Fundamentals of Oral Communication
COMM-101

This is time devoted to students.  Do not hesitate to contact me or schedule a ZOOM meeting at a time convenient for you.  I am available most days after 3:00 PM and on weekends by prior arrangement.

Contact via phone, email or text 24/7.  Email answered within 24 hours, text or phone calls are considered high priority and will be answered as quickly as possible.

ZOOM Office Information:

Lee Wallace is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: COMM 101 Office Hours Wednesdays 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Time: This is a recurring meeting anytime

Join Zoom Meeting
https://nic.zoom.us/j/91275335842

Meeting ID: 912 7533 5842

*Class meets M, T, W, TH,  

North Idaho STEM 

*Note:  An NIC 3 Credit course meets 150 minutes per week.  Thus, one of these meeting days will generally be a study day.  Which day this is will vary with schedule and content.  

This course introduces students to what communication is and how it affects human interaction. Emphasis is on public speaking with attention to audience analysis, organizational, and delivery skills. The controlled and supportive classroom environment is an ideal setting for students to practice and perfect those communication skills of effective speaking and critical listening valued in all professions, the community, and personal relations. It is, however, a complex discipline of reading, writing, research, and performance.

Messages that Matter: Public Speaking for the Information Age

Edition: 2nd
ISBN: 9780738093901
Author: Misner
Publisher: HAYDEN-MCNEIL PUBLISHING

At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to:

• research, organize and develop informative speeches that are adapted to specific audiences.
• understand and effectively use persuasive strategies to structure verbal messages that are adapted to specific audiences.
• demonstrate effective listening skills and will be able to critically analyze in writing the effectiveness of the speaker and the message presented.
• adapt their speeches to their intended audiences being mindful and respectful of individual differences and conforming to ethical parameters.
• recognize the importance and demonstrate confident verbal and nonverbal delivery through the presentation of speeches.
• critically analyze their own speech performance.
• create and effectively use visual aids to enhance verbal messages.

Grading

Grades are assigned on the basis of a point system. The student’s grade is determined by the total number of points earned in relation to the total number of points that are possible.

Grade Equivalency

Students not only learn from composing and delivering presentations, but also from each other. The research clearly indicates regular attendance in classes maximizes your chances to achieve academic success, which is the goal of all students and instructors.

All absences are considered equal and will count toward course maximums; the only exception is college-supported activities, which must be cleared in writing with your instructor prior to the events. Students who exceed the equivalent of two weeks of absences will be required to withdraw or will receive a failing grade.

Students in a face to face course who acquire an equivalent of one week or less of absences will not be required to take the final exam. Hybrid and online students are required to take final exam. 

The Department of Communication is committed to honoring students’ right to freedom of speech; however, students will not be allowed to select and speak on topics that would be considered hateful or overly sensitive to the point that it detracts from the learning environment. Instructors may discourage students from selecting topics that are unoriginal or do not meet the speech criteria and/or outcomes. Ultimately, students are responsible for selecting an appropriate topic that meets the needs and goals of the assignment and audience

Due dates are important, all regular assignments that are submitted through Canvas are subject to 10% deduction for each day they are late down to a minimum of 50%. Speech outlines and presentations are subject to special rules.  See your instructor for specific details.  

This course is a designated Gateway course [for students enrolled in Communication, Hospitality, History, Medical Lab Technology, Surgical Technology program(s)]. Gateway courses are good early indicators of student readiness for further study. Successful completion of this course will provide a solid foundation for next steps in your studies so be sure to take every advantage of the available support and resources provided to you.

Academic Dishonesty 
Violations of academic integrity involve using or attempting to use any method that enables an individual to misrepresent the quality or integrity of his or her work at North Idaho College. These violations include the following:

• Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study in any academic exercise.
• Fabrication: falsifying or inventing any information or citation in an academic exercise.
• Plagiarism: knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in an academic exercise.
• Violation of Intellectual Property: stealing, altering, or destroying the academic work of other members of the community or the educational resources, materials, or official documents of the college.
• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: knowingly helping another to attempt to violate any provisions of this policy.”

