intro to communication (#icf23)

Course Information

  • COM 100, OL3 41925 (asynchronous)
  • Class Zoom Meeting Space: See the Readings and Texts page for the link
  • Office: Bronstein Annex 202
  • Office Hours: TH 12 – 2 in my office or Zoom (whatever is best for the student) and by appointment
  • Email: wwolff [at] sju [dot] edu
  • Pronouns: He/Him/His
  • https://williamwolff.orgcourses/ic-fall-2023/

Course Description

The primary goal of this section is to provide students with a communication experience consistent with our contemporary moment where design, visuals, and photography play such outsized roles. Toward that end, students can expect to learn about the history of communications, ranging from the invention alphabetic writing, through the invention of moveable type and word processing, and up to the recent proliferation of artificial intelligence, as well as the history of and contemporary use of photography. Our discussions will include subjects relating to ethics, copyright, and diversity. Students will also learn about and put into practice theories and techniques associated with visual design and photography composition.

The course will have three main projects: a Design Project, a Photography Project, and a Final Project, where students will create something that shows off what they have learned throughout the semester. There are no quizzes or exams.

Projects will be submitted online and will include a Presentation and Professionalization component, so students will learn about effective slide creation and memo writing.

Throughout the course students will keep a Weekly Discussion and Design Journal, where they respond to readings (often based on prompts) and provide insightful updates on their design work.

Important note: Should any aspect of class confuse/concern/trouble you, or if you have questions about any of the assignments, readings, or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me.  There is no shame in seeking extra help; it will only benefit your overall experience in the class. It is very easy to get behind and since this is an asynchronous course it will be vital for you to reach out to me if you find that happening.

Practicing Self Care

Please take care of yourself.  College is about more than classes and homework. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep, and taking some time to relax away from work. These choices have the potential to help you achieve your goals and cope with stress. If you are experiencing food insecurity, please visit SJU HawkHUB. Additional resources are:

As a college student, you may sometimes experience problems with your mental health that interfere with academic experiences and negatively impact daily life. Too often there is a negative stigma associated with experiencing distress and seeking assistance. That should not be the case. All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is almost always helpful.

If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is here to help: call 610-660-1090 and/or visit their website at https://www.sju.edu/offices/student-life/caps. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty, or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal or in danger of self-harm, call someone immediately, day or night:

And if the situation is life threatening, call the police:

  • SJU Police: 610-660-1111
  • Off campus: 911

COVID-19 Statement

Practicing self care is even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university has a detailed COVID-19 website. I cannot overstate how important it is to engage in safe social practices during the pandemic. Your health and the health of those with whom you come in contact are at risk if you do not.

My commitment to you is to be open, flexible, and understanding during these uncertain times, especially as we are all adapting to new and unfamiliar learning spaces, practices, and environments. I ask the same openness, flexibility, and understanding from each of you and with how you treat and interact with one another in and out of classroom spaces. Our shared humanity, caring, and empathy will help us get through this as a community of learners and human beings.

The following are highlights from the August 15, 2022 email from Cary Anderson, EdD, (former) Vice President for Student Life and Associate Provost and Alison Dougherty, EdD, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, entitled, “COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement and Protocols”:

  • At this time, Saint Joseph’s is not requiring mask-wearing in most campus spaces. Exceptions include the Student Health Center and other instances where masks may be required by the PDPH.
  • You must carry masks, even while on campus, in case you encounter a situation that warrants wearing a mask.
  • Anyone may request those around them to wear a mask when in classrooms, meeting in private offices or other shared spaces.
  • Anyone who feels more comfortable masking should continue to do so.
  • if you sense someone is more comfortable around people who are masked, please approach these personal decisions with care and compassion.

We will be following these guidelines exactly as written.

What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19

The University COVID-19 website now points to the CDC website for guidelines on what to do if you were exposed. As of this writing, these include:

  1. Starting from Day 1, immediately wearing a high quality mask (for example, N95 or KN95). 
    1. Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
    2. Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
    3. If you are exposed to anyone with COVID-19 and will be attending this class, you MUST wear an N95 or KN95 mask to class. There are no exceptions to this class policy.
  2. Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask, including travel and public transportation settings.
  3. Take extra precautions when around people who are high risk.
  4. Watch for symptoms; if symptoms develop get tested immediately and see below.
  5. Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure
    1. If positive, isolate immediately and see below for university guidelines
    2. If negative, continue the above precautions through Day 10
  6. After Day 10, if you still have no symptoms, you may return to normal activity.

What to Do If You Have Symptoms

If you develop symptoms associated with COVID-19,

  1. Isolate immediately, following the isolation guidelines on the CDC website
  2. Get tested.
    1. If you test negative, you can end your isolation but if you were exposed, you must continue to follow the above exposure guidelines.
      1. If at any time you develop symptoms, you must again follow the isolation guidelines.
    2. If you test positive, see below.

What to Do If You Test Positive

  1. Isolate immediately, following the isolation guidelines on the CDC website
  2. There are different requirements for those who test positive with symptoms and those who test positive without symptoms. See the CDC guidelines and follow them exactly based on your circumstances.

