NOTE:  The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor
may be necessary.  Normally, this will be done at least once in class and published on the course web page. 

Professor:  Dr. W.A. Kelly Huff               Phone:  (706) 542-4893                e-mail address:   khuff@uga.edu

Office:  140 Terrell Hall                 Office Hours:  MWF 11:30am-12noon and by appointment

Web Page URL:  http://www.wakh.net/

    Check the web page frequently for information about course schedules, assignments, exams, etc.  
    Click on “Information for Students;” then “SPCM 1500 – Interpersonal Communication;” then                    
    “Announcements/Schedules;” then click on the section for your class.  

Textbook:  West, R., & Turner, L. H.  (2006).  Understanding interpersonal communication:  Making choices in changing times. 
    Belmont, CA:  Thomson Wadsworth.

Catalog Course Description:  “Communication as it occurs in two-person and small group settings. Primary
    concern is given to understanding how an individual can use verbal and nonverbal communication to improve
    relationships and derive maximum social rewards.  Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters every year.” 

Course Goal:  The goal of this course is to help students become better communicators. We seek to introduce
    students to a wide array of perspectives on interpersonal communication and encourage students to enlarge
    their understandings of the theory and practice of interpersonal communication. 

Course Objectives: 

    (1)    The student will understand the need to reflect upon interpersonal communication practices.  
    (2)    The student will gain knowledge of concepts, theories, and research findings in interpersonal
             communication. 
    (3)    The student will develop and practice communication skills in a supportive environment.
    (4)    The student will learn the vocabulary of interpersonal communication theory and practice.
    (5)    The student will understand various contexts (friendship, family, etc.) in which interpersonal
             communication occurs.
 
Grading: 

    Three (3) examinations will be given throughout the semester. Each examination will consist of a
    combination of true-false, multiple choice, and matching format items.  Exams cover material from lectures
    and the textbook.  I do not lecture on all of the material in your text so ensure you have done the readings
    before exams.  The final exam will be given at the assigned time per the official University schedule.  The
    final exam will NOT be given early or at a different time unless changed by the University.  There are no
    exceptions to this policy.  Please mark your calendars and make your travel plans based on the final exam
    times found on the University of Georgia website at http://www.reg.uga.edu/or.nsf/preview/Spring_Exam_Schedule.  

    Students are responsible for bringing their own “number 2” pencils to take examinations.  Scantron©
    grading sheets will be provided by the instructor.  Two written reports account for 20% of the grade and
    will be explained on the course web page and in class.  Twenty percent of your grade will be based on
    assorted in-class activities, quizzes, and participation.  Such activities will go toward your final course
    grade and – per departmental policy – cannot be made up regardless of the reason for the absence. 
    You may be given a letter grade or numerical grade or both on assignments.  If you receive a letter grade
    on an assignment, then the numerical equivalent would be:  A+ (98), A (95), A- (92), B+ (88),
    B (85), B- (82), and so on with Cs and Ds.  F can be anything from 0-59 and would normally be assigned
    numerically and with a letter. 

Grade Scale:      Per new university policies and regulations, the plus-minus grading system became effective during the
                           Summer 2006 term.  The percentages reflected in the table are for final grades and should not be confused
                           with the information for assignments found in the previous section of this syllabus.  There will be no
                           rounding of grades or extra credit in any form.   

Research Requirement:  Every person taking SPCM 1500 or its equivalent (SPCM 2550H) has to satisfy the
    Department of Speech Communication Research Requirement.  Failure to complete the requirement will
    result in failure of the class.  This requirement may be satisfied in one of three ways:  (1) participation in a
    research project conducted by the Department of Speech Communication, (2) a summary and analysis of a
    communication research article, or (3) attendance at and a written analysis of a colloquium presentation at
    the Department of Speech Communication.  For information about all three options, you can visit the
    following URL for information:  http://www.uga.edu/%7Espc/Undergrad/syllabi/research.pdf.  The site contains The
    UGA Speech Communication Research Participation:  Information for Students.  Note:  You will need to
    complete a separate research project or paper for each Speech Communication class that requires or offers
    research participation. 

