Course: Gateway To Success Designing Your Professional, Academic and Personal Plan. SUMMER B 2009 Mixed Mode 8-week

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1 Course: Gateway To Success Designing Your Professional, Academic and Personal Plan SUMMER B 2009 Mixed Mode 8-week Instructor Walt Stevenson Professor of Management and Communications Undergraduate Programs Ageno School of Business GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY Contact Information wstevenson@ggu.edu Telephone: Office Hours: Mondays 2-4 PM or by appointment Important Dates: First Day of Class: Sunday, May 3, 2009 Last Day of Class: Saturday, June 27, 2009 l. Course Description The adult undergraduate student who has clearly defined goals for personal, academic and professional achievement is more likely to complete a degree program in the shortest possible time and with the highest level of success. Through review of learning theory for adult students, self-assessment activities and written self-reflection, students will define personal and professional goals related to the academic program; through classroom activities, projects and presentations, students will enhance the skills that lead to achieving those goals and to general academic success. This course will introduce the student to Golden Gate University s culture of professional practice education. This course will also introduce the student to Golden Gate University s support services and resources, such as the library and tutoring, advising and career services. A portfolio of student work and a comprehensive academic plan are among outcomes of the course. 2. Course Objectives and Outcomes By experiencing and engaging a variety of activities including classroom lectures, library and online research, reading 1

2 and experiential learning the student will: develop approaches for self-learning and exploration that can apply throughout your undergraduate program and life-long learning make the connection between academic learning and his or her professional goals with an updatable Professional Success Plan (PSP) which includes the beginnings of a personal portfolio to share with prospective employers map a Path to Completion (P2C) academic plan that will determine the course schedule for every academic term until graduation know where GGU resources are and how to use them effectively In addition, students who complete the Gateway to Success should: be motivated to finish the degree program acquire academic skills that contribute to educational success at the undergraduate level and beyond improve study habits, time management, networking strategies, and personal career management 3. Required Materials Gateway To Success XanEdu Reader Career Leader Assessment Tool Golden Gate University Catalog on CD-Rom (sent with admissions package) Access to GGU s CyberCampus Book Store To purchase course books and materials from efollett, GGU's official online bookstore, please see the Important Info section of this course. University Library There are several databases available through the Golden Gate University Library for students to conduct research on various topics. Remote (off campus) access to the databases requires your last name and student ID# (located on the front of your ID card) or your CyberCampus ID. Be sure to type in ALL 7 digits, including the starting 0. Example: You may access the library from GGU s homepage at 4. Contacting the instructor wstevenson@ggu.edu Telephone: Office Hours: Mondays 2-4 PM or by appointment 5. Course Requirements, Student Responsibilities, Evaluations Course Requirements This class provides students with academic and professional development skills that enhance their learning at Golden Gate University and ensure that they will be able to apply their learning to a variety of career situations. Students are expected to take an active role in the activities assigned. In-class students must attend each in-person class meeting and cyber students must participate each week in online discussions and other assigned activities. Students taking the Cyber section of this course will be required to participate in the modules as outlined in the assignments for the week. This may include: 1) presenting their own thoughts/conclusions and 2) responding to their classmates postings, as well as other required online activities. Students in the blended in-person section will be expected to utilize the online platform for submitting assignments, and reading lesson materials. The technical requirements for using the CyberCampus platform can be found at Technical Requirements - CyberCampus - Golden Gate University. 2

