BAS 300 Master Syllabus

BAS 300: Building Professional Competencies Master Syllabus

Credits: 3
Canvas/Online
*Dates and times in this course refer to Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Course Description

This course serves as an orientation to the BAS degree program and a scaffold toward the BAS 490/491 capstone sequence. Current strengths are assessed, and future planning is highlighted. Core competency areas related to personal effectiveness, professional identity, and academic/workplace success are stressed throughout. The course introduces students to the university’s online learning system, Lucid visual-collaboration tools, the Harmonize discussion platform, and other resources useful for degree completion.

Prerequisites

ENGH 100 or ENGH 101.

Rationale

The BAS degree was designed to provide students who hold an AAS degree a pathway to a bachelor’s degree. Students in this program are generally adult learners from diverse backgrounds. BAS 300 is an introduction to Mason, to the BAS program, and to the online learning environment — and this semester’s redesign deliberately scaffolds the professional-competency skills students will draw on in their BAS 490/491 capstone.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to (outcome codes CO1–CO6 are referenced throughout the course schedule below):

CO1 — Navigate Canvas, Lucid, and Harmonize as an integrated online learning
CO2 — Identify personal strengths (CliftonStrengths) and translate them into a professional brand and career
CO3 — Design and sustain identity-based habits and systems that support self-management in a distance-learning environment.
CO4 — Produce professional application materials (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile) and a career development roadmap.
CO5 — Apply APA 7th-edition formatting and college-level writing standards across formal
CO6 — Collaborate effectively in a team setting and communicate professional insight through written and video formats.

Required Materials

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – Located on Canvas
Atomic Habits by James Clear — any edition/format.
CliftonStrengths Assessment access code (provided via Canvas).
Reliable access to Canvas, Lucid (Lucidspark), Harmonize, LinkedIn, and

Your Student Success Coach Is Part of Your BAS 300 Journey!

What you’ll learn in BAS 300 extends far beyond the gradebook. The skills, strategies, and tools you explore in this course can support you throughout your entire Mason journey. That’s where your Student Success Coach comes in.

Your coach will help you take the concepts from BAS 300 off the page and put them into practice. Throughout the semester, you’ll have opportunities to connect course content to your own experiences, goals, and personal journey at Mason. Your coach is here to help you reflect, ask questions, make meaningful connections, and turn what you’re learning into actionable strategies for success.

The goal is not simply to complete BAS 300. The goal is to build skills and habits that will support you throughout your time at Mason and beyond.

Student Success Group Coaching Requirement

This semester, you are required to attend at least one Student Success Group Coaching Session. Session topics will align with the content covered in BAS 300, including concepts from Atomic Habits and The Alchemist.

All sessions will be held synchronously via Zoom, and registration will take place through Mason360 (mason360.gmu.edu/login_only).

Attendance and participation in a group coaching session is worth 25 points. To receive full participation credit, you are expected to have your camera ON throughout the session and actively participate in the discussion and activities. The session facilitator will take attendance and share participation records with your instructor. Remember, we are teaching you how to be a professional! That includes how to participate in virtual, facilitated meetings/workshops.

After attending the group coaching session, you will complete a discussion board reflection to summarize and reflect on your experience. The discussion board is in Module 15 (“D15 – Student Success Group Coaching Reflection”) on Canvas.

Important: Each session has a limited number of seats, and some sessions may fill quickly. It is YOUR responsibility to register for and attend at least one group coaching session during the semester. Please plan ahead and do not wait until the end of the semester to register — there will not be enough available seats in the final sessions to accommodate students from all three course sections.

The Fall 2026 Schedule of Student Success Group Coaching Sessions and the Session Descriptions are posted as files in the Canvas course. Sign up now to guarantee a spot in a session that fits your schedule.

Grading — 1,425-Point Course Structure

This course is graded on a cumulative 1,425-point scale spread across four phases. Final letter grades follow the Mason Grading System for undergraduate students (see http://catalog.gmu.edu).

Course Phase	Points
Phase 1 — Purpose, Identity & Navigation (Wks 1–4)	305
Phase 2 — Habits, Systems & Writing (Wks 5–8)	315
Phase 3 — Strengths, Teamwork & Branding (Wks 9–12)	400
Phase 4 — Roadmapping, Capstone & Showcase (Wks 13–15)	405
Total	1,425

Points are fixed at the values shown in the schedule below and sum to exactly 1,425 across the semester; no additional scaling or curving is applied.

