This material is no longer current.
Professor David Casey
Office: MA116
Office Hours: See My Schedule
E-mail: dcasey@citruscollege.edu
Web Page: 
http://www.citruscollege.edu/ACADEMICS/COURSES/CASEY/Pages/default.aspx
Telephone: (626) 914-8766
TEXT: etextbook included with ALEKS
COURSE COVERAGE - This course is designed to help you make the transition from arithmetic to algebra. It is the first step in the Elementary-Intermediate Algebra sequence that many of you need to take. Topics covered include the real numbers, rules for exponents, variables, order of operations, solving equation, and application problems.
PREREQUISITE - Math 020 or adequate placement score.
REPEATING THIS COURSE – You need to succeed in this course. If you get a D, F, NC or W grade in this course, you may repeat it only once. If you get a D, F, NC or W grade in this course twice, you will need to take this course at another college or file a petition with the Counseling Office. The few successful petitions that are granted each year are based on extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student (see the Citrus Catalog, pages, Repeated Courses).
ATTENDANCE - Class attendance is mandatory. You must attend class regularly. Excessive absences (3 classes or more) as well as tardiness or leaving class early with no prior arrangement will affect your grade and may result in your being dropped from the course. Students who are absent the first day of the class or who are absent two consecutive class days in the first four weeks of instruction may be dropped. Please make every effort to contact the instructor if you will be absent. It is your responsibility to make up missed assignments. It is also your responsibility to officially withdraw from the class, if necessary by the deadline stated in the schedule of classes.
MAINTAINING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT - Arriving late, smoking, consuming food or drinks (other than water), talking out of turn or any other classroom behavior that disrupts the learning environment is cause for immediate dismissal from the class. Expect to be dropped from this course after excessive absence. Three absences before the drop deadline is excessive. After the drop deadline, a student with five absences will no longer earn credit. Use of a cellphone in class is prohibited. Please turn off (or set to vibrate) all cell phones and pagers while in the classroom. Any student who disrupts the class by using a cellphone or otherwise will be required to leave that class and be counted absent. A student may petition for readmission in accordance with college procedures and policies.
CLASS STRUCTURE - Class will begin and end promptly. Generally, we will begin with questions from the homework, followed by a quiz, if appropriate. The remainder of the class time will be spent introducing new topics, doing examples at the board, and doing examples in small groups. No smoking, drinking, or eating is permitted in the classroom.
EXPECTATIONS - You must be prepared to discuss the assigned materials in class. Class discussions depend on your preparation as well as mine. Class preparation includes reading and studying the assigned materials and being prepared to discuss the materials in class. Homework assignments must be completed in order fully understand the material. Expect to spend at least 2 hours of study time for each class hour.
SUPERVISED LAB EXERCISES - In addition to the 2 hours of study time per class hour noted above, this course includes 1 lab hour per week. Lab time is scheduled and attendance is mandatory. Lab assignments will constitute 10-15% of the final grade. Failure to attend lab is grounds for dropping a student or lowering the student's final grade by up to 3 full grades.
HOMEWORK - I will assign homework at each class meeting. Any homework which has been assigned may be collected at the next or a subsequent class meeting. You will receive 5 points for attempting 90% of the assigned problems and 2 points for attempting at least 50% but less than 90%. You will receive no points for attempting less than 50% of the assigned problems. Late assignments will be accepted only if prior arrangement has been made with me. As part of your homework, read the sections the class is scheduled to cover during the next class. A quiz may be substituted for homework without prior announcement. Additional quizzes may be given at any time during any class.
EXAMINATIONS - There will be a chapter test for most chapters and a final examination. Each exam may include any and all material covered before the examination. There will be 50 points possible on each chapter test and 200 points possible for the final exam. There are no makeup exams. If you miss one chapter test, you will receive the equivalent of 80% of your final examination score for that exam. You will receive no points if you miss another chapter test. If you miss the final examination, you will receive a grade of F. Any special accommodations for examinations must be arranged in advance with me or through Disabled Students Programs & Services.
STUDY GROUPS - Study groups can be very effective. I encourage you to get to know other students in the class. You can assist each other in understanding how to do the homework, provide information from missed classes, study for tests together, etc.
TUTORIAL SERVICES - Tutoring is available at no charge at the Learning Center. It is provided by qualified, trained students who have been recommended by the faculty. The Math Study Lab (see below) provides on call tutoring and homework assistance.
ACCOMODATION - Citrus College is committed to providing access to education for students with disabilities. If you have a disability documented by a physician or other appropriate professional and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the DSP&S office (914-8675). Please discuss your accommodations with me during office hours or after class and be sure to allow at least one week to arrange appropriate classroom or testing accommodations.
MATH STUDY LAB - The Math Lab (MA127) is staffed by faculty and student tutors who will assist you. I encourage you to use the Math Lab to study, work in groups, and/or obtain assistance from the student tutors and faculty.
COMPUTER LAB - The Math Computer Lab (MA129) contains desktop computers from which you may log onto the World Wide Web.
ACADEMIC HONESTY - Dishonesty will not be tolerated. All work submitted for grading must be original, not copied from others, and the work being graded must be done by the student who is receiving the grade. Cheating and plagiarism are serious violations of the student conduct code. Cheating or plagiarizing will result in a zero on the assignment or test and may result in suspension, failure in the course, and/or other disciplinary action taken by the College. All incidents of cheating or plagiarizing are reported to the Office of Student Affairs.