STUDY PLAN OUTLINE WITH A GANTT CHART

I. Instructor: Michael Gautreaux, CSP

Office: 331 Gouaux Hall

E-mail: [email protected]

II. DEPARTMENT iNFORMATION:

Department Office: 329 Gouaux Hall

Mailing Address: Nicholls State University

Department of Petroleum Engineering Technology & Safety Management

P.O. Box 2153

Thibodaux, LA 70310

Phone: 985.448.4739

Fax: 985.448.4727

Website: http://www.nicholls.edu/petsm/

III. Instructor Office Hours:

Arrangement for video or voice conference calls can be in advance. Students must email instructor to arrange times. You may also call the department secretary (985 448-4739). Available appointment times will vary but the instructor is here to assist. You should use the FAQ link established in the course for common course level questions.

iV. Attention Graduating Students:

If you are graduating this semester, you must complete an official "Application for Graduation" available from Department Heads and College Deans offices. This application is essential to getting you on the list to walk in graduation and to appear in the graduation program.  After meeting with your advisor and getting cleared for graduation, complete this application.  The application must be approved by signature of your departmental advisor, department head, and college dean.  There is a $36 application fee.  The application and fee is valid ONLY for the semester in which it is submitted.  Therefore, if you don't graduate in the semester in which you applied, you must complete a new application and pay a new fee during the next appropriate semester.

Please contact Katie Leonard in the PETSM Department for assistance with graduation requirements. You may email Katie or call as follows:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 985-448-4740

V. nICHOLLS ONLINE:

This course is offered through Nicholls Online, a stand-alone academic unit, within Nicholls State University. There some differences between a traditional Nicholls course and Nicholls Online course more so in the administration than in the actual academics. The Nicholls Online delivery allows you to:

· Complete your degree from home or wherever you have Internet access

· Enjoy student-friendly course delivery

· Complete classes in an accelerated 8-week format

The academic rigor of a PETSM course offered via Nicholls Online or traditional delivery within Nicholls is the same. The only real difference is the pace of delivery (8 weeks instead of 15 weeks).

This class will be using ProctorU for 1 of your exams. You are required to sign up with ProctorU and take these exams. ProctorU uses your webcam to monitor your test taking. All you need is a webcam with a microphone and a reliable, high-speed internet connection.

Taking exams with ProctorU is easy! In a simple, three-step process, your live proctor will make sure you are ready and help you begin. You can sign up now at no cost and have your equipment tested out by going to this link: http://www.proctoru.com/portal/nicholls/

The cost for you to use ProctorU is around $15 per test.

If you prefer to take the exam on campus at Nicholls testing center you have that option (http://www.nicholls.edu/testing/)

The purpose of using ProctorU is to ensure academic honesty in the Nicholls Online courses. It will enhance the validity and learning experience of the course and the degree which you will receive from Nicholls State University.

VI. Questions About thIS Course:

There is a FAQ link established in the Introduction to SATC 295 block of Moodle. This is setup to address commonly asked questions about the course. Read the syllabus carefully before firing off emails – you may found that most answers are in the syllabus. Our target is to respond within 48 hours to your postings. However if your question is clearly answered in the syllabus the response maybe as simple as please refer to the syllabus. You may also text me at 985-209-2200 with your name, course info and question. I may be able to respond faster. No phone calls please.

The skill to synthesize instructional information is a measure of one’s critical thinking skills. Admittedly, many of the assignments created in the PETSM curriculum are complex and multi-faceted. In most cases the first read of instructional content will likely challenge your full understanding of the assignment expectations. You should re-read instructional information several times for better understanding.

If you have a question that is personal in nature or do not want it published to the class, then send an email to the instructor within the Moodle course email function.

VII. Academic Calendar:

http://www.nicholls.edu/calendar/calendar-event-list/

This is a link to the University official academic calendar. Refer to this for important dates to remember during this semester.

VIII. Course Description:

SATC 295. Safety Seminar Capstone. 3-3-0. Prerequisite: Permission of department head for graduating students in Safety Technology Associate of Science. Emphasis on preparation for professional licensure and certification. Course includes formal competency assessment of program goals. (15.0701)

IX. Prerequisites: Permission of department head with good academic standing for graduating with the Associates of Science in Safety Technology Degree.

X. Required Text and Other Materials:

Book: There are no textbooks associated with this class, though the student may need to use various text books from previous classes and/or the library.

Research Database: http://www.nicholls.edu/library/database/alphabetically/ OnePetro is an online library of technical literature for the oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) industry. It contains more than 145,000 documents produced by 18 publishing partners. Access to OnePetro is available free through Nicholls Library. Full-text articles can be downloaded from this database. Students can login to the database from off campus using the same access and password to get into moodle. Follow the link below and choose OnePetro database. Follow login instructions if off campus but if you access the database from on campus using a Nicholls computer no login is required. If you are experiencing problems or need help with using the database please contact: John P. Bourgeois, MLIS, MPH, Head of Access Services.

References Used in Class:

Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) complete guide

https://www.bcsp.org/Portals/0/Assets/DocumentLibrary/Complete-Guide-STS.pdf

The Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) certification provides a means for employers to verify safety and health knowledge of first-line supervisors and managers. The program requires applicants to meet minimum education and experience requirements and demonstrate knowledge of basic safety and health standards and practices.

