GLC CUNY Mapping Communities fall 2015-1

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and City University of New York (CUNY) Collaboration Mapping Communities: Identity and the Politics of Belonging University Studies 1301, CRN 13670, Fall 2015 TR 12:00-1:20, UGLC 334 http://globallearningcommunity.ning.com Instructor: Joanne Kropp Office Hrs: MW 4:30-6:00, T 1:30-2:30, or by appt Office: UGLC 332 Phone: 747-5111 Email: jtkropp@utep.edu Peer Leader: Nathaniel Roa Office Hrs: TR 1:30-2:30 Office: UGLC 212 Phone: 747-6144 Email: inroa@miners.utep.edu Librarian: Luke Jastrzebski Office: Library 320 Phone: 747-6723 Email: ljastrzebski@utep.edu Advisor: Lucy Snelson Office: Academic Advising Center Phone: 747-6815 Email: lsnelson@utep.edu Course Description for UTEP and CUNY This collaborative course will focus on the question: What constitutes a community? We will explore how communities “imagine” themselves and represent their identity in public spaces We will also explore the theme of gentrification, refurbishing neighborhoods to attract wealthy people and displacing the poorer residents This UTEP course is linked to a similarly themed class at Guttman Community College, part of the City University of New York system This Global Learning Community provides a virtual space where students at both universities can investigate their own backgrounds and experiences and those of their global cohort for a better understanding of identity formation in different places in the United States Students from both universities will enhance their use of technology as they share their research findings via videoconferences, social networks, web design, and other multimedia projects In addition to the theme of the class, this course places significant emphasis on the acquisition and implementation of the skills needed to ensure a successful transition from high school to college by specifically focusing on academic skills such as time management, active reading, critical thinking, analytic writing, effective note taking, successful test taking and organizational skills Course Goals for UTEP University 1301 Goal 1: Students will begin to understand their roles, opportunities, and responsibilities that impact their success within the context of the university Goal 2: Students will learn about and practice essential academic skills in order to strengthen performance in the university setting Goal 3: Students will begin to build a network of faculty, staff, and peers in order to create a supportive and positive learning experience/environment Goal 4: Students will begin to assess and better understand their own interests, abilities, and values in order to more efficiently pursue their academic, career, and life goals Goal 5: Students will become involved in UTEP activities and utilize campus resources Required Readings for UTEP University 1301 * Borders: Crossing into Your Future, 5th Edition only (Available at the University Bookstore) * All other course readings will be available on the NING site and Blackboard http://globallearningcommunity.ning.com Grading Scale: 900-1000 = A 800-899 = B 700-799 = C 600-699 = D