Class Time: MW 11:00-11:50am, August 26-October 21

Class Location:  Gatton Business & Economics Building, Room 311

Instructor Information

Name: Howard Johnson, Assistant Director of Advising, Undergraduate Resource Center

Office Address: 144 Gatton

Phone: 859-218-3328

Email Address: howard.johnson@uky.edu

Office Hours: Thursday 3-5pm

 

Syllabus PDF

Syllabus B&E 150 -Fall 24 .pdf

 

Course Description

This course guides students to explore business majors and career opportunities while considering their individual decision making and leadership styles. Students participate in assessment activities designed to enhance their understanding of self as they examine their value-motivators, interests, personality, and strengths - factors that influence choosing an academic major and career pathway.

This specific section of B&E 150 serves as a connected course to the 2024-25 Direct Admit Program experience and is the first course in the Gatton Pro Series (GPS), a career-focused component of the Gatton curriculum.

You will take B&E 250 in your second semester. CIS 300 is taken further along in your college career, closer to graduation.

Course Prerequisites

There are no course prerequisites.

Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate and increase level of self-awareness through exploration of career assessments and exploratory activities
  • Student will be able to analyze professional interests, personality style, skill areas and work-relevant values
  • Student will be able to assess self-awareness as measured on pre/post assessment
• Examine business careers and expand personal network
  • Students will be able explore career opportunities and expand their personal network by attending a range of Gatton-specific programming including career fairs, workshops, career advising appointments, etc.
• Apply written and oral communication skills as utilized in a professional business environment
  • Student will be able to evaluate their experiences in professional scenarios by writing reflection summaries and will evaluate sample resumes to demonstrate their professional business competency
  • Student will be able to employ business-level oral communication by networking with business professionals and creating a strengths-reflection video
• Use critical thinking skills related to the career decision-making process
  • Student will be able to identify and appraise preferred career decision-making style and related resources/tools to support the process
  • Student will be able to assess confidence in career decision-making ability as measured on pre/post assessment
• Employ skills to describe career goals to employers
  • Student will be able to articulate professionally their strengths and informed career goals as detailed in their strengths-reflection video
  • Student will be able to assess confidence in career goals as measured on pre/post assessment

Technology Information and Requirements

Technology Requirements

Minimum technical requirements for UK courses and suggested hardware, software, and internet connections are available at ITS Student Hardware & Software Guidelines.

Share any additional technology requirements, such as required software, and your preferred procedure for resolving technical complaints for each service or software used in the course.

Technical Support

For account help, contact UK’s Information Technology Customer Services online, by email, or by phone at 859-218-HELP (4357).

Distance Learning/Canvas

Canvas will be used throughout this course to access information, course content, and complete/turn in assignments.

Course Details

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 500

Participation Options Plan                                                                                                 25 points

SparkPath Challenge Cards                                                                                                25 points

Fair Engagement                                                                                                                  75 points

Graham Engagement                                                                                                          100 points

Handshake Engagement                                                                                                     75 points

Career-Plan-Exploration Worksheet Completion                                                          100 points

Attendance/Participation                                                                                                 100 points

Fair Engagement: Attend any 1 of 3 Large-Scale Fairs (Attend 1 of 3 choices): a) Accounting Career Fair (9/13), b) All Majors Career Fair (9/25), c) Education Abroad Fair (9/10) (75 points)

Graham Engagement: Work with Graham Your Way (Attend 1 of 3 choices): a) Have a 1:1 appointment with a Graham Career Counselor on the topic of your choice (choosing your major, searching for internships, writing your resume, etc.), b) Attend a Careers & Cane’s or Careers & Community event b) Attend a Graham Workshop or Navigation Lab (50 points)

Handshake Engagement: An active Handshake profile + attend 1 Handshake-based Virtual Info Session with a company of your choice: (75 points)

*We have 15 class sessions, which accounts for roughly 6-7 points per class. Full credit will be given for regular in-class participation and engagement. Points will be deducted for unexcused absences, disruption, and/or lack of engagement.

Grading Scale

450 – 500 points               90-100%               A

400 – 449 points               80-89.9%              B

350 – 399 points               70-79.9%              C

300 – 349 points               60-69.9%              D

299 points or less             <60%                     E

Late Assignments

Students with an excused absence may submit assignments the class period following their absence without any penalty. Assignments turned in after the deadline, without an excused absence, will not be accepted.