Grading Scale

Letter grades are assigned by total points earned out of 1,425 (not by percentage):

1382–1425	A+	1325–1381	A	1283–1324	A-
1240–1282	B+	1183–1239	B	1140–1182	B-
1097–1139	C+	1040–1096	C	998–1039	C-
855–997	D	0–854	F

A final grade of C or better is required to proceed to BAS 490. A grade of C- or lower will require a retake of the course.

Major Assignments Overview

The weekly schedule below includes smaller weekly participation items (Coffee Shop Pods, consultations, quick checks) alongside these larger, multi-step assignments. The major assignments — the ones worth spending real drafting and revision time on — are:

Writing Milestone 1 — Strengths & Academic Inquiry Brief (75 pts, due Week 4): A 2-page APA-formatted paper synthesizing two CliftonStrengths themes, the Personal Legend concept from The Alchemist, and one peer-reviewed source on leadership, career development, or adult learning.
Writing Milestone 2 — Systems & Behavior Change Analysis (90 pts, due Week 8): A 2–3 page APA paper analyzing a personal or professional habit loop using the Cue-Craving-Response-Reward framework from Atomic Habits, including your Writing Center consultation receipt as an appendix.
Applied Team Playbook (75 pts, due Week 11): A team-built visual “Applied Success & Career Playbook,” with each team member owning and contributing one section — then delivered as a recorded group presentation the team submits together, including an individual reflection segment from each member
Resume & Cover Letter Package (35 pts draft + 85 pts final = 120 pts, Weeks 9 & 12): A full job-application package built across two milestones — a peer-reviewed draft in Week 9, then a polished, ATS-ready final version in Week 12.
Career Roadmap & Final Package (150 pts draft, Week 13 + integrated into the 80 pt Capstone, Week 15): A scaffolded 3–4 page narrative, Structured Action Plan Table, and 1-page Canva Visual Roadmap, built from artifacts you produce across Weeks 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10.
Executive Elevator Pitch, V1.0 & V2.0 (10 pts + 40 pts = 50 pts, Weeks 1 & 14): Two recorded video pitches that bookend the semester — a baseline pitch in Week 1 and a polished final version in Week 14 — so you can see and articulate your own growth.
BAS Professional Success Portfolio — Capstone (120 pts: 25 executive summary + 50 portfolio + 25 presentation + 20 peer feedback, Weeks 14 & 15): A one-page executive summary on why portfolios matter in your field (Week 14), followed by revising and compiling your portfolio elements (Executive Pitch, resume/cover letter, CliftonStrengths summary, Career Roadmap) into one unified package, presented in a recorded capstone presentation, with structured feedback given to two classmates (Week 15).

Harmonize & Lucid Weekly Due Dates

Unless a specific Canvas module says otherwise, Harmonize and Lucid (Lucidspark) assignments follow a consistent weekly rhythm:

Original post / board entry: due Friday by 11:59 PM
Peer replies / comments: due Sunday by 11:59 PM (module close)

Exception — Week 1 Lucid assignment: The very first Lucid activity of the semester (the Week 1 Icebreaker Board) does not follow the Friday/Sunday pattern above. Your original board entry is due Sunday of Week 1 (Aug 30), and peer replies are not due until Sunday of Week 2 (Sep 6), giving everyone time to get oriented to the tool before the reply window opens.

If a Friday post or Sunday reply deadline is missed, the standard Late Work Policy applies: the assignment remains open for one additional week, with no deduction on days 1–2 late and a 10% deduction per day on days 3–7 (up to a maximum 50% deduction on day 7). See the Late Work Policy section below for full details.

15-Week Course Schedule

NOTE: Content within Canvas Modules is the final authority for assignments and due dates. The schedule below is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Each module opens Monday at 9:00 AM.

Focus / Reading, Objective & Outcomes

Key Assignments

Pts

Phase 1

Orientation & BAS Competencies

Reading: No new reading this week. Objective: Get oriented to Canvas, Lucid, and Harmonize, set baseline expectations for the semester, and commit to the course’s academic integrity and AI use standards.

