Course Syllabus

Course Information
Course Number/Section BA 3361.002
Course Title Organizational Behavior
Term Fall 2008
Days & Times Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 – 2:15 SM 1.217

Professor Contact Information

Professor Dr. Laurie Ziegler (Dr. Z.)
Office Phone 972-883-2847
Email Address WebCT email
Office Location SM 4.210
Office Hours Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 – 4:00

TA TBA
Phone
Email Address WebCT email
Office Location
Office Hours

Course Description
Have you ever wondered why some people seem motivated and others do not? Why
some people see the world the way you do and others don’t have a clue? Why some
decisions are successfully implemented and others never see the light of day? These
questions and more are at the heart of organizational behavior. In this course you will
learn about human behavior in an organizational context. You will not only understand
what is going on, you will also be able to predict what will happen, and will be able to
influence outcomes.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

1) Students will be able to describe team processes and explain the characteristics
associated with effective team performance.
2) Students will develop an understanding of ethical and value-related issues as they
relate to human behavior in organizations and will be able to apply this knowledge to
make ethical and responsible decisions.
3) Students will be able to explain and apply major theoretical and scholarly
approaches, empirical findings, and historical trends in Organizational Behavior.
4) Demonstrate an understanding of how diversity and multiculturalism affects the
workplace environment and develop some strategies to bridge differences to capitalize
on the benefits of multiculturalism.
5) Students will be able to explain and apply basic research methods used in
Organizational Behavior.
6) Students will be able to identify, explain, and apply modes of critical thinking to
Organizational Behavior concepts.

Course Syllabus Page 1

7) Students will develop a regard for human values and the ability to make judgments
based on ethical and environmental considerations.
8) Students will understand the multicultural aspects and international dimensions of the
societies and world in which we live and be familiar with knowledge and methods
necessary to deal with related problems.

Required Textbooks and Materials

“Organizational Behavior” Stephen Robbins and Timothy Judge, 13th edition, Pearson
Prentice Hall. You may buy either the hard copy or the student value edition. Self-
Assessment Library.

WebCT 3361 Course Site and related assignments and assessments.

Assignments

Grading Policy
(including percentages for assignments, grade scale, etc.)

There are 100 possible points in the class. The following assignments will
contribute to your grade:

Assignment Due Date Points Instructions

Quizzes Quiz 1: Each quiz is worth Quizzes will be multiple choice taken
9/11 13 points for a total on 882-E scantrons. Quizzes will cover
of 65 points. the readings, including those assigned
Quiz 2: for the day of the quiz, as well as all
notes and outside activities. Bring a
10/2
scantron to class during quiz days. I
WILL NOT HAVE EXTRA
Quiz 3: SCANTRONS IF YOU FORGET
10/23 YOURS. If you take all five quizzes,
you may substitute your highest quiz
Quiz 4: score for your lowest quiz score. This
11/13 means that if you take all five quizzes,
your lowest grade will be dropped and
Quiz 5: your highest grade will be doubled.
12/11
Movie Analysis 25 points—20 for All members of your team will receive
Team Paper Nov. 20 the paper and 5 for the same number of points UNLESS
with self- and your self- and your teammates’ or self-evaluations
teammates’ teammates’ suggest that you did not contribute to
evaluations evaluations (Use the team effort in writing the paper. I
only the form reserve the right to deduct points as
A complete provided.) You appropriate for team members who do
description of must turn in the not contribute to the assignment. In
the assignment team film addition, realize that submitting a
follows the information (Due paper with the name of a teammate
course 9/18) to avoid who did not contribute is a form of
schedule. having 5 points academic dishonesty which will be
deducted from your reported to the Dean of Students for

Course Syllabus Page 2

 final grade on this appropriate academic penalties. The
assignment. peer evaluation form follows the
schedule and rules for the term paper.

Short Occasionally 10 points total-- These brief assignments will be listed

Assignments: we will have each assignment in the syllabus, given in class, and/or
Including self- in-class or will receive one of posted in the "Assignments" Learning
assessments, out of class the following scores: Module on WebCT. Some will be
in-class individual or 0=did not do it at all; individual assignments others will be
exercises, and team 1=did not do it team assignments. Some may be
other brief assignments. completely/correctly; done outside of class (e.g. online
written tasks Some will be 2=completed the surveys) and some will be done in
graded. assignment class (e.g. brief written answers to
correctly questions discussed in class). The
purpose of these assignments is to
If I can’t read it, it help you think about highlighted issues
receives a 0. and to help you become engaged in
course materials.

