Course Syllabus

This course prepares students in the Healthcare Informatics program for the transition into the baccalaureate-level study. Students gain an understanding of program expectations, campus resources, and strategies for success in an online learning environment. Student success is promoted through managed remote study approaches, working in remote teams, writing that focuses on business and technical writing. Students learn how to define problems and analyze data for evidence-based solutions. The case study approach to learning is introduced. This course also introduces strategies for identifying student strengths, finding mentors, networking, and building a resume by working on an experience-based project to apply concepts learned in the program.

Asynchronous learning - all coursework is managed through the Canvas learning system. Pre-recorded lectures, readings, and assignments are delivered in the virtual course. Work is completed by deadlines set by the instructor and the course instructor is available to answer questions on the content.

• Develop personal goals and strategies for success in an online degree.
• Develop proficiency in problem-solving, analysis, critical thinking, and business writing.
• Establish social connections with peers in an online cohort and demonstrate virtual team-building skills.
• Identify personal strengths and manage education, personal brand, resume, and networking plan.
• Apply concepts and writing approaches to complete a case study.
• Demonstrate an ability to think critically, read analytically, and communicate effectively.
• Define the types of analytic tools commonly used in informatics.

Objectives will be met through course activities that include discussions, weekly quizzes, and assignments.

• Online Lectures for each module
• Assignments will reinforce the material presented on the class site.
• Weekly quizzes will be provided during each module.
• Students will demonstrate knowledge through assignments and discussions.

Grading

Due Dates: Assignments are due according to the study schedule. Assignments will be reviewed and graded by faculty within 7-10 days. Shorter exercises and quizzes will typically be returned within seven days or less. 

Late Policy: Students are required to submit all assignments by the due dates stated in the course schedule. A late assignment is one that is submitted after the due date or after any extension has expired.

If circumstances prevent a student from meeting the due date, the student needs to contact the instructor and request an extension at least 48 hours prior to the date the assignment is due. Emergency situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Being busy, pressured with outside work, technical issues, or having competing academic commitments are not valid reasons to grant extensions. A student who receives an extension in advance of the due date and abides by the agreement with the instructor is not subject to late penalties.

Papers or project submitted past due date will be given 60% credit if submitted within 5 days. No credit will be given to assignments turned in more than 5 days late.

Exams and Quizzes: Questions will be from the lectures, study guides or assigned reading and will be composed of multiple choice, short answer, true or false, or essay questions. The questions are selected to test your understanding of the material and competency to apply the concepts

It is expected that students will take the online quizzes and exams without anyone else’s assistance.

Final Grading 

The College Grading Policy is explained in the current Course Catalog and can also be found at this link: Grading Policy

Virtual learning environments are a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and competency without the time and location limits of the traditional classroom. There is an increased responsibility of the students to manage their own learning experience. My expectations of students enrolled in this course are:

·       Keep up with the topics. Taking an online course may be a benefit to be able to adjust to work and life events, however, these are not adequate reasons to avoid putting off work until the end of the week.

·       Pay attention to due dates and timing of exams. Late assignments will be accepted for 5 days with penalty and no credit is given after 5 days.

·       Ask questions or submit subjects that need clarification via email. Use professional e-mail format

Student Responsibilities:

• Set at least two or three times each week to go online and then add more as necessary for the assignment or assessment. Check the course homepage, calendar, course email and assignments at least three times per week.
• Doing reading and learning in a manner that allows you to complete assignments and assessments by their due dates.
• Notify me ahead of time if you believe that you may have challenges meeting deadlines.  Two-week (or first class) advance notice of any planned absences is expected. Unplanned absences should be sent to the instructor as soon as possible.
• Letting me know if you're having trouble with your hardware or software, with a course concept, or with the sense of isolation that is inevitable in an online course in a timely manner that I can help you address it.
• Obtaining and maintaining access to the internet. Coping with technical problems, including viruses, that involve your own machine or software.
• Ask questions when things aren't clear! Chances are others will have the same question.

