Instructor: David Paul Haney, Ph.D.

Email: dhaney@austincc.edu

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS

These hours will be held by appointment using Blackboard's "Zoom" feature .  Meetings in person at the Highland Campus are also available by appointment.

COLLEGE POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

These policies and resources can be found here, and this link will also be made available in Blackboard.

(Services such as online tutoring, academic coaching, library services, food assistance, emergency financial support, mental-health counseling, crisis hotlines, and other resources are included in the lower half of the page linked above.)

COURSE OBJECTIVE
This course surveys the major developments in the history of the United States and its people to 1877.

COURSE ORIENTATION

To complete the orientation, please read this syllabus and complete this student-profile survey.

ACC's admissions office now requires the submission of an "attendance certification" from the faculty, and in a distance-learning course, required student contacts like the one involving this personal info form suffice as evidence of student "attendance." Under this faculty-reporting directive, a student's failure to fulfill the attendance requirement described above causes ACC's registration system to impose an automatic withdrawal from the course!

You can verify that I have received your completion of the Student Information Form by checking your "Grades" category in Blackboard, where I will mark a column with the notation "Received" for those students who have already sent theirs.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This section is a distance-learning version of the standard United States History survey course. The student will be required to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work as students enrolling in the classroom equivalent of the course. This course is designed for mature and capable students who possess self-discipline, responsibility, regular and active reading habits, and knowledge of personal computers and the Internet.  This learning style survey is a good device for determining one's suitability for a distance course.

Also, for Early College Start students, keep in mind that I am prohibited by the Family Educational Records Privacy Act of 1974 from communicating with parents or anyone other than my students, so contact me directly.

Please take note: The Family Educational Records Privacy Act also prohibits faculty from discussing specific grade matters with students by e-mail, since e-mail is neither a private nor a secure mode of communication.  Students are therefore asked to send questions about test scores and course grades through the "Messages" function in the Blackboard system.  (After logging in, choose the "Control Panel" link and then click the "Messages" option.)  It is then a good idea to send me an e-mail to alert me that a message is waiting for me there.

Transferability of workforce courses varies. Students interested in transferring courses to another college should speak with their Area of Study (AoS) advisor, Department Chair, and/or Program Director.

COURSE RATIONALE

The Texas legislature requires students to take 6 hours of American history to graduate from an institution of higher learning in Texas. This course helps fulfill that requirement. Students taking History 1301 can expect to improve their reading and writing competencies, critical thinking skills, research skills, etc., all of which help students better succeed in life outside academia.

Upon completion of the general education component of an associate’s degree, students will demonstrate competence in:

• Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices
   
• Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information.
   
• Personal Responsibility - Identifying and applying ethical principles and practices; demonstrating effective learning, creative thinking, and personal responsibility.
   
• Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
   

COMMON COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing History 1301 the student should be able to:

1. Describe the European background of New World colonization and identify motives of those who migrated to the western hemisphere.
2. Explain the diversity of English speaking colonies of North America.
3. Describe the societies that evolved in the English colonies of North America, together with the development of unfree labor systems.
4. Explain the economic and political relationships between the English colonies and the Mother Country.
5. Describe the economic, religious and political developments in eighteenth century Colonial America.
6. Identify the wars fought by English colonists in North America and evaluate the impact of those wars, particularly the French and Indian War.
7. Trace the growing alienation of the colonies from Great Britain, which ended with the decision to declare independence.
8. Describe the course of the American Revolution to the winning of Independence, including the significant campaigns and the diplomatic maneuvers that helped gain victory.
9. Explain the impact of the American Revolution on American society and politics and the problems that arose after independence.
10. Describe the restructuring of the Republic at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the fight for the ratification of the Constitution.
11. Trace the rise and development of political parties during the 1790s, including the contributing domestic and foreign policy differences and the attempted suppression of the Republicans by the High Federalists.
12. Describe the key events and developments of the Jefferson and Madison administrations, including the attempts to avoid war with Britain, together with the outcomes of the War of 1812.
13. Describe the territorial expansion and economic developments after the War of 1812.
14. Trace the social, economic and political developments of the Jacksonian Era which democratized the United States and transformed the party system.
15. Identify the religious developments and reform movements of the Antebellum Era.
16. Describe the territorial and internal expansion of the United States during the 1830s and 1840s, including the war with Mexico.
17. Trace the expansion of slavery in the early nineteenth century and explain the effects of that expansion.
18. Describe the African American experience under slavery.
19. Explain the events from the Compromise of 1850 to the election of 1860 that led to the disruption of the union.
20. Trace the course of the Civil War from secession to Appomattox, paying particular attention to the social, economic and political effects of the conflict.
21. Describe the reconstruction of the South and explain its failure.
22. Identify the major problems of the Grant administration and evaluate his handling of those problems.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY

