BUS-211 - Business Law - Gary Collis

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 course 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 the course 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 that 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 about 10 hours a week to it. 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 most updated version of Google Chrome whenever necessary to complete a required task. Also, students should have access on their computers to any applications that their computer systems require to view PDF documents and to watch and listen to video and audio content. Exams in this course must be completed using "Lockdown Browser," which is a specialized browser that limits a student's ability to print, cut and paste, and visit websites while an exam is running. Lockdown Browser must be installed on the device that a student uses to complete an exam, which must be a Windows or Mac computer, a Chromebook, or an iPad. The Lockdown Browser will not operate on a smartphone nor on tablets apart from iPads, and, therefore, exams may not be completed on those kinds of devices.      

Types of Assessments

Assessments in this class may consist of online discussions, video lectures with embedded questions, digital homework, and exams/quizzes. Please be aware that students must download, install, and use "Lockdown Browser," a specialized web browser designed to protect testing integrity, on the computing device that they use to complete exams. Since Lockdown Browser may only be installed on a Windows or Mac computer, a Chromebook, or an iPad, those are the only devices that students may use to complete exams in the class. See more information about Lockdown Browser below.   

Textbook Information

The textbook is titled Roger LeRoy Miller, Business Law Today: Comprehensive Edition Text and Cases (14th 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, through 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 will likely get the best price by purchasing the materials directly from Cengage through the link I have placed in the Canvas course, but you can also buy them from COC's bookstore.  

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.  

Lockdown Browser: In addition, I will use Lockdown Browser in this class during online exams. Lockdown Browser is a specialized web browser that students must download onto to the device that use to complete an exam. Lockdown Browser protects the integrity of the online testing environment by preventing students from printing, cutting and pasting, and navigating to websites during an exam. Lockdown Browser may only be used on Windows or Mac computers, Chromebooks, and iPads and, therefore, all exams must be completed on one of those devices. Exams cannot be completed on smartphones or tablets apart from iPads. Lockdown Browser is installed on computers available for student use at the Tutoring & Learning Center (TLC) and students may complete exams on one of those computers too. I strongly encourage all students considering enrolling in my class to watch a video about how Lockdown Browser works. Note that I will not use Respondus Monitor, which is a companion product to Lockdown Browser, and, therefore, students will not be required to complete exams in front of a web camera.    

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 than 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: 07/15/2026 Sub#: 842 Sub ID: 104492