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

97 and above A+
92 to 96.99 A
89 to 91.99 A-
87 to 88.99 B+
82 to 86.99 B
79 to 81.99 B-
77 to 78.99 C+
72 to 76.99 C
69 to 71.99 C-
67 to 68.99 D+
62 to 66.99 D
59 to 61.99 D-
Below 59 F

Note: There has to be a grading cut-off somewhere. This is where our course grades are
delineated. Do not ask me to give you a different cutoff at the end of the semester.

If you are taking this course CR/NCR, you must complete ALL parts of all
assignments at a "B" level to receive credit

If you do not understand the reason you received a specific grade on any
assignment, I definitely want to talk with you about it. If you believe that a grade
should be reconsidered, take time to review my comments about your work and
follow these instructions:
1. You must wait at least 24 hours after you received the grade but no more
than one week to talk to me about it.

Course Syllabus Page 3

 2. Write a memo specifying the grade you think you deserve and your
reasons for asking me to change the grade you received. Address this
memo to me on WebCt.
3. Include your original evaluation and paper with your memo.

Course & Instructor Policies

Classroom Citizenship:
With over 100 students in this class, it is easy to distract others and interfere with
their learning. I expect all students to behave professionally and as upper-level
university learners. This means contributing to a positive learning environment in
the following ways:
Please do NOT:
♦ Forget to turn OFF your cell phones or pagers.
♦ Answer your cell phone in class.
♦ Read newspapers, magazines, other textbooks, etc.
♦ Study for another class or do other work during our class time.
♦ Surf the internet, engage in any form of video games, text messaging, etc.
♦ Talk to your neighbor while someone is speaking.
♦ Come in late and walk around the room--sit near the door you entered.

Please DO:
♦ Get plenty of SLEEP BEFORE class (if you snore out loud, we will laugh
out loud at you).
♦ Be prepared – bring the correct equipment – pen, scantrons, paper, etc
♦ Review your notes from our previous class session prior to class.
♦ SKIM or READ the assigned reading.
♦ READ or RE-READ the assignments after class.
♦ Prepare for the exams a LITTLE EACH DAY.

Tips for Success after class:

♦ REWRITE your notes in a final neat format…this allows you to review the
information, elaborate on it, and fill in blank spots while the information is
fresh.
♦ Look up any terms, definitions, etc that you struggled with in class.
♦ Practice EXPLAINING the concepts from lecture to someone else.
♦ Study with your team…I suggest creating your own “test bank” file a little
♦ each class period, then you have a great study tool for exams.
♦ Remember: The secret to success in this class is simple: keep up.
♦ Ask me to clarify anything you do not understand.

REMEMBER:
As a courtesy to both your classmates and me, please turn off cell phones and
put them away; laptops should be used for taking class notes only. I will ask you
publicly to leave class if you are doing activities unrelated to class.

Course Syllabus Page 4

We will be using WebCT throughout the semester. Updates, documents, and
answers to frequently asked questions will be posted on WebCT. You are
responsible for any information posted on WebCT.

When calling my office, please leave a local phone number where you can be
reached, as I am unable to return long distance phone calls (i.e. to out-of-town
cell phones).

General PowerPoints from class will be posted on WebCT but these will not be
exactly the same as what you see in class. I will add/delete slides and
information to encourage and reward you for attending class.

No electronic gadgets (iPods, cell phones, computers, etc) are allowed in the
room during quizzes. No hats are to be worn and no papers are to be visible on
quiz days. Everything needs to be in your backpacks/bags or not brought into
the classroom at all. I will take up and hold anything on this list for the duration of
your quiz.

There will be several forms of each quiz. While yours might appear the same as
your neighbor's, it is unlikely that all questions are in the same order and all sets
of answers for each question are in the same order. If you are looking at each
others' quizzes to try to find the differences in versions, I will consider it an act of
academic dishonesty.

Rules for Teams:

Your participation on a team for the film assignment is designed to help you put
into practice what you will learn in this class about working with others to
accomplish a common goal. There are various ways work teams are structured in
organizations and various levels of control that team members have over their
working situations. In this class, the following rules apply to your project teams:
1. You may fire any group member who is not contributing to your project.
If you decide to fire a group member, there is a procedure for doing so:
First, meet as a team and discuss with the member your
dissatisfaction with his/her level/quality of work. Give that person one
chance to recover the team's confidence.

