PSYCH 2030-701, 710, & 730

Spring 2025

PROFESSOR- Ms. Sheila Konis

EMAIL- [email protected]

Contact Policy
Please feel free to contact me through the Ask a Question discussion forum on Blackboard for
any course questions. I may take up to 24 hrs. to respond. Please help your fellow classmates
by answering questions in the Ask a Question discussion forum. I give extra credit at the end of
the class to students who were helpful to others.
If you have a personal issue that you would like to discuss, please email me with the course
name and section number in the heading. I will reply as soon as possible.

Email Policy
It is important to know how to email me when you want to talk about topics that are more
private in nature like missing a due date to a family emergency. Please add the course name
and section number to the email subject line. It may take up to 48 hrs. for me to respond.

Starfish
You can access Starfish through Blackboard.
 Welcome to Developmental Psychology!

I am glad we will be working together this semester. Active, thoughtful, and respectful
participation in all aspects of the course will make our time together as productive and
engaging as possible. If you have a documented disability and may need reasonable
accommodation to support your success in this course, please come forward to talk to me
about your needs privately.

Course Description
This course is designed to educate students about the growth & change that
occurs during the life span. We will explore the amazing transformation that
occurs from birth through late adulthood. We will focus on the three main
areas of development which are physical, cognitive, & social changes.
Various relevant topics within those three domains will also be introduced.
This is an IN-PERSON HYBRID COURSE which will include assigned videos &
assignments both on Achieve & Blackboard, IN PERSON exams, and an
individual project.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite for this course is PSYCH 2010 (General Psych)

1. EXAMS= 40% of the final grade-

There will be 2 IN PERSON exams during the semester. They will be
made up of multiple-choice questions. I provide a review sheet the
week before the exam on Blackboard. If you miss an exam, it must
be made up the following week during class time.

2. ACHIEVE= 25% of the final grade- All Achieve assignments include

video activities, learning curve assignments, and practice quizzes.
They all open every Sunday morning, and you have until Saturday
at midnight to complete them. This deadline is non-negotiable.
Dates are preset in the system.

3. ASSIGNMENTS=25% of the final grade- There will be assignments

posted to Blackboard weekly as well. Late assignments will come
 with point deductions. You will find them in the weekly content
folder.

4. LIFE REVIEW=10% of the final grade-You will interview someone

over the age of 65. More details, a guideline sheet of instructions
and a rubric will be posted to Blackboard. You can find them under
the Life Review folder Required Textbooks and Materials

Instructor Statement

This syllabus is subject to change at any time at the instructor's discretion. Students are
responsible for keeping current with changes made to this syllabus.

Required student materials

Textbooks can be ordered through the CCRI Campus Store
Title: Invitation to the Life Span
Edition: 5th
Author: Kathleen Stassen Berger
Publisher: Macmillan
The eBook & Achieve for this course is already linked into your Blackboard
account. I have created a separate folder inside your course shell in the left-
hand column titled ‘Welcome/Start Here’. You will find access to them there.
Once everyone has registered, I will change the folder name to Achieve.

Course Expectations
In addition to any specific expectations for this class, students are responsible for following the
policies set forth in the Student Handbook and College Catalog.
Pace
(Hybrid)
This course is completed partly in person and partly online. You are expected to attend class in
person during your set time and day which is 1 class per week. The rest of your week will be
completing your assignments on Achieve and Blackboard.
Each Week includes activities such as discussions, reading, videos, online quizzes, homework,
and assignments. It is expected that you participate regularly, thoughtfully, and with respect to
the time and engagement of the other students in the course, which includes participating
within a set period. If you anticipate any challenges with staying on schedule, please reach out
to me. WE complete a chapter a week so it is important to stay on track!
Each week begins on Sunday at 12:00 am and ends on Saturday at 11:59:59 pm.
Attendance/Verification of Enrollment
Per federal financial aid regulations, CCRI is required to verify student enrollment. All faculty
members are required to complete a verification of enrollment per the dates in
the College Calendar.
Students can confirm enrollment through attendance at any academically related activity such
as: attending a class meeting, sending an email to the instructor about the course, submitting
homework or an assignment, taking an exam or posting in a discussion.
Because you have chosen an in-person class, I expect you to be present during our weekly
sessions. Any more than 2 absences will affect your final grade.
Netiquette
Avoid disciplinary action. Any type of online behavior that is perceived as disrespectful to a
fellow student or instructor, or anything that has the potential to be perceived as less than
courteous is unacceptable and can be subject to disciplinary action by the Chair of the
department. Repetition of such behavior can result in expulsion from the class. The Student
Handbook Code of Conduct outlines what is misconduct by a student.
In addition to the course specific expectations, students are responsible for following the
policies set forth in the Student Handbook and College Catalog.