• Lucid Icebreaker Board

• Harmonize Video: Baseline Elevator Pitch V1.0

• Syllabus & Academic Integrity Check

• AI Use Contract & Academic Integrity Agreement

• Academic Integrity Scenarios

Phase 1

The Alchemist & Professional Writing Foundations

Reading: The Alchemist — pp. 11–21 (Part One)

Objective: Build foundational APA and professional-communication skills while connecting early course texts to your own decision to return to school.

• Coffee Shop Pod 1 (Harmonize)

• APA Micro-Workshop 1

• Professional Email Etiquette Exercise

• MEAL Plan Workshop – (Main idea, Evidence, Analysis, Link) for structuring body paragraphs

Phase 1

Academic Navigation & Time Management

Reading: The Alchemist — pp. 22–33 (Part One)

Objective: Map the academic and personal resources available to support degree completion, and build time awareness.

• Coffee Shop Pod 2 (Harmonize)

• Success Ecosystem Map

• Time Audit & Reflection

Labor Day holiday Mon, Sep 7

Phase 1

CliftonStrengths Discovery & Applied Evidence

Reading: The Alchemist — pp. 34–44 (finish Part One)

Objective: Discover your strengths and synthesize them with course concepts into a formal APA-formatted argument.

• CliftonStrengths Assessment & Top 5 Upload

• APA Style Quiz

• Writing Milestone 1: Strengths & Academic Inquiry Brief (2 pp., APA)

115

Phase 2

Atomic Habits (Intro–Ch. 3): Identity-Based Habits

Reading: Atomic Habits — Introduction–Chapter 3

Objective: Define an identity-based statement that anchors new academic habits.

• Harmonize “Identity Anchor” Post — 20 pts

• Lucidspark 1% Micro-Habits Board — 15 pts

Phase 2

Atomic Habits (Ch. 4–7): The 1st Law

— Make It Obvious

Reading: Atomic Habits — Chapters 4–7 Video: Tim Urban’s TED Talk “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator,”

Objective: Diagnose your own procrastination patterns, then apply the Atomic Habits framework to redesign your systems.

• Lucidspark – Procrastination Autopsy & System

• System Redesign Reflection

Phase 2

Atomic Habits (Ch. 8–11): The 2nd Law & Beyond

Reading: Atomic Habits — Chapters 8–11 Objective: Apply what you’ve read to design habit stacks, diagnose friction points in coursework, strengthen writing through consultation, and complete your required Student Success Coach visit.

• Coffee Shop Pod 3 (Harmonize)

• Milestone: Writing Center Consultation (Milestone 2 draft)

• Milestone: Student Success Coach Consultation — 25 pts: your required 1:1 check-in — must be completed by this week.

• Habit-Stacking Matrix: use your Week 3 Time Audit data to design two habit stacks using

• Habit-Stacking Reflection

MIDTERM CHECKPOINT

100

Phase 2

Atomic Habits (Ch. 12–15): The 3rd Law — Make It Easy

Reading: Atomic Habits — Chapters 12–15 Objective: Analyze a personal habit loop and refine systems at the semester’s midpoint.

• Lucidspark Mid-Semester Systems Audit

• Writing Milestone 2: Systems & Behavior Change Analysis (2–3 pp., APA)

• APA Paper Dissection (Mid-Semester Check)

• Plan of Study: Meet with Academic Advisor: schedule a check-in appointment with your academic advisor – Before your appointment, complete the Plan of Study Worksheet

Fall Break Mon, Oct 12

150

Phase 3

The Modern Resume Sprint (Finish Atomic Habits)

Reading: Atomic Habits — Chapters 16–20 (finish)

Objective: Draft and refine measurable, accomplishment-based resume content, then get advisor feedback before finalizing. Also finish Atomic Habits this week.

• Digital Brand Audit Board (Lucidspark)

• Harmonize Resume Bullet Point Workshop

• Draft Resume & Cover Letter + Peer Review: run your draft through an ATS-style keyword/formatting check before your peer review,

• Milestone: Career Center Consultation

Phase 3

Translating Strengths to Leadership

Reading: No new reading this week. Objective: Translate personal strengths into leadership language and complete a target-role skills gap analysis.