Academic Honesty:  “Academic honesty is-defined broadly and simply-the performance of all academic work
        without cheating, lying, stealing, or receiving assistance from any other person or using any source of
        information not appropriately authorized or attributed” (From the Preamble to “A Culture of Honesty”). 
        The University, the Department of Speech Communication, and I personally take academic honesty very
        seriously.  Every student at the University of Georgia should be familiar with the booklet, “A Culture of
        Honesty:  Policies and Procedures on academic dishonesty.”  If you are not, please obtain one of these
        booklets and read it carefully.  It is available on the web at:  http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/acadhon.htm.
        This document has a thorough presentation of four types of academic dishonesty including plagiarism, unauthorized
        assistance, lying/tampering, and theft, as well as the procedures that are in place to adjudicate alleged incidents of
        academic dishonesty. The policies and procedures described in “A Culture of Honesty” will be strictly followed. 

Attendance Policy:  You are allowed to be absent a total of class meetings equivalent to one week’s classes.  For a
    class that meets three times per week over the 16-week term, three absences are allowed without penalty. 
    For a class that meets two times per week over the 16-week term, two absences are allowed without
    penalty.  For a class that meets during an 8-week term, just one absence is allowed without penalty.  For a
    class that meets once per week during a 16-week term, just one absence is allowed without penalty. 
    Allowable absences will not be penalized unless the student misses an in-class assignment, a speech, or an
    exam.  Excused or not, an absence is still an absence on the attendance record.  You are given a week’s
    worth of sick leave.  Use it when you need it and don’t waste it frivolously.  

    In MWF classes, each time a student is late to class or leaves class early will count as one-third an absence. 
    Three of these in any combination count as one absence.  In T-Th and M-W classes, each time a student is
    late to class or leaves class early will count as one-half an absence.  Two of these in any combination count
    as one absence.  In eight-week evening session classes that meet twice weekly, or 16-week classes that
    meet once weekly, each time a student is late to class or leaves class early will count as one-half an
    absence.  Two of these in any combination count as one absence.  

    For each absence over the respective limits described above, except in classes that meet just once per week,
    your final grade will be reduced by one point.   For classes meeting once per week or daily during short
    May or summer sessions, the final grade will be reduced by two points.  If one has a partial absence over the
    limit, i.e. a tardy, then one-half point for T-TH and one-third point for MWF will be deducted from the final grade.
    For classes meeting once per week, or daily during short May or summer sessions, the partial absence will result in
    a one-point reduction.  

    If you are absent or tardy, you may under some conditions be able to make up an exam, but you cannot
    make up for not being in class and the absence counts on your attendance record – even if the excuse is
    accepted.  If you know in advance that you will be taking one of your allowable absences for an important
    reason, then inform the professor right away in person and in writing and arrangements can be made. 

Make-Up Work:  Examinations and other major assignments are clearly scheduled on the web page.  (Daily
    activities, quizzes, and participation will not be posted and cannot be made up).  Students must complete
    assignments and must take examinations on the assigned day.  Students who miss an examination must
    inform the instructor by phone and/or e-mail as soon as possible before the class meets and upon returning
    to class must present a bona fide written reason to the instructor (i.e. written letter to the instructor and
    valid medical excuse).   This is covered under the same policies that govern final exams; for example,
    serious illness,* a University-sponsored event that is documented in writing and in advance,** or a death in
    one’s immediate family.***  For any of these reasons, the student must notify the instructor in advance of
    the absence and then later present his/her case to the instructor in person and in written form.  An excused
    absence results in a grade of zero.  Remember, in line with departmental policy, students cannot make up
    in-class assignments regardless the reason for the absence.  