This course includes assignments of textbook chapters and primary-source documents, the viewing of some pre-recorded presentations on select historical topics (accessible in Blackboard), online testing, discussion board postings, and individualized online consultations with the instructor.

COMPUTER ACCESS REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS COURSE

Each exam in this course will require the use of a computer that can access the Blackboard system and download and utilize the Respondus Lockdown Browser (described under "Testing Policies and Procedures" below). Computers must also be equipped with a working webcam.

Chromebooks are incompatible with the security software used during testing in this course. If you only have access to a Chromebook during this session, see the "Testing Policies and Procedures" category below for testing alternatives.

Austin Community College now provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm.  Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/drive-up-wifi

ON-LINE LECTURE TOPICS

As indicated above, each of the four units of this course will include a series of recordings of lecture topics (3 to 4 max.), which will be posted in each unit's study guide. These recordings will be devoted to the course's principal historical topics and will usually include a substantial amount of art, advertising, photography, political documents, sound recordings, and film clips. Each recorded lecture will range in length from around 80 to 90 minutes, and they will not merely recapitulate the content of the textbook -- their content will overlap significantly with that of the textbook, but a significant share of the material covered will not be found in the book.

RECORDING POLICY

To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section.  Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through BlackBoard Collaborate or another platform.  Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity.  Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.

PERSONALLY-COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS IN THIS COURSE

The study questions and learning objectives included in each of the study guides in this course are, explicitly, my copyrighted material, and thus they are accompanied by the following language: "All rights reserved. Any publication, public online posting, and/or distribution of this material without the author's express written consent is prohibited."  Therefore, please note that I will withdraw from the course any student who violates this policy, and that there is unlikely to be a "take-down" warning beforehand.

STUDENT E-MAIL ACCOUNTS

All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify students of any college- related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Information about ACC email accounts, including instructions for accessing it, are available here.

Every student who registers for an ACC course receives an ACC e-mail account, and since I will use the Blackboard on-line system on occasion to send out announcements to the entire course enrollment, it is important that every student establish access to his or her ACC e-mail account and check that account regularly. However, because many students prefer to continue using their preexisting personal or institutional e-mail accounts and are therefore unlikely to check their ACC e-mail addresses on a regular basis, I recommend that those students set up their ACC e-mail account to forward messages to the account they use daily.

To ensure student privacy, I request that students send all e-mail messages to me through their ACC e-mail accounts. If I receive a message from a non-ACC address, I have no reliable means of confirming that it has actually been sent by one of my students.

E-mail messages to me should contain complete sentences, punctuation, and the full spellings of words. It also helps for me to receive a student's enrollment information within a message, so that I can determine quickly which course and section the student is taking.

ACC students can now use choose the first names they would like to appear in their e-mail messages using the "My ACC" portal.  (Click here for more information -- the change is permanent and should be approached accordingly.)

TESTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Each test will consist of questions drawn from the learning objectives, study questions, and guidelines found in the unit Study Guides posted in the Blackboard system.

Testing in this course is intended to assess students' acquired knowledge, not their spontaneous information-retrieval skills. Therefore, all tests must be taken without the use of external materials (notes, textbook, phones, etc.).

