General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Critical Thinking
- Responsibility
Faculty Contact Information
Please send an email to amwicks@kcc.edu
I will respond back to you within 48-72 hours. I'm also available to meet with students before and after class.
Course Instructor:
Ashlan Wicks, LCSW
amwicks@kcc.edu
I am here to support you on your educational journey in the classroom and beyond. I generally come to class 10-15 mintues early and stay a little later after class to address any questions and/or concerns students might want to ask outside of class. I am also available to respond to questions or concerns by email, phone, Zoom, or in person appointment. If you'd like to schedule an appointment for a call or Zoom. The best way to reach me is by email (amwicks@kcc.edu).
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses as college students.
- Identify strategies for managing their time, money, and stress.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills appropriate to the situation.
- Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills in a variety of contexts.
- Demonstrate proficiency in a variety of study skills.
- Develop effective and ethical strategies for locating, evaluating, and using information to inform their ideas.
- Articulate what it means to become a learner.
| TOPICS: | EXAMPLES: |
| College Foundations: Suggested Week 1 | Understanding the value of higher education |
| Campus resources | |
| Using Canvas | |
| Growth Mindset and Belonging | Skills, values, and interests inventories |
| Community building | |
| Equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging | |
| Social interactions and relationships | |
| Campus events and involvement | |
| Self-Advocacy | Setting goals and identifying priorities |
| Time management | |
| Communication strategies | |
| Managing stress | |
| Career Exploration | Career Coach |
| Career exploration | |
| Money | |
| Preparing for Success | Critical thinking and problem solving |
| Information literacy | |
| Active reading |
Bhargava, Rohit and Jennifer Brown. Beyond Diversity. Ideapress Publishing. (2021).
None
Graded criteria:
1. Student Passport to Online Learning
2. LASSI Inventory
3. Information Literacy
4. Career Exploration and Academic Mapping
5. Campus Event Participation (2)
6. Financial Literacy
7. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging writing assignment
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Course Policies
● Plagiarism is defined in section 16.2 of the Code of Conduct: "Representing the words or ideas of another as one's own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else." All instances of intentional plagiarism on any major assignment for this course will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The instance of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the Dean of Student Development, the student may be suspended from the institution.
● Academic Integrity: Students are expected to submit honest, original work. Examples of cheating include copying another students work, using another's work without appropriate references, or submitting your own work that has already been used in another class. The college regards cheating as a very serious offense and may result in failure of the class.
● Attendance: Regular attendance is expected in accordance with college policy.
● Late Assignments: All assignments and papers are expected on the due date assigned which is before the next class session. Should unusual circumstances arise that delay your work, you may turn in your assignment up to one week late with a deduction of a full letter grade for that assignment. Late dissussion posts or exams are not accepted.
● Writing style: All coursework must be typed. Abbreviations such as those used when texting (i.e., "u" instead of "you") is NOT appropriate and work containing such abbreviations will not be graded. Instead, it would be returned to you for corrections and you will immediately lose one letter grade for that assignment. Once you have made corrections, you may turn in the assignment for grading. You will lose an additional letter grade for each week the assignment is late.
College Policies
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non-Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu.
Withdrawals: When it is necessary to withdraw from a course or from the college, a student may do so on or before the withdrawal date stated on the syllabus without receiving a punitive final grade. Change of Schedule forms (used to add or drop a course) are available in Student Services and the student should obtain the required signatures prior to submitting the Change of Schedule form to an adviser in Student Services. Students may submit Change of Schedule forms through the mail, but they must be postmarked no later than the withdrawal date. No withdrawals are allowed by phone. To determine the last date to withdraw with a grade of “W” in this course, log into KCConnect and click on “my registration statement” under Academic Profile.
Code of Conduct: Students need to adhere to the Code of Conduct located in the college catalog.
Non-Attendance/Non-Participation: KCC complies with state law and federal financial aid policy. If you receive an attendance grade of F or are institutionally withdrawn from a course, it will affect your eligibility for financial aid. (1) You must attend at least one class, or participate at least once for an online course (logging in without participation is not attending), by the 10th day of 16 week courses or within the first 10% of shorter term classes. Non-attendance will result in an attendance grade of F. (2) If you have excessive absences and no reasonable chance of passing the course at midterm (or after), your instructor may give you a WX grade and have you institutionally withdrawn from the course.