After the one chance, meet with me to discuss the best way to
approach the situation.

Have a full team meeting and give effective and constructive

feedback to the member you are firing. Make sure that all members,
including the one you fired, sign a statement of understanding that
the person is no longer on your team. Submit the statement to me no
later than one week after it is signed.

Course Syllabus Page 5

 2. With your team's permission and the permission of a new team, you may
switch teams. No team may have more than 6 members.

3. If you are fired, you may submit an individual project for 1/2 credit.

4. No individual papers for full credit will be accepted. That means is it to

your advantage to make sure you stay on a team.

5. You can control whether or not your team members are all contributing
If you do the intro team exercise provided in class, you increase your
chances of functioning together effectively. Please do not complain to
me about team members who are not meeting your expectations.
Instead, use your knowledge gained in this class to do something about
it. As future managers and executives, motivating and inspiring low-
performing team members is something you will do often.

Rules for Quizzes:

1. No electronic gadgets of any kind allowed during quizzes including cell
phones, iPods, computers, calculators.
2. No wearing hats during quizzes.
3. No food or drinks allowed during quizzes.
4. No wandering eyes. There will be multiple forms of the quizzes but you
do not get extra points for figuring out the differences among them.
5. No paper, notebooks, or books visible during the quiz. I will keep these
articles in the front of the room if I find they are causing a problem.
6. When you turn in your quiz, please put your initials by your name on the
quiz roster.
7. Bring your own scantron for each quiz. I will not have extras for you.
You may not leave to get one after the quiz begins.
8. If you leave during a quiz, you will submit it to be graded. This means no
in and out during a quiz. Make sure you attend to issues before the quiz
begins.
9. You will receive your scores for your quizzes. If you would like to see
your own quiz, please make an appointment with me during my office
hours and you can review your quiz and your answer sheet. I will be
happy to discuss your answers with you.

Make-up Quizzes:
Because you are able to drop your lowest quiz grade, there are no make-up
quizzes unless you have documented proof of an extended hospital stay and/or
other lingering/extenuating circumstances. I rarely accept excuses so please
make sure that yours warrants my effort in constructing an individual quiz
(about 10 hours extra of my time).

Class Attendance:
It is fundamental to your success in this class that you attend regularly. Our time
in class will give you the opportunity to work through important topics with me

Course Syllabus Page 6

and your peers and help you to meet the objectives of the course. Although I will
not take attendance, you will have frequent in-class assignments that will be
collected and counted toward part of your grade. There are no excuses
considered for missing these assignments--you will receive zeros for missing
them.

Extra Credit:
There is a lot of work in this class. If you focus on doing it to the best of your
ability, you will not need or have time for extra credit. I do not give extra credit in
this class so please do not ask me to do so.

Problems? Questions?
I hope you enjoy participating in this course as much as I enjoy teaching it. If you
are having any problems, questions, or just want to talk, I encourage you to see
me before class, during my office hours, or call me. In any case, I WANT TO
TALK TO YOU!!! Don't let small problems during the semester grow to a crisis at
the end. It's always easier to fix anticipated difficulties than to untangle a mess;
please see me beforehand.

Course Schedule

Module/ Required Other: I will add

Readings & self-assessments
Dates
Cases as the semester
progresses

M1: Chapters 1 – 3 & 8 Ch. 1: What is

8/21- Organizational
9/11 Behavior?

Ethical Dilemma:
Lying in Business

M1: Ch. 2: Foundations

8/21- of Individual
9/11 Behavior

Case 2: Pro Sports:

Rewarding And
Punishing The
Same Behavior?

M1: Ch. 3: Attitudes and

8/21- Job Satisfaction
9/11
Case 2: Long Hours,
Hundreds of Emails,
and No Sleep.

Course Syllabus Page 7

 M1: Ch. 8: Emotions and Quiz 1 due 9/11
8/21- Moods
9/11
Case 2: Abusive
Customers Cause
Emotions to Run
High

M2: Ch. 4: Personality

9/12- and Values
10/2
Case 2: A Diamond
Personality.

M2: Ch. 5: Perception

9/12- and Individual
10/2 Decision Making

Case 2:
Whistleblowers:
Saints or Sinners?