The typical STS helps an employer implement safety programs at the worker level through supervisory, safety committee or similar safety and health leadership roles. Safety tasks often include monitoring for job hazards, helping ensure regulatory compliance, training employees in safety practices, performing safety record keeping tasks, coordinating corrections for safety problems within or among work groups, and communicating with safety specialists or management.

Xi. Course Outcome Objectives:

The student should be able to:

COO #1	Understand the application process and assess eligibility requirements for acceptance to sit for the STS professional examination and certification.
COO #2	Identify the examination subject areas (tasks), the key knowledge and key skills covered on the STS certification examination.
COO #3	Identify study materials and resources available at Nicholls State and on the world wide web that can be used to prepare for the examination.
COO #4	Assess their awareness and knowledge of the 13 knowledge areas which form the foundation of content which is included in the testing for the STS examination and identify subject matter knowledge areas where you are strong and a where you may need additional study and preparation.
COO #5	Demonstrate the ability to communicate, coordinate and contribute in a study group course project.
COO #6	Successfully pass an exit examination to assess knowledge gained in the courses of instruction within the safety technology program and benchmark your readiness for professional certification at the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) level.

XiI. Course requirements:

You must read, understand, and sign the Student SATC 295 Class Agreement. Please sign and scan a copy of the Student SATC 295 Class Agreement (found in the introductory section of Moodle) and submit it via Moodle in the designated upload link before starting any course work. If work is submitted without the agreement signed, the submitted course work will not be graded. The Student SATC 295 Class Agreement is summarized on the last page of the syllabus and a PDF copy has been provided in Moodle.

NOTE: The final exam covers core competencies that have been taught throughout your course work here at Nicholls while enrolled in the safety technology associates program. The point value of the test is weighted and ultimately worth 28/% of the total point value in the course. This is a true assessment of knowledge gained in the course work of this degree program.

The course is divided into 5 modules with the following activities:

Activity	Value
Introductory Forum Part 1	5
Introductory Forum Part 2	5
Module 1
Assignment 1 Essay	50
Forum 1	10
Module 2
Assignment #2 – Application Process	50
Forum 2	20
Module 3
Proctored Assessment Test 1	50
Scorecard Worksheet	25
Forum 3a	10
Forum 3b	10
Module 4
Group Task Question Development	50
Study Plan	50
Module 5
Proctored Final Exam	100
Course evaluation
Total Points

Due dates in the course are not suggestive and will be enforced. If you miss a due date, still submit your work late but all late work is subject to penalties. Due dates are posted in Moodle.

Consider that this syllabus is a professional work assignment and that you are given a deadline in which to submit your final work output. You might get some email comments or draft document reviews before the due date from your “employer” during your process, the faculty will attempt to do the same thing throughout this course. It is only fair that you have good detailed instructions, some benchmark reviews along the way, guidance when requested, and a fair and honest evaluation of your work product. All written assignments will be posted and graded within the assignment feature of MOODLE.

Your final work submittal of all assignments will be compared to the same assignment submittal of your fellow students. This is not truly “grading on the curve”, but comparing the work products from your academic submittals is no different than a supervisor comparing the work products of his employees.

Completeness and quality presentation of your work product will weight into your grade(s) just as in your professional work products. Refer to methods of evaluation for grading methods herein for the definitions of five grading classifications.

XIiI. METHODS OF EVALUATION:

Grades are based on the following scale:

A = 100-90 – Outstanding Work

B = 89-80 – Good Work

C = 79-70 – Acceptable Work

D = 69-60 – Needs improvement

F = < 60 – Unacceptable Work

In the workplace, you are expected to produce documents that are clear, error-free, and visually effective.  Your written products must also satisfy general requirements of the organization, be appropriate for a specific purpose, and meet the needs of the audiences for which the communication was prepared.  Evaluations of assignments will reflect these same basic requirements.

The definitions of five grading classifications are provided below.  If you are not familiar with the requirements of these classifications and associated grade assignments, you may want to review them.  There are key words and quantifiers within each level of work that may have been overlooked when you first read the syllabus. 

90 - 100 (A) -  Outstanding work shows superior analysis of the assignment; provides excellent selection of content, organization, design, and style that addresses both the practical and rhetorical requirements of the particular situation; uses a style that is fluent and coherent; excellent choice and use of visuals, has no major mechanical errors; shows insight, perceptiveness, originality, and thought.

80 - 89 (B) - Good work, above the level necessary to meet course requirements; has a thorough, well-organized analysis of the assignment; shows judgment and skill in the presentation of material appropriate for the intended audience and purpose; supports ideas well with concrete details; has an interesting, precise, and clear style; good use of visuals; is free of major mechanical errors; strong, interesting work, although minor problems may be present.

70 - 79 (C) - Acceptable work meets all basic requirements of the course and assignment; provides a satisfactory analysis of the writing task, subject, and audience; accomplishes its purpose with adequate content, design, and detail; uses details, organization and expression appropriate for the rhetorical and practical context; adequate use of visuals; has acceptable mechanics; nothing remarkably good or bad about the work; equivalent work could be used in the professional world.

60 - 69 (D) -  Needs improvement, meets the assignment but is weak in one of the major areas (content appropriate for purpose, organization, style, or mechanics) or offers a routine, inadequate treatment; document design and use of visuals is inadequate or inappropriate; shows generally substandard work with some redeeming features.

