Syllabus

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

Academic Term and Year Fall 2010

Course Prefix and Number CJ 564
Course Title Seminar In Corrections
Days, Time and Location of Class Meeting Online
Instructor’s Contact Information
Name: Horace Lyons, Ph.D.
Office Location: Social Science Building: Office M
Office Hours: By Appointment
Office Phone Number: 662-392-6520
E-Mail Address: Blackboard Mail
Course Prerequisites
Technology skills: Basic computer skills, working within Windows system
environment, navigating the internet, and familiarity with E-
mail.
Course Description This course is designed to facilitate the students’ better
understanding of and to discuss issues concerning the systems of
corrections, including, but not limited to jails, prisons and
community corrections.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes: COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to
discuss in an informed manner:
1. the purpose and functions of jails,
2. the purpose and functions of prisons and
3. the purpose and functions of community based
corrections.
Course Requirements
Required textbook(s): Corrections in the 21st Century – Frank Schmalleger, John
Ortiz Smykla
Class attendance policy: Each student is required to participate in using Blackboard
Communication Tools, taking online exams, and other aspects of
Blackboard.
You are expected to log in regularly (daily, perhaps several
times per day) to submit assignments, check grades, personal
messages, and view course materials.

Student(s) who fail to participate in the online course during a

course week will be deemed absent for that week. The absence
will be annotated as absent unexcused (AU), unless the
instructor has been informed beforehand and deemed the
absence as absent excused (AE). The instructor shall report all
absences to the main campus as required. A student who has not
 participated for 7 consecutive days regardless if the absences
were deemed AU or AE shall be recommended for
administrative withdrawal to the main campus. In a traditional
classroom just because a student contacts the instructor and is
excused from a scheduled class meeting does not mean the
student is given credit for participation or attendance. The
student is still annotated as AU or AE. The online classroom
shall be no different in this respect. It is the instructor's sole
discretion as to what he/she shall consider AU or AE.
Submission of Work: Scheduled assignments MUST be completed and successfully
submitted through the Blackboard Assignment Tool (drop box)
by due date and time. Assignments automatically become
unavailable after the due date/time expires.

All assignments MUST be keyed using MS Word or saved as

a .DOC file and no multiple submissions will be allowed.

RESEARCH PAPER

Students are required to write a research paper on a topic

addressing issues concerning Corrections in America. The paper
should fully discuss the issue or topic to the comprehension of a
lay person. Your selected topic must first be discussed with the
instructor for approval via Blackboard e-mail. The paper is to
follow the APA style. For information on APA style, consult:
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/handbook/DocAPAReferences.
html. The term paper must consist of a minimum of five
different citations and must be at least 5 double spaced pages.
Please note that spelling, punctuation, sentence structure,
grammar, and the general content will factor prominently in
determining the term paper grades. Due dates will be discussed
in class and posted on Banner. Please note that plagiarism
(making intellectual use of material that originated with another
author without citing the source) is a serious intellectual offense
and will be addressed accordingly, that is to the highest
punitively academic degree. Any act of plagiarism may result in
an automatic “F” grade.
Make-up policy: NO opportunities will be available for making up online class
activities or assignments.

Make-up Assignments/Exams
Make up maybe allowed, depending on the circumstances with
an excuse. It is at the instructor’s discretion
Course Drops/Incompletes: Students not completing the course for any reason are required
to submit official drop notices to the Registrar’s Office prior to
the deadline date. This is your responsibility. Failure to comply
with the procedure WILL result in your receiving a letter grade
of “F”.
Cheating and plagiarism policy: Cheating in any fashion will not be tolerated, including but not
limited to plagiarizing another’s words, work or ideas on
 individual class assignments.
To address the situation of plagiarism, the University has
implemented Turnitin to fight plagiarism and improve reading,
writing, and research skills. Turnitin is a comprehensive
plagiarism prevention system that lets faculty quickly and
effectively check all students’ work. Results are based on
exhaustive searches of billions of pages from both current and
archived instances on the Internet.
Plagiarism will result in at least a failing grade for the
assignment(s) and/or course.
Online Communication Students MUST use Blackboard mail for contact with the
Observation of “Netiquette”: instructor and other members of the class.
All your Online communications should be composed with
fairness, honesty and tact. What you put into an Online course
reflects on your level of professionalism
 Technical Problems: If you experience technical/computer difficulties (need help
downloading browsers or plug-in, logging into your course,
using your course web site tools, or experience errors or
problems while in your online course), contact Presidium
Learning, Inc 1-877-654-8333 or MS. NANCY TUCKER at
662.254.3114as well as your instructor.
Technology Infusion: Hardware:

Operating System: Windows 98, 2000, NT, XP or a

Macintosh System 8.1 or higher
Processor: 200 MHz or higher
Memory: 32 MB of RAM
H Drive Space: 100 MB free disk space
Modem: 28.8 kbps or higher
Monitor: 800x600 resolution

Software:

Internet Access: Any Internet Service Provider

Browser: Internet Explorer, Netscape r 4.7
or higher*, AOL 5.0 or higher**
Application Recommend Microsoft Word or
application file name .doc
Audio & Video: RealPlayer, Quick Time
Teaching/Learning Strategies The primary instructional model for this course is collaborative
learning. Specifically, the instructor will set course content,
course objectives, and methods of classroom assessment. The
course will incorporate the following instructional strategies:
class discussion, online activities, assigned readings, and/or
individual projects. Students are encouraged to actively
participate in activities, ask questions, and contribute comments
for discussion. Students are also encouraged to offer input
regarding instructional strategies and assignments. Most
importantly, students are expected to be active learners and to
ask for clarification when they have questions. In order to be
successful in the class, it is important that students, read the
assigned material, and submit assignments and be prepared to
discuss what they have read. The goal of this approach is to
develop a safe learning environment that addresses a variety of
learning styles, promotes critical thinking, and fosters creativity.
Evaluation Procedures Access Blackboard course at http://mvsu.blackboard.com or
www.mvsu.edu click on Blackboard for detailed instructions
regarding assignments

Performance Standards/Grading: Assessments Points

Homepage 15
A 405 - 450 90%
Discussions 30
B 360 - 404 80% Syllabus Quiz 15
C 315 – 359 70% Quizzes (8) 90
D 270 – 314 60% Midterm & Final Exams 200
Research paper 100
F < or = 269 50%
Total 450

ADA Statement Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a

disability must contact the University College, Office of the
ADA Coordinator. The coordinator can be contacted directly at
662.254.3446 or through the University College office number
at 662.254.3442. The student requiring special instructional
strategies should, in writing, make these special needs known to
the instructor during the first week of the course.

Course Outline: subject to some changes depending on the needs and level of the class

WEEKS ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1 Blackboard Orientation

Student Homepage
Syllabus Quiz
Chapter 1
Week 2 Quiz 1 – Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Week 3 Quiz 2 – Chapter 2
Week 4 Chapter 4
Discussion-1 Chapter 3
Week 5 Chapter 6 ( Quiz 3 – Chapters 4 & 6)
Submit Research Paper Topic via Blackboard E-Mail
Week 6 Discussion – Chapter 9
Week 7 Chapter 10 (Quiz 4 - Chapter 10)
Week 8 (Mid-Term) Chapters 1-4, 6, 9 & 10
Week 9 Discussion Chapter 11
Week 10 Quiz 5 –Chapter 11
Week 11 Research Paper - Due
Week 12 Chapter 13 (Quiz 6 – Chapter 13)
Week 13 Chapter 15 & 16 (Quiz 7 –Chapters 15 &16)
 Week 14 Fall Break
Week 15 Chapter 17 (Quiz 8)
Week 16 Final Exam 11, 13, 15-17

Comments: This syllabus is not a contract. It is only a guideline. The

instructor reserves the right to make changes and additions to
this syllabus at her/his discretion. If changes are necessitated
during the term of the course, you will be notified of changes
via Blackboard mail.