    * Illness:  The student must contact the instructor prior to the exam or assignment.  If the student is unable
    to do so, have a friend or family member do so.  (Note:  Under most circumstances the make-up must be
    scheduled prior to the next class period or within the same week of the exam or assignment.  Students may
    not take a makeup without an official medical excuse presented to validate.)  If you use the Student Health
    Center to get an excuse, you MUST get a “Plan of Care/Instructions” from the student health center.  To get
    a note from the Student Health Center, I do NOT mean the traditional form indicating that the student “was
    seen” at the Health Center.  Instead you must ask for a form that says “Plan of care/Instructions.”  Ask the
    doctor to write on that form: “In my opinion, this student should not be in classes today, tomorrow, next
    two weeks, etc.”  A doctor, physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner will write that note if you ask.  If
    you don’t ask, it is unlikely they will do so. The note does not have to say why you can’t attend class, just
    that you are not fit for attending class.  NOTE: A nurse CANNOT and WILL NOT fill out the plan of
    care/instructions.  Thus you must request seeing someone other than a nurse.  Without a note from
    your doctor stating that you were too sick to attend the exam or the “Plan of Care/Instructions” form from
    the Health Center indicating you were too sick to give the speech or exam, you will receive a ZERO for
    that speech and/or exam.  Excused or not, an absence is still an absence.  Don’t be foolish in cutting class. 

     ** University-sponsored event :  Note:  The student must submit a written request to the instructor prior to
    the event and must complete arrangements to make up the assignment or exam in advance. 

    *** Family death:  Students must contact the instructor prior to the exam or discussion.  The university 
    typically verifies that the student must miss class because of a family death.  At the very least, leave an e-mail
    message or a phone message at UGA and see the instructor as soon as possible.  

    Students are expected to support this class with good attendance, punctuality, attentiveness, and respect for
    other students and the professor.  Attendance in class is mandatory.

    No private conversations are allowed during class.  We will have polite class discussions with no rude arguing.
    Violators will be asked to leave, counted absent, and must meet with the instructor prior to attending future
    class meetings.

    All phones, beepers, pagers, radios, etc. must be turned off before class begins and will remain off and packed away throughout
    class.  No headphones will be allowed during class. You will not even be allowed to touch or look at a phone or other electronic
    devices during an exam or quiz.  You will put such items away so that no one, including yourself, can see the phone or other device.  
    Cheating  has never been tolerated, but using electronic equipment to do so has taken cheating to a whole new level.  Anyone
    possessing a phone or other electronic device that goes off or is used during class will be asked to leave and will be counted as absent,
    regardless of what point the transgression occurs in the class meeting -- beginning, middle, or end.  If it goes off during an exam
    or quiz, the student will turn in the exam or quiz at that point and it will be graded -- finished or not.  

    Violators must meet with the instructor prior to attending future class meetings.  If cheating is suspected, then university procedures
    will be followed.  

    Any student deemed by the professor as disruptive to the conduct of the class will be asked to leave for the
    day and will receive an unexcused absence and asked to “show cause” as to why he/she should be allowed to
    continue with the class.  

    If you come in late on the day of an exam, you have only until the last person who came on time turns in
    theirs to finish yours.

    No studying for other classes during this class will be tolerated.

Special Notes:

    You must fill out and sign the form* given to you in class that acknowledges receipt and understanding of this
    syllabus.  You will return the form to the professor when you receive it or you will be assigned a zero for the final
    grade.  Not receiving a form will not be accepted as an excuse, since the form and syllabus will be available to all
    students during the first week of class meetings.

    Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have particular needs are invited to share these
    concerns or requests with me as soon as possible.  The Disability Resource Center (542-8719, Clark Howell Hall) provides
    written documentation that specifies the needed modifications (i.e., note taker, extra time for tests) to the instructor.  If you
    have not contacted the Disability Resource Center to request a letter be sent to your instructor, please do so. 

    Grievance Procedure:  Occasionally, students are unsatisfied with some dimension of the course. If you have a concern at
    any time during the course, please come speak with me directly either during office hours, by appointment, or via email.  If you
    want to appeal a grade, the department policy is that you must make the grade appeal in writing to me.  Prepare and submit a
    typed argument indicating what your specific appeal is and what grade you believe you deserved.  Turn in the appeal before or
    after class, during office hours, or at a scheduled appointment within one week of the grade being returned. If you have employed
    these measures and are still dissatisfied, or feel that an appropriate resolution may not be reached by working with me, then I
    encourage you to contact the Basic Course Director, who will also need a written grade appeal in order to help you.