Main Content
Syllabus
HIED 545: Foundations in Higher Education and Student Affairs
This course provides an overview of the basic structures, functions, participants, constituencies, tensions, and challenges facing higher education and student affairs in the United States. The course goals are to (1) introduce students to the overall structure of higher education and student affairs, (2) examine the societal and individual purposes of higher education, (3) gain exposure to key concepts in higher education and student affairs, (4) examine internal and external actors important to higher education and student affairs, (5) understand the roles of various individuals in colleges and universities, (6) evaluate contemporary challenges facing higher education and student affairs, and (7) provide an opportunity for students to improve their analytical and written and oral communication skills.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accommodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
HIED 545 is an introduction to the educational context and major organizational and academic characteristics of higher education, including an analysis of current issues and future trends. The course provides an overview of the basic structures, functions, participants, constituencies, tensions, and challenges facing higher education and student affairs in the United States. In addition, the course has been divided into three major modules: the institution organization and structure, faculty and other higher education professionals, and students
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:
- Analyze, identify, and articulate the driving factors behind current trends/issues in higher education.
- Look for and evaluate available written or verbal information regarding higher education for validity, impact on the field, and usefulness for personal growth and development.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
The method for assessing learning in this course will include a variety of activities and exercises. The following paragraphs and tables will provide you with an at-a-glance overview of the assignment structure. All assignments are due on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET unless otherwise specified. The dates for each lesson are included in the Course Schedule section of this document. Please review those dates carefully. If you have a conflict or find that you are going to be late submitting an assignment, please make arrangements with the instructor before the assignment is due (unless it is a true emergency situation). Failure to comply will result in a grade reduction at the discretion of the instructor.
While this course is asynchronous, your instructor may schedule synchronous sessions periodically throughout the course. Student and instructor feedback has indicated these sessions to be beneficial. Attendance at these sessions is highly encouraged, albeit not mandatory. If you are unable to attend a session due to work or time zone conflicts, please let your instructor know. They will identify an alternate activity for you. In addition, all synchronous sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Instructors choosing to convene synchronous sessions will send announcements early in the term about dates and times for these sessions
Organization of the Course
The course is organized into three lesson modules:
- Institution Structure and Governance;
- Higher Education Professionals; and
- Students.
Assignment Details
For more detailed information about each category, see the following text.
Module 1 Assignment
For this assignment, you will conduct an in-depth exploration of a higher education institution of your choosing. To conclude your exploration, you will create a presentation that describes what you discovered about the institution you selected. See the Module 1 Assignment Overview: Institution Snapshot for more detailed information.
Module 2 Assignment
For this assignment, you will be working in groups to research and gather and analyze data around four major personnel types: Tenure-track faculty, non-tenure track faculty, student affairs professionals; and higher education professionals in other administrative roles. Groups will compile their findings into a report for the City of New York (CUNY) to inform their hiring decisions for their new campus, Du Bois College. See Module 2 Assignment Overview for more detailed information. These reports will then be used to discuss hiring decisions via a whole class discussion
Module 3 Assignment
For this assignment, you will be exploring the student experience, with emphasis on pathways to higher education and co-curricular learning. See Module 3 Assignment Overview for more detailed information.
Discussion Forums
The success of this course is highly dependent on regular discussion among all participants. This day to day discussion takes place through Canvas Discussion Forums. You are expected to regularly review the discussion topics and engage in meaningful dialog about them with other students. I highly encourage you to get used to checking it every weekday for new content.
Grading Scale
Letter grades will be based on the following scale:
| Numerical Value | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 93 - 100 | A |
| 90 - 92.9 | A- |
| 87 - 89.9 | B+ |
| 83 - 86.9 | B |
| 80 - 82.9 | B- |
| 77 - 79.9 | C+ |
| 70 - 76.9 | C |
| 60 - 69.9 | D |
| Below 60 | F |
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Assignments and Readings
The tables below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. In addition to the topics and assignments, the tables below list out the required readings for each lesson. Please note, these readings may be links, specific chapters from your text, and/or eReserves from the library. To access eReserves, click on the Library Resources link on the Canvas Navigation menu.
Module 1: Institution Structure and Governance
This multi-week module includes 4 interrelated lessons each with a topic specific discussion forum. The module concludes with a summative module assignment.
| READINGS: |
None |
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| ASSIGNMENTS: |
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Module 2: Higher Education Professionals
This multi-week module includes one lesson and concludes with a group project.
| READINGS: |
Other Readings
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| ASSIGNMENTS: |
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| READINGS: |
None |
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| ASSIGNMENTS: |
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Module 3: Students
This module includes two lessons. The module concludes with a and a group project.
| READINGS: |
Textbook
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| ASSIGNMENTS: |
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| READINGS: |
None |
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| ASSIGNMENTS: |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.