<60 (F) -  Unacceptable work in one or more of the major areas; fails to meet one or more of the basic requirements of the course or the assignment; may fail to cover essential points, or may digress to nonessential material; may lack adequate organization and show confusion or misunderstanding of genre or context; may use an inappropriate tone, poor word choice, excessive repetition, or awkward sentence structure; may be unclear; poor quality design and/or use of visuals; may contain an unacceptable level of errors.

XIV. Forum Postings:

In this class, forum posts will count towards your participation grade in the course. The grading of this work will be based on the rubric below in this section of the syllabus. Q & A forums are used in this course which requires the student to post their perspective before they can view other students' postings. After the initial posting, students can view and respond to others' postings. This feature allows for equal initial posting opportunity among all students, thus encouraging original and independent thinking.

The purpose of the forums is to frame and promote collaborative learning. Active and regular participation is not only important for me to see, but also important for you in learning the course content and in developing your thoughts and positions on various topics.

The forums must be completed timely. Your postings are more about collaborative learning with other students. Several require you to review other posting where in the design is such that you may learn for each other. Therefore strict adherence to established due dates will be important. Each forum will be due on the assigned date by midnight. While you may be able to post your response after the due date, penalties for late work may be assessed. Forums must have a minimum of 300 words for full credit consideration.

The three cardinal rules for Forums :

1. Please remember that the cultural of mutual respect that is part of this course extends into the virtual classroom environment.

2. Participation in these Forums is required.

3. Participation alone is not enough; a thoughtful and meaningful approach in your posts is required. (Quality counts!)

The total of your participation in a single Forum question (topic) will be graded on a ten point scale.

Here is the protocol for posting and contributing to an online discussion:

a. You are expected to participate during the module period and by the due date. This means you cannot simply respond to all required Forum posting in one day receive the credit. If you follow the due dates you will do fine.

b. When you are asked to respond to other students post with thread, you are asked to explain if you agree or not agree with students within that particular forum.

c. Posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs. Word totals for each post should be at least 300 words.

d. Whether you agree or disagree explain why with supporting evidence and concepts from the readings or a related experience. Include a reference, link, or citation when appropriate.

e. Be organized in your thoughts and ideas.

f. Incorporate correlations with the assigned readings or topics.

g. Stay on topic.

h. Provide evidence of critical, college-level thinking and thoughtfulness in your responses or interactions. Avoid summarizing and simply agreeing with another students post.

i. Contribute to the learning community by being creative in your approaches to topics, being relevant in the presented viewpoints, and attempting to motivate the discussion.

j. Be aware of grammar and sentence mechanics.

k. Use proper etiquette. Remember that being respectful is critical.

Forum Grading Rubric

Criteria	A Outstanding	B Proficient	C Basic	D/F Below Expectations
Critical Thinking	· rich in content · full of thought, insight, and analysis	· substantial information · thought, insight, and analysis has taken place	· generally competent · information is thin and commonplace	· rudimentary and superficial · no analysis or insight is displayed
Connections	Clear connections · to previous or current content · to real-life situations	· connections are made, · not really clear or too obvious	· limited, if any connections · vague generalities	· no connections are made · off topic
Uniqueness	· new ideas · new connections · made with depth and detail	· new ideas or connections · lack depth and/or detail	· few, if any new ideas or connections · rehash or summarize other postings	· no new ideas · “I agree with …” statement
Timeliness	· all required postings · early in discussion · throughout the discussion	· all required postings · some not in time for others to read & respond	· all required postings · most at the last minute without allowing for response time	· some, or all, required postings missing
Stylistics	· few grammatical or stylistic errors	· several grammatical or stylistic errors	· obvious grammatical or stylistic errors · errors interfere with content	· obvious grammatical or stylistic errors · makes understanding impossible

XV. Drop Date:

The final date for automatic W when dropping or resigning with a W is May 8, 2019 by 4:30 pm for this term of Nicholls Online courses.

XVi. OFF-CAMPUS DROP OR RESIGN MECHANISM FOR WORKING STUDENTS:

Each year, the “Last Day to Drop or Resign” date is published in the University Calendar. Students intending to drop or resign are responsible for meeting this deadline, even if they are away from campus for an extended period of time.

The normal mechanism to drop or resign is to complete a “Drop Slip” or “Resignation Form” and submit it to the Office of Records and Registration. Students majoring in Petroleum Services, Safety Technology, Pre-Engineering, and other programs are often off-campus on jobs while earning their degrees. For these students, withdrawing and resigning can be accomplished by either email or fax.

Dropping a course can be accomplished from off-campus by sending an email message from your official Nicholls email account to [email protected]. In the message of this email, include your name, your student ID number, the name and number of the course you wish to drop, a daytime phone number where you can be contacted for verification, and the reason why you cannot appear on campus in person to drop. Alternatively, you may send this information by fax to the Office of Records and Registration at (985) 449-7060; in the case of a fax, make sure to include your email address and your signature.

Resignations from the university can be accomplished by sending an email message from your official Nicholls email account to [email protected] or by fax to University College at (985) 448-4201. Provide the same information as above, together with an explanation for the reason you wish to resign. In the case of a fax, make sure to include your email address and your signature.