Students will be taking the tests in this course remotely, on their own equipment, and therefore access to the tests will require the use of a lockdown browser that prevents test-takers from printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications during a test.  In order to gain access to the tests, you must download the lockdown browser here, and use it to take them. (Users of iPads: Click here.)

The lockdown browser is not compatible with Chromebooks.

The information below supplies information for those who will need to find an alternative to them for testing purposes:

• Students in need of computer equipment can check out an iPad from ACC.  For more information, go to Student Technology Services, where distribution times and an application form are available.
• Another option for those with Chromebooks is to take the tests in the ACCelerator facility at the Highland, Rio Grande, Round Rock, or San Gabriel campus. The ACCelerator contains Apple computer units that have the lockdown browser and cameras. For more information (hours, resources), check out the ACCelerator home page.
• Finally, the alternative to the proctoring software in use in this course is live proctoring, which ACC offers students on an appointment basis using the Google Meet platform. Information on hours available and the scheduling procedure are available here. (Note that a two-day advance notice is required for the processing of a scheduling request.)

Testing will also include the use of Respondus Monitor, a Blackboard feature that serves as an "automated proctor" by using a student's webcam to record and analyze the testing process for any evidence of academic dishonesty (consulting one's notes, making phone calls, looking up answers on an auxiliary device like a smartphone, etc.). Therefore, it is vital that the device that a student plans to use for testing possess a working webcam.

TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS WITH TEST ACCESS

Technical problems with the lockdown browser and proctoring software occur occasionally, and I always do what I can to assist in resolving them. However, the ultimate responsibility for resolving such access issues lies with the student, and thus it is imperative that the following troubleshooting steps be kept in mind:

(1) Make sure that you're actually using the lockdown browser to access Blackboard (i.e., not Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.). The test is only accessible when you click on the lockdown browser icon and open up the program.

(2) Check to make sure that you don't have an antivirus program running that could interfere with the lockdown browser.

(3) Shut off and restart your computer.

(4) Make sure that all other applications are closed before launching the lockdown browser.

(5) Throw the lockdown browser program in the trash, empty the trash, and download a new copy of it.

(6) Explain your situation to the Student Services Help Desk.   You can communicate with its staff with an online request form here or at 512-223-4636, and let me know what they recommend, so that I can pass it on to anyone else who is experiencing access problems of this type.

(7) Take the test in the ACCelerator at the Highland Campus (Building 1000, ground floor). The ACCelerator contains Apple computer units that have the lockdown browser and cameras. For more information (hours, resources), check out the ACCelerator home page.

(7) If you have access to another computer, use that. Otherwise, consider borrowing an iPad from ACC. Contact Student Technology Services, and complete a Student Technology Request form (linked lower down on the STS page, under "How to Request Technology").

(8) The alternative to the proctoring software in use in this course is live proctoring, which ACC offers students on an appointment basis using the Zoom platform. Information on hours available and the scheduling procedure are available here.

TESTING DEADLINES

Each test will be activated at least 60 hours before its particular deadline, and each must be completed by its deadline.

Because each test will be posted in two parts, Parts 1 and 2 of a given test can be taken at different times, and in either order, as long as both parts are completed by that test's deadline. Students can therefore schedule the completion of each part for a different time of day, or even a different day.

The deadlines for completing each assignment are as follows:

TEST 1 (20% of course grade): Saturday, March 2 at 11:59 p.m.

TEST 2 (20% of course grade): Saturday, March 30 at 11:59 p.m.

PAPER 1 (10% of course grade): Monday, April 8 Saturday, April 13 at 11:59 p.m.

TEST 3 (20% of course grade): Saturday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m.

PAPER 2 (10% of course grade): Monday, April 29 Saturday, May 4 at 11:59 p.m.

TEST 4 (20% of course grade): Saturday, May 11 Sunday, May 12 at 11:59 p.m.

RETESTING AND MAKEUP TESTING

A retest option (a second attempt at the test) is available after the posted deadline for a given initial test expires. (Retests will be made available via a Blackboard link separate from the one for the initial tests.) Retest scores (on either or both parts of a given test) will be counted only if they are higher (individually) than the scores on the initial attempt.