• Milestone: Strengths Coach Consultation

• LinkedIn Profile Update, Cohort Connection & Networking Outreach

• Target Role & Skills Gap Analysis Worksheet

Phase 3

Applied Team Playbook Sprint Reading: No new reading this week. Objective: Collaborate on a shared visual

deliverable, then present it together as a

team.

• Team Collaborative Build: Playbook

• Team Group Presentation (recorded, submitted by the team)

• Job Search Strategy Share – Harmonize

• Interviewing Practice, Lucidspark Team Activity

Election Day Tue, Nov 3

100

Phase 3

Team Presentations & Final Application

Reading: The Alchemist — pp. 46–72 (Part Two)

Objective: Present team work concisely and finalize a polished job-application package.

• Final Resume & Targeted Cover Letter — 85 pts

• APA Paper Dissection (End-of-Semester Check)

• APA Citation Practice Paragraph

120

Phase 4

The Alchemist & Career Trajectories Reading: The Alchemist — pp. 73–99 (Part Two)

Objective: Assemble your Weeks 3, 4, 6, 7 & 10 artifacts into the full Career Roadmap narrative, Action Plan Table, and Canva visual roadmap.

• Coffee Shop Pod 4 (Harmonize)

• Career Roadmap Narrative, Action Plan Table & Canva Visual Roadmap (Draft)

• Habit Systems Check-In

185

Phase 4

The Alchemist: Growth & Articulation

Reading: The Alchemist — pp. 100–126 (finish Part Two + Epilogue)

Objective: Deliver a polished professional pitch and reflect on growth since Week 1.

• Coffee Shop Pod 5 (Harmonize)

• Harmonize Video: Executive Elevator Pitch V2.0

• Portfolio Executive Summary Thanksgiving Break Wed–Sun, Nov 25–29 — no live obligations that week; extended window applies

Phase 4

Capstone Synthesis & Showcase Reading: No new reading this week. Objective: Revise and integrate the semester’s work into a unified professional

portfolio, present it, and give structured

feedback to classmates.

• Student Success Group Coaching: Attendance & Reflection

• Legacy Card for Future Students

135

—

Last Day of Classes & Final Exam Period

• BAS Professional Success Portfolio (Capstone)

• Capstone Presentation (recorded)

• Peer Feedback on 2 Classmates’ Capstone Presentations.

—

Weekly Assignment Detail

Week 1 — Orientation & Baseline Pitch

Lucid Icebreaker Board (10 pts): Add a sticky note with your name, industry/role, target BAS concentration, and a skill you could teach in 5 minutes.
Harmonize Baseline Elevator Pitch 0 (10 pts): Record a 60–90 second video covering who you are today, why the BAS degree, and one hope or concern for the semester. Reply to two classmates.
Syllabus & Academic Integrity Check (25 pts): 5-question Canvas quiz on grading structure, communication channels, and ethical scholarship standards.
AI Use Contract & Academic Integrity Agreement
Academic Integrity Scenarios (20 pts): review 5 short real-world scenarios covering plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and AI misuse; for each, identify whether it’s permitted or a violation and explain your

Week 2 — The Alchemist & Professional Writing Foundations

Coffee Shop Pod 1 (20 pts): Post + reply on Santiago’s decision to leave the familiar for the unknown, connected to your own return to school.
APA Micro-Workshop 1 (20 pts): Interactive check on the student title page, source types, and citation/reference anatomy.
Professional Email Etiquette Exercise (10 pts): Review the email etiquette guide, then revise a provided poorly-written sample email into a properly formatted, professional message (subject line, greeting, tone, sign-off).
MEAL Plan Workshop (15 pts): Learn the MEAL Plan (Main idea, Evidence, Analysis, Link) for structuring body paragraphs.

