Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness 301 (POLI 367/CRJS 367)

Terrorism

Fall 2020

Bill Newmann, Political Science Department

Office Hours: By Appointment Only. We can set up zoom appointments.

e-mail: wnewmann@vcu.edu; Phone: Political Science Office: 828-2076

Newmann's home page: with links to other Newmann syllabi and other fun stuff.

VCU Information on the University’s Response to the Coronavirus

This is the place to find updates on university policies

Structure of the Class

This course will be taught in a hybrid manner. That means whatever your situation might be during the fall semester, this course will be taught in a manner that works for you. My plan is to have in class sessions, streamed live online, and recorded for viewing whenever and wherever you want. Here are the details:

• I will lecture in the classroom at the regularly scheduled time. We have secured a large classroom that can fit everyone who wants to come to class. You are not required to be in the classroom. Attendance is optional, your choice based on how comfortable you are about being in a classroom during the pandemic. If you do decide to come to class, you must follow VCU’s health guidelines for class attendance: https://together.vcu.edu/students/. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in disciplinary action (see below).

• I will use Zoom to stream the lecture live to everyone in the class who is not attending in person. The university uses the term online synchronous for this style. That way, wherever you are, you can have a class to attend virtually at a specific time of day. I know I like to have a structured schedule, so this may help with making it feel more like a normal semester. Students will be able to ask questions or make comments through the system (using the chat function in zoom). This is actually easy to do. If you are joining a live Zoom session for the class (rather than watching a recording of a session):

o I will set up a Zoom meeting session for every class period, and you will receive an invitation for those sessions which includes a link and a password. Do not share this password.

o A few minutes before class time, click on the link.

o Please mute your audio

o You are not required to join with video

o If you have questions, use the chat function to ask the question. I will then repeat your question and give a try at answering it.

• I will record every class and post it on the Blackboard site. In the Course Documents folder there will be subfolders for every class session. The recorded zoom lectures will be there. That way, everyone who cannot attend the class at the given time, either in person or off campus, can watch the class later when it makes more sense for them. The university uses the term online asynchronous for this style. I’m doing this because I know a lot of people are in unusual situations because of the pandemic and I want to make this as flexible as possible.
• How do you choose what to do? Since I will provide essentially three ways for you to have the class, you will need to make a choice about what to do. It’s not a permanent choice for you. You can switch back and forth, however, you want to do this. You might do this online for the first two weeks, then decide you’d rather be in the classroom. Or come to class and then decide you’d rather do it online. No problem. Feel free to switch back and forth. Of course, whatever you decide, you are responsible with keeping up with class lectures, readings, and assignments. You will not be able to ignore the class for weeks at a time then listen to all the lectures the day before the exam and expect to do well. Keep up with the daily schedule as spelled out below.
• Should you come to class or do this online? As stated above, the choice is yours. But if you do decide to come to class you absolutely must follow the VCU health guidelines in the link here: https://together.vcu.edu/students/. Remember, these are university guidelines and carry the legal weight of the university behind them. The short version is this:
• Wear a mask at all times
• If you refuse to wear a mask, you will be asked to leave; you may return when you have a mask.
• If you refuse to leave, the class will be dismissed immediately and I am required to refer you to the Dean of Students office for a possible student Code of Conduct violation. If you are referred to the Dean of Students you are not permitted back in class until you meet with a Dean of Students’ office representative.
• If wearing a mask creates health complications and you would like a medical exemption, please contact the Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity office.
• Enter the classroom at least six feet away from anyone else
• Sit at least six feet away from anyone else
• If you feel like you have been exposed to the coronavirus or feel any symptoms, do not come to class; the VCU health website has a health hotline to call if you think you have been exposed to the virus: https://together.vcu.edu/students
• If you fail to do these things, the University may take disciplinary action against you.
• The VCU health guidelines should be followed while you are in this class and in all your other classes and anywhere else you might be where you will encounter other people.
• Bottom Line: My ability to continue to offer the class in a classroom setting depends on your ability to take the necessary precautions during a pandemic. That means don’t do the things that are likely to expose you to a virus (parties, bars, concerts, anything with large numbers of people in close proximity). If you feel that you will do those things, please treat this as an online class; don’t come to class unless you can abide by the sensible precautions during a pandemic. Remember this:
• If you don’t take the proper precautions, and you are exposed to the virus while you have been attending classroom sessions, you may force everyone in the class to enter a 14 day quarantine. That means the classroom sessions will be cancelled for two weeks for this class and the other class I teach. Everyone who attended classroom sessions will have to isolate themselves for two weeks and that means that I will have to isolate myself from my wife and daughter for two weeks. I will be unhappy.
• Bottom, bottom line: Be careful. This is serious. With proper precautions, this will work fine. If you’re not sure you can be careful, please treat this as an online class, either synchronous or asynchronous.