If you test positive, university guidelines require you to:

  1. Complete the Positive Test Result Disclosure Form if you are a Saint Joseph’s University student, employee, or affiliate (e.g., contracted employee).
  2. Contact a healthcare provider if you haven’t already done so. Call 911 if it’s an emergency or if you are in distress.
  3. Research your next steps for isolation, inform those who need to know about your inability to be in-person while in isolation (e.g., faculty members), and communicate with your close contacts about their exposure.
  4. If you are a residential student living on campus, call Public Safety at Hawk Hill (610-660-1111) who will assist you. Some students may be referred to Residence Life for relocation.
  5. If you are an employee, contact Human Resources and your supervisor for information regarding additional next steps.

Course Learning Objectives

This course embodies the Saint Joseph’s University mission to “prepare students for personal excellence, professional success, and engaged citizenship” and “model [a] lifelong commitment to thinking critically, making ethical decisions, pursuing social justice.” It is informed by several Core Objectives created by the Communication Studies department, as well as the importance of Reflection advocated by the Office for Mission and Identity.

Objective 1: Effective Communication
Students will begin to understand the foundational and contemporary principles, practices, and ethics of effective media communication, in particular in terms of how it applies to writing, design typeface, and photography.

Objective 2. Presentation Design
Students will begin to understand the principles and practices of effective presentation design and structure.

Objective 3: Inquiry and Reflection
Students will begin to develop their understanding of the important roles of inquiry and reflection during the reading, creation, and communication process.

Objective 4: Experimentation
Students will know what it feels like to step out of their comfort zones and take risks with their approaches to and understanding of communication.

Objective 5. Professionalization
Students will begin to understand the importance of professional communication practices, especially with regards to email and memos.

Texts, Software, and Materials

Required Texts

Required Materials

  • a free Canva account (you are not expected to sign up for a Pro account)
  • an SJU email account and access to your GoogleDrive space
  • computer with internet and Zoom capabilities

Suggested but not Required Material

  • headphones or earbuds to be used while on Zoom

Digital and Zoom Etiquette

We will have required conferences and my office hours will be held via Zoom. While using Zoom, students

  • may use a background if you would like;
  • are expected to be in a stationary, non-moving space (Any meeting with a student not in a stationary, non-moving space will be ended and rescheduled if there is time in my schedule);
  • will also need to be using a device that will allow them to complete or show their work. In other words, on a computer.

If you are concerned about having a quiet place to attend Zoom meetings or access to consistent wifi, such as if you live in with multiple roommates who also have online classes at the same time, SJU has set up a web site where you can reserve empty rooms and classroom spaces. I STRONGLY encourage you to take advantage of this service and not to wait to reserve. Spaces will fill quickly.

Grading (Updated 11/28)

Grades will be calculated in the following way:

  • Discussion and Design Journal: 25%
  • Design Assignment: 20%
  • Photography Assignment: 20%
  • Final Project Assignment: 20%
  • Midterm and Final Reflections: 15% (7.5% each)

Update 11/28/23: In place of the Midterm and Final Reflections assignment, I will add 7.5% the two other assignments that have achieved the highest grades. So, if your highest grades are the Design Assignment and the Discussion and Design Journal assignment, the Design Assignment will count for 27.5% and the Discussion and Design Journal will count for 32.5%.

There are no exams or quizzes in this class.

Late work (including Discussion and Design Journal entries) will be handled in the following manner:

  • 1 – 3 days late: -5pts
  • 4 – 7 days late:  -10pts
  • 8 – 14 days late -15pts
  • 15 or more days late: -20pts

A note about grades: Grades in the A-range are those that show the student working at levels significantly higher than what is expected. Grades at the B-level are those that show the student working at levels at or just above what is expected. Grades at the C-level and below are those that show the student working at levels below what is expected.

All major assignments (including all Discussion and Design Journal entries) must be completed to pass the course. It is better to complete an assignment late than not to complete it at all.

Attendance

The course is asynchronous, so we will not be meeting a classroom on a weekly basis. As such, it is up to you to keep up with the work that is assigned. The course will move fairly quickly and it is vital that you don’t fall behind.

There will be several required one-on-one conferences throughout the semester to discuss project drafts.

If you miss a required conference without prior notification you will receive -5pts on whatever assignment the conference is discussing.

A Note on Academic Technology

Because this is an upper-level course, you are expected to be familiar with the department’s approach to using digital technologies: experiment, take risks, and play.

However, as much as technology makes life easier, at times it can also be difficult (computer crashes, deleted work, slow internet connection, etc.). Plan accordingly: “the computer ate my homework” or “the internet was down” are not reasons to forgo doing the assigned work. It is in your best interest to leave extra time, and back up frequently, especially at first to ensure that technology does not get in the way of your work.

That being said, I will never mark down or refuse to accept a project because of difficulty using academic technology. The software and applications we use are a means to complete the work, not the work itself. The software is often new and sometimes still has bugs. I am aware of this and am aware that problems can happen. If you run into trouble, let me know as soon as possible so I can help you work through it. There is no reason to sit for hours getting more and more frustrated. Send me an email with as detailed a description of your problem as possible and we’ll figure out what is going on.