All assignments will be submitted via Canvas.  Written work must be submitted as a Microsoft Word or PDF document. Unreadable document formats will receive 0 credit.

Attendance Policy

This is an in-person class.  Students are expected to attend ALL class sessions unless their absence is excused. Attending class is an important part of succeeding in any course, especially a discussion-based course like B&E 150. Students will have their final grade deducted by 5% for each unexcused absence. This means that a second unexcused absence results in the drop of a full letter grade, as well as the loss of participation points for that day.  Please see the UNIVERSITY POLICIES section of this syllabus regarding what constitutes an excused absence.

Mid-term Grade

Your mid-term grade will be posted in myUK by the deadline established in the Academic Calendar (http://www.uky.edu/registrar/registrar-academic-calendar).

Exams

This course has no final exam.

Course Schedule

Week:	MW Class Meeting Dates:	In-Class Topic:	Assignments due by 11:59 pm on each due date.
Week 1	26-Aug	Course Welcome + What’s Your Start Date?	Begin marking your calendar for participation option choices over the course of the semester
	28-Aug	Conversation Skills for Networking: WeConnect Cards
Week 2	2-Sep	NO CLASS - LABOR DAY!
	4-Sep	The World Needs You: Discovering What’s Possible in the World of Work – Part 1	Participation Options Plan Due in Canvas
Week 3	9-Sep	The World Needs You: Discovering What’s Possible in the World of Work – Part 2	Complete Challenge Cards Activity Worksheet
	11-Sep	The Skills Employers Want
Week 4	16-Sep	Gain the Experience You Need: An Introduction to High Impact Practices (Internships, Ed Abroad, Campus Leadership, Undergraduate Research)
	18-Sep	Seeing Blue, Abroad: Gatton’s International Education Portfolio
Week 5	23-Sep	Spotlight: BGG + UK Global Career Accelerator with Josh Taylor
	25-Sep	ATTEND CAREER FAIR – NO CLASS!
Week 6	30-Sep	The Basic Do’s and Don’ts for a College Resume: The Who Gets The Interview Challenge	Fair Engagement Due
	2-Oct	Finding Opportunities: Using Handshake + LinkedIn
Week 7	7-Oct	Better Together: Part 1	Graham Engagement Due
	9-Oct	Better Together: Part 2
Week 8	14-Oct	Course Wrap up: Learn who you are, plan where you’ll go, and get where you’re going.  But start with why.	Handshake Engagement Due
	16-Oct	Guest Panel: Plans and Playing Fields	Career Exploration Worksheet Due
Week 9	21-Oct	Course Ends, Final Assignments Due – NO CLASS

University Policies and Resources

Gatton College of Business and Economics Standards of Excellence

The Gatton College of Business fosters an environment of teaching, research, and outreach and embodies a spirit of honesty and trust that is necessary for a conducive learning environment. Gatton encompasses a set of key values shared among members of the college.

The core values underlying and reflected in the Gatton Standards of Excellence are:

• Inclusion as demonstrated by developing and contributing to a community that encourages a sense of belonging for students of all backgrounds
• Integrity as demonstrated by a commitment to academic honesty and by retaining a strong set of moral principles
• Leadership as demonstrated by guiding and supporting each other in an encouraging manner
• Professionalism in all settings as demonstrated by showing respect for others and representing the institution in the highest standard
• Responsibility as demonstrated by consistently fulfilling obligations and maintaining accountability
• Service as demonstrated by voluntarily helping and giving back to members of the community

These values are an expectation of all undergraduate students who are members of the Gatton College of Business and apply to all settings both in person and virtual. These Standards of Excellence define the expectations of conduct for undergraduate students in the Gatton College of Business.

Distance Learning Library Services | Carla Cantagallo, Distance Learning Librarian, 859-218-1240

Midterm Grades for Undergraduate Students (Senate Rules 6.1.3.1)

Mid-term grades will be posted in myUK by the deadline established in the Academic Calendar.