· Important: If we have a worst case scenario and there is another wave of the virus, and class has to be moved to a completely online format, there is nothing to worry about. I’m ready for that and the transition will be smooth. I have taught online for years and I have a system that seems to work. I use the same PPT slides I would in the classroom. I add audio to them and then you just watch and listen on the day of class as if you were in a classroom.

· Even more important: Students and employees who develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or who test positive for COVID-19, must inform Student Health Services or Employee Health Services. Both Student Health Services and Employee Health Services can now be contacted via a call center line at 1-804-MYCOVID or 1-804-692-6843, where students and employees who are experiencing symptoms can discuss testing options and other appropriate next steps.

Introduction

We will start from the basics. What is terrorism? How long has it been with us? Why do people become terrorists? The answers may be a bit surprising. Watching the American media deal with the attacks of 2001 has only clouded the issue. Too many people have decided that they are experts in international relations and terrorism because they saw the Trade Centers fall. Terrorism has a long history going back at least to Jewish resistance against Roman occupation of the Middle East. Terrorism is not new. The broadest definition is still the most accurate: the use of dramatic acts of violence against non-combatants to further a political cause. The violence may be aimed at an enemy’s military forces while they are not engaged in active operations, government facilities, or as in September 11, symbols of the targeted audience’s power. The direct targeting of non-combatants/average citizens is a purposeful strategy. The goal is to cause pain and fear in a nation’s public in hope that the public will urge a government to change its policies. The dynamic is simple – inflict pain and wait for the enemy to turn and run, twist an arm until someone cries "Uncle."

Once we have tried to define terrorism, we will examine its long history. Then we will look at a number of key issues: State-sponsored terrorism and non-state actors; Al-Qaeda’s strategy, organization, and recruitment policies; the reasons why some political movements choose violent strategies; the reasons why some individuals choose to join violent political movements; cyberterrorism; the nightmare scenarios of weapons of mass destruction attacks; domestic terrorism in the US; counterterrorism organization of the US and other nations; counterterrorism policies of the US and other nations

Also, you will write an executive summary based on research you will do on a terrorist organization. You will then make a Power Point presentation on the findings of that research. Details are below.

Texts

You need to read them; you don't need to buy them. The books are available at the Virginia Book Company, BookHolders, and at the VCU Bookstore. If anyone has problems getting access to the texts, for any reason, let me know as soon as possible so you don't get too far behind in the reading. Update: These are all available online through the VCU library system! See the links below.

