Introduction to management theories, processes and principles as applied to efficient use of human and material resources in promotion of individual and family well being. 

Students will

• evaluate family management in terms of values and goal attainment, classify available resources, formulate alternatives, and predict possible outcomes
• understand how decision making relates to and is organized within the overall process by which individuals and families manage
• understand basic principles of management and apply them to personal and family situations
• determine how different stages in the family life cycle affect individual goals

You may need access to Microsoft Office Applications. If you do not have access to the Microsoft Office applications, you may download the Open Office Freeware.

Common procedural or curricular questions that arise each semester are answered on the syllabus. If you are unable to find the answers you need, you may contact the instructor via the eLearning Mail tool.  If needed, view the eLearning Tutorialsfor assistance using the Mail tool. Responses to emails will be provided within 48 hours during the standard business week. 

• As a general rule, please do not use all caps in your emails or discussions - it is considered yelling and is unprofessional. 
• Follow the rules of grammar.  Think of your instructor as your current or future employer (proofread).  Capitalize where needed and use punctuation. Write at the college level.
• Unless you are replying, have a brief and proper subject line.  The recipient should know what your message is about just by reading the subject line.
• Consider your audience before emailing/posting.  Should you send a “friend request” to your instructor?  Generally not until after you graduate.  Are students on a first-name basis with faculty members?  No.

Grading Scale:	Evaluation:
A+= 98-100, A=93-97, A-=90-92	Assignments/Discussion - 222 pts
B+=88-89, B=83-87, B-=80-82     C+= 78-79, C=73-77, C-=70-72	Syllabus quiz – 5 pts Two exams - 100 pts each
D+= 68-69, D=63-67, D-=60-62	Total – 427 points
F Below 60 average
Grades are determined by dividing points earned by points possible.  For instance, if you earn 395 out of 427 points that is a 92.5.  The instructor will consider punctuality and quality of work in the determination of any rounding.

This is a semester-based course delivered via http://elearning.ua.edu.  Content is divided into modules completed in accordance with the weekly pacing guide on the course schedule. For each module, you will have required readings and activities.  Upon enrollment review each Module to make sure you are able to access material.

If you have an outstanding problem (e.g. hospitalization or death of an immediate family member) please notify the instructor as soon as possible. Extensions will not be given after the due date, only beforehand, AND verification will be necessary.

Coursework will be graded within 2 weeks following the due date and students will be able to view these using the My Grades tool. Please do not email the instructor for grades.

Check the Announcements board and eLearning mail regularly during the semester.

All course materials may be subject to submission to Turnitin.com for the purpose of detecting textual similarities. Any assignments submitted to Turnitin.com will be included as source documents in Turnitin.com's restricted access database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism in such documents. Turnitin.com will be used as a source document to help students avoid plagiarism in written documents. If you have any questions or comments about Turnitin.com, please contact eTech (etech@as.ua.edu, 205-348-4832).

A high-speed Internet connection is recommended. You may also need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Other common Plug-insare available.

Students are encouraged to contact the instructor if they are having difficulty in the course. Instructors do not give grades – they are earned. 

How to succeed in this course:

I encourage you to put much thought and effort into your responses to each lesson. It sounds cliché, but the more you put into the exercises, the more you will gain from them. Further, I encourage you to keep a copy of your assignments. Many of them are personal in nature and later may provide a nice picture of the person you were when you completed the assignments. It is always instructive to look back years later and compare the things that were important to you in the past to the things that matter to you now.  Set up a study schedule and begin with a weekly plan.  Remember to answer each question completely and produce clear and concise prose that adheres to all rules of good grammar.

Minimum Student Technical Skills:

Participation in an online course requires basic knowledge of computer technology. You should be able to:

• Navigate and use eLearning (see eLearning Tutorials, if you need assistance).
• Understand basic computer usage, including keyboard, mouse, CD drive, and printer.
• Access the Internet via DSL, cable modem, or a network interface.
• Use the computer operating system (Windows/Mac OS) to:
  1. Create folders.
  2. Find, copy, move, rename, and delete files.
  3. Launch, run, and switch between software applications.
• Use a word processing program to (see Word 2007or 2003tutorials for PC users; Word 2008for Mac users, if you need assistance):
  1. Create, format, edit, spell check, save, print, and retrieve a document.
  2. Cut, copy, and paste information within and between documents.
  3. Save a word processing document in text or rtf format.
• Use a web browser to:
  1. Open, print, and/or save web pages to a local or removable storage drive.
  2. Open and save Adobe Acrobat files (PDF files).
  3. Create, maintain, and manage a list of web pages (Favorites/Bookmarks).
  4. Use a search engine's basic features to find information on the web.
• Download and install programs from remote servers.
• Use email to:
  1. Send, receive, store, and retrieve messages.
  2. Send, receive, and open file attachments.