Students remain responsible for verifying their dropping and resigning transactions. If emailing or faxing, always ask for an email or fax confirmation that your request has been received. Students remain responsible for the impact of dropping courses or resigning from the university on their financial aid, and for this reason they should contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine the consequences.

XViI. Attendance Policy:

Class attendance is an obligation and a privilege, and students are expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled. Each instructor shall check the roll at each required class meeting, shall keep a permanent attendance record for each class, and shall report student absences to the office of the student’s academic dean.” (NSU Bulletin) Student must login to Moodle at least once each week for class attendance requirements.

XVIiI. Incomplete “I” Grades:

A grade of I may be given for work which could not be completed because of circumstances beyond the student's control and will not be given to a student doing unsatisfactory work. Work schedules will not be considered as circumstances beyond the student’s control. A grade of I must be resolved within one calendar year following the semester in which an I grade was received, or the I grade will automatically be changed to F.

XIX. CONTINUED LEARNING FOLLOWING AN EXTREME EMERGENCY:

In order to make continued learning possible following an extreme emergency, students are responsible for:

· reading regular emergency notifications on the NSU website;

· knowing how to use and access Moodle (or university designated electronic delivery system);

· being familiar with emergency guidelines;

· evacuating textbooks and other course materials;

· knowing their Moodle (or designated system) student login and password;

· contacting faculty regarding their intentions for completing the course.

Faculty are responsible for:

· their development in the use of the Moodle (or designated) software;

· having a plan for continuing their courses using only Moodle and email;

· continuing their course in whatever way suits the completion of the course best, and being creative in the continuation of these courses;

· making adjustments or compensations to a student’s progress in special programs with labs, clinical sequences or the like only in the immediate semester following the emergency.

XX. Americans With Disabilities Act:

If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to register with the Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Office of Disability Services is located in Shaver Gym, Room 158–A. The phone number is (985) 448–4430 (TDD 449–7002)

XXi. ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES:

As members of the Nicholls State University community, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic and personal conduct. Disruptive behavior in the classroom and academic dishonesty violate these standards as well as the trust and commitment among students and faculty to instill and to maintain the principles of integrity, responsibility, and respect for others.

If a student feels he/she has been treated unfairly with respect to an academic dishonesty matter, the Student Academic Grievance Procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct will be followed.

http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf.

Key Terms

Academic Dishonesty is any action or effort by a student to use illegal, deceitful, or unacceptable means in any academic work or setting. Examples include but are not limited to falsifying data, information or citations, providing false excuses or information to an instructor concerning an academic exercise, bribery, sabotage, or willfully disrupting or disturbing the academic progress.

Cheating is the actual or attempted deception or fraud to improve one’s grade or academic standing or to aid another student in doing so. Individual faculty members may restrict, extend, or modify the university’s general definition of cheating to accommodate specific course learning outcomes. All students should carefully review course syllabi and talk with their instructors to ensure their understanding of each instructor’s cheating policy.

Examples of cheating include but are not limited to:

· use of unauthorized materials during an exam

· giving aid to or receiving aid from another student on independent course work, quizzes and exams

· taking an exam for another student

· turning in other students work

· stealing, distributing, or having any unauthorized access to a copy of an exam or revising one’s answer on a graded exam for the purpose of claiming a grading error

· use of falsified data and/or references

· use of unauthorized materials in preparation of an assignment representation

Plagiarism is the presentation of the works, words, or ideas of others as one’s own, or the use of others’ works, words, and ideas without giving proper acknowledgment, or the inappropriate presentation of someone else’s work as their own. Individual faculty members may restrict, extend, or modify the university’s general definition of plagiarism to accommodate specific course learning outcomes.

All students should carefully review course syllabi and talk with their instructors to ensure understanding of each instructor’s plagiarism policy. Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:

· Copying someone else’s phrase or sentence(s) without placing quotation marks around the copied phrases or sentence(s), even when the copied wording is made part of one’s own sentence.

· Not supplying proper documentation or bibliographical information for the ideas, arguments, findings, or interpretations of data made by others paraphrased or quoted in an assignment.

· Submitting another person’s work as one’s own (including, but not limited to submitting a paper or report purchased or retrieved from a term paper service or one composed by a tutor, hired writer, student, friend, or relative).

· Allowing another student to copy one’s own work or writing a paper, report, or any part of an assignment for another student.

Violations of academic dishonesty may be dealt with by the instructor by invoking a maximum sanction of immediate expulsion from the course with a failing grade.

Appeals by the student if he/she wishes to pursue the matter further or feels he/she has been treated unfairly in regards to these matters, he/she must follow the procedures detailed in the Student Academic Grievances Section of this Code. Detailed information is on this policy can be found at http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf.

If a more severe penalty than expulsion from the class with a failing grade is warranted by the student’s conduct, the faculty member will file a formal charge with the Academic Dean of the college offering the course. The Academic Dean may dispose of the violation administratively and/or contact the Student Judicial Officer for further sanctions as warranted for violation of code of conduct.