· Bruce Hoffman. Inside Terrorism (New York; Columbia University Press, Third Edition, 2017) (On reserve at Cabell Library: HV6431 .H626 2017) http://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=https://columbia.degruyter.com/view/title/541544?tab_body=toc

· Daniel Byman. Al Qaeda, The Islamic State, and the Global Jihadist Movement (Oxford University Press, 2015) (On reserve at Cabell Library: HV6433.M628 B96 2015) https://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1005220

· Kathleen Belew. Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2019) (On reserve at Cabell Library: HS2325. B45 2018) https://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=1723834

· Audrey Kurth Cronin. How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns (Princeton University Press, 2011) (On reserve at Cabell Library: HV6431 .C766 2009) https://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=321436

A guideline for the readings: I've tried to pick reading that are fair minded and balanced. There are too many books and articles out there that border on hysteria on all these issues and too many people who suddenly became terrorism experts on the afternoon of September 11. I’ve picked books written by people who have been studying terrorism long before September 11. That doesn't mean that these books don't have a point of view. They do, but it is a point of view based on knowledge and years of study and a point of view that is reasoned and analytical. You do not have to agree with the authors. I may or may not agree with them. The point is that you need to read critically. Don't believe everything you read. Use your own logic and knowledge and insight to decide what you think about the issues. Feel free to questions or disagree with the ideas here and bring those questions and disagreements to class, so we can talk about them. That will make the class more valuable for everyone.

Grading System: Grades will be determined through the following:

Map Quiz	August 27	5% of the grade
Exam 1	October 8 This will be a take home exam. I will place the exam in Blackboard in the Course Documents folder at about 9:00 AM on October 7. It will be due back to me (emailed) by midnight on October 8 (as October 8 becomes October 9).	30% of the grade
Research Paper Required Rough Draft and Final Draft	Rough: September 29: Email me the rough draft by the start of class (Late penalties begin at 2:00 PM) Final: November 10	30% of the grade
Presentations	November 19—November 24	10% of the grade
Exam 2	Exam 2: Thursday December 3: This will be a take home exam. I will place the exam in Blackboard in the Course Documents folder at about 9:00 AM on December 2. It will be due back to me (emailed) by midnight on December 3 (as December 3 becomes December 4).	25 % of the grade

How do you calculate your grade? Use the percentages from the above table. So, if you received the following grades, you would calculate your grades in the following manner:

• Map quiz: 100, at 5% of the grade; that's 100 multiplied by .05 = 5.0
• Exam 1: 90, at 30% of the grade; that's 90 multiplied by .30 = 27.00

• Paper: 94, at 30% of the grade; that's 94 multiplied by .30 = 28.20
• Presentation: 90, at 10% of the grade; that's 90 multiplied by .10 = 9.00
• Exam 2: at 25% of the grade; that's 89 multiplied by .25 = 22.25

• To get the final grade, add up all the scores: 5 + 27.0+ 22.25 + 9.0 + 28.2 = 91.45. Congratulations you got an A.

I give you this very detailed formula for a number of reasons. You should never be unaware of what your class average is. You can calculate it at any point in the semester. If your grade is not what you'd like it to be, you should know, and you should come see me about it. Do not come to me after Exam 2 and say that you're having trouble in the class. It's too late at that point. But any time in the semester that you feel you are having trouble, or not doing as well as you feel you should, come talk to me. During my office hours and by appointment I am happy to talk to you about the class

Grading scale: I use a typical scale: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 55-69. Borderline grades are considered in the following manner.

· If your grade is 69.5, 79.5, or 89.5 or higher, then you may be a candidate for a round up to the higher grade (Notice those numbers in the sentence; do not ask for a higher grade if your average is a 68 or 78 or 88 or lower; those are not borderline averages).

· You may become a candidate if your grades are borderline and if your grades have been going up during the semester.

· That means that if you are borderline, but your last exam is lower than the previous exams (you are between a B and C, but your third exam is a C for example), you will probably get the lower grade.

· If you are borderline, and your last exam is higher than the previous exams (you are between a B and C, but your third exam is a B), you may get the higher grade.

· Another factor I consider is the typical grade you receive. Let’s say we have four grades for the class and three are grades of B and one is a C (bad day) and your average is a 79.6, you are a candidate for receiving a B. If you have four grades and three are grades of C and one is a grade of B, you are probably not a candidate for the higher grade

· There is no extra credit for this class. Please do not ask.