M2: Ch. 5: Perception Quiz 2 Due 10/2

9/12- and Individual Film Description
10/2 Decision Making Due 9/18

Case 1: Natural
Disasters and the
Decisions that
Follow

M3: Ch. 6: Motivation

10/3- Concepts
10/23
Ch. 7: Motivation:
From Concepts to
Application

Ethical Dilemma:
Are U.S.
Excecutives Paid
Too Much?

M3: Ch. 9: Foundations

10/3- of Group Behavior
10/23
Case 2: The
Dangers of
Groupthink.

M3: Ch. 10: Quiz 3 due 10/23

10/3- Understanding Work
Teams

Course Syllabus Page 8

 10/23
Case 1: Teamwork:
One Company’s
Approach to High
Performance

M4: Ch. 11:

10/24- Communication
11/13
Case 1: Dianna
Abdala

M4: Ch. 12: Basic

10/24- Approaches to
11/13 Leadership

Case 2: The Kinder,

Gentler Leader?

M4: Ch. 13:

10/24- Contemporary
11/13 Issues in Leadership

Case 1: The Making

of a Great President

M4: Ch. 14: Power & Quiz 4 due 11/13

10/24- Politics
11/13
Case 2: The Politics
of Backstabbing.

M5: Ch. 15: Conflict & Film Analysis Due

11/14- Negotiation 11/20/08
12/4
Ethical Dilemma: Is
it Unethical to Lie,
Deceive, or Collude
During
Negotiations?

M5: Ch. 15: Conflict &

11/14- Negotiation
12/4
Case 2: Negotiation
Puts Hockey in the
Penalty Box.

M5: Ch. 17: Quiz 5 due 12/11

11/14- Organizational At 11:00 AM –
12/4 Culture Finals Week

Case 2: Wegmans

Course Syllabus Page 9

Term Project: Film Analysis Due 11/20/08

Film is a powerful learning medium. Film offers a multi-sensory experience that

enables the viewer to understand abstract concepts and theories while seeing them put
into practice. Many films have organizational themes or contexts that make them
uniquely effective in illustrating management issues. Through analyzing a film, you will
see how various concepts are interrelated and, often, interdependent.

Steps to Completing Your Analysis

In approximately seven-eight typewritten, double-spaced pages your team will submit a

film analysis on the discussion board. Your goals are to develop a deeper
understanding about organizational behavior concepts; learn how they interrelate; apply
the concepts; and demonstrate that learning to your classmates. Here is how I want you
to present the material to our class:

Step 1. View the film taking note of the OB concept(s) you are using to analyze the film.
Think about how the film relates to your own experiences or newsworthy topics.
Incorporate these into your paper. You should use three OB concepts and expand upon
them. For example, you may choose the OB concepts of perception, communication,
and leadership as it relates to a movie such as “Full Metal Jacket.” You don’t have to
talk about everything within those OB topics but, for example, you might want to talk
about stereotyping (perception), media richness (communication), and transactional
leadership. Provide your team name and team member names in alphabetical order.
The film you will be analyzing and the OB concepts you will use. These are due in
class on 9/18/08.

Step 2. Research these concepts. Don’t rely exclusively on your textbook or my

lectures. You should also access journals, magazines, newspapers, books, music, etc.
to supplement your analysis. Particular emphasis is placed on academic, refereed
publications. The quality of your external resources is vital to the quality of your
presentation. You should not rely on internet sources unless you are accessing full text
journal and news articles. Check with the UTD Library SOM Liaison for help with
resources. The SOM liaison: Loreen Phillips at 972-883-2126
(lsp014100@utdallas.edu).

Step 3. Guidelines: The paper should be 7 - 8 double-spaced pages in length

(excluding appendices), numbered pages, containing standard Arial font of 11-12.

Step 4. Cover Page - Provide a unique title. Put: Submitted to Dr. Ziegler. Submitted
by: Team Name and Members’ Names in alphabetical order. The Date. Provide a table
of contents with page numbers.

Step 5. (Page 1) Write the name of the film, the director, producer, the main actors, and
the year of release. Then, in one good paragraph, retell the plot. Do not relate all of the
details. Just condense the main story line into 5 – 8 sentences.

Step 6. Introduction and Body (Page 2): Tell me why you are interested in the research
you conducted. Build your case. Provide a thesis statement and tell me “what you are

Course Syllabus Page 10

going to tell me” in the rest of the paper. Do not label this “Introduction”. Begin the body
of your paper with your unique title.