Week 3 — Academic Navigation & Time Management

Coffee Shop Pod 2 (20 pts): Share a mentor or “omen” that pointed you toward finishing this
Success Ecosystem Map (25 pts): Map campus resources, professional network, family/community, and personal tools; leave feedback on two peers’ boards.
Time Audit & Reflection (15 pts): Complete a weekly time grid identifying where your time actually goes, then write a short reflection on your biggest time sink and one specific change you’ll try.
Career Roadmap building block: your Support Ecosystem Map feeds Section 4 of the Career Roadmap

Week 4 — CliftonStrengths Discovery & Applied Evidence

CliftonStrengths Assessment & Top 5 Upload (25 pts): Complete the assessment, upload your report, and reflect on which theme resonated and which surprised you.
APA Style Quiz (15 pts): Canvas quiz reinforcing student title pages, in-text citation, and reference-list formatting ahead of your first formal paper.
Writing Milestone 1 (75 pts): 2-page APA paper synthesizing two CliftonStrengths themes, the Personal Legend concept, and one peer-reviewed source on leadership, career development, or adult learning.

Career Roadmap building block: your Top 5 Signature Themes snapshot from this week becomes the raw material for Section 2 of your Week 13/15 Career Roadmap narrative.

Week 5 — Identity-Based Habits

Identity Anchor Post (20 pts): Write a 3-sentence identity statement (“I am becoming the type of professional who…”) tied to daily study habits.
1% Micro-Habits Board (15 pts): Map three under-2-minute habits that reduce academic

Week 6 — Procrastination Autopsy & System Redesign

Procrastination Autopsy & System Redesign, Lucidspark (15 pts): Watch Tim Urban’s TED Talk “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator,” then complete a 3-zone board. Zone 1 (The Cast): identify your key goal, your Instant Gratification Monkey’s favorite distraction, and your Panic Monster trigger. Zone 2 (The Dark Playground): analyze a specific task you tend to avoid and pinpoint why the Monkey takes over. Zone 3 (The Atomic Redesign): apply at least two Atomic Habits strategies (the 2-Minute Rule, Implementation Intentions, or Environment Design) to make starting seamless.
System Redesign Reflection (15 pts): Write a short reflection synthesizing what your autopsy revealed and committing to the specific system change you designed in Zone 3.
Career Roadmap building block: your Zone 3 system redesign strategies feed the Behavior Change Strategy/Friction column of the Action Plan Table.

Week 7 — Friction, Support & Writing Center — Midterm Checkpoint

Coffee Shop Pod 3 (20 pts): Identify your biggest friction point in staying on top of coursework and one
Writing Center Consultation (25 pts): Schedule and attend a consultation on your Writing Milestone 2 draft; submit confirmation/feedback.
Student Success Coach Consultation (25 pts) -1^st opportunity to submit consultation
Strength Coach Consultation (25 pts) -1^st opportunity to submit consultation
Habit-Stacking Matrix (15 pts): Use your Week 3 Time Audit data to design two habit stacks using “After [current habit], I will [new habit].” — a complementary technique to the strategies you applied in your Week 6 System Redesign.
Habit-Stacking Reflection (15 pts): Explain why you chose your two habit stacks and how they build on the system you designed in Week 6.
Career Roadmap building block: your habit stacks also feed the Behavior Change Strategy/Friction column of the Action Plan Table.

Week 8 — Systems Realignment

Mid-Semester Systems Audit (25 pts): Revisit your Week 7 habit stacks and refine what is/isn’t
Writing Milestone 2 (90 pts): 2–3 page APA paper analyzing a personal/professional habit loop using the Cue-Craving-Response-Reward framework; include your Writing Center receipt as an appendix.
APA Paper Dissection, Mid-Semester Check (15 pts): Given a sample paper with intentionally embedded APA errors (in-text citations, reference list, formatting), find and correct at least 8 errors — do this before you submit Writing Milestone 2.
Plan of Study: Meet with Academic Advisor (20 pts): Schedule a check-in with your academic advisor – Complete the Plan of Study Worksheet

Week 9 — The Modern Resume Sprint (Finish Atomic Habits)

Digital Brand Audit Board (25 pts): Conduct an incognito web/social audit of yourself and map three columns
- Current Digital Footprint, Brand Blind Spots/Inconsistencies, and The BAS Rebrand Strategy
Resume Bullet Point Workshop (10 pts): Post three draft bullets using Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]; give feedback to two classmates.
Draft Resume & Cover Letter + Peer Review (35 pts): Submit full drafts and complete a guided peer Run your draft through an ATS-style keyword/formatting check before your peer review
Career Center Consultation (25 pts): Meet with a Career Center advisor