And speaking of grades: The withdrawal date this semester is November 24

Map Quiz

You will be asked to identify 100 different countries, regions, or bodies of water on five different maps (Western Hemisphere, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia). These countries, regions, or bodies of water are listed in the link above. There is a separate list for each map. On August 26, I will place five maps in the Course Documents folder. On those maps, all the countries, regions, or bodies of water you need to identify will be marked with a letter. Your job will be to match the letter with the countries, regions, or bodies of water. Use the lists in the link as you answer sheet. You’ll see a space to put in the letter. Then save it and email it to me by the deadline. Please see the instructions about how to name the file.

I will put the actual maps in the Course Documents folder on August 26 at about 9:00 AM. Your answers are due at midnight August 27. This is super easy and it of course is open book. Given the in class/online nature of the course, this won’t be tough. It just forces you to take a little time to look at a map.

EXAMS: The exams are take home exams. You will have roughly two days to complete each exam. The exams will be short answer and essay. At least one week before the exam I will out a review sheet online. It will be linked to the syllabus below this paragraph. In general, the review sheets should be used as your study guide for the exam. The review sheet will include some terms that are from the readings only, so that you can go back and review those items from the readings (marked with an asterisk). Once you have the review sheet, feel free to ask me questions about the terms. This is the best way to study for the exam. If you understand the terms on the review sheet, you can define each one and see how each one relates to the larger concepts and issues we've discussed in class, you should do just fine on the exam. How does a take home exam work?

Basics

• Midterm: Placed in the Course Documents folder on October 7 at about 9:00 AM. Due by midnight on October 8 (as October 8 becomes October 9, but that deadline is a soft one; don't sweat an extra hour or so). 
• Final: I will place the exam in Blackboard under Course Documents at about 9:00 AM on December 2. It will be due back to me (emailed) by midnight on December 3 (as December 3 becomes December 4).
• Type or write the exam.
• Either way, email me a file or pdf or even jpeg of the written answers by the deadline
• 11- or 12-point font
• One-inch margins
• Double-spaced
• Please use your name is the name of the file you send me. I’d be happiest if you named the file like this: Your name Exam 1 HSEP 301 (so if it was my exam, it would be Newmann Exam 1 HSEP 301)
• The exam is open notes (so you can use your notes, the book, the review sheet, and the PPT slides)
• I do not expect any outside research on this at all
• Each exam will consist of two parts.
• The first part will be short answers (a choice of 2 out of 8-10). I’m looking for about a half page for a short answer. Identify the term and tell my why it is important. All terms are lifted directly from the review sheet.
• The second part of the exam will be an essay question. There will be multiple questions to choose from here too. As we get closer to the exams, I will talk more about the essay format.
• You have choice of what you want to answer in each part, so read the directions carefully
• Each question has a specific page number target.  You can go over the limit, not a problem, but don’t go too far over the limit. You don’t need to.
• I think two to three hours will be enough time for you to write the exam and do well. You can take more time of course, as much as you need. The point here is that I don't think you end to spend hours and hours.
• It might be helpful to read the questions, then review your notes, and the review sheet.  Maybe make an outline of the essay. And then start to write.
• As always, the review sheets should be very helpful. You can use the review sheets while you take the exam. It might be a good organizational tool. 
• Feel free to email me questions if you have them, but as usual, there are limits to how I can help you.

And, important:

• Sharing this exam with anyone outside the class is a violation of the VCU Honor Code
• Working with another student in the class or anyone else while you take this exam is a violation of the VCU Honor Code
• As with any take home, the plagiarism rules that exist for research papers apply here.  Your exams must be your written work. I will run this through the standard plagiarism programs as I do with all research papers. 

Review One

Review Two

Research Paper and Class Presentations

Follow the link for detailed instructions. Read these instructions now. Read them later. Read them again and again.