Instructor Responsibilities:

• I will be updating the announcement section on Mondays. I will also be using the announcement section for class updates. Be sure to link Canvas with your BC email and set up email reminders when announcements are posted.
• I will be accessible by email and will respond within two days
• I will maintain the site and calendar
• I will be returning grades and comments
• I am committed to helping you to learn – you have to take accountability for your learning

The elements of this course are designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have disabilities, or are new to online learning. Be sure to let me know immediately if you encounter a required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming, accessible, or usable for students who take this course in the future.

All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account. Your student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in to MyBC. To create your account, go to: Create Email  

BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the Technology Service Desk  

Students can find help with Canvas by following the link here: Student Canvas Help

A note about accessing Canvas from the People’s Republic of China: some users have reported that they do not have full access to all Canvas functionality from within the People’s Republic of China. This appears to be due to Canvas’ parent company, Instructure, not fully committing to Chinese government requirements regarding internet operations within the country. The Chinese government does not inform foreign entities of their policy updates; therefore, Bellevue College cannot anticipate access to Canvas.

If you will be in China during the quarter, you should prepare for intermittent and uncertain access to Canvas.

Source: Access to Canvas in China

The Disability Resource Center serves students with disabilities. Common disabilities include physical, neurological (e.g. Autism, ADD/ADHD), and mental health (e.g. depression, anxiety). If you are a student who has a disability or if you think you may need accommodations in order to have equal access in your classes, programs, activities, and any other services, please contact the DRC.

If you require assistance in an emergency, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan for while in class and contact the DRC to develop a safety plan for while you are elsewhere on campus.

The DRC office is located in building U Room 001. You can contact the DRC by stopping by the office at U001, calling our front desk phone number (425) 564-2498, emailing drc@bellevuecollege.edu. For more information about the services we offer, including our Initial Access Application, visit our website at Disability Resource Center (http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc).

Service Animals are allowed in this classroom. Emotional Support Animals need to be approved through the DRC. All other animals will be asked to leave.  If you believe you need your animal with you, please connect with the DRC and refrain from bringing your animal until a decision has been made.

• Writing Lab (Academic Success Center) 
• Math Lab (Academic Success Center) 
• Academic Tutoring (Academic Success Center) 
• MCS – Multicultural Services 
• TriO 
• Benefits Hub
• Career Center
• Veterans Services

• To find additional student resources, go to: Campus Services

Public Safety is located in the B building (B132) and can be reached at 425-564-2400 (easy to remember because it is the only office on campus open 24 hours a day—2400). Among other things, Public Safety serves as our Parking Permits, Lost and Found, and Emergency Notification center. Please ensure you are signed up to receive alerts through our campus alerting system by registering at RAVE Alert Registration

If you work late and are uneasy about going to your car, Public Safety will escort you to your vehicle. To coordinate this, please phone ahead and let Public Safety know when and where you will need an escort.

Please familiarize yourself with the emergency postings by the door of every classroom and know where to go in the event of an evacuation. Your instructor will be asked if anyone might still be in the building, so check in before you do anything else. Emergency responders will search for anyone unaccounted for.

If a major emergency occurs, please follow these three rules: 

1. Take directions from those in charge of the response - We all need to be working together. 

1. Do not get in your car and leave campus (unless directed to) - Doing so will clog streets and prevent emergency vehicles from entering the scene. Instead, follow directions from those in charge. 

1. In an emergency, call 911 first, then Public Safety. 

Please do not hesitate to call Public Safety if you have safety questions or concerns at any time. You may also visit the Public Safety web page for answers to your questions. 

The Bellevue College Academic Calendar provides information about deadlines, holidays, closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule. 

• College Calendar - This calendar gives you the year at a glance and includes enrollment deadlines, college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end and start dates, and final exam dates. 

Bellevue College affirms the diversity of human identities and experiences and is committed to creating spaces free from harassment and discrimination (4000 Institutional Commitment to Inclusion).  Furthermore, Bellevue College rejects all forms of racism, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, classism, ableism, ageism, language bias, and hate speech or actions that attempt to silence, threaten, or degrade others.

In classroom settings, we might disagree with views shared in the classroom; however, courteous, and respectful behavior and responses are always expected. When providing criticism, it is important to focus on the ideas and not the person.