Violations of academic integrity may result in failure of an assignment, failure of the course, or more serious sanctions.

“For a complete explanation of the North Idaho College Statement on Academic Honesty & Academic Integrity please refer to Policy 5.06 & Procedure 5.06.01: http://www.nic.edu/policy/ 

Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct applies to any student enrolled at North Idaho College.  This includes, but is not limited to, face-to-face classes and Internet classes.

NIC shall maintain a Student Code of Conduct that specifically addresses prohibited behavior and assures due process for alleged violations. The Code of Conduct shall make clear possible sanctions for such actions. Policy Manual (See 5.06)

Disability Support Services and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504/508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, North Idaho College provides accommodations to eligible students who experience barriers in the educational setting due to learning, emotional / mental, physical, visual, or hearing disabilities. Instructors will provide accommodations to students only after having received a Letter of Accommodation from Disability Support Services (DSS).

If a student would like to request accommodations, he or she must contact DSS so that a Letter of Accommodation may be sent to the instructor. Students requesting accommodations should contact DSS as early in the semester as possible to avoid delay of accommodation due to student load.  Accommodations are not retroactive. DSS provides academic accommodations, access, assistance and services at NIC and at the North Idaho Consortium of Higher Education campus.

Contact:
Disability Support Services Website
(208) 769-5947

Withdrawal
Please check the NIC Calendar for the last day students can withdraw from full-length courses.

Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal: An instructor has the right to withdraw a student for academic reasons. For more information, see the Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal Procedure.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress (SAP):Federal Regulations require North Idaho College to establish Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. The purpose of SAP standards are meant to ensure that students and academic institutions are held accountable to the taxpayer-funded federal student aid programs while students complete their academic goals in a timely manner. This process monitors student performance in all terms of enrollment, including terms in which the student did not receive financial aid. For more information, see the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress website.

For more information on withdrawals, see the NIC Student Accounts website.

Title IX
North Idaho College seeks to provide an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment.  If you have been the victim of sexual harassment/misconduct/assault we encourage you to report this.   If you report this to any college employee, (except for a licensed counselor or health care professional) she or he must notify our college's Title IX coordinator about the basic facts of the incident (you may choose whether you or anyone involved is identified by name).  For more information about your options at NIC, please go to: www.nic.edu/titleIX or call (208) 676-7156

Removal From Class For Non-Attendance 
Attendance is based on your participation in this class. Failure to attend will result in your being removed from this class and may result in your financial aid award being reduced. You are responsible for confirming the accuracy of your attendance record.

SPECIAL STATEMENT ON COVID-19
Your safety, health, well-being, and that of our faculty and staff are our primary concerns. Everyone is expected to abide by college measures to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID. Circumstances can change rapidly, which may require a change in the delivery method of courses, for example a move from face-to-face to hybrid or online. Continue to visit the North Idaho College COVID-19 webpage for the latest information.

Students experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 or that have tested positive for COVID-19 should not attend class and should call Rapid-Trace to self-report: (813) 699-3551. If you were in close contact with a COVID-19 positive case, please call Rapid-Trace to self-report. Rapid-Trace will confidentially notify NIC on your behalf and assist with information and resources for effective self-quarantine, if applicable.  

Students in healthcare programs experiencing symptoms related to Covid-19 should not attend class and contact the Healthcare Programs Student COVID Response Team [email protected] for further guidance.

Students enrolled in programs associated with healthcare may have different requirements for masking in the lab and clinical settings.

COVID-19 Absences

As with any absence from class, students will need to communicate with professors directly to establish a plan for keeping pace with course material and submission of assignments during a quarantine period.

COVID-19 Student Resources

This is a challenging time to meet your academic goals. Please use the Student Resources for information and resources on basic needs such as housing, food, financial aid, and medical and mental health.

Please also visit the Access to Computers, Internet & E-Learning Support webpage for information on the technology and resources you will need to be successful. 

For general questions about technology, contact the IT Help Desk at [email protected] or 208.769.3280.

NIC leadership will continue to monitor CDC recommendations, engage in weekly discussions with Panhandle Health District, and track local indicators for changes in conditions that may lead to greater risk.