Fall 2026
Beginning Algebra
Instructor: Chesney Culver
Email: culvercb@lamarpa.edu
Phone: 409-984-6431
Office Hours: Online by appointment
Additional Contact Information: Please do not use Blackboard to message me. Instead, please email me from your LSCPA email address with DMTH 0310-73 in the subject line.
Concepts of basic algebra. Operations on real numbers and polynomials, solving equations, inequalities and systems, graphing, and problem solving are included.
Elementary Algebra, 2nd Edition, by Openstax, 2020.
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Reliable internet connection and a device to complete assignments and exams on. iPads are not recommended for this course due to frequent technical difficulties.
See placement guidelines
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Use appropriate symbolic notation and vocabulary to communicate, interpret, and explain mathematical concepts.
2. Define, represent, and perform operations on real numbers, applying numeric reasoning to investigate and describe quantitative relationships and solve real-world problems in a variety of contexts.
3. Use algebraic reasoning to solve problems that require ratios and rates in a variety of contexts using multiple representations.
4. Apply algebraic reasoning to manipulate expressions and equations to solve real-world problems.
5. Use graphs, tables, and technology to analyze, interpret, and compare data sets.
6. Construct and use mathematical models in verbal, algebraic, graphical, and tabular form to solve problems from a variety of contexts and to make predictions and decisions.
- Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication. -Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. -Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts. |
Please see the course Blackboard.
Please see the course Blackboard.
Please see the course Blackboard.
Let x represent your weighted average in the course.
|
Grade |
Range |
|
AD |
x≥90 |
|
BD |
80≤x<90 |
|
CD |
70≤x<80 |
|
DD |
60≤x<70 |
|
FD |
x<60 |
** Note that the first letter is the earned letter grade in the course and the second letter D denotes this is a developmental course**
-No additional late work, extensions or make-up work will be accepted. Please do not ask.
-This syllabus is subject to change as needed throughout the semester. Any major changes will be accompanied by an announcement in class, via email, or posted on Blackboard.
-All relevant information about this course will be communicated to students using announcements posted on Blackboard. You will receive an email copy of each announcement but replies to those emails will not be monitored nor receive a response.
-Students should use their LSCPA email to communicate with the instructor; any communications from personal email accounts (gmail,yahoo,etc.) will be ignored.
-Students must use appropriate email etiquette when corresponding with the instructor; for example, complete sentences and a full subject line with your name and course name. Voice mail messages should be clearly spoken identifying students' name, course, and return phone number.
-Emails or messages determined by the instructor to be rude or disrespectful will not be responded to and will possibly be forwarded to the student’s department chair or program coordinator.
-Students may check their grades in their Blackboard gradebook. If the student wishes to discuss their grades, they may email the instructor and request an appointment to meet with the instructor or see the instructor during scheduled office hours. The instructor will not discuss any grades over email or phone calls.
-The instructor will not discuss a student’s grades with anyone besides the student unless the instructor is given permission by LSCPA officials to do so.
-Students are responsible for informing the instructor if they are unable to access any course materials. There will be no late work or credit given for assignments missed for this reason.
-If the instructor sees a need, she may require the quizzes and chapter tests be taken in a proctored environment. If this change occurs, the instructor will notify the students prior to the due dates.
Attendance (including that in online courses) will be taken into account when determining borderline grades.
Course Expectations:
Blackboard/MyOpenMath:
All of your course materials and assignments are accessible through MyOpenMath via Blackboard. You will not need to sign up for or log on to any outside website, as everything will be integrated fully into Blackboard. MyOpenMath is an open-source program and does not require any access code or payment before using. If this is the only course you are taking this semester, or if all of your other classes use open-source (OER) resources, you should consider opting out of the Seahawk Book Bundle program.
Students may work at their own pace as long as the assignments are completed by the given deadline. I have provided a weekly schedule in the “Course Documents” folder to help students stay on track. All assignments are available on the first day of class so students may work as far ahead as they like (including exams). For this reason, no late work will be accepted (besides late passes) unless the student has a verifiable reason for being unable to complete the course work for the entirety of the semester.
Please note that all assignments in this course must be worked in order as they appear in Blackboard. You must complete the homework (practice problems) before you can access the corresponding quiz. You must complete the quizzes before you can take the corresponding chapter test. You must complete the chapter tests before you can take the Final exam. Failure to complete the chapter assignments will prevent you from accessing the exams. Please plan accordingly. No late work will be accepted and no extensions will be given for students unable to access the exam(s) for this reason.
Homework (Practice Problems):
The homework sets must be worked in order, and multiple versions of each problem will be offered until a correct answer has been reached. You can even continue practicing new versions of each problem after getting a correct answer if needed (I recommend practicing each problem multiple times until mastery is achieved).
Quizzes and Chapter Tests:
The quizzes and chapter tests will be taken outside of class time and will not be proctored. Quizzes will have a 1 hour time limit and Chapter Tests will have a 1.25 hour limit. Quizzes will have 3 attempts and the best score will be used in the students gradebook. Chapter tests will have 1 attempt. If a student should experience technical difficulties during a chapter test that result in an incomplete test, then the student will be allowed a ONE time retake. This is a one time courtesy per semester and does not apply to any other assignments. The student must email the instructor within 24 hours of the first attempt to receive another attempt.
Final exam:
There will be one comprehensive final exam for the course. This exam will be administered online. The final exam will have a one hour and fifteen minute time limit. The final exam will have one attempt only. No retests or make-up exams will be given. If a student is worried about experiencing technical issues during their final exam, they are encouraged to take the exam in the testing center on campus. Please see the course BB for more details.
-Late Passes:
-Each student will be automatically given 10 late passes for the semester. You do not have to email the instructor in order to use a late pass. An explanation on how to use the late passes will be provided in the Course Intro Video.
-Late passes can be used for any assignment except the Final Exam. This includes homework, quizzes, and chapter tests. Students are responsible for planning and using their late passes in a way that is most beneficial to them. The instructor will not advise students on “best ways” to use late passes.
- Late passes cannot extend due dates past the last class day of the semester or the deadline of the final exam (whichever comes first).
-Students should always strive to complete assignments on time. Late passes are a built-in accommodation for emergencies that occur in the semester. In the event a student has an emergent circumstance that prevents them from completing the coursework, and the work is more than the late passes can cover, they will need to contact LSCPA’s disabilities services coordinator. No additional accommodations will be made unless a student has a letter of accommodations from the disabilities services coordinator.
-Again, late passes are intended to be used sparingly and in the event of an emergency. Thus, students that do not use all their late passes will be granted extra credit for their remaining passes. Each late pass a student does not use will be converted to one point of extra credit on the final exam. For example, if a student uses 2 late passes and scores a 79 on their Final Exam, then their remaining 8 late passes will bring their Final Exam score up to an 87.
Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.