Library Services:

All students have access to the resources available at the UA Libraries. Please visit the UA Libraries Distance Education web site for more information.

 Technical & Course Content Issues:

I suggest you access http://elearning.ua.edudirectly instead of going through mybama.  To obtain assistance with technical issues (removing pop-up blockers, trouble opening pages or quizzes in eLearning, etc.) please contact techsupport by filling out a Technical Support request formor call (205) 348-9157 or toll free 1-866-205-1011.

This class is part of an on-line degree program offered to students all over the world and offers students the convenience of being far from campus.  Students also have the flexibility to work any day of the week without being tied to physical class attendance at a set time.  The Course Schedule in eLearning will help you stay on track for a successful completion to the course and is mandatory.

Important! Assignments, discussions, and exams must be completed in eLearning on or before the due date.  Students that complete coursework by the due date will receive a bonus point for each required assignment.  Due dates are indicated on the Course Schedule.  In the event of an emergency, there will be a one week grace period following the due date during which students may submit late assignments/discussions.  There is no grace period for exams.  Students will receive a zero for any coursework not submitted by that time.  It is the student’s responsibility to maintain backup copies of assignments.  Power failures, computer crashes, and computer viruses are not acceptable excuses for failing to turn in an assignment on time.  Numerous computer labs are available on campus for your use.

Assignment Instructions:

• Unless otherwise specified, coursework will be submitted using the HTML Creator.  To do so, 1) click on the assignment 2) press the Use HTML button 3) click the Enable HTML Creator tab and 4) enter your content into the textbox.  The HTML Creator has many of the features of Microsoft Word.  If you need further assistance, view the eLearning Tutorials. The purpose of the HTML Creator is that 1) students do not attach files with odd extensions which the instructor cannot open 2) there are no issues of "I thought I turned in my work" 3) it reduces the risk of viruses and 4) there is no need to download hundreds of attachments over the course of the semester, which ultimately means much quicker feedback for students.  Neither attachments nor scanned documents will be accepted unless otherwise specified.  Note that you may view the grading criteria in advance. 
• Attention! It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that the assignment was submitted successfully.  To do so, click on the Assignments link on the Course Tools menu then click the Submitted tab to view the status of your submission. If you do not see your work then the instructor will have nothing to grade.  Be sure to check the submission status before the due date expires.  Please do not email the instructor any assignments as they will be returned to you ungraded. 
• To view assignment feedback visit the Assignments link, click on the assignment in question and go to the Graded tab.  There you'll find the score, a completed grading form and any comments. 
• If you forget to answer a portion of an assignment or do not turn in part of the assignment you will not be given a chance to redo.  If for some reason you missed the deadline, do NOT expect anyone to re-open the assignment for you.  Work ahead if you wish, but the deadlines are firm.

DISCUSSION INSTRUCTIONS:

To post Discussions select the specific topic located on the Discussion link from the course menu. To create a discussion post, select CreateMessage then enter your text into the textbox or upload your attachment, per the instructions. You will be able to view your posting once you Refresh your computer screen. If you use Office 2007 you must remember to save your file in the 1997-2003 version (.ppt) for any file sharing or students with older versions may not be able to view your post. 

Discussions are located on the Discussions page of the Course Tools menu.  Refer to the Course Schedule for due dates. 

You may be asked to complete a peer review.  To do so, go to your classmate’s discussion posting and click Review This Message. 

EXAMS:

Exams are timed events in Elearning.  Questions are multiple-choice and true/false.  You may take an exam by clicking the Assessments button after you have completed the relevant modules.  Students may not use notes or any outside assistance during exams.  Do NOT click the exam link unless you are ready to immediately begin.  Exam availability will end after the due date on the Course Schedule and any students that have not completed their exam by that time will receive a zero.  Pay special attention to the time limits posted for the exam. Please be aware that once you begin an exam, you must finish it in one sitting. You will have a single attempt for each exam, and once the exam has been submitted you can not go back, so be careful not to submit before you are done. 

All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of the semester and on examinations and projects, you may be required to sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: "I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University."

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar, sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

• Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• Weather advisories are broadcast via WUOA/WVUA-TV, which can be viewed across Central Alabama. Also, visit wvuatv.com for up-to-the-minute weather information. A mobile Web site is also available for your convenience.