Step 7 (Pages 2 – 6 /7): Write the body of you paper incorporating outside resources
properly cited (MLA). Integrate personal experiences/current events into your analysis.
Use headings as appropriate.

Step 8. Conclusion (pg. 7 / 8): Include a brief summary of you paper; limitations of your
research and the resources used; and directions for further study.

Step 9. Reference List: Alphabetized using MLA format. (required but does not count
in page limit)

Step 10. Appendix if needed (does not count in page limit)

Your grades will be based on how well you adhere to the formatting guidelines, quality of
research, grammar and expression, and, most importantly, depth of understanding of the
OB concepts. The paper is due on 11/20/08.

Team Term Paper Evaluation Form

Format (15%)

Adherence to guidelines -
Title and Description submitted on time
Unique Title
Outline with page numbers:
Citation Style
Page Limit
Film Information

Content (55%)

Depth of understanding of
Organizational Behavior concepts (45%)

Integration of personal experiences, current events,

etc. (10%)

Quality (30%)

Resources (15%) Academic and/or refereed material

preferred.

Organization/Continuity/Style/Spelling/Grammar (15%)

Comments:

Grade ________________

Course Syllabus Page 11

Team Peer Evaluation (required) Due 11/20/08

I want all members to contribute fully to the team facilitation project; therefore, you are
required to complete an evaluation of your participation and the participation of your
team mates. Consider each member’s ability to adhere to deadlines, availability,
interpersonal skills, creativity, leadership, and responsibility to the team. The Team Peer
Evaluation is confidential. Team evaluations are submitted under the Assignment:
Peer Evaluation link.

Grading Rubric:

Full contributor: (A) 100% of team points; contributed fully to the team project.
Less than full: (B) 85% of the team grade
(C) 75% of the team grade
(F) 50% of the team grade
(0) 0% of the team grade

Overall Evaluation:

I will review the feedback and determine the percentage of the team grade you have
earned. It is my hope that everyone receives an A and earns 100% of the team grade. If
you are consistently rated low you may fail the team project. For example, if your team
earns 130:150 on the two team projects and you receive a “C” from your peers, you will
earn .75 * 130 = 97.5:150 = 65%. The moral of the story is “don’t be a social loafer”.
Besides, these are fun projects!

Provide the following information in this format.

List team member names in alphabetical order by last name, and assign a grade.
Include yourself in the list.

Team Name Team Member Name Grade

Team Member #1
Team Member #2
Team Member #3 etc.

1. Explain the contributions that each team member made. Why did you grade each
person the
way you did? Be specific. Justify any grades you assign that are below an “A”.
2. What worked well within your team and what would you do to improve your process?

Course Syllabus Page 12

 Scholastic Honesty
The University has policies and discipline procedures regarding scholastic dishonesty.
Detailed information is available on the Scholastic Dishonesty web page. All students
are expected to maintain a high level of responsibility with respect to academic
honesty. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal
from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the
integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

Course Evaluation

As required by UTD academic regulations, every student must complete an evaluation

for each enrolled course at the end of the semester. An online instructional
assessment form will be made available for your confidential use. Please look for the
course evaluation link on the course Homepage towards the end of the course.

University Policies

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the
responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable
about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General
information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to
Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures
of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in
the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1,
Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations
are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members
are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602,
972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject
to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place
on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such
conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute

Course Syllabus Page 13

 integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student
demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions
related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission
as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic
dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or
falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject
to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and
from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s
policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the
resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over
90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of

communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same
time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual
in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email
correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty
and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student
account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information.
UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all
communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at
U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to
other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-
level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle
withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any
student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final
grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other

fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be

Course Syllabus Page 14

 submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If
the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the
student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not
resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the
Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene
an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final.
The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting
the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably
missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed.
An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the
subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove
the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade
is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational

opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located
in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For
example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders
or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an
assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an
oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students
with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The
college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-
taking, or mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class
or during office hours.

Course Syllabus Page 15

 Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as

possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The
student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment
within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the
absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and
completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A
student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period
may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about
whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed
assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling
from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC
51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
executive officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law
and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities.
Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address
given below. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the
Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 16