CCRI Policy on Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is vital to an institution of higher education. The integrity of your work ‒ that
it represents your independent thought and effort and that it properly acknowledges the work
of others ‒ is essential to the awarding of credit and to the development of your academic
potential. As such, instances of academic dishonesty ‒ cheating, plagiarism, etc., ‒ are
extremely serious academic offenses that should not be overlooked.
Students should be aware and regularly cautioned that violations of academic integrity may
result in suspension or expulsion from the college (Student Handbook, 2020)
For more information on CCRI's Academic Integrity Policy see the Student Handbook.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Statement

It is imperative that all work submitted is your own; therefore, the use of AI tools to generate
work for this class is not allowed. We will be covering what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or
academic dishonesty more throughout the course.
Grading Scale and Policies
The final letter grade for the course will be assigned as follows:
A: 95-100 B+: 87-89% C+: 77-79% D+: 67-69%
A-: 90-94% B: 84-87% C: 70-76% D: 60-66%
B-: 80-83% F: 59 and below

Late Policy/Make-Up Policy

EXAMS: If you miss an exam, it must be made up the following week during
class time.
ACHIEVE: Assignments will be open every Sunday morning, and you have
until Saturday at midnight to complete them. This deadline is non-
negotiable. Dates are preset in the system.
BLACKBOARD: Late assignments (including the life review) will come with
point deductions.

Incomplete Grade
This temporary grade designation is awarded at the end of a course. It is awarded only when a
student is passing, has attended, or completed at least 75% of the course and is unable to
complete the course due to extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness, death, unforeseeable
accident, unavoidable circumstance).

Student Support Resources

Disability Accessibility for Students
Any student with a documented disability is encouraged to contact the Office of Disability
Accessibility for Students (DAS) to coordinate reasonable accommodations as early in the
semester as possible. Please contact the DAS office to begin the process or renew your
accommodation for the semester.

Advising
Your success is the primary focus of the Advising Center. As such, all matriculated students are
assigned a trained, professional advisor who will provide support, guidance, and resources to
help you navigate your academic journey and maximize your educational experience during
your entire time at the Community College of Rhode Island. Recognizing the diverse needs of
our student body, your assigned advisor will provide personalized assistance to ensure that
your academic, personal, and career goals are met. The services that are available to you
include but are not limited to: academic planning and course selection; transfer planning;
assistance in understanding college policies and procedures; and referrals to on-and-off-campus
resources. Connecting with your assigned advisor is easy. Log in to your Starfish account
(include instructions here). We look forward to partnering with you in your journey towards
success at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Counseling
CCRI offers short term and confidential counseling to help students with mental health
concerns. The Personal Counseling and Wellness Office offers students a safe environment, for
one-on-one appointments, assisting with a variety of concerns related to anxiety, depression, or
long-standing psychological obstacles. The Personal Counseling and Wellness Office also assists
with connecting students with resources and outside agencies offering long-term counseling
services. For a list of mental health services on and off campus, please visit Personal Counseling
and Wellness.
Finally, counseling services are offered at our four main campuses (Warwick, Lincoln,
Providence, and Newport) M-F 8:00 am to 4 pm. To schedule an appointment, please email us
at: [email protected]

TELUS Health
CCRI has also partnered with TELUS Health, a counseling service available to students 24/7, free
of charge. TELUS Health offers virtual walk-in’s and scheduled appointments, with access to
professional counselors. To learn more about TELUS Health, please click the link here: visit
TELUS Health

The Benefits Hub

The Benefits Hub connects students to on and off campus resources. If students are couch
surfing, need groceries, childcare, transportation, or some other form of assistance, please
contact: 401.825-1024 (office), or [email protected] If you are uncomfortable doing so on
your own, please know that I can submit a referral on your behalf - just email me or schedule a
meeting with me during office hours.