· Here’s the short version (Long version is in the paper instructions). The class will be divided up into groups of five or six people. Each group will be researching one terrorist organization. There are eight terrorist organizations we will study this semester; they are listed in the paper instructions. Though you’ll be divided into these groups, your research papers are your own. They are not group research papers. Once groups have been assigned, each member of the group will be studying a different issue area for the terrorist organization and writing their paper about that issue area only. The issue areas are explained in the paper instructions. In short, five separate research papers about one terrorist organization. Taken together, the papers are a comprehensive look at the terrorist organization. Each person will create a PPT presentation with audio based on their paper; how this works is explained in the link below on the presentation. When the PPTs are watched and listened to by students in the class, they become a group presentation. That’s the only group project aspect of this. If this is unclear, I’ll be explaining it in class and the paper instructions provide all the detail.

· Important: We need to assign groups and issue areas quickly, by the second week of class. Read the paper instructions as soon as you can. Look at the terrorist group list and the issue area list -- only issue areas 1-5 -- unless I make a change. As soon as you can, send me an email telling me your first, second, and third choice of terrorist group and your first, second, and third choice of issue area. Then I can make assignments based on that and hopefully everyone gets their first or second choice. I will be a pest about this. We need to nail this down soon. If you do not tell me what you want, I will assign you where I need you, and it may not be what you would have wanted.

· Required Rough Draft: Due: September 29 (it will be returned to you with comments within two weeks, so you can work on the final draft)

· Final Draft Due: November 10

· Both rough and final drafts are due at the time of the start of class on the due date. Please email them to me by the start of class time. I can’t accept hard copies of the paper this semester due to the virus. After the start of class, the paper will be late.

· PPT slides (maximum of five for each person) are required as part of the presentation; due on the presentation day. The schedule of presentations will be set later in the semester. See the presentation instructions for more details on this and a sample presentation.

· Group Assignments (will be linked here once they are made)

· Presentation Instructions

SCHEDULE (The dates reflect what readings you should have finished by the start of class that week, except for the first class session.)

Week 1: August 17-21 Introduction

Hoffman, Chapter 1

August 18 Recorded Lecture: Introduction

August 20 Recorded Lecture: Definitions of Terrorism One

Week 2: August 24-28 Terrorism Basics: Definitions and History

Hoffman, Chapters 2, 3, 6, and 4 (pp. 83-107)

Introduction PPT

Map Quiz: August 27

August 25 Recorded Lecture: Definitions of Terrorism Two

August 27 Recorded Lecture: History of Terrorism One

Week 3: August 31--September 4 The Modern Age of Terrorism

Hoffman, Chapters 4 (pp. 107-138) and 7

History of Terrorism PPT

September 1 Recorded Lecture: History of Terrorism Two

September 3 Recorded Lecture: History of Terrorism Three

Week 4: September 7-11 The Fourth and Fifth Waves of Terrorism

Byman, Introduction, Chapters 1-4

September 8 Recorded Lecture: History of Terrorism Four; AQAM One

September 10 Recorded Lecture: AQAM Two

Week 5: September 14--18 Al-Qaeda, its Network, and the Rise of ISIS

Byman, Chapters 5-8

Al-Qaeda PPT

September 15 Recorded Lecture: AQAM Three

September 17 Recorded Lecture: Who and Why One

Week 6: September 21-25 Who Becomes a Terrorist and Why

Hoffman, Chapters 8, 9, and 10.

Who and Why PPT

September 22 Lecture: Who and Why Two

September 24 Lecture: Who and Why Three

Week 7: September 28--October 2 Suicide Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Cyberterrorism

Rough Draft Due: September 29: Email me the rough draft by the start of class (Late penalties begin at 2:00 PM)

Hoffman, Chapter 5

Suicide Attacks PPT

WMD

Cyberterrorism PPT

September 29 Lecture: Suicide Attacks and WMD

October 1 Lecture: WMD Two

Week 8: October 5-9 Exam

Exam 1: October 8 (There will be no class session on October 8)

Belew, Note to Readers, Introduction, Chapter 1 (for the second exam)

Terrorism in the US PPT (for the second exam)

