GS 101: Personal Achievement
The capacity to determine one's success in college and life begins from within, from the way we see the world we live in and the attitudes we use to approach it. This course examines life from a principle and perspective viewpoint, and encourages application using the many resources available across campus. The intent is to focus on principles that produce success in college and beyond.
Course Learning Outcomes
In this course, we will:
- Develop an understanding of universal principles and skills fundamental to personal achievement.
- Apply the universal principles and skills of personal achievement into our everyday lives.
- Identify personal values, set goals based on those values, and then evaluate progress towards those goals.
- Write a Personal Creed Document (blueprint for living), including a Personal Mission Statement that will serve as a guide and inspiration as we progress through the various transitions of life.
Course Schedule
Please see the course calendar for all specific due dates. The instructor may shift the order of completion for some assignments, and may even extend the deadlines on a few assignments if circumstances warrant it for the whole class.
On average, it takes approximately 6 hours to complete all the learning activities for each week. This is the amount of time that you should expect to put into this class each week if you want to get a passing (C) grade. If you want a higher grade, you may need to put in more study time. The 6 hours of work includes the time for the online class meeting, which is usually 60 minutes long. So, you will usually have over 5 hours of "homework" that you will need to put into this course each week, including weeks with holidays. With these online classes, there is no "time off" for holidays like you might get in face-to-face classes. Consequently, you should make sure to arrange your study schedule accordingly so that holiday activities do not keep you from completing the required learning activities.
Required Materials
The following materials are required for this course. ISBN numbers are provided so that you can make sure you have the correct textbook. It is recommended that you get these materials from the BYU-Idaho bookstore. However, you may also purchase them from any other source. Just make sure you have materials with the ISBN numbers listed below, and you should be okay.
Inner Victory
By David A. Christensen
ISBN 10: 0-87411-810-7
ISBN 13: 9780874118100
An eBook version is available for this text. Compare versions and prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.
You are required to have a microphone for your computer and a set of earphones that will work with your computer. You will use these items to participate in a variety of GS 101 learning activities.
Grading
Grades will be based on a weighted percentage of the total number of points students may earn from assignments and quizzes, participation in online class meetings, and completion of any other learning activities assigned by the instructor. Weighted grading categories include:
| Category | Percent |
|---|---|
| Personal Creed Document | 40% |
| Insight Sharing | 20% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Topic Discussions | 10% |
| Class Meeting Reports | 10% |
| Surveys | 5% |
| Other Assingments | 5% |
Final grades will be determined by the following percentages:
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 100% – 93% |
| A- | 92% – 90% |
| B+ | 89% – 87% |
| B | 86% – 84% |
| B- | 83% – 80% |
| C+ | 79% – 77% |
| C | 76% – 74% |
| C- | 73% – 70% |
| D+ | 69% – 67% |
| D | 66% – 64% |
| D- | 63% – 60% |
| F | 59% – 00% |
Students may check their total number of points for all assignments and quizzes at any time using the I-Learn Grades link.
Course Policies
You should read the following course policies and make sure that you understand what these policies mean to you regarding your interactions with the instructor and other students in this course. If you have questions about any of these policies, you should contact your instructor immediately.
Personal Honor
In this class, our interactions with each other should be guided at all times by the following principles of personal honor.
Principles of Personal Honor
"True at all Times"
- Personal honor is integrity in fulfilling commitments, responsibilities, and covenants.
- Personal honor begins with willing obedience and is fully developed when we consistently govern ourselves by true principles.
- Personal honor increases spiritual strength through the ministry of the Holy Ghost.
- Personal honor is central to every aspect of our lives, including the BYU-Idaho experience.
- Personal honor brings us joy and happiness; deepens our desire to love, serve, and lift others; and ultimately helps us to become more like the Savior.
You should make sure that you understand the above principles of personal honor. It is important for all class members to strive to follow the above principles in our associations with one another. If you have any questions about how Personal Honor is related to academic honesty or the university's dress and grooming standards, you may visit the University Standards web page (http://www.byui.edu/dean-of-students/university-standards) to get more information.
Students with Disabilities
BYU-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office by phone at 208-496-9210 or via email at taylorr@byui.edu. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you need assistance or feel you have been unlawfully discriminated on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established policy and procedures. Contact the Human Resources Office at 208-496-1700 or via email at humanresources@byui.edu.
Sexual Harassment
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program which receives federal funds, including federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Human Resources Office at 208-496-1700 or via email at humanresources@byui.edu.