Week 10 — Translating Strengths to Leadership

Strengths Coach Consultation (25 pts): 2^nd opportunity to meet with your Strengths Coach; submit a 3-bullet summary of leadership insights.
LinkedIn Profile Update, Cohort Connection & Networking Outreach (40 pts): Update headline/About section around your strengths and value proposition; connect with the instructor and 3 peers. Then reach out to one professional in your target field (informational interview request, thoughtful comment, or personalized connection request)
Target Role & Skills Gap Analysis Worksheet (20 pts): research target job postings, salary ranges, and the technical/soft skills required, and identify your gaps.
Career Roadmap building block: this worksheet feeds Section 1 (Professional Identity & Target Market Analysis) of your Career Roadmap narrative.

Week 11 — Applied Team Playbook Sprint

Team Playbook Build (40 pts): In groups of 3–4, build a visual “Applied Success & Career Playbook”
Team Group Presentation (35 pts): Record a short group presentation walking through your playbook and how each section applies course concepts; submitted once per team. Each member also records a brief individual segment reflecting on what they’d do differently in their section and how it connects to their own career goals.
Interviewing Practice, Lucidspark Team Activity (15 pts): Use a shared Lucidspark board to prep 3–5 likely interview questions for your target role, then practice interviewing each other in your team breakout (live or recorded) and give each teammate written feedback on the board.
APA Citation Practice Paragraph (20 pts): Write a short paragraph (4–6 sentences) on a topic of your choice, correctly integrating two paraphrases and one direct quote with proper APA in-text citations and matching reference entries.

Week 12 — Team Presentations & Final Application

Final Resume & Cover Letter (85 pts): Submit your polished, ATS-ready application package incorporating all
APA Paper Dissection, End-of-Semester Check (15 pts): — your last APA tune-up before the Career Roadmap Full Draft is due next week.
Job Search Strategy Share (10 pts): Identify two job-search resources or strategies relevant to your field (job board, professional association, alumni network, etc.), share them with your team on Harmonize, and note which one you’ll actually use and why.

Week 13 — Strategic Roadmapping: Full Draft Assembly

Coffee Shop Pod 4 (20 pts): Reflect on your “Master Work” — the long-term impact you want to build in your
Full Draft Assembly (150 pts): Combine your Week 4 (Strengths), Week 3 (Support Network), Weeks 6 & 7 (Habit Systems), and Week 10 (Target Role/Skills Gap) artifacts into the 3–4 page Career Roadmap narrative, the Structured Action Plan Table, and a 1-page Canva Visual Roadmap.
Habit Systems Check-In (15 pts): Revisit the habit stacks and system redesign you built in Weeks 3, 6, and 7
- which stuck, which didn’t, and why? This feeds directly into your Action Plan Table’s Behavior Change Strategy section.
Student Success Coach Consultation (25 pts) -2^nd opportunity to submit consultation

Week 14 — The Bookend Executive Pitch — Thanksgiving Break

Coffee Shop Pod 5 (20 pts): Reflect on how your professional identity has evolved this
Executive Elevator Pitch 0 (40 pts): Record a polished 90-second pitch; compare it in two sentences to your Week 1 baseline.
Portfolio Executive Summary (25 pts): Write a one-page executive summary explaining why professional portfolios matter in your career field and what you’d include in your own
Because of Thanksgiving Break (Wed–Sun, Nov 25–29), this module’s window extends through Sunday, Nov 29 with no live obligations during the break itself.

Week 15 — Capstone Synthesis & Showcase

Professional Success Portfolio (50 pts): Revise and compile the key elements of your portfolio — Executive Summary, Executive Pitch link, final resume/cover letter, CliftonStrengths summary, and finalized Career Roadmap narrative + Action Plan Table + Canva Visual Roadmap — into one unified package.
Portfolio Presentation (25 pts): Record a 3–5 minute presentation
Peer Feedback on 2 Classmates’ Presentations (20 pts): watch two classmates’ presentations and give structured
Student Success Group Coaching: Attendance & Reflection (20 pts): attend one required synchronous Zoom group coaching session anytime during the semester (register early via Mason360 — seats are limited and fill quickly).
Legacy Card for Future Students (20 pts): design a one-page visual “Legacy Card” with a graphic and short piece of advice

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

AI tools may be used responsibly and ethically as learning supports — not as substitutes for your own thinking, writing, and analysis. This policy exists to support learning and comprehension, encourage ethical academic practice, prepare you for professional standards around AI, and maintain academic integrity.