October 6 Lecture: Cyberterrorism

Week 9: October 12-16 Domestic Terrorism in the US

Belew, Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5

October 13 Lecture: Domestic Terrorism One

October 15 Lecture: Domestic Terrorism Two

Week 10: October 19-23 Domestic Terrorism and The Elements of Counterterrorism I

Belew, Chapters 6-9 and Epilogue

Counterterrorism Policies: Introduction

Counterterrorism Policies: Organization

October 20 Lecture: Domestic Terrorism Three

October 22 Lecture: Domestic Terrorism Four

Week 11: October 26--30 The Elements of Counterterrorism II

Cronin, Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2

Counterterrorism Policies: Intelligence

Counterterrorism Policy: The War of Ideas

October 27 Lecture: Counterterrorism One

October 29 Lecture: Counterterrorism Two

Week 12: November 2--6 The Elements of Counterterrorism III

No class November 3: VOTE!

Cronin, Chapters 3, 4, and 5

Counterterrorism Policies: Diplomacy and Economic Measures

November 5 Lecture: Counterterrorism Three

Week 13: November 9-13 The Elements of Counterterrorism IV

Cronin, Chapter 6

Final Paper Due: November 10

Counterterrorism Policies: Law Enforcement

November 10 Lecture: Counterterrorism Four

November 12 Lecture: Counterterrorism Five

Week 14: November 16--20 The Elements of Counterterrorism V

Cronin, Chapter 7

Counterterrorism Policies: Operations

Counterterrorism Policies: Use of Force

November 17 Lecture: Counterterrorism Six

November 19 Lecture: Counterterrorism Seven

Week 15: November 24 The Elements of Counterterrorism VI

Cronin, Chapter Conclusion

Counterterrorism Policies: Negotiations

November 24 Lecture: Counterterrorism Eight

Presentations

Atomwaffen Division

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Boko Haram

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Earth Liberation Front (ELF)

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Non-Violent Activities

Haqqani Network

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Hezbollah

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Non-Violent Activities

Jemaah Islamiya

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK)

Origins

Leadership

Support

Strategy

Counterterrorism

Negotiations

Exam 2: Thursday December 3: This will be a take home exam. I will place the exam in Blackboard in the Course Documents folder at about 9:00 AM on December 2. It will be due back to me (emailed) by midnight on December 3 (as December 3 becomes December 4).

Other Important Stuff

Political Science Advising

If you are a Political Science major we highly recommend that you meet with your friendly and helpful POLI advisors, Nathan Bickett and Jen Clayton, at least once a semester to make sure you are on track - doing what you need to do and not doing what you don’t need to do - and to discuss your academic and professional goals. Current minors and those considering a POLI major or minor are also encouraged to visit. 

You may make an appointment through the Navigator app or through a link on your VCU Portal. You may also reach us at poliadvisor@vcu.edu

Political Science Librarian

Nia Rodgers is the librarian for Political Science. She can help you find peer-reviewed materials to use in your research. She can be reached at: slrodgers@vcu.edu or you can make an appointment at: https://vcu.libcal.com/appointment/8778

Where can you find information on international affairs?

This is the questions students always ask me: “Where do I find good information on international affairs. I’m looking for something unbiased and something that doesn’t always look at the world through American eyes (as in how do these developments affect the US).

Here’s the short answer: For day by day coverage of events in the world:

1. BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/. On a day-by-day basis, no other news organization covers the world as well. It has separate pages for most regions, links to past stories, links to data bases, all kinds of information that will get you up to speed on anything.
2. World News Network: http://wn.com/. This is a site which covers day-by-day events by creating links to major newspapers around the world. So, if something is happening in Pakistan, for example, there will be several links to stories about the event from web-based sources in S. Asia, E. Asia, Europe, N. America… It also has links to regional windows with coverage that is more focused. It even has links to issue-specific compilations of links on various issues. For example, the science page has sections for stories on AIDS, Biotech, cloning…
3. For terrorism and counterterrorism check out The Long War Journal: http://www.longwarjournal.org. It is a project of the Foundation for defense of Democracies, a non-partisan project, that keeps track day by day of events related to terrorism around the world.

