Syllabus Checklist Snapshot
College Success Skills DORI 0200 2F1 Spring 2026 Syllabus Page 1 of 5 College Success Skills DORI 0200 2F1 Spring 2026 INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Kandi Calder, M.Ed. Email: kbcalder@lit.edu Dept. Office Phone: 409-880-8191 Dept. Office Location: TC - 116 Office Hours: By Appointment CREDIT 2 Hour Non-Credit Course MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: None COURSE DESCRIPTION Psychology of learning and success; examines factors that underlie learning, success, and personal development in higher education. Topics covered include information processing, memory, strategic learning, self-regulation, goal setting, motivation, educational and career planning, and learning styles. Techniques of study such as time management, listening and note taking, text marking, library and research skills, preparing for examinations, and utilizing learning resources are covered. This includes courses in college orientation and the development of students’ academic skills that apply to all disciplines. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to 1. Navigate the systems of college (including technology, career/major exploration, academic advising, registration, and campus resources). 2. Examine factors that underlie learning, success, and personal development in higher education. 3. Discover techniques of study such as time management, listening and note taking, test taking, library and research skills, reading, and memory. 4. Demonstrate the State of Texas core objectives of critical thinking, communication, teamwork, personal and social responsibility, and qualitative reasoning. 5. Understand the concept of financial literacy for students, including the financial aid process.
College Success Skills DORI 0200 2F1 Spring 2026 Syllabus Page 2 of 5 REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS • College Success Concise by OpenStax by Amy Baldwin, Free at OpenStax.com • Computer • Internet connection (Broadband highly recommended) • MS PowerPoint (students are provided with free Office 365 access) • MS Word or compatible word processor (students are provided with free Office 365 access) • MS Outlook Email (students are provided with free Office 365 access) ATTENDANCE POLICY You are required to attend our weekly in-person class and log on weekly to Blackboard. Additionally, you are required to check your LIT emails weekly. Assignments are typically due weekly. Attendance is based on assignment submissions. DROP POLICY Students are NOT permitted to drop DORI. If you stop completing your coursework, you will FAIL the course and have to retake DORI to be eligible to graduate. If you wish to drop a different course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified drop date as listed on the Academic Calendar available on the LIT website otherwise the grade you receive in the course will impact your GPA. STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16-week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face-to-face class. COURSE CALENDAR Module Module Topics Important: Work is subject to change. Module Activities and Assignments Date Due 1 Transitioning to College Chapter 1 Reading Assignment Syllabus and College Basics Quiz Assignment Technology Skills Assessment Assignment From your LIT email, Email Instructor Assignment Plan for Title IX Training Tip 2/2/2026 2 Time and Priorities Management Chapter 2 Reading Assignment Class Introduction Discussion Assignment GRIT: Passion and Perseverance Assignment Resource Videos Weekly Planner Assignment Chapter 1 & 2 Knowledge Check Assignment 2/9/2026
College Success Skills DORI 0200 2F1 Spring 2026 Syllabus Page 3 of 5 Module Module Topics Important: Work is subject to change. Module Activities and Assignments Date Due 3 Reading and Note Taking Chapter 3 Reading Assignment Smiling Faces Assignment Resource Videos Library Access Assignment LIT and Its Website Discussion Assignment 2/23/26 4 Active Learning Chapter 4 Reading Assignment Resource Videos LIT Experience Scavenger Hunt Assignment Chapter 3 & 4 Knowledge Check Assignment 3/9/26 5 Building Relationships Chapter 5 Reading Assignment Title IX/Campus Clarity Assignment Resume Assignment Career Search Exploration Assignment 3/23/26 6 Your Health Chapter 6 Reading Assignment Resource Videos DegreeWorks, Starfish, and Self Service Banner Assignment Healthy Lifestyle Self-Assessment Assignment Chapter 5 & 6 Knowledge Check Assignment 4/6/26 7 Financial Literacy Chapter 7 Reading Assignment LIT Scholarship Assignment Prepare for Advising Assignment Advisor Meeting Assignment Resource Videos Preparing for Finals Assignment 4/20/26 8 Planning Your Future Chapter 8 Reading Assignment Advising and Registration Assignment LIT Course Evaluations Assignment Chapter 7 & 8 Knowledge Check Assignment Textbook Knowledge Check Final Exam Assignment 5/4/26 COURSE EVALUATION Final grades DO IMPACT your overall GPA and will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Daily Work 45% • Major Projects & Tests 55% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 DA • 80-89 DB • 70-79 DC • 00-69 DF DORI requires an average of 70 or above to pass. LIT does not use +/- grading scales
College Success Skills DORI 0200 2F1 Spring 2026 Syllabus Page 4 of 5 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Students found to be committing academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, or collusion) may receive disciplinary action. Students need to familiarize themselves with the institution’s Academic Dishonesty Policy available in the Student Catalog & Handbook accessible on the LIT website. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can found be online at Online Learning Requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or Wi-Fi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the LIT community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered LIT students to access, read, understand, and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) STATEMENT LIT recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses. STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT.
College Success Skills DORI 0200 2F1 Spring 2026 Syllabus Page 5 of 5 ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION DUE DATES: All assignment, Daily Work and Major Projects/Tests, due dates are indicated in the Blackboard course for this class and/or on the instructor-supplied course schedule. Work may be completed and submitted at any time before the due date. LATE WORK: Any work submitted after the stated due date (late work) could receive a 15-point deduction. WORK SUBMISSION: All assignments must be submitted via Blackboard. Assignments submitted through any other method will receive a “0”. GRADES: Grades for assignments may be accessed through the Gradebook section of your course within Blackboard. Each assignment shows your grade and any grading comments made on your assignment. A passing grade for DORI is 70 or above. COURSE INCOMPLETES: Incompletes for this class will only be given in very rare situations and at the discretion of the instructor. The class is structured so that if you stay on or ahead of schedule most unplanned life events will not derail your progress in this class. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: For questions or problems with Blackboard, call 409-951-5701 or email LIT-BBsupport@lit.edu. For questions or problems with Office 365 (including email) or Self-Service Banner, call 409-839-2074 or email helpdesk@lit.edu. For questions or problems with Starfish or DegreeWorks, call 409-880-8321. EMAIL: Emails will be replied to within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends. Please keep this in mind as you may need assistance to complete an assignment. If you do need help, and do not give yourself enough time to submit your question and receive assistance, this could cause you to submit late work.