However, retesting on a given unit is available only for those who took that unit's initial test by its posted deadline. If a posted testing deadline is missed, the retest becomes a makeup test. (This means that a given test can be taken after its posted deadline, but that it can be taken only a single time.)

Retests remain accessible until the last minute of the last day of the session.

INSTRUCTOR-INITIATED WITHDRAWALS

If the instructor concludes that missed testing deadlines pose a serious risk to a student's ability to pass the course, he reserves the right to withdraw that student from the course. Therefore, students are encouraged, but not required, to supply documentation explaining any testing deadlines missed, and this information will inform the instructor's decision as to whether a withdrawal is warranted.

GRADING

The student's final course grade is determined by the quality and quantity of the student's work. The following requirements are non-negotiable:

For an A, the total average must be 90% or above. For a B, that average must be 80% or above. For a C, it must be 70& or above. For a D, it must be 60% or above.

At any point during the session, students may calculate their current averages by adding up the points earned on the tests they've completed (substituting any retests scores that exceeded the initial scores), and dividing that sum by the total points possible on those tests. (Thus, for example, a calculated result of .85 would become 85%, and thus a B grade.)

STUDENT DISABILITIES: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Student Accessibility Services office on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These services, which include online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction, are free to enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects ranging from accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in and a referral basis.
 
An online tutor request can be made here.

Additional tutoring information can be found here.

STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources. Further information is available at https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process.

Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own thought, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but is not limited to, tests, quizzes (whether taken electronically or on paper); individual or group projects; classroom presentations, and homework. A student discovered to have violated the academic integrity policy described above will receive an F in the course.

Academic dishonesty includes:

• Communicating exam information to, or receiving such information from, another person;
• Using, attempting to use, or assisting others in using materials that are prohibited during an exam, such as: cellphones, books, Web sites, prepared answers, written notes, or concealed information;
• Allowing others to do one's exam or assignment or a portion of one's exam or assignment;
• Using a commercial term paper service;
• Purchasing or otherwise acquiring written work that is not your own, and then submitting it as your own;
• Posting copyrighted course material on the Internet, on sites such as Study Blue or Quizlet (all material in this course is copyrighted)
• Taking an online test with the camera obstructed or pointed away from your face.
• Using AI platforms such as ChatGPT to generate textual material and then incorporating that material into your written work.

Plagiarism is defined as using another's work (whether printed, electronic, or spoken) without crediting the person or copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up most of your work, whether you give credit or not.

All of the following are considered plagiarism:

• Submitting someone else's work as your own;
• Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit;
• Paraphrasing words or ideas from someone else without giving credit;
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks;
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation with the intention of deceiving;
• Changing words but copying the organization and structure of a source without giving credit;
• Prompting an AI text-generating platform to produce textual material and presenting that material as one’s own written work.

To help avoid plagiarism:  read over your source, then put down that source (or close the browser if it’s online), and THEN write notes about what you’ve read.  This will help to ensure that you’re not copying or completely paraphrasing your source.  Paraphrasing is okay to do, but on a VERY limited basis.  You cannot paraphrase entire paragraphs or sections of your papers or exam essays, because then it wouldn’t be YOUR work.  Write the information in your own words.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Students at ACC have the same rights and protections as those guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States. These rights include freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition and association. As members of the community, students have the right to express their own views, but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to others and not interfere or disrupt the learning environment. Students are entitled to fair treatment, are expected to act consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state and federal laws.

As a student of Austin Community College you are expected to abide by the Student Standards of Conduct.

WITHDRAWING FROM THE COURSE

Withdrawing from a course may affect financial aid, veterans benefits, international student status, or academic standing. Students are urged to consult with their instructors or an advisor before making schedule changes. Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in fall 2007 or later at any Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college career. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are encouraged to carefully select courses; contact an advisor or counselor for assistance. See the Student Handbook for additional information.

