BUS-211 - Business Law - Gary Collis
| Course: | Business Law |
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| Professor: | Gary Collis |
| Email: | gary.collis@canyons.edu |
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| Course Length: |
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Introduction
My name is Gary Collis. I will be your professor if you enroll in Business 211. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. I practiced law in Los Angeles for 20 years before joining the COC faculty full time in 2017.
Please watch this short video to learn a little bit about me and this class.
Course Description
This course will introduce you to the legal environment in which business operates in the United States. You will learn about the critical role that law plays in our market economy. We will study constitutional law, torts, business crimes, contracts, business organizations, and other legal topics.
What to Expect in this Course
It’s important that those seeking a career in business have a basic understanding of business-related laws to enable wise decision-making. A large body of law in the United States applies exclusively to business activity. Businesses need these laws to define unacceptable behavior, to provide certainty and stability, to protect the public, and to provide a mechanism for businesses to resolve disputes. This course is designed to make business students - our country's future business managers, owners, employees, and executives - aware of the vast range of legal issues that arise daily in the operation of any business.
This is a three-unit class. This means that, when students take this class in a face-to-face format, they'll spend three hours a week in a classroom. Since this is an asynchronous, online class, however, students will not "attend" class at all. Nevertheless, the workload will remain the same with my video lectures designed to replicate the lectures that students would experience in class. Under the so-called "Carnegie unit" system, faculty can expect students enrolled in a 3-unit class will spend three hours a week in class and an additional 2-3 times that number working outside of class on readings and assignments. Basically, students in this class should expect to devote approximately 10 hours a week to the class. That time calculation is standard in higher education for a three unit class. I did not invent it.
In terms of technology, I expect students will have access to a functioning laptop or desktop computer with a fast and reliable internet connection, a camera for recording video in connection with discussions and assignments, and a microphone. While students may use any web browser that they prefer for most assignments, Canvas, certain websites, and other web-based applications that will be used in this class work best with the most recent release of the Google Chrome browser. Therefore, all students must have the ability to change browsers to the latest version of Google Chrome whenever necessary to complete a required task. Also, students should have access on their computers to any computer applications that their computer systems require to allow for the viewing of PDF documents and watching and listening to video and audio content. I will activate anti-cheating software called Honorlock during exams, as discussed more fully below. Students must use the Google Chrome browser with the Honorlock extension installed on the browser when taking exams.
Types of Assessments
Assessments in this class may consist of online discussions, video lectures with embedded questions, digital homework, and exams/quizzes. Before enrolling in the course, please be aware that I will utilize anti-cheating, virtual exam proctoring software called Honorlock. See more information about Honorlock below.
Textbook Information
The textbook is titled Roger LeRoy Miller, Business Law Today: Comprehensive Edition Text and Cases (13th Edition). In addition to the textbook, we will also use MindTap, our textbook publisher’s online learning platform. MindTap is an engaging website, which we will access through links that I have placed into Canvas, on which you will read the e-book, view videos, perform exercises, and complete graded assignments. You must purchase access to MindTap to pass the course. You may buy the class materials from COC's bookstore, but you may also decide to buy directly from Cengage, the publisher, by clicking a link included in the Canvas course.
Other Relevant Course Information
Canvas: Competency in the use of Canvas, COC's learning management system, is required to succeed in this class. Students will submit all assignments through Canvas. When students contact me for help with Canvas, I will frequently send a link to the Canvas Student Guides to help students identify and overcome technical challenges on their own. Since I am not a computer expert and cannot solve technical problems from a distance, I will also direct students to COC's and Canvas's help desks for detailed assistance.
Honorlock: In addition, I will use "Honorlock" in this class during online exams. Honorlock is virtual proctoring software, provided by COC for faculty use in online classes, that works to protect academic integrity. Honorlock requires that students take exams on a single-monitor desktop or laptop computer using the Google Chrome web browser with the Honorlock extension installed. Students in this class cannot use mobile devices, like phones and tablets, to take exams, but all COC students have free access to desktop computers on both the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses in the libraries, learning centers, and in the ASG computer lab. Honorlock will do things such as disabling "cut and paste" capability, tracking access to unapproved websites during the exam, and much more. I strongly encourage all students considering enrolling in my class to read about how Honorlock works and, in particular, to understand Honorlock's privacy implications. I understand and respect that some students prefer not having their activities digitally monitored while being tested. If that describes you, I urge you to enroll either in a Business Law section offered on campus or an online section an instructor who has decided against using digital proctoring of exams.
More Information About The Course: Before deciding to enroll in this course, I urge you to visit the WEBSITE that I've created for this course to learn a lot more that what I've been able to offer in this Orientation Letter!
Additional Resources
Canvas
This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:
- CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
- CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password
Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.
Online Education
Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.
The Learning Center (TLC)
The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!
Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)
College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.
Online Counseling
The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.
Management of Stress and Mental Health
Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.
Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.
You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.
Veterans Resource Center
The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.
Library
The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!
Last updated: 04/01/2025 Sub#: 842