On a weekly basis:

The Economist: www.economist.com. This is a Britain-based weekly which covers world politics and world business. There really is nothing else like it in the comprehensive nature of its coverage. You can also buy it on the newsstand, but the web is free. It covers world politics very well.

Long Term Views of Crisis and Conflict:

International Crisis Group: www.crisisweb.org. This is the International Crisis Group, a non-profit organization that studies, analyzes, and makes recommendations about how to resolve various crises in the world. There is nothing better for the in-depth examination of current world events and the dilemmas of problem solving and peace making. It has reports (30-50 pages), briefings (10-30), and a weekly briefing (Crisis Watch), which you can get on the web site or sign up for e-mail delivery.

VCU Syllabus Statements

Campus emergency information
Sign up to receive at alert.vcu.edu/signup/. It is essential to keep your information up-to-date within VCU Alert and to keep your permanent address and emergency contact information current in eServices.

VCU uses a variety of communication methods to alert the campus community about emergency situations and safety threats. Learn more about types of alerts at alert.vcu.edu/know/typesofalerts.php

Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234), and report suspicious activities and objects.

Class registration required for attendance
Students may attend only those classes for which they have registered. Faculty may not add students to class rosters or Blackboard. If students are attending a class for which they have not registered, they must stop attending.

Honor System: upholding academic integrity
The VCU Honor System policy describes the responsibilities of students, faculty and administration in upholding academic integrity. According to this policy, "Members of the academic community are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty, ethics and integrity at all times." Students are expected to read the policy in full and learn about requirements here: https://conduct.students.vcu.edu/vcu-honor-system/

Computer and network use
All students are expected to know and comply with VCU's Computer and Network Use policy, which can be reviewed at policy.vcu.edu/universitywide-policies/policies/computer-and-network-resources-use.html.

Important dates
Important dates for the semester are listed in the VCU Academic Calendar: https://academiccalendars.vcu.edu/

We care about your success!
Virginia Commonwealth University has launched an Early Alert initiative to support student success. As your professor, if I am concerned about your academic performance in the first few weeks of this class, you and your academic advisor may receive a Progress Report email with links to appropriate academic support resources. You are encouraged to reach out to me after class or during my office hours for additional support. Your academic advisor, the Writing Center, and the Campus Learning Center may also follow up to provide additional layers of support to you.

Attendance and consequences of poor attendance
The instructional programs at VCU are based upon a series of class meetings involving lectures, discussions, field experiences, special readings and reporting assignments. Therefore, it is important for each student to be in attendance on a regular basis. A student who misses a class session is responsible for completing all material covered or assignments made during the absence.

Students having attendance problems should contact their instructor to explain the reasons for nonattendance and to discuss the feasibility of continuing in the course. If the student has fallen so far behind that the successful completion of the course is impossible, the student should withdraw from the course before the end of the first 10 weeks of classes.

If the student continues to miss class and does not officially withdraw from the course, the instructor may withdraw the student for nonattendance with a mark of W before the end of the first 10 weeks of classes or may assign an academic grade at the end. Withdrawals are not permitted after the end of the first 10 weeks of classes. For classes that do not conform to the semester calendar, the final withdrawal date occurs when half of the course has been completed. Withdrawal dates for summer session classes are provided on the Summer Studies calendar.

Career Services
Looking for ways to tie what you are learning in your class to your future career or professional goals? VCU Career Services provides career planning services for all current VCU students and alumni. Career Services can help students with finding a work-study job on/off campus, resume writing, internship development, interviewing, preparing for graduate school, networking, or job searching. Students are invited to attend career events and workshops, and schedule individualized career advising appointments. Career Services is located on the ground floor of University Commons, in room 143. For more information and to make a career advising appointment, visit the VCU Career Services website.