Permitted Uses

You MAY use AI tools to:

Brainstorm ideas or topics
Generate questions to think through concepts
Clarify terminology or definitions
Organize outlines or identify areas for further research

Prohibited Uses

You MAY NOT:

Copy and paste AI-generated text into assignments and submit it as your own original work
Submit AI-generated work as your own
Use AI to complete quizzes, exams, or reflections
Let AI replace your original thinking or analysis

AI Detection & Academic Integrity

Assignments flagged for excessive AI use or plagiarism will require a mandatory meeting with the
Work found to contain more than 30% AI-generated content may be flagged for
Copying and pasting AI-generated content and submitting it as your own original work is a violation of academic integrity, not just this course’s AI policy. Confirmed cases will be reported to the university’s academic integrity / disciplinary committee in addition to any grade consequences below.
If misuse is identified: a mandatory instructor meeting is required; failure to meet may result in a zero on the assignment. Admitted misuse results in assignment resubmission, an automatic grade reduction, and a reflection on ethical AI use.
Repeated or unadmitted misuse will be escalated as a formal academic integrity violation and referred to the disciplinary committee, consistent with the Academic Standards policy below.

Best Practices

Treat AI like a study partner, not an answer
Apply course concepts directly rather than accepting generic
Always prioritize your own thinking — quizzes and writing assignments assess your reasoning and application, not AI output.

Student Responsibility & Disclosure

By remaining enrolled in this course, you acknowledge that you understand this AI use policy, accept responsibility for the originality of your work, and commit to ethical academic practice. You will sign an AI use contract in Module 1, and you must state at the end of every submitted assignment whether — and how — AI was used in producing that submission (tool/version, prompts, and what you changed).

Assignment Submission Policy

All assignments must be submitted through the appropriate Canvas, Harmonize, or Lucid tool as specified in each module. I do not accept assignments submitted via email — emailed work will not be graded and will be considered late (or missing) until it is submitted through the correct course platform.

Written Assignments: All formal written assignments (Writing Milestones, Academic Inquiry Brief, etc.) must be drafted in Google Docs. Paste your shareable link directly into the Canvas submission box (not emailed) alongside your final submission — set sharing to “Anyone with the link can view.” I’ll be checking version history (File > Version History > See version history) for evidence of an authentic drafting process: brainstorming, revising, and building the paper over time. Submissions that appear only as one or two large paste-ins, with no visible drafting process, may be flagged for the AI Detection & Academic Integrity review outlined above.

Late Work Policy

Every assignment remains open for submission for one full week (7 days) following its original due date. Work submitted within that window is graded as follows:

Days 1–2 late: No point deduction — submit as soon as
Days 3–7 late: A 10% deduction is applied for each additional day late, beginning on day 3, up to a maximum 50% deduction if submitted on day 7.
More than 7 days late: The assignment is closed and will not be accepted for credit
Example: a 100-point paper submitted on day 5 (three days into the deduction window) would be reduced by 30%, earning a maximum of 70 points.

Having another assignment due for a different class is never grounds for a late submission.

University Policies

Academic Standards

Academic Standards exist to promote authentic scholarship, support the institution’s goal of maintaining high standards of academic excellence, and encourage continued ethical behavior of faculty and students to cultivate an educational community which values integrity and produces graduates who carry this commitment forward into professional practice.

As members of the George Mason University community, we are committed to fostering an environment of trust, respect, and scholarly excellence. Our academic standards are the foundation of this commitment, guiding our behavior and interactions within this academic community. The practices for implementing these standards adapt to modern practices, disciplinary contexts, and technological advancements. Our standards are embodied in our courses, policies, and scholarship, and are upheld in the following principles:

Honesty: Providing accurate information in all academic endeavors, including communications, assignments, and examinations.
Acknowledgement: Giving proper credit for all contributions to one’s work. This involves the use of accurate citations and references for any ideas, words, or materials created by others in the style appropriate to the It also includes acknowledging shared authorship in group projects, co-authored pieces, and project reports.
Uniqueness of Work: Ensuring that all submitted work is the result of one’s own effort and is original, including free from self-plagiarism. This principle extends to written assignments, code, presentations, exams, and all other forms of academic work.

