Location
HGB 180
Time
M, W 9:00-9:50 AM
Website
Instructor
David O. Lignell
330T Engineering Building
801-422-1772
davidlignell@byu.edu
Office hours: Daily as available; see the posted calendar
Peer Mentor
Damin Luedke
dluedke@byu.edu
Overview
UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success is designed to welcome all first-semester students into the Brigham Young University community and help them understand the university’s unique mission and purpose. The heart of this course is the prophetic vision of a Zion university. Using the dual languages of spiritual guidance and intellectual discovery, students and faculty explore together how to use the community, environment, and resources of the university to successfully achieve the aims of a BYU education in their quest for perfection and eternal life.
Assignments and Grading
The grading scale for this course will be credit/no-credit, and no letter grades will be assigned. This grading scale was selected to help you focus on the true purpose of the class, which is to help you develop mastery of all four learning objectives. Nevertheless, you will still have many opportunities to practice and demonstrate the “commitment to excellence” that is a central part of BYU’s mission.
To receive credit for the class, you will need to complete 90% of the assignments, although all students must complete Activity A – Group Activities, Reflection 4: Devotional/Forum Reflection and the Final Project.
The best way for you to have a positive experience in this course is to do all assigned readings, attend every day, and actively participate in class discussions and activities. To receive course credit, you are expected to attend class at least 90% of the class periods.
Again, the primary purpose of the course is not to achieve a grade or to complete a requirement, but to help you develop an awareness of and confidence in the divine mission of BYU, and your role in fulfilling that divine mission. As President Reese has taught, each student has a role in in helping BYU become the prophetically directed, Christ-centered, University of prophecy it must become. In addition, each of you plays a crucial role in developing covenant belonging in this class (and at BYU) as you lift and serve others.
Faculty are responsible to help students demonstrate mastery of all learning outcomes. Where adaptation is needed to address individual roadblocks to student success, faculty will work with students, on a case-by-case basis, according to their best judgment to complete assignments and/or compensate for attendance concerns. We expect that the vast majority of students will fully engage in the class and receive credit the first time. In the very rare circumstance where the requirements of the class cannot be fulfilled, students must take class again, the very next semester. It is in your best interest to fully engage in the class and receive credit the first time; taking the class again in a subsequent semester with students who are new to campus is costly and much less rewarding.
Learning Outcomes
BYU Mission & Aims
Recognize and reflect upon the unique community, purpose, and Mission and Aims of BYU and connect your BYU experience to your own educational and spiritual goals.
Campus Resources
Recognize and feel confident in accessing campus resources that provide support for academic success and personal resiliency in addition to spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and financial well-being.
Disciple-Scholarship
Work towards developing the character essential to lifelong disciple-scholarship using gospel-centered learning, intellectual humility, and respectful engagement with others.
Belonging
Articulate the value of both contributing and belonging to the BYU community by understanding the Honor Code, the Dress and Grooming Principles & Expectations, the Statement on Belonging, and current prophetic guidance; participating in activities and events; and serving others.
BYU Policy Statments
Academic Honesty
The first injunction of the Honor Code is the call to “be honest.” Students come to the university not only to improve their minds, gain knowledge, and develop skills that will assist them in their life’s work, but also to build character. “President David O. McKay taught that character is the highest aim of education” (The Aims of a BYU Education, p.6). It is the purpose of the BYU Academic Honesty Policy to assist in fulfilling that aim. BYU students should seek to be totally honest in their dealings with others. They should complete their own work and be evaluated based upon that work. They should avoid academic dishonesty and misconduct in all its forms, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, cheating, and other academic misconduct.
Honor Code
In keeping with the principles of the BYU Honor Code, students are expected to be honest in all of their academic work. Academic honesty means, most fundamentally, that any work you present as your own must in fact be your own work and not that of another. Violations of this principle may result in a failing grade in the course and additional disciplinary action by the university. Students are also expected to adhere to the Dress and Grooming Standards. Adherence demonstrates respect for yourself and others and ensures an effective learning and working environment. It is the university’s expectation, and every instructor’s expectation in class, that each student will abide by all Honor Code standards. Please call the Honor Code Office at 422-2847 if you have questions about those standards.
Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct
The health and well-being of students is of paramount importance at Brigham Young University. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment (including sexual violence), there are many resources available for assistance.
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, BYU prohibits unlawful sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, against any participant in its education programs or activities. The university also prohibits sexual harassment by its personnel and students. Sexual harassment occurs when a person is subjected to unwelcome sexual speech or conduct so severe, pervasive, and offensive that it effectively denies their ability to access any BYU education program or activity; any aid, benefit, or service of BYU is conditioned on a person’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; or a person suffers sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking on the basis of sex. University policy requires all faculty members to promptly report incidents of sexual harassment that come to their attention in any way, including through face-to-face conversations, a written class assignment or paper, class discussion, email, text, or social media post. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at t9coordinator@byu.edu or (801) 422-8692 or 1085 WSC. Reports may also be submitted online at https://titleix.byu.edu/report or 1-888-238-1062 (24-hours a day).
BYU offers confidential resources for those affected by sexual harassment, including the university’s Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate, as well as a number of non-confidential resources and services that may be helpful. Additional information about Title IX, the university’s Sexual Harassment Policy, reporting requirements, and resources can be found at http://titleix.byu.edu or by contacting the university’s Title IX Coordinator.
Student Disability
Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Whether an impairment is substantially limiting depends on its nature and severity, its duration or expected duration, and its permanent or expected permanent or long-term impact. Examples include vision or hearing impairments, physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, emotional disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety), learning disorders, and attention disorders (e.g., ADHD). If you have a disability which impairs your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the University Accessibility Center (UAC), 2170 WSC or 801-422-2767 to request a reasonable accommodation. The UAC can also assess students for learning, attention, and emotional concerns. If you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 801-422-5895, eo_manager@byu.edu , or visit https://hrs.byu.edu/equal-opportunity for help.
Wellness
During your academic journey we hope you make time to focus on your Wellness. Our campus is equipped with many resources designed to support “the balanced development of the total person…” (BYU Mission Statement). Through the Wellness Wise website (wellnesswise.byu.edu), on-campus programs and services can be found to explore the resources made available for your Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Financial, Emotional, and Social Wellness.
Inappropriate Use of Course Materials
All course materials (e.g., outlines, handouts, syllabi, exams, quizzes, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, audio and video recordings, etc.) are proprietary. Students are prohibited from posting or selling any such course materials without the express written permission.