Excused Absences (Senate Rules 5.2.4.2)

Senate Rules 5.2.4.2 defines the following as acceptable reasons for excused absences: (a) significant illness, (b) death of a family member, (c) trips for members of student organizations sponsored by an educational unit, trips for University classes, and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events, (d) major religious holidays, (e) interviews for graduate/professional school or full-time employment post-graduation, and (f) other circumstances found to fit “reasonable cause for nonattendance” by the instructor of record. Students should notify the professor of absences prior to class when possible.

If a course syllabus requires specific interactions (e.g., with the instructor or other students), in situations where a student’s total EXCUSED absences exceed 1/5 (or 20%) of the required interactions for the course, the student shall have the right to request and receive a "W," or the Instructor of Record may award an “I” for the course if the student declines a “W.” (Senate Rules 5.2.4.2.1)

(If an attendance/interaction policy is not stated in the course syllabus or the policy does not include a penalty to the student, the instructor cannot penalize the student for any unexcused absences.)

Verification of Absences (Senate Rules 5.2.4.2.1 – 6)

Students may be asked to verify their absences in order for them to be considered excused. Senate Rule 5.2.4.2 states that faculty have the right to request appropriate verification when students claim an excused absence due to: significant illness; death in the household, trips for classes, trips sponsored by an educational unit and trips for participation related to intercollegiate athletic events; and interviews for full-time job opportunities after graduation and interviews for graduate and professional school. (Appropriate notification of absences due to university-related trips is required prior to the absence when feasible and in no case more than one week after the absence.)

Religious Observances (Senate Rules 5.2.4.2.4)

Students anticipating an absence for a major religious holiday are responsible for notifying the instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays. Please check the course syllabus for the notification requirement. If no requirement is specified, two weeks prior to the absence is reasonable and should not be given any later. Information regarding major religious holidays may be obtained through the Ombud’s website or calling 859-257-3737.

Make-Up Work (Senate Rule 5.2.4.2)

Students missing any graded work due to an excused absence are responsible: for informing the Instructor of Record about their excused absence within one week following the period of the excused absence (except where prior notification is required); and for making up the missed work. The instructor must give the student an opportunity to make up the work and/or the exams missed due to the excused absence, and shall do so, if feasible, during the semester in which the absence occurred. The instructor shall provide the student with an opportunity to make up the graded work and may not simply calculate the student's grade on the basis of the other course requirements, unless the student agrees in writing.

Accommodations Due to Disability

If you have a documented disability that requires academic accommodation, please see me as soon as possible during scheduled office hours. In order to receive accommodations in this course, you must provide me with a Letter of Accommodation from the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC coordinates campus disability services available to students with disabilities. Visit the DRC website, email the DRC, contact them by phone at (859) 257-2754, or visit their office on the corner of Rose Street and Huguelet Drive in the Multidisciplinary Science Building, Suite 407.

Non-Discrimination Statement and Title IX Information

UK is committed to providing a safe learning, living, and working environments for all members of the University community. The University maintains a comprehensive program which protects all members from discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. For complete information about UK’s prohibition on discrimination and harassment on aspects such as race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, and sexual orientation, please see the electronic version of UK’s Administrative Regulation 6:1 (“Policy on Discrimination and Harassment”) . In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex in academics, employment, and all of its programs and activities. Sexual misconduct is a form of sexual harassment in which one act is severe enough to create a hostile environment based on sex and is prohibited between members of the University community and shall not be tolerated. For more details, please see the electronic version of Administrative Regulations 6:2 (“Policy and Procedures for Addressing and Resolving Allegations of Sexual Assault, Stalking, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Exploitation”). Complaints regarding violations of university policies on discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct are handled by the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity (IEEO), which is located in 13 Main Building and can be reached by phone at (859) 257-8927. You can also visit the IEEO’s website. 

Faculty members are obligated to forward any report made by a student related to IEEO matters to the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity. Students can confidentially report alleged incidences through the Violence Intervention and Prevention Center, Counseling Center, or University Health Services.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University of Kentucky is committed to our core values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and human dignity, and a sense of community (Governing Regulations XIV). We acknowledge and respect the seen and unseen diverse identities and experiences of all members of the university community (https://www.uky.edu/regs/gr14). These identities include but are not limited to those based on race, ethnicity, gender identity and expressions, ideas and perspectives, religious and cultural beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, age, ability, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to equity and justice and providing a learning and engaging community in which every member is engaged, heard, and valued.