XXiI. TurnitIn:

By taking this course, students agree that all assignments are subject to submission to TurnItIn, a plagiarism detection service. All work submitted to TurnItIn will be added to its database of papers. Specifically, this service compares your paper with Internet web pages, articles in databases, and all papers previously submitted. TurnItIn then either confirms the originality of your work or reports the source(s) of plagiarism. In cases of detected plagiarism, the paper and supporting evidence will be handled in compliance with the Code of Student Conduct, Section Five, Academic Dishonesty and Disruptive Behavior. http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf

XXIII. SYLLABUS:

This syllabus is provided as a guide and is subject to change. The syllabus will be posted on Moodle. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in Moodle. Where there is a conflict in instructions, due dates, etc., the syllabus will govern.

XXIV. Extra Credit Work, Makeup Work, or Alternative Assignments:

At the sole discretion of the instructor, extra credit work, makeup work, or alternative assignments may be made for students who make such requests with adequate justifications, again approved at the discretion of the instructor. Students may be allowed to complete an alternate assignment related to the course content. It may involve undergraduate research including review literature, appropriate research methodologies and measurement procedures, and available online resources. Topics include: the nature of scientific research, designing service-learning research, measurement, ethical issues, data analysis and interpretation, and dissemination of research results.

XXV. Technology Requirements:

1. Nicholls State University selected Moodle 2 as the course management system for online and hybrid courses. All course work such as submitting assignments, posting to forums, and completing quizzes will through Moodle. Students should have received their Moodle login information when they were accepted to the university. Moodle may be accessed at: http://moodle2.nicholls.edu/moodle/

2. If you are experiencing problems with Moodle, view the home page within Moodle and read the site new section for important notices and fixes to computer issues..

3. Submitted student work must be prepared using Microsoft Word, Power Point or Excel or compatible software with your work product saved as one of these file types. No exceptions. Any work submitted in a format other than Microsoft word will not be graded and counted as a zero score.

4. All student work will be submitted using Moodle unless otherwise noted by the instructor. Moodle works best with Firefox browser. If you submit an assignment

and resubmit it may override the first submittal. Be careful when submitting multiply files. You want to select add a file.

5. Keep your electronic copies syllabus and course work for future use in capstone or portfolio courses.

6. Upload the document(s) into the designated Moodle links by the due date.

7. Refer to the Moodle tutorials for assistance.

XXVI. Course Work:

Introductory Module (Refer to Moodle for Due Dates)

1. Introductory Forum – Part 1: Prepare a brief introduction of yourself to the class. Include a summary about your prior safety and health related industry experiences. Provide your career objectives and whether or not this includes achieving professional certification in the field of HSE. Your posting should be at least 300 words. Attach a copy of a current resume to the posting. Part 2: Review at least one other student’s resume. Provide feedback on the syllabus in terms of what did you like and what you would suggest if any. When responding to the forum post be sure to include the name of your classmate to which you are responding. Your response should be at least 300 words. 2. Student Agreement: Read the syllabus and read the student agreement form. Sign the agreement and post it in the designated link in the Introduction Forum. This agreement is intended to provide advance notice of conditions for completing this course. 3. Proctoring Services Memo: Contact the proctoring services below and register for this service. Post a MS word document stating your compliance with this requirement and provide the scheduled appointment dates. Note that Test 1 will be available starting 4/1/2019 midnight Option 1: Online proctoring at http://www.proctoru.com/index.php for fee. Fees are as low as $15. Option 2: Nicholls Academic Testing Center for free but you have to appear in person. Office Location: 212 Elkins Hall Phone: (985) 493-2596 or (985) 448-4462 Fax: (985) 493-2780 E-mail: [email protected] Appointments are required!

Module 1 – Certificate, Certification, Licensing – What the difference? ((Refer to Moodle for Due Dates))

Objective: Understand the purpose of certification and how it affects one’s future. Determine the eligibility status and understand the application process required for acceptance to sit for the STS professional examination and certification. Assignment #1: Research the meaning of professional certification and explain the difference in a certificate, certification and license. You may use the following internet resources but additional academic research will be required. Though some of the references may not deal directly with the STS certification, much of the information will cross over of why certification is important. The focus of your research should not be of any certification but an “accredited and recognized” professional HSE credential. Sources: http://www.nicholls.edu/library/database/ Recommend using Onepetro database. http://gciexams.com/?q=node/21 http://www.bcsp.org/safetyprofessional Salary Calculator http://www.bcsp.org/Default.aspx?PageID=1269801&A=SearchResult&SearchID=6160200&ObjectID=1269801&ObjectType=1 Develop a two full page essay paper that sufficiently answers the following questions. 1. Explain the basic difference between obtaining a certificate and receiving certification within the meaning of an accredited credential? Provide three examples of accredited professional HSE certifications and three examples of certificates (non-accredited) credentials. 2. Why should certification be important to you as a safety professional? 3. What are the professional benefits if you are a certified safety professional and how will it impact you over a career in HSE? 4. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years and how would certification assist you in reaching your professional goals? 5. With your previous experience, how would certification possibly affect your present salary? Use the 2015 BCSP Certification Salary Scale located at http://www.bcsp.org/SH-E-Practice/Salary-Survey to support your determination. The paper must include specific APA formatted references providing the source of your information to which you relied upon in your conclusions. Forum 1: Read the STS candidate handbook. You may download the document at http://www.bcsp.org/Portals/0/Assets/DocumentLibrary/STS-STSC-Complete-Guide.pdf As you read the handbook think about which path toward certification you would most likely pursue either the STS construction track or STS general track. Choose one pathway that you believe would fit your career objectives and share the reason why you choose this with your classmates. Provide your assessment of this certification in terms of value and state based on your understanding if the chosen certification is accredited. Note in the course you will ultimately have to pick one path (either the STSC - construction track or STS).