Title IX: Students sometimes choose to share private information with their professors. We appreciate your trust! Nonetheless, students need to be aware that KCC faculty and certain staff are required to report any incidents of sexual harassment and/or violence that we may hear about. Specifically, we will contact KCC’s Title IX Coordinator, the Dean of Student Development and Services. Please don’t feel like you can’t reach out but be aware of our requirement to report. If you want to speak with someone who is not required to report, please know that you are very welcome to call the county’s confidential sexual assault hotline (no referral is necessary and your anonymity is guaranteed unless you choose to share your name): 815-932-3322 (Kankakee) or 815-432-0420 (Iroquois).
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non-Attendance/Non Participation Policy, please review the college's Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu
CLASS ACHIEVEMENT DEPENDS UPON:
1. Regular attendance is essential to learning the material in this class and getting a good grade. You must stay for the durration of the class time period. If you are not here, you cannot pass.
2. If you are tardy, this may impact your grade.
3. Class starts promptly on time
4. There is no such thing as an excused absence. Leaving a message with the secretary that you will not be in class does not constitute an excused absence. I will consider extraordinary circumstances such as serious illness and we will try to make satisfactory arrangements.
5. Missed quizzes will be made up before the next class meeting.
6. Be prepared by bring a pencil, notebook, text, notes, and handouts to every class.
7. Eat a meal before beginning a class session. You cannot concentrate on your work when you are hungry.
8. No smoking or vaping in the classroom or inside of the building.
9. Cell phones must not be utilized in the classroom setting, and ringer sent to off.
10. No headphones and/or ear buds in class.
11. Smart watches - equipment is viewed as a cell phone.
12. Students are to be respectful of each other opinions.
13. Students are to be respectful of themselves and others.
14. Students are expected to turn in class assisgnments on time.
15. Students are expected to provide honest work.
16. Students are expected to ask questions if they need assistance and/or clarity.
To do before class: ● Start Passport to Online Learning if you haven’t already (you’ll find it on your Canvas dashboard) ● Become acclimated with our Canvas Class ● Review Canvas module for this week ● Read Ch 0 and begin reading Ch 1 To do after class/Self-led learning
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To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Finish read Ch 1 To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Review all of chapter 1 key terms |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 2 ● Complete Discussion post 1
To do after class: 1st writing assigngment: Write a 2-3 page paper on "How is psychology relevant to your intended career and what you hope to learn from taking this course". ***This assisgnment is Due next class peroid of 2/4/26. |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 3
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Prepare for Quiz 1 over chaperter 0-3. Quiz will be 25 questions, but worth 50 points. Students will have 60 mintues to compete the quiz. Quiz will be on Febuary 11, 2026 ***Crossword worksheet 1 Due on this before class is over. |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 4
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 5
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 6
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Writing assignment #2: Write a 3-4 page paper about an psychologist. Students also have the option to present a 10-15 presentation that will include a power point instead of writing the paper. |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 7
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Complete Study guide and review previous covered Units to prepare for mid terms *** Study Guide is due on March 11, 2026 for up to 10 extra credit points.
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** This week is mid-semester. Mid terms test will be over chapeters 0-7. Students will have 60 mintues to answer 50 questions. Mid terms are wroth 100 points. *** Please turn in study guide for 10 extra credit points To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 8
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 9
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ●Writing assignment #3: Students must write a 3-4 page paper connecting a real life senerrio to a class topic. This assignment is due next class period of March 25, 2026. |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 10
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Write at least 8 of chapter 10 key terms. Although you will only write 8 key terms to submit, please review all key tems. |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 11
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Study for Quiz 2. Quiz 2 will be on April 15, 2026
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To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 12
During class: Quiz 2 over chaperters 8-11. Quiz will be 25 questions, but worth 50 points. Students will have 60 mintues to compete the quiz. To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Write at least 8 of chapter 12 key terms. Although you will only write 8 key terms to submit, please review all key tems. |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 13
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Work on group project |
To do before class: ● Review Canvas module ● Read Ch 14
To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Review Canvas module ● Group presentations are due on a Psychological Disorder |
* We will be having our final exam next week. ** To do before class: ● Review previous covered units. Come to class with any questions that one may need to help prepare for final exams.
To do after in and outside of class/Self-led learning: Students can choose to work independently or in group setting on their study guide. Students can earn up to 10 extra credit points if they complete and turn in their study guide by 8am the moring of final exams which is on May 13, 2026.
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Final Exams: 8:00am- 9:50am To do before class: Turn in study guide for 10 extra credit points To do after class/Self-led learning: ● Relax, unwind, and celebrate how great you did this semester! |
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.