If you find that you are unable to continue taking the course, you should withdraw from it in order to avoid being assigned a failing grade. Withdrawal is accomplished by completing a withdrawal form available at a campus Admissions and Records office. The responsibility for withdrawing lies with the student. If one fails to withdraw, an F will be entered for the final course grade.  The last day to withdraw from a course in this session is Monday, April 22.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant it. The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not. The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an I grade:

1. Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date. (This quantity of makeup material must not exceed one exam.) This meeting can occur virtually or in person. The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.
2. The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student. The student will then complete his/her section, sign (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement. A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.
3. The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above. This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent long semester.
4. Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course section materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.
5. When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit an electronic Grade Change Form to change the student’s performance grade from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F.

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F.” Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.”

SENATE BILL 212 AND TITLE IX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the faculty and all College employees are required to report any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or against an ACC student or employee. Federal Title IX law and College policy also require reporting incidents of sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct. This means faculty and non-clinical counseling staff cannot keep confidential information about any such incidents that you share with them. If you would like to talk with someone confidentiality, please contact the District
Clinical Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical counselor on any ACC campus: (512) 223-2616, or to schedule online: https://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .

While students are not required to report, they are encouraged to contact the Compliance Office for resources and options: Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer, (512) 223-7964; compliance@austincc.edu. If a student makes a report to a faculty member, the faculty member will contact the District Title IX Officer for follow-up.

DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED

The College seeks to maintain an educational environment free from any form of discrimination or harassment including but not limited to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Faculty at the College are required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct (including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and gender-based discrimination) to the Manager of Title IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance. Licensed clinical counselors are available across the District and serve as confidential
resources for students. Additional information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance can be
found in the ACC Compliance Resource Guide available here.
 

GUNS ON CAMPUS

Individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy. It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 222 from a campus phone or 512-223-7999. For further information see www.austincc.edu/campuscarry.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

All ACC campuses and centers have one entrance for students and employees. The college is limiting facility access to faculty, essential staff, and students who are enrolled in Career and Technical Education courses. Each person is required to take the following steps: 

1. Self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms using the ACC Health Screening App. There are three secure ways to use the app — 1) download it on your phone (recommended), 2) download the web link, or 3) you may use an iPad that is available at the door. It is easy to download and use. Answer a series of quick questions and the app will give you results. Save the results to show at the door upon entry. Get the app at https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/acc-health-screening-app

2. ACC ID badges or Student ID cards will be required for all employees and students upon entry. Employees and students must display their I.D. at all times.

3. Temperature checks will be conducted with a no-touch thermometer. If you have a fever 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, you will not be admitted to the building. 

4. ACC Health Screen App results will be requested at the door. If you are unable to download the app, an iPad will be provided at the door so that you may answer a series of questions to determine if you have COVID-19 symptoms which include:
      Cough
      Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      Chills
      Repeated shaking with chills 
      Muscle pain
      Headache
      Sore throat
      Loss of taste or smell
      Diarrhea
      Fever
      Have you come into contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 with 14 days?

If you do not pass the pre-screening, you will receive specific information on healthcare procedures and instructions for what you need to know to be able to return to campus.

5. Facial coverings/masks are required for anyone entering an ACC building. You must wear a facial covering/mask at all times. In private spaces such as an individual office, your facial covering may be removed if you are alone. These guidelines are consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which makes clear that facial coverings and social distancing are among the most effective measures for limiting the spread of COVID-19. 

TIP—Students should arrive to campus early to ensure enough time to get through the screening line. 

On-Campus Protocols

• Wash and sanitize your hands prior to entering a classroom, office, or facility. Hand sanitizing stations, disinfecting wipes, soap, and water are readily available.

• Continue to practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds.

• Practice social distancing with all individuals by maintaining at least six feet of separation.

• Follow floor stickers that are placed throughout the campus to help guide social distancing in high traffic areas.

• A maximum of two people at a time will be allowed in elevators.