3 Student Responsibilities Students will participate in in-person and/or online discussions depending on class format, contributing experiences and ideas as well as challenges and solutions, as appropriate. Good participation includes a willingness to contribute ideas as well as to ask for clarification, show support for opinions and demonstrate respect for everyone in the class. Good participation also requires that students be fully prepared for each class session. Students will be informed of their progress as outlined in the online gradebook. Evaluations Students will receive evaluation of their work through grading or less formal interactions (conversation or exchange). 6. Course Procedure Students will be required to complete readings, activities and self-assessment exercises for each class session as defined in the course calendar. This includes pre-meeting reading and exercises. Between sessions, students may be asked to complete individual or team research exercises in support of their professional success plans. Cyber students may also be required to respond to postings by their classmates each week; responses are expected to be thoughtful, constructive, and respectful of peers. Students will collect work for the Professional Success Plan on a schedule specified in the course calendar. Students will complete the Path to Completion for review by their academic advisors. 7. Course Evaluations Course grades are based on a number of components, defined and weighted as specified in the Grading Policy section below. NOTE: Please remember that any work not having official points is to be included in your participation grade. See grading policy below. 8. Grading Policy Grading Learning Outcome Aligned Activity Value Develop methodologies for selflearning and exploration to apply throughout the undergraduate program and in life-long learning Make the connection between academic learning and his or her professional goals with an updatable Professional Success Plan which includes the beginnings of a personal portfolio to share with prospective employers Map a Path to Completion academic plan that will determine the course schedule for every academic term until graduation Know where GGU resources are and how to use them effectively Participation in discussion and self-assessments Journal Position Outline reflections on readings and activities (some are submitted in the journal, others are submitted as separate documents) Industry Labor Market Research report Professional Success Plan (PSP) 25 points/ 25% 25 points/25% 10 points/ 10% 25 points/ 25% Path to Completion (P2C) advising document 10 points/ 10% GGU Resource Quest 5 points/ 5% Grade A 90 points+ B points Skills/Expectations Contributions are prompt, timely, relevant, self-initiated; remarks are raised freely on all assignments throughout the course; there is no attempt to dominate conversation. Assigned work is always submitted in a timely fashion as defined in calendar. Student generally keeps up with the discussion. Needs some prompting to contribute. Assigned work is generally submitted in a timely fashion 3

4 C points D points F Below 60 points Participation is spotty; picks and chooses topics to get involved. Demonstrates little initiative. Assigned work is consistently late for submission. Very limited participation; makes relevant remarks; work is not submitted in a timely manner. No participation or disregard for institutional policy on academic integrity. 9. Academic Integrity Policy GGU's Policy on Student Academic Integrity is in effect at all GGU teaching locations, including regional classroom sites, corporate sites, and distance courses delivered in any medium. This policy applies to all business, taxation, and technology students at Golden Gate University. Academic integrity means doing academic work in a manner that strives to achieve the learning objectives your courses have set out for you. It means that you follow the rules and procedures prescribed by your instructors so that you acquire the skills and knowledge your courses are designed to give you. It means that you engage in ethical practices in taking tests and doing assignments and that you respect intellectual property rights by fully disclosing sources of information that appear in your papers and presentations. GGU provides many resources and services that assist you in learning the required research and documentation skills. Read more about this subject by visiting the Important Info section under the Course Home button to the left upon entering the online platform for this course. You are also invited to view the Student Services department linked from GGU s homepage at Disability Accommodations Golden Gate University seeks to ensure that all programs and services are fully accessible to students with disabilities who identify and express their needs. Information regarding The Americans with Disabilities Acts and GGU s policies and services can be found by contacting the Student Services department at GGU. 11. Instructor Bio Walt Stevenson is Professor of Management and Communications, a full-time faculty member at Golden Gate University. He also serves as Director of the BBA programs. He holds an AB in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA and DBA in General Management from Golden Gate University. He is Colleague Associate and distinguished Leader of the Creative Education Foundation, located in Buffalo, New York, teaching in Creative Problem Solving Institutes in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. He has taught GM 300 Managerial Analysis and Communications for Golden Gate University in its Southeast Asia programs located in Singapore, and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His University trip took him to Djakarta, Indonesia, to Bangkok, Thailand, and to Hong Kong where he visited and met with current students and alumni of the University. A recent teaching assignment in Sao Paulo, Brazil, allowed him to work with managerial decision making in a Latin American culture and to present a forum on the post-industrial manager. He has also taught courses on managing cultural diversity for GGU's programs in American Samoa. Walt's community service includes serving on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of San Francisco and serving on the Board of Directors for Tale Spinners, a theater group writing and performing oral history plays. Walt's current teaching at Golden Gate University includes Managerial Analysis and Communications, 4

