PRLS 4510 Emerging Realities and Alternatives for Puerto Ricans and Other Latinxs in the U.S (Ortíz-Minaya): Syllabus

Impact of Latin@ demographic, political, and cultural trends. Education, economic disparities, political empowerment, and on-going challenges to Latin@s. Identity, citizenship, cultural production, Latinidad, and Latinization.

Learning Goal #1: Develop a contextual understanding of Puerto Rico, U.S. Puerto Ricans/Latin@s/Hispanics, the Caribbean, and /or Latin America

Learning Objective:

• Students will understand the Puerto Rican and Latin@/Hispanic migration processes and emerging realities of diasporic communities in the U.S.A.

Learning Goal #2: Learn responsible civic participation as it pertains to Puerto Ricans and Latino communities, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Learning Objective:

• Develop the ability to advocate and engage with the web of services, agencies, and institutions as they pertain to the practice of civil and human rights in Puerto Rican/Hispanic/Latin@ communities, the Caribbean, and/or Latin America.

• Final Community Mapping/History Project:  30%  
• Two Response Papers:  30% (15% x 2)
• Seminar Moderator/Facilitator: 10%
• Participation/Attendance: 20%
• Pop Analysis: 10%

Attendance/Participation (20% of Final Grade)

Class starts at 3:40pm and runs until 6:10pm. Two unexcused absences (or more) will affect your grade.  Your participation grade is based on a combination of your attendance and your contributions to the discussions we have in class..

Materials from missed class:
In case of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get materials from other students (please don’t email the professor for missed notes/lecture material).

Communication with Professor:
If you need to communicate with the professor, it should be through email or in person during office hours

Cell Phones
Cell phones and any other electronic devices should be off at all times. Please make arrangements with family members before class so as to not disturb your classmates.

Computers:
Computers or any other electronic devices are NOT allowed during seminar discussion UNLESS it is for a specified reason as discussed with professor (such as disability related or during group work time).

Plagiarism and Cheating

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.

Center for Student Disability Services

In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718- 951-5538. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her. 

If you have a documented disability and need accommodations, please discuss with me in person. I will do everything in my power to provide an inclusive learning environment.

Nonattendance because of religious beliefs

The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs. Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements. Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged for this consideration.

If classes, examinations, or study or work requirements occur on Friday after 4 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work requirements will be made available on other days, where possible and practical. The faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to students availing themselves of this regulation. If students have complaints about the application of this policy, they are entitled to bring action or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of Kings County.