Confidential and Compassionate

Veteran Services
CCRI Veteran Services Office is committed to being a resource to all VA education beneficiaries.
Our mission is to assist veterans, service members and dependents in the pursuit of their
educational goals by maintaining up-to-date information on current programs and resources.
Through a combination of experience with the educational system and contacts within the VA,
we can help you with any aspect of your higher education.
The Tutoring Center
We provide tutoring and academic coaching to help you achieve success. Don’t wait to ask for
help! Tutoring begins the second week of the semester and academic coaching appointments
are available throughout the year. All services are at no cost to you.
Visit The Tutoring Center or email [email protected] to learn more about our services.
Connect with a Tutor
Tutors help you learn course material for a specific class by clarifying course concepts and
providing practice with course materials. You do not have to be in jeopardy of failing to get help
from a tutor. Click here to watch the video directions on how to schedule appointments
through Starfish.
Partner with An Academic Coach
Academic coaching is a personalized student-coach partnership with appointments tailored to
your individual needs. A coach can help you with organizational and study strategies. One-time
appointments or a series of consultations throughout the semester are available. Click here to
watch the video directions on how to schedule appointments through Starfish.
Writing Center
The Writing Center offers writing support at no cost to students, for any type of writing, at any
stage of the writing process. This includes assistance with brainstorming, organization, thesis
statements, topic sentences, integrating and citing sources, revision, and polishing.
Students can schedule an appointment through Starfish or by emailing [email protected].
The Writing Center website includes more details on our locations and on scheduling
appointments.
Pear Deck Tutor
Pear Deck Tutor is free private online tutoring. Pear Deck Tutor is available to students 24/7,
with an expert tutor available usually within 3 mins in any subject. It can be accessed through
the Tools option on the Blackboard main menu or at the bottom of the many course menus.
Starfish
Starfish is a lifeline to various student support services provided by CCRI (advising, financial aid,
tutoring, etc.). This platform creates a network of communication between faculty, students,
and student services staff to support student success. Important communication will come from
Starfish. Visit Starfish.
Library
The CCRI Library provides a welcoming environment for individual and collaborative learning.
Each campus has a library with access to print and online books, journals, and other resources.
Our catalog and databases can be accessed on campus or off campus. Librarians are available to
assist students individually with research questions. We also work with faculty to provide
specialized library instruction classes and offer courses in information literacy and research
skills.
Public Safety
The CCRI College Police Department, also referred to as the Campus Police Department, is
staffed with full-time, sworn police officers augmented with nonsworn public safety officers and
dispatchers. We provide law enforcement services to all four CCRI campuses when the
campuses are open and 24/7 services through our HQ’s located at the Knight Campus in
Warwick.
Our enforcement jurisdiction covers all four CCRI properties. The services we provide for the
College community include responses to all emergencies; arrests for criminal violations; police
reports; initial criminal investigations occurring on a campus or having a nexus to the College;
referral services to outside law enforcement and social agencies; all Clery Act requirements;
traffic enforcement, accident investigations and accident reporting on campus.
The College Police Department is also responsible for building and grounds security; College
identification access control; lost and found; annual emergency exercises; educational training
opportunities concerning public safety; and escorts per request. The CCRI College Police
Department is an accredited law enforcement agency with the Rhode Island Police
Accreditation Commission and maintains solid, working relationships with all other law
enforcement agencies throughout the State of Rhode Island.
Contact us at 401-825-2109 for routine business and 401-825-2000 for on-campus
emergencies. 911 is always acceptable for any emergency and will be forwarded to our
dispatch center for a quick response.
  Emergencies - Call 401-825-2000
 Report a Crime
 College Alerts (RAVE)
 Request an Escort - Call 401-825-2109
 Clery Information

Civil Rights (Know Your Rights)

Pregnant and Parenting Students
CCRI is proud to welcome and support pregnant and parenting students on their path to
success. If you need an accommodation, excused absence, or other resource or campus
support to successfully complete your time at CCRI while pregnant or parenting, please contact
the Title IX Coordinator via email at [email protected] or by phone at (401) 825-1126.
Discrimination and Harassment
CCRI prohibits students and employees from engaging in discrimination and harassment based
on any individual’s race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, gender identity or
expression, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status,
citizenship status, veteran status, and any other legally protected characteristic.
If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination or harassment, you can report such
behavior to the Title IX Coordinator via email at [email protected], by phone at (401)
825-1126
Nondiscrimination Policy and Complaint Procedures
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct
CCRI prohibits all forms of unlawful sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, which includes
(but is not limited to) dating/domestic violence and stalking. If you believe you have been
subjected to sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, you can report such behavior to the Title
IX Coordinator via email at [email protected], by phone (401) 823-1126
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures (S-17)
Nondiscrimination Policy and Complaint Procedures