We strive to rectify and change behavior that is inconsistent with our principles and commitment to creating a safe, equitable, and anti-racist environment. If students encounter such behavior in a course, they are encouraged to speak with the instructor of record or the college’s diversity officer, who is charged with addressing concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (uky.edu/inclusiveexcellence/college-diversity-inclusion-officers). Students may also contact a faculty member within the department, program director, the director of undergraduate or graduate studies, the department chair, or the dean. To submit an official report of bias, hatred, racism, or identity-based violence, visit the Bias Incident Support Services website (https://www.uky.edu/biss/report-bias-incident).

Academic Integrity– Prohibition on Plagiarism (Senate Rules 6.3.1)

Per University policy, students shall not plagiarize, cheat, or falsify or misuse academic records. Students are expected to adhere to University policy on cheating and plagiarism in all courses. The minimum penalty for a first offense is a zero on

the assignment on which the offense occurred. If the offense is considered severe or the student has other academic offenses on their record, more serious penalties, up to suspension from the University may be imposed.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious breaches of academic conduct. Each student is advised to become familiar with the various forms of academic dishonesty as explained in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Complete information can be found on the Academic Ombud page. A plea of ignorance is not acceptable as a defense against the charge of academic dishonesty. It is important that you review this information as all ideas borrowed from others need to be properly credited.

Senate Rule 6.3.1 (see current Senate Rules) states that all academic work, written or otherwise, submitted by students to their instructors or other academic supervisors, is expected to be the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. In cases where students feel unsure about a question of plagiarism involving their work, they are obliged to consult their instructors on the matter before submission.

When students submit work purporting to be their own, but which in any way borrows ideas, organization, wording, or content from another source without appropriate acknowledgment of the fact, the students are guilty of plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes reproducing someone else's work (including, but not limited to a published article, a book, a website, computer code, or a paper from a friend) without clear attribution. Plagiarism also includes the practice of employing or allowing another person to alter or revise the work which a student submits as his/her own, whoever that other person may be, except under specific circumstances (e.g. Writing Center review or peer review) allowed by the Instructor of Record or that person’s designee. Plagiarism may also include double submission, self-plagiarism, or unauthorized resubmission of one’s own work, as defined by the instructor.

Students may discuss assignments among themselves or with an instructor or tutor, except where prohibited by the Instructor of Record (e.g. individual take-home exams). However, the actual work must be done by the student, and the student alone, unless collaboration is allowed by the Instructor of Record (e.g. group projects).

When a student's assignment involves research in outside sources or information, the student must carefully acknowledge exactly what, where and how he/she has employed them. If the words of someone else are used, the student must put quotation marks around the passage in question and add an appropriate indication of its origin. Making simple changes while leaving the organization, content, and phraseology intact is plagiaristic. However, nothing in these Rules shall apply to those ideas, which are so generally and freely circulated as to be a part of the public domain.

Please note:  Any assignment you turn in may be submitted to an electronic database to check for plagiarism.

Academic Integrity – Prohibition on Cheating (Senate Rules 6.3.2)

Cheating is defined by its general usage. It includes, but is not limited to, the wrongfully giving, taking, or presenting any information or material by a student with the intent of aiding himself/herself or another on any academic work which is considered in any way in the determination of the final grade. The fact that a student could not have benefited from an action is not by itself proof that the action does not constitute cheating. Any question of definition shall be referred to the University Appeals Board.

Academic Integrity – Prohibition on Falsification/Misuse of Academic Records (SR 6.3.3)

Maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and appropriate privacy of student academic records is an essential administrative function of the University and a basic protection of all students. Accordingly, the actual or attempted falsification, theft, misrepresentation or other alteration or misuse of any official academic record of the University, specifically including knowingly having unauthorized access to such records or the unauthorized disclosure of information contained in such records, is a serious academic offense. As used in this context, "academic record" includes all paper and electronic versions of the partial or complete permanent academic record, all official and unofficial academic transcripts, application documents and admission credentials, and all academic record transaction documents. The minimum sanction for falsification, including the omission of information, or attempted falsification or other misuse of academic records as described in this section is suspension for one semester