an examination in your place; or altering exam answers without permission.

• Plagiarism includes:
• Directly quoting the words of others without using quotation marks or indented format to identify them;
• Using sources of information (published or unpublished) without identifying them;
• Paraphrasing materials or ideas of others without identifying the sources;
• Submitting themes, essays, term papers, tests, and other similar requirements that are not the work of the student; and
• Failing to appropriately acknowledge direct quotations and the idea of another when incorporated in papers.

When a student is unsure about something that he/she wants to do or the proper use of materials, a faculty member should be consulted for clarification. Generally, if a student writes while looking at a source or while looking at notes taken from a source, a footnote should be given. Whenever any idea is taken from a specific work, even when the student writes the idea entirely in his/her own words, there must be a footnote giving credit to the author responsible for the idea. The student should never retain a sentence pattern and substitute synonyms for the original words. Paraphrasing means the alteration of sentence patterns and changing of words. Any direct quotation should be footnoted or documented in an acceptable fashion. Methods of documentation vary, and it is possible to cite in the text itself rather than in a footnote. The student should give credit in a manner specified by the instructor

Jackson State University is committed to creating a learning environment that meets the needs of its diverse student body. If you anticipate or experience any barriers to learning in this course, please feel welcome to discuss your concerns with me. If you have a disability or think you may have a disability, you may also want to make an appointment to meet with Disability Services staff to begin this conversation or request an official accommodation. They may be contacted by phone at 601.979.3704 or via email at adaservices@jsums.edu.  You can find more information about the Office of Disability Services by visiting https://www.jsums.edu/disability/.  If you have already been approved for accommodations through Disability Services, please meet with me so we can develop an implementation plan together.