Module 2 – STS application Process (Refer to Moodle for Due Dates)

Assignment #2: Objective: Understand the STS professional examination and certification application process and determine your eligibility requirements for acceptance to sit for the examination. For the purposes of assignment #2, you will investigate the application process setup by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals for the STS Certification. There have been significant changes to the STS application process that are effective on 10/13/2014. BCSP has transitioned to a 100% online application process for all the certifications and eliminated the forms which were previously required. The STS tracks (construction track, general industry track, or petrochemical track) have been consolidated into a general STS or a STS Construction track. Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) complete guide https://www.bcsp.org/Portals/0/Assets/DocumentLibrary/STS-STSC-Complete-Guide.pdf should be referenced in this assignment. Instructions: 1. Setup an online profile at www.bcsp.org through “My Profile”. 2. Enter the appropriate information on each application page then click “Next.” 3. Please see the STS Complete Guide referenced above about the minimum requirements. 4. Once you have created your profile, you may select the certification application you are interested in and follow the online instructions. Note you should first read the STS Complete Guide and assess your eligibility for either the STS or STSC. 5. Once you have completed the online process you will be prompted to submit application which will require payment the application fee. HOWEVER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS APPLICATION FEE. 6. Once you have completed all applicable sections, click on the review tab. This will show you the status of your application process. This is one of the artifacts you will need for this assignment. Screen shot the application process status window and paste this into a word document or use a PDF creator to screen shot the entire weblink or snipping tool which can be found on most windows based operating systems. Save this screen shot for submission. There is a sample of what this screen looks like in Moodle. Here are a few important tips about this online application process. 1. First and foremost realize this is an educational experience for you and you are NOT required to follow-through with the application process and pay the fees. You are encouraged however to seriously give this due consideration. 2. Skip the Link to Sponsor section. This only applies in the case where a company has decided to sponsor the application fees and examination fees for their employees. 3. The work experience form must be completed and uploaded to complete this section of the application. If you have the work experience required then complete this section. However, you may complete this assignment without completing the work experience requirement. Fill out the information based on your current “experience level”. The goal here is to understand this part of the application process and not to necessarily submit this to BCSP. However if you meet the eligibility requirements then you are steps away from applying for and taking the professional certification. 4. If you are eligible for a fee waiver due to military service or other status then complete this section. 5. Once you have finished this process. Upload a copy (screen shot) of the review section on my profile. Look at the example provided in Moodle. This will complete assignment #1. Forum 2: After reading about this exam and completing the application process comment about your perceived value in terms of the application fee and testing fee for this certification. Do you think it is worth the money? Why or why not? How would you feel if this was a requirement for this course? What if you were “required” to submit the application, pay the fee and actually take the exam as part of this course? Do you think the PETSM program should require this in the future? Why or Why not? What is stopping you now from pursing this certification on your own? What if you were given the chose to actually submit application and take the exam as part of this course and submit your results by the end of the course thus waiving the course assignments herein? Your posting should be at least 300 words.

Module 3 – Self Assessment Exam (Refer to Moodle for Due Dates)