5 Business and American Society, the Creative Process, Introduction to Critical Reasoning, Drama Seminar: ACT Season, Manager as Communicator, Management Theory and Practice, Principles of Management, Business Writing and Editing, and Applied Presentation Skills. He has also been an active teacher in the University's Cyber Campus. Walt is co-author, with H. L. Knight, of Communication for Justice Administration: Theory and Skill, Course Outline: CyberCampus will open for this course on Sunday, June 29, NOTE: Content subject to change. Session Topic Assignment Outcomes Week 1 Getting to Know GGU Understanding Technology for Learning Planned Happenstance Confirm/register for placement exams, if needed Request CareerLeader user ID and password CyberCampus Tutorial GGU Resource Quest Planned Happenstance Worksheet Journal Position Outlines Readings Discussion Prepare for English and math placement tests Identify GGU support services and resources Understand purpose of course and deliverables. Introduce the uses of technology in learning Week 2 Professional and Academic Development - Self Assessment Time Management Journal Position Outline CareerLeader Assessment and Triad Exercise Time Management Development and Insight Worksheet Reading Discussion Check-in with instructor(s) Engage in career assessment to develop self-awareness, articulate professional aspirations, and inform professional development goals Assess time management skills Week 3 Gathering information for informed decision making Importance of Networks Journal Position Outlines Set up GGUCareers and CareerBeam accounts. Labor Market Survey Readings Gathering information related to your professional success plan Analyze research sources for appropriateness, objectivity and reliability for your research question Utilize online resources for labor market study Week 4 Learn GGU policies Develop Educational Goals Path to Completion Planning Journal Position Outlines Review What s an Undergraduate Degree PowerPoint Path to Completion (P2C) Interview Begin the Professional Success Plan Readings Understand issues that can impact a student s ability to successfully reach their academic goals Explore the structure and purpose of an undergraduate degree Use assessment results to articulate skills, preferences and work values to determine career goals and update a Professional Success Plan Understand personal accountability 5

6 Week 5 Building a Professional Network Importance of Informational Interviewing Journal Position Outlines Review the professional networking case, Launching a PSF Career and answer the corresponding worksheet questions Create your marketing message Complete the Networking Assignment Begin work on the Professional Success Plan presentation Readings Discussion towards goal completion Apply strategies to foster and build a professional network Explore use of an experiential activity as part of the learning experience Apply learning to a workplace scenarios/situations Week 6 Corporate Athlete Journal Position Outlines Corporate Athlete Worksheet Readings Discussion Week 7 Emotional Intelligence Journal Position Outlines EI Overview Presentation powerpoint and workbook EI Case Study Readings Discussion Optional check-in with instructor(s) Identify and apply strategies to align work/life priorities and support professional and academic success Gain a better understanding of the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) Practice applying the concept of EI Week 8 Professional Success Plan and Wrap Up Submit PSP presentations Final journal position outline submission (details in lesson plan) Complete course evaluation Apply decision-making strategies to professional development goal setting Make the connection between academic and professional goals Discuss the relationships between your academic and career development plans. Talk about how you will use GGUcareers.com and Careerbeam.com as tools for future career development. Review your Path to Completion, choosing your courses for next semester 6

7 PERSONAL DATA SHEET Name Address City Zipcode Phones Day Eve Fax Employer name (attach bus card if available) I have access to the Internet yes [ ] no [ ] I know how to prepare a Power Point Presentation: Yes [] No [ ] My learning objectives for this class: What professional practice strategies do I expect to develop out of my participation in this class: What added value for me as a practicing manager do I predict will result from this class: Other comment: 7