• Facial coverings/masks must remain on at all times. A facial covering may only be removed as allowed by the course safety plan (i.e., when alone in private spaces such as an individual office).

• For the safety of all who are on-campus, water fountains will be turned off, vending machines will have limited services, all food services will be suspended, and common area furniture will be removed. Please plan accordingly.

Classroom Protocols

• Schedules are staggered and courses have been divided into smaller sections to minimize contact with individuals.

• Seating for standard classrooms is limited to nine students and one instructor unless the classroom is deemed large enough to handle more by the Safety & Operations Office.

• Faculty will assign seats to students to keep them at a safe distance from one another. It's imperative that students follow seat assignments in order to track any contamination or the possible spread of COVID-19.

• Plexiguards are installed on faculty desks if there is not at least nine-feet between the desk and the first row of students. 

• Once inside the classroom, facial coverings must continue to be worn.

• ACC encourages students to wipe down their desks before class begins. Supplies will be provided in each classroom.

Deep Cleaning Protocols

• ACC's Campus Operations Quality Control staff will regularly and frequently disinfect any and all high touch surfaces such as door knobs, tables, chairs, and restrooms.

• Staff will disinfect classrooms as soon as classes are over.

• Students and employees will be reminded to disinfect personal electronics on a regular basis.

• Hand sanitizer will be available in or near every classroom.

• Sufficient disinfecting supplies are available to maintain hygienic standards throughout the day.

• These disinfectant procedures will occur after each class and at the end of every day.

Illness & Travel Protocols

• If you feel sick, feverish, or unwell, please do not come to campus or office.

• You will need to get tested for COVID-19 and report the results (positive or negative) to ACC's COVID-19 Liaison (see below). 

• If you become ill in the classroom or inside an ACC facility, you will be asked to go into an isolation room to take the state's online self-assessment.

• Isolation rooms are available on each campus and center with resources and information to help you learn about the next steps and where to go for a COVID-19 test. 

• All areas used by anyone who is sick or tests positive for COVID-19 will be immediately closed, waiting for the appropriate period of time before it is thoroughly deep cleaned, disinfected, and deemed safe to reopen. 

• If you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days, you must self-report. ACC's Self-Report form is available online.

• ACC has identified a primary COVID-19 Liaison responsible for communicating and coordinating with local health departments. Our liaison is Michael Garcia, Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs, sem-helpdesk@austincc.edu. 

A training video is available here at: https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/health-and-safety-protocols

SAFETY STATEMENT

Health and safety are of paramount importance in classrooms, laboratories, and field activities. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies.  Emergency Procedures posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom and should be reviewed at the beginning of each semester.  All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course instructor. Additional information about safety procedures and how to sign up to be notified in case of an emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency

Everyone is expected to conduct themselves professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual may be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action.

In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an emergency situation or a continuing illness outbreak, the format for this course may be modified to enable completion of the course. In that event, students will be provided an addendum to the class syllabus that will supersede the original version.
 

STUDENT COMPLAINTS

A defined process applies to complaints about an instructor or other college employee. You are encouraged to discuss concerns and complaints with college personnel and should expect a timely and appropriate response. When possible, students should first address their concerns through informal conferences with those immediately involved; formal due process is available when informal resolution cannot be achieved.

Student complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues regarding classroom instruction, college services and offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability.

Further information about the complaints process, including the form used to submit complaints, is available at: http://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-complaint-procedures

LIBRARY SERVICES

ACC Library Services is operating online while campuses are closed during the current pandemic. Libraries continue to support ACC courses and programs and provide students with research and assignment assistance from expert faculty librarians. ACC students have full rights and privileges to access Library Services online 24/7 via the ACC Library website, and students must use their ACCeID logins to access all online materials, including ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos. ACC Libraries provide the “Ask a Librarian” service, which allows students to reach a librarian 24/7 through online chat or complete an online form for in-depth questions.  Faculty librarians are available via email and virtually to meet with you by appointment seven days a week. Students can also contact the Library for questions about their library account, registration holds, and technology/device distribution options.