Managing stress
Students may experience situations or challenges that can interfere with learning and interpersonal functioning including stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and/or other drug use, concern for a friend or family member, loss, sleep difficulties, feeling hopeless or relationship problems. There are numerous campus resources available to students including University Counseling Services (804-828-6200 MPC Campus, 804-828-3964 MCV Campus) which provides brief therapy treatment, University Student Health Services (MPC 804 828-8828, MCV Campus 804 828-9220) and the Health Promotion and Well-Being Center [The Well] (804-828-9355). 24 hour emergency mental health support is available by calling (804) 828-6200 or utilizing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-784-2433).

Mandatory responsibility of faculty members to report incidents of sexual misconduct
All employees, including faculty, department chairs and deans, are required to report any incidents of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and partner or relationship violence to the university's Title IX Coordinator.

Confidential offices which can provide support at VCU are: University Counseling Services (804) 828-6200

For more information about Title IX, please visit please visit https://equity.vcu.edu/.

Military short-term training or deployment
If military students receive orders for short-term training or for deployment/mobilization, they should inform and present their orders to Military Student Services and to their professor(s). For further information on policies and procedures contact Military Student Services at 828-5993 or access the corresponding policies.

Student email standard
Email is considered an official method for communication at VCU. Students are expected to check their official VCU email on a frequent and consistent basis (the university recommends daily) in order to remain informed of university-related communications. Students are responsible for the consequences of not reading, in a timely fashion, university-related communications sent to their official VCU student email account. Mail sent to the VCU email address may include notification of university-related actions, including disciplinary action. Students must read this standard in its entirety at https://ts.vcu.edu/media/technology-services/content-assets/university-resources/ts-groups/information-security/StudentEmailStandard.pdf

Student financial responsibility
Students assume the responsibility of full payment of tuition and fees generated from their registration, all charges for housing and dining services and other applicable miscellaneous charges. Students are ultimately responsible for any unpaid balance on their account as a result of the University Financial Aid Office or their third party sponsor canceling or reducing their award(s).

Students representing the university – excused absences
Students who represent the university (athletes and others) do not choose their schedules. All student athletes should provide their schedules to their instructors at the beginning of the semester. The Intercollegiate Athletic Council strongly encourages faculty to treat missed classes or exams (because of a scheduling conflict) as excused absences and urges faculty to work with the students to make up the work or exam.

Students with disabilities
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, require that VCU provide "academic adjustments" or "reasonable accommodations" to any student who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. To receive accommodations, students must register with the Office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity on the Monroe Park Campus (828-2253) or the Division for Academic Success on the MCV campus (828-9782). Please also visit the Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity website via https://saeo.vcu.edu/ and/or the Division for Academic Success website via https://das.vcu.edu/ for additional information.

Once students have completed the registration process, they should schedule a meeting with their instructor (s) and provide their instructor (s) with an official accommodation letter. Students should follow this procedure for all courses in the academic semester.

Withdrawal from classes
Before withdrawing from classes, students should consult their instructor as well as other appropriate university offices. Withdrawing from classes may negatively impact a student’s financial aid award and his or her semester charges. To discuss financial aid and the student bill, visit the Student Services Center at 1015 Floyd Avenue (Harris Hall) and/or contact your financial aid counselor regarding the impact on your financial aid.

Faculty communication about students
VCU instructional faculty, administrators and staff maintain confidentiality of student records and disclose information in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This means that VCU officials may disclose student record information without the consent of the student in certain situations. To support university operations, for example, VCU officials share information about students with other educational officials as necessary to perform their job duties. FERPA permits this disclosure to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the student information. In addition, VCU officials have obligations to report information shared by a student depending on the content of that information, for example, in compliance with VCU’s policy on the duty to report. Unless FERPA permits a certain disclosure, VCU generally requires consent from a student to disclose information from their education record to another individual. You may find additional information on the VCU FERPA website: http://rar.vcu.edu/records/family-educational-rights-and-privacy-act/.