What is family-centered community building?
The course starts with the basic premise that families and communities are complex and dynamic systems. To understand the relationships of families and communities, one needs to understand how family relationships develop and change, as well as understanding how over time relationships within a community develop and change, and the mutual interdependence that exists between families and communities.

Expectations

1.  Attendance and Participation.  Students are expected to attend class regularly and on time, to read assignments promptly, to participate in classroom discussions and group projects, to complete outside work and submit papers when they are due, and to pass examinations. 

We expect each of you to come to class each day on time.

Snow days:  If the Murfreesboro City Schools are closed for snow/ice, class will be cancelled; no other closings count.  BUT please use your judgment about your safety--one area can be hazardous and another clean and clear!  EXCEPT:  If  Al Gore is scheduled to speak and the city schools are closed, please call Pat Thomas at 898-5941 to be sure that the class is cancelled.

Perfect attendance is encouraged by in-class and homework assignments. Late work will not be accepted.  Absences including serious personal or family illness or hospitalization or deaths in the immediate family will require additional written make-up work tailored to the class missed. 

Class participation is not equally easy for all of us, but it is expected and encouraged and plays a part in your final grade.

2.  Written Work.  You will do a significant amount of writing in this class.  All written work--unless specifically designated as handwritten--must be typed, double-spaced with your name on each page and the question or assignment you are responding to clearly labeled.  Yes, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style as well as content all count.  Proof, proof, and proof again. If your writing is deficient, we will recommend you go to the English Writing Lab; they are very good at diagnosing and treating writing problems, but only if you do what they suggest.

3.  Physical Impairments/Disability:  If you have a disability/physical impairment that may require assistance or accommodation, such as special services, materials, and/or equipment, or you have questions regarding any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with us immediately following the first class meeting.  Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.

5.  Reading Assignments.  We do not intend to tell you what it says in the readings:  one of our explicit goals in this course is to encourage you to study the readings.  If you are having trouble with the course at any time, come to us at once and we will try to help you.  Please do not wait until you are hopelessly behind or the term is nearly over.

A schedule of topics is attached.  Reading assignments will be given to you.  Read the reading assignments prior to class on the day they are assigned.  We reserve the right to give reading quizzes IF we think that students are not keeping up with the reading assignments.

6.  Cheating.  Cheating in any form, including plagiarism [1] and allowing another student to copy your work, is unacceptable.  Cheating on exams, homework, or other assignments will earn you an "F" for the course.

Grading

Weekly Papers	14 x 20 points	= 280
Integrating Caregiving Activities	Questions & 2 Interviews	= 100
Community Experiences		= 100
Total Points		= 480*

Your final course grade will be determined by the total number of points you earn divided by the number of points it has been possible for students to earn.  Your final percentage will be converted to a letter grade as follows: 

A	=	90-100%
B	=	80-89%
C	=	70-79%
D	=	60-79%
F	=	less than 60%

Course Requirements

In addition to attending and participating in the sessions and completing the readings, each student is expected to complete the following Family Centered Community Building (FCCB) course activities:

1.  Submit a paper each week

(a) summarizing the readings assigned for that week  and the previous week’s video and

(b) discussing how those elements fit into the FCCB approach and also into your own life and interests (major, career intentions, current job, etc.)  More specific instructions will be given later.

2.  Questionnaires and two interviews on integrating care giving functions; the interviews are to be with women of different generations.  More specific instructions will be given

3.  Community Experiences:  You may choose to do at least ten hours of volunteer service at Community Care of Rutherford County or to do interviews with one family-related business and one family-related agency.  More specific instructions will be given.

There is NO curve; what you earn is what you get.

Tips

1. Try to be open-minded and curious.  This stuff is about US.
2. Keep up with your reading and assignments.  The semester moves FAST!
3. Ask for help when you need it.
4. Come every day.  Take notes.  Ask questions.  Participate.
5. Type your homework assignments and proof carefully.  Remember, spelling and grammar count!
6. Even if you have great study skills, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl and review the suggestions there.  We can all improve our skills.
7. Keep all your graded papers until you receive your final grade.
8. Carpe diem!

Education, at its best, is a two-way street:  it takes effort on the part of both the instructor and the student to be effective.  We take this course very seriously and we expect you to take the course seriously, too.  We believe that the FCCB  perspective will make your life far more interesting and, perhaps, understanding groups and their impact on individuals will make you a more useful group member.