Faculty are encouraged to disrupt and address hate speech and behaviors. Students are also encouraged to speak up and advocate when they experience, or witness hate speech and behaviors. Faculty, staff, and students also are encouraged to submit a report to the CARE Team regarding any concerns of discrimination, harassment, or inappropriate and disrespectful conduct.

Affirmation of Inclusion  

Students who will be absent from course activities due to reasons of faith or conscience may seek reasonable accommodation so that grades are not impacted. Such requests must be made within the first two weeks of the course to the office of the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs (see Bellevue College Policy 2950.  In the event you feel you are being discriminated against based on faith or conscience, you may refer to the procedures outlined in the college’s Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Policy 1440P.

Religious Holidays

Students who expect to miss classes, examinations or any other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance should be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent, preferably at the beginning of the term. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments should be offered an opportunity to make up the work without penalty (if they have previously arranged to be absent) unless it can be demonstrated that a makeup opportunity would constitute an unreasonable burden on a member of the faculty. Should a disagreement arise over what constitutes an unreasonable burden or any element of this policy, the parties involved should consult the department chair or Dean.

Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; creed; color; national origin; sex; marital status; sexual orientation; age; religion; genetic information; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; or veteran status in educational programs and activities which it operates. Bellevue College is prohibited from discriminating in such a manner by college policy and by state and federal law. All college personnel and persons, vendors, and organizations with whom the college does business are required to comply with applicable federal and state statutes and regulations designed to promote affirmative action and equal opportunity.

Reports of gender and sex-based based discrimination, sexual misconduct, or retaliation by a student should be raised with the Title IX office (see 1440P2 for contact information). In cases where the impacted party is a student and the responding party is a college employee, the Title IX coordinator will direct the matter to the Office of Human Resources (HR). All other reports, including all reports where the impacted party is an employee, should be raised with the HR.  If a report is against personnel in the Title IX office or HR, it should be submitted to the president’s office for referral to an alternate designee.

Equal Opportunity

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share with the Title IX Coordinator any and all information regarding sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct (e.g. relationship violence, stalking) that may have occurred on campus or that impacts someone on campus. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the BC Counseling Center at (425) 564-2212. The Title IX Office can be contacted at 425-564-2641 and more information can be found at Title IX .

If you have any concerns, you may report to Report Concerns 

Students at any external sites or practicum are required to follow the business, local, state, and federal requirements. This may include vaccination requirements. Bellevue College does not make any guarantees of placement for practicum or external sites to students not fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Practicum facilities and businesses may deny not fully vaccinated students or students without a booster shot(s) access to their site which may result in an inability or delay to fulfill academic requirements. Alternatives to clinical work and site placements may not be available and these students may not be able to finish the program.

Bellevue College is a fully vaccinated campus. This means that in order to enroll you must either be fully vaccinated or apply for and receive a religious or medical exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition to complying with Bellevue College vaccination requirements, health care students must also be prepared to follow the clinical site requirements for vaccination. Many of our clinical partners are requiring that clinical students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of whether the student qualifies for a religious or medical exemption as an accommodation from the College. Therefore, if you are not vaccinated against COVID-19 (regardless of whether you qualify for a religious or medical exemption), Bellevue College likely will not be able to place you in a clinical site, which means you will not be able to complete the program you have started, at least at this time.

Bellevue College does not set or control clinical site standards or documentation requirements. If you are not accepted by a clinical site due to your vaccination status and you qualify for a medical or religious exemption, the College will attempt to locate an alternative clinical placement, but cannot guarantee that a placement will be found. If no alternative clinical placement is identified, you may not be able to complete the program due to inability to complete clinical coursework.

Because it takes time to be fully vaccinated and to receive a booster shot, we recommend you explore your options and decide as soon as possible how you would like to proceed. At this time, your options are to (1) receive the vaccination and continue with your program; (2) decline the vaccination, qualify for a religious or medical exemption, and continue in your program knowing that your training may be interrupted if your assigned clinical partner is unwilling to provide an accommodation, or (3) decline the vaccination and withdraw from your program.

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccination, the following sources have evidence-based information:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine/facts.aspx