Objective: Assess their awareness and knowledge of the 13 knowledge areas which form the foundation of content which is included in the testing for the STS examination and identify subject matter knowledge areas where you are strong and a where you may need additional study and preparation. Assignment Instructions: 1. An assessment test consisting of 50 questions has been prepared that represent the 13 knowledge tasks included on the Safety Trained Supervisor Examination. This exam is an assessment of your knowledge gained through your education and/or experience while here at Nicholls and work (if applicable). You should be very familiar with the 13 knowledge areas contained on the test but there is not necessarily a method of studying for this assessment exam. You will either know it or not. The intent is to assess what you do know and identify what you need to study. 2. The exam must be proctored by either an online proctoring service or at Nicholls in the testing center. You should have already determined how you will comply with the proctoring requirement. You were provided two options in Introductory Module of this course. You must make prior arrangements for the proctoring service. You may select either option provided in the module to complete this requirement. Failure to plan ahead will result in serious implications for completion of this course. Do NOT wait until the last minute. Proctoring Options: Option 1: Online proctoring at http://www.proctoru.com/index.php for fee. Option 2: Nicholls Academic Testing Center for free but you have to appear in person. Office Location: 212 Elkins Hall Phone: (985) 493-2596 or (985) 448-4462 Fax: (985) 493-2780 E-mail: [email protected] 3. The following testing policies have been provided to the proctoring services: a. Provide your name, course number, section number, student email, Nicholls “N” number and instructor’s name. b. Present photo identification. c. Indicate what test you are attempting. In this module you will be taking Assessment Test 1. d. The test is password protected and the proctor will enter the code. e. You will have a maximum of 60 minutes to complete the exam. f. Personal items such as cell phones, book bags, purses, etc. are not allowed in the testing area. g. Print the Scorecard Worksheet prior to entering the testing area which you will use to score the test h. You are allowed three sheets of blank scratch paper, the scorecard worksheet and ink pen in the testing area. i. You may use two calculators during the testing process as long as they both are among the brands and models listed below: • Casio models FX-100, 200 or 300 series • Hewlett Packard models HP 10, 12, or 17 series • Texas Instruments models TI-30 series IMPORTANT: THE TESTING MUST BE COMPLETED BY DUE DATE. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED. Scorecard Worksheet Instructions: 1. Before you take your exam become familiar with the Scorecard Worksheet Instructions. See Scorecard Worksheet located in Module 3. Bring a copy of this to the testing center and you will need to complete this worksheet using a pen. 2. Once you completed the exam and “submitted the test”, a review feature will show the Quiz Navigation screen on the left side of the test window with the correct answers in green and incorrect answers in red. Moodle is setup to allow you to see the questions you got correct. Record the question numbers you answered correct and in correct. Don’t close out of Moodle until this is done. It will not allow you to reenter into the test and therefore you will not be able to complete the scorecard assignment. 3. Once the test is complete, you can then electronically complete the scorecard worksheet. Of course a proctor is not needed at this point. The scorecard worksheet is designed to provide you an indication of your knowledge in the 13 competencies/tasks according the STS knowledge areas. 4. With the Scorecard Worksheet a bar graph will be generated showing the 13 tasks with the percentage correct. This will create a big picture glance of what task you are strong in and what tasks may need additional study. Format the scorecard document for printing and be sure to provide your name, course section number and semester. 5. Submit the Scorecard Worksheet in the upload link within Module 3. Forum 3a Post a forum to reflect on the experience of the assessment test. Include the following in your posting: a) How was the proctoring experience? b) How did you feel about the assessment in general? According to the assessment, what tasks areas were you strong and what areas were you weak? Choose one each to share with class. c) Do you feel that the PETSM curriculum prepared you for the assessment? Why or why not? What additional areas of study do you recommend we expanded upon in the curriculum? Be specific. d) Having now assessed your baseline knowledge, how could you learn more about the deficient knowledge areas? e) Now that you have taken this practice exam, how confident are you that you could sit for this professional exam and pass? Your posting should be at least 300 words. Forum 3b Respond to another student posting in terms of a similar or different experience and outcome you had for each of content items (a, b, c, d and e). Explain for each how your experience was similar or different and a possible reason why you believe it was so. Your posting should be at least 300 words.

Module 4 – (Refer to Moodle for Due Dates)

Assignment #4a (Group Work)- Goal: The student will review and understand how the STS exam questions are developed along with its criteria. The STS blueprint is based on what Safety Trained Supervisor does in practice. The blueprint contains task which represents major functions that the professional should know. The task are divided in two categories: knowledge and skills. Groups: Network with class and break into groups of 2. If there is an odd number then one group can include 3 members. It will be left up to the class to figure out the group arranges. Plan ahead and this should be fairly straight forward. Someone needs to initial the grouping for this assignment. Reach out, collaborate with other students to pair up. Group members will divide the assignment requirements equally and work together on the questions development. Instructions: This assignment is designed to give insight into how questions are designed on the certification exam and how each question on the exam relates to the task. In this assignment you will prepare 2 questions for each task: 1 for the knowledge portion and 1 for the skill portion of the individual task. There are 13 tasks; therefore, you will be writing 26 exam questions. The STS exam blue print can be found starting on page 9 of the Complete Guide to the STS and STSC APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION INFORMATION – November 2014 Edition. http://www.bcsp.org/Portals/0/Assets/DocumentLibrary/STS-STSC-Complete-Guide.pdf Your questions must originate from at least six different reference sources and you are limited to using only two questions developed from an internet source. What I am looking for are questions that are higher in analytical thought. Questions should be written as multiple choices with four choices. Do not create answers with “A and B” or “all are correct” type questions. You must also provide the logic that is used to answer the question. Highlight the correct answer in yellow. Follow the format below and make sure that you contain all the Information as displayed. The following links will provide recommended study sources. You may have at least one of these if you kept your SATC 112-Loss Control book. Please note that the blue print for the STS and STSC are identical expect that 25% of the questions are industry based (general industry 1910 or construction 1926) depending on which pathway you select for examination. http://www.bcsp.org/Resources/Review-and-Study-Sources http://www.bcsp.org/Portals/0/Assets/DocumentLibrary/STS_References.pdf http://www.bcsp.org/Portals/0/Assets/DocumentLibrary/STS-C_References.pdf If you cannot find enough references, you may need to visit a public library or Nicholls Library. It is the intent of the group work to split up the workload and to have a partner to work with. Example of How the Questions Should Be Submitted. Question 1 Task 1 Skill Question: Some of the most common contributing factors in construction accidents are: a) Physical hazards, human factors, poor communication, environmental hazards, personal protective equipment failure. b) Environmental hazards, poor communication criminal action, physical hazards, inadequate or missing procedures. c) Poor communication, human factors, environmental hazards, physical hazards, inadequate or missing procedures. d) Human factors, illiteracy, environmental hazards, physical hazards, inadequate or missing procedures. Logic: Though all answers can contribute the most common contributing factors to accidents in construction are poor communication, human factors, environmental hazards, physical hazards, and inadequate or missing procedures. Source: Goetsch, D. L.(2003). Construction Safety and Health. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 46. Note: This question is applicable to the STSC. This portion of the assignment is group work. Your group may prepare one submittal and each group member’s names must be on the submittal. Each group member will submit the same document containing the 26 study questions. This must be original work produced by the group so DO NOT copy and paste questions from the BCSP sample questions. Each page must have the following header. Your Name SATC 295- Assignment 4 Date Group Members Names: Grading Matrix Assignment 4a Proper Representation of Each Domain 30% Analytical Thought of Questions (each question has a referenced source). 50% Overall Professionalism of Assignment (appearance, clarity, grammar, formatting) 20% Assignment 4b Goal: The student will develop and expand his knowledge base through cooperative learning and review activities in a cohort group of his peers. Instructions: Read carefully chapters 4 and 5 of the Complete Guide to the STS and STSC APPLICATION AND EXAMINATION INFORMATION – November 2014 Edition. Prepare a study plan outline that you might use to pursue the STS or STSC examination. The study plan must be in an outline form and contain the minimum following items: 1. Your choice of what examination you would seek. Either STS or STSC. Plus a basic explanation of the difference and why you would choose one over the other. NOTE: You must focus on the STS or STSC. For the purpose of this assignment, you will have to pick a date in the future that you would plan to take the exam. This would be necessary to develop a time schedule which is contained in item 4 below. 2. Provide a summary of the student materials you have available which are linked to one or more of the thirteen tasks. This listing should be in the form of a table with a column for the tasks and column for the study references you have on hand or that or available via web in the public domain. Once you are complete this this step it should be clear as to what you have on-hand to study with now. In addition, you will have to login to the Nicholls Library online search catalog and find three additional references that could be used to a source of information to help you study. NOTE this might also be of value in completing assignment 4a. Include on your table listing the four references you found that are available in the Nicholls Library. 3. Go look again at the assessment test scorecard in module 3 to identify the top 3 tasks that you feel you may need to study more in order to increase your knowledge area for passing the test. While there may be more than 3 areas I am only asking you to focus on 3. Identify those task numbers in your outline. For each area prepare a written action statement that you might take to close the gap on this particular task area. For example, you might find that you need to study up more on task 13 “professional ethics”. So here I am asking you to come up with a strategy to study on this particular task. The strategy should include a measureable action plan that you would take. Comment here if you have the study reference or not. If not where could you find it. Also considered how much time would you need to devote to studying in this area. 4. Develop a gantt chart to show your time line and study plan on how you would go about preparing for the examination. You time line should show a start and end date with major steps to be taken as part of your student plan. NOTE: Assignment 4b is independent work. It must reflect your particular study plan.