Violations of these standards—including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating—are taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with university policies. The process for reporting, investigating, and adjudicating violations is outlined in the university’s academic standards procedures. Consequences of violations may include academic sanctions, disciplinary actions, and other measures necessary to uphold the integrity of our academic community.

The principles outlined in these academic standards reflect our collective commitment to upholding the highest standards of honesty, acknowledgement, and uniqueness of work. By adhering to these principles, we ensure the continued excellence and integrity of George Mason University’s academic community.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for understanding how these general expectations regarding academic standards apply to each course, assignment, or exam they participate in; students should ask their instructor for clarification on any aspect that is not clear to them.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of the laws that ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. Under the administration of University Life, Disability Services implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services that afford equal access to university programs and activities. Students can begin the registration process with Disability Services at any time during their enrollment at George Mason University. If you are seeking accommodations, please visit the Disability Services website for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process. Disability Services is located in Student Union Building I (SUB I), Suite 2500. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (703) 993-2474.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for registering with Disability Services and communicating about their approved accommodations with their instructor in advance of any relevant class meeting, assignment, or exam.

FERPA and Use of GMU Email Addresses for Course Communication

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the disclosure of education records for eligible students and is an essential aspect of any course. Students must use their GMU email account to receive important University information, including communications related to this class. Instructors will not respond to messages sent from or send messages regarding course content to a non-GMU email address.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for checking their GMU email regularly for course-related information, and/or ensuring that GMU email messages are forwarded to an account they do check.

Title IX and Non-Discrimination: Access and Compliance with George Mason’s Nondiscrimination Policies

George Mason University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment across all educational programs, services, and activities for all members of the University community. University educational programs, services, and activities will be free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Required Reporting

All non-confidential employees, including your faculty members, have a legal requirement to report all relevant details, obtained directly or indirectly, about any incident of discrimination or harassment, including Title IX Prohibited Conduct, to the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC), which includes the Title IX Coordinator.

Reportable Conduct by an employee, a student, or a third party includes:

Discrimination and harassment under Title VI or Title VII, which can include unequal and unfavorable treatment in the educational/work environment or conduct (oral, written, graphic) that is physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating.
Prohibited Conduct under Title IX, which can include sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based stalking, or dating/domestic violence.

Upon notification, OACC professionals will assess the report and determine if outreach is required. If outreach is required, the potentially harmed individual (the “Complainant”) will receive a communication, likely in the form of an email, with an offer to meet with a representative of the appropriate team.

Applicable Policies and Resources

University Policy 1201: Non-Discrimination
- Contact [email protected] with related
University Policy 1202: Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Other Interpersonal Violence
- Contact [email protected] with related
University Policy 1204: Prohibited Relationships with Students

General questions may be directed to OACC at [email protected], or by phone at 703-993-8730, or in person on the Fairfax campus in Aquia 373 or at Mason Square in Van Metre Hall Suite 222.

Student opportunity: If you prefer to speak to someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s confidential employees in Student Support and Advocacy (SSAC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Health Services (SHS), and/or the Office of the University Ombudsperson

University Counseling Services

Students are encouraged to contact Counseling & Psychological Services (3129 Student Union Building I, http://caps.gmu.edu/, 703-993-2380) for support with any psychological or life challenge.

Religious Holidays

A list of religious holidays is posted on the University Life Calendar. Because each module runs for seven days, students may use any one of those seven days to observe a holiday without a live-obligation conflict; conflicts with a scheduled activity should be raised with the instructor at least two weeks in advance.

Classroom Conduct & Communication

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to learning. Individual concerns should be raised with the instructor via Canvas Inbox or Mason email — not the public discussion board. Canvas is the primary channel for announcements, materials, and grades.

By enrolling in this course, you agree to adhere to the policies described here and in the most recent Mason student handbook. Please consult Mason’s Academic Calendar at http://registrar.gmu.edu for the most current withdrawal dates and university holidays.