• Library Website: http://library.austincc.edu

• Library Information & Services during COVID-19: https://researchguides.austincc.edu/LSinfoCOVID19

• Ask a Librarian 24/7 chat and form: https://library.austincc.edu/help/ask.php

• Library Hours of Operation by Location: https://library.austincc.edu/loc/

• Email: library@austincc.edu

PERSONAL SUPPORT

Resources to support students are available at every campus. To learn more, ask your professor or visit the campus Support Center. All resources and services are free and confidential. Some examples include, among others:

• Food resources, including community pantries and bank drives can be found here:

https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/food-assistance/get-food-now

• Assistance with childcare or utility bills is available at any campus Support Center: http://www.austincc.edu/students/support-center.

• The Student Emergency Fund can help with unexpected expenses that may cause you to withdraw from one or more classes: http://www.austincc.edu/SEF.

• Help with budgeting for college and family life is available through the Student Money Management Office: http://sites.austincc.edu/money/.  

A full listing of services for student parents is available at: https://www.austincc.edu/students/child-care

• The CARES Act Student Aid will help eligible students pay expenses related to COVID-19: 

https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/cares-act-student-aid.  

Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC Student Services District to address personal and or mental health concerns: http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .

If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis, call one of the following numbers to connect with resources for help. However if you are afraid that you might hurt yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:

• Austin / Travis County 24 hour Crisis & Suicide hotline: 512-472-HELP (4357)

• The Williamson County 24 hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255

• Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755

• Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Crisis Text Line: Text “home” to 741741

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline:   1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Some faculty may consider adding a student sign-off page at the end of the syllabus to be removed and handed back to the instructor providing evidence that the student received a copy of the syllabus and had an opportunity to ask questions, but such a page is optional.

Illness

Any ACC student or employee with symptoms or exposure to the COVID-19 virus should inform their professor(s) or supervisor and complete the college’s self reporting form: 

https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?AustinCC&layout_id=124

TEXTBOOK

The required textbook is Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty, Volume 1 (Seagull 7th Edition), published by W.W. Norton.  (Be sure to get Volume 1, because Volume 2 contains only the material covered in HIST 1302.)

The ACC bookstore currently stocks the 7th edition, and the publisher's "ebook" version (also linked in Blackboard) is also the 7th edition. A used copy of the 6th Edition is also a perfectly acceptable alternative to either of those editions, and copies are widely available for low prices on-line.

Students will not need the “access code” that comes with the book when it is purchased new. 

Also, if you are considering purchasing the book from an on-line source, be sure to act quickly, so that you are assured of receiving your ordered book in time to prepare for the first exam.  Some on-line sellers offer expedited delivery, but at a higher shipping price. You will not be needing an edition of this book that includes a CD ROM or an access code for on-line resources. 

ON-LINE DOCUMENT READING ASSIGNMENTS

Each unit of the course includes a selection of on-line documents, each of which is paired with a set of study questions, and these will be serve as the raw material for the paper assignments in the course.

The Original Inhabitants of the Americas

Encounters and Exchanges Between Old World and New

European Nation-States' Colonization of the Americas

England's North American Colonies in the 1600s

The Cultural and Economic Evolution of English Colonial Societies

The Enlightenment and the Development of Anglo-American Political Life

The American Revolution

The United States Constitution
 
The Early Republic: The Washington Administration

The Jefferson Presidency

Nationalism and a New Market Economy

Jacksonian "Democracy"

Slaveowning Society and Culture

Evangelical Religion and Social Reform

Expansionism and Manifest Destiny
 
The Sectional Crisis
 
Secession and the Civil War

The Reconstruction Era

COURSE STUDY GUIDES

The Study Guides (posted in Blackboard) provide a breakdown of the material assigned for each of the units of the course, as well as links to learning objectives to guide the readings.  (Please note on the Study Guide that these learning objectives are not designed to create extra work for students; in fact, they should result in less work, because they direct the reader's attention to particular elements within the reading assignments, rather than leaving the reader to attempt to master every last detail of those readings.)