If you are having trouble getting a project completed on time (for whatever reason) please let me know about your delays as soon as possible. It is better to complete an assignment late then not to complete it at all, and I am more than happy to work with you so you can compete the best project you can.

Universal Learning

I am committed to the principle of universal learning. This means that our classroom, our virtual spaces, our practices, and our interactions be as inclusive as possible. Mutual respect, civility, and the ability to listen and observe others carefully are crucial to universal learning.

Any student with particular learning needs should contact the Student Success Center at 610-660-1041. The Center is located in Bellarmine Hall. The staff is available to answer questions regarding accommodations or assist you in your pursuit of accommodations. Then you and I can work out the details of any accommodations needed for this course.

Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct

Saint Joseph’s University courses are taught in buildings that reside in the sovereign
present and ancestral nation of the Lenape (len-AH-peh) people, Lenapehokink (len-AH-peh-HO-king), which they inhabited for over 10,000 years prior to European imperial colonization. The Lenape people embrace the values of collaborative use of land, peaceful resolution of conflict, respect for people of diverse backgrounds, and, as the continuing stewards of Turtle Island, a deep reverence for the natural world.

As a Catholic, Jesuit University, Saint Joseph’s is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities, that are free from acts of bias, discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. We encourage anyone who has experienced this type of harm to seek help from the University by filing a report through the incident reporting form, or by calling 610-660-1145. 

For information about the University’s response to reports bias, harassment, and discrimination, including policies, incident definitions, and the role of the University’s Bias Activity Review Group, please visit https://www.sju.edu/offices/titleix-equity/equity or contact bias@sju.edu. 

For more information about  University’s response to reports of sexual misconduct, including incident definitions, information for confidential reporting options both on- and off-campus, and resources for support, please visit https://www.sju.edu/offices/titleix or contact titleix@sju.edu.  

While I want you to feel comfortable coming to me for support, please know that I have some reporting requirements that are part of my job responsibilities at Saint Joseph’s University. For example, if you inform me of an issue of sexual harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct (Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, or Stalking) I will keep the information as private as I can, but I am required to bring it to the attention of the institution’s Director Office of Title IX, Equity & Compliance.

Students with Disabilities

Requests for Accommodations: Reasonable academic accommodations may be provided to students who submit appropriate documentation of their disability. Students are encouraged to contact Dr. Christine Mecke in the Office of Student Disability Services, Bellarmine, B-10, at cmecke@sju.edu; or at 610.660.1774 (voice), or 610.660.1620 (TTY), for assistance with this issue. The university also provides an appeal/grievance procedure regarding requested or offered reasonable accommodations through Dr. Mecke’s office. More information: www.sju.edu/sds.

Grievance Procedures for Students with Disabilities, Appeal Process: The Office of Student Disability Services will seek to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. However, there may be times when a disagreement as to what is considered a reasonable accommodation will occur between the student and the University. The student has a right to file a grievance for complaints regarding a requested or offered reasonable accommodation on the basis of a disability under Section 504 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and University policies. If you have any questions regarding the appeals process, please contact Dr. Christine Mecke, Director Student Disability Services – Bellarmine – Room G10 – cmecke@sju.edu.

For further information regarding accommodations, please see: www.sju.edu/int/studentlife/studentresources/thesuccesscenter/ssd.

Resources

Writing center: You will write in this class. If you are particularly concerned about your writing or think you might benefit from extra support, the Saint Joseph’s University Writing Center is free to all members of the SJU community. The undergraduate and graduate student writers who make up the staff can assist you in any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to organizing and developing your ideas, to citing sources to proofreading. They work with students from across the university on a variety of assignments and individual and group projects: lab reports, business policy papers, poems, essays, research papers, dissertations, resumes, and personal statements for graduate school applications, among many others. You name it; they’ve helped writers write it. Both in-person and synchronous online appointments are offered any time the Writing Center is open. For more information, including hours of operation and instructions on how to make an appointment, please visit the SJU Writing Center website at sju.edu/writingcenter.

AV Gear Rentals: Students can check out digital still cameras, video cameras, tripods, and other technology in the in the Communication Studies Gear Room, located on the second floor of Bronstein Hall. See the AV Gear Checkout Policies on the Communication Studies web page.

Academic Honesty: Please familiarize yourself with the University’s Academic Honesty Policy.

AI Policy. AI is useful for some stuff, like asking ChatGTP to wrote bonkers versions of your favorite TV shows. Other than the assignments that ask you to use AI, if you use AI in this course to complete any of the assignments, you will receive an F on that assignment.

Firearms Policy

According to the Human Resources section of the SJU website and the SJU Student Handbook (updated, 2021):

The carrying, or presence, of a firearm is not permitted on University property, including, but not limited to, one’s vehicle, office, residence or locker, except when the firearm is carried by a deputized law enforcement officer and/or agent who is conducting official business on University property.

The University policy concerning the prohibition against the carrying, and presence, of firearms on campus, is intended to conform to applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Such statutes define firearms as any pistol, revolver, shotgun, or any weapon which is capable of firing a projectile.

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