Module 5 – (Refer to Moodle for Due Dates)

Goal: Successfully pass and exit examination to assess knowledge gained in the courses of instruction within the safety technology program and benchmark their readiness for professional certification at the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) level. If you have followed the assignments and completed the work accordingly, there should be a drastic improvement between Assessment Test 1 and the final assessment. Therefore, module 5 Assessment Test is weighted heavily since it reflects not only the test itself but the accumulation of knowledge that you have gained in this course throughout the semester. It represents 20% of your total grade. The Assessment Test 2 will consist of 100 questions. You may complete assessment 2 online within Moodle. No proctor requirement on test 2.

SATC 295 Safety Seminar - Agreement

Student Name: ___________________________________ Date: __________________ (print name here)

Student Signature: (sign name here)

With my signature, I certify the follow:

1. I have read the syllabus and generally understand the course requirements particularly the assignment expectations and due dates. I further understand that I am responsible to develop a plan to complete the course work by the due dates.

2. I acknowledge that I understand that the due dates are not suggested guidelines and no allowances will be made to extend deadlines unless the circumstances are beyond the control of the student.

3. I understand that consideration for due date allowance will only be made upon documented extreme circumstances that are beyond the control of the student. This would be limited in most cases to serious illnesses death of an immediate family member and or some extreme tragedy.

4. I agree that formal written notice shall be provided to the professor in advance of any due date where there may be situations that arise to the level of an extreme situation beyond the control of the student.

5. I fully understand and except the responsibility to plan my course work and work ahead if necessary to meet due dates. I fully understand that work reasons, schedule changes, internet connectivity, etc. etc. do not constitute extreme circumstances beyond the control of the student. Any requests for extension will be denied unless it rises to the level of an extreme circumstance beyond the control of a student.

6. I understand that the course involves two proctored exams. I also agree that the use of a proctored examination process is a reasonable expectation and that I am fully responsible to contact and setup this service in advance. I agree that my failure to act on this requirement in a timely fashion does not constitute an emergency beyond your control.

7. I understand that Proctor U www.proctoru.com/ offers online proctoring services for a fee. I fully understand that it is my responsibility to contact Proctor U at 855-772-8678 well in advance of the testing due dates to setup the necessary arrangements to complete the test prior to the due date.

8. I understand that Nicholls State University offers a proctoring service in Elkins Hall that is free but I have to be present to take the exam. I understand this is an option available to me.

9. I agree and fully understand that if I delay and wait until the last minute to schedule my proctored exam and the due date expired that I and I alone am the only one to blame and that no allowances will be granted.

10. I do understand that if I am not able to complete the course requirements herein or if I fail the course, it may not allow me to graduate this term and I will have to retake this course.