Course Syllabus

BUS 220, Legal Environment of Business

Syllabus

Fall 2026 

Course Information

Class Days/Times: Monday and Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:15 PM.

Credit Hours: 3

Mode of Delivery: Virtual only.

Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82674532851

Instructor Information

Name: Wendi Cline

Phone/Voice Mail: 520-977-7325

E-mail: wcline@tocc.edu

Office hours: Monday – Thursday, 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM

ZOOM LINK FOR OFFICE HOURS ONLY: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83354213000

Course Description

Introduces the legal, ethical, and international environment of business. Includes an introduction to law, ethics and corporate responsibility, judicial system and litigation, alternative dispute resolution, administrative agencies, crimes and torts, contract law, product liability, international business law, agency law, and legal forms of business enterprises.

 Course Learning Outcomes

1. Identify core themes of business, such as ethics, entrepreneurship, customer service, global business, and managing change.
2. Analyze the structure of American business, emphasizing the forms of business ownership, entrepreneurship, small business operations, business financing, and total quality management.
3. Identify trends that are shaping business, microeconomic, and macroeconomic that are shaping the business arena.
4. Describe the principles of marketing management including customer satisfaction, product and pricing strategies, distribution strategy, and promotion strategy.

 Course Structure

 This course will be conducted virtually. You must notify me via email if you need to miss a class.  This will be done before the scheduled class meeting you are going to miss.  (or as soon as possible thereafter if it is an emergency situation) Attendance will be taken each class period.  It will be factored into your final grade.

 Course Learning Materials and Textbook Information

Fundamentals of Business Law.  This is a free, on line source.  It will be available through our Canvas materials.

Important Dates

2025 Fall Admissions Deadline:                      August 7, 2026

 First Day of Instruction:                                  August 17, 2026

 Registration (to add) Deadline:                     August 21, 2026

Drop/Full Refund Deadline                              August 31, 2026

Labor Day – College Closed                             September 7, 2026

Fall 2026 Graduation Application Due          September 11, 2026

O’odham Tas - College Closed                        September 25, 2026

Fall Break – No Classes                                     September 28 – October 2, 2026

45th Day Census                                              September 30, 2026

St. Francis Day – College Closed                     October 5, 2026                                                                                                           

2027 Spring Registration begins                      October 19, 2026

Withdrawal Deadline                                        November 2, 2026

Veteran’s Day – College Closed                        November 11, 2026

Thanksgiving/Native American

Heritage Day – College Closed                          November 26-27, 2026

Last Day of Instruction                                       December 11, 2026

Winter Break – College Closed                          Dec. 25, 2026 – January 1, 2027

 

Courses Outline and Schedule of Activities

 

Week	Date	Topic(s)	Reading(s)	Assignment(s)
1	08/17	Housekeeping items Chapt. 1: Introduction to Law and Types of Legal Systems Chapt: 2: The United States Court System	Chapt. 1 Chapt. 2	None
2	08/24	Chpt. 3: Litigation Chpt. 4: Alternative Dispute Resolution	Chapt. 3 Chpt. 4	Chpt. 3 Quiz Chapt. 4 Quiz
3	08/31	Chapt. 5: The Constitution Chapt. 7: Administrative Law	Chpt. 5 Chpt. 7	Chpt. 5 Writing Assignment Chpt. 7 Quiz
4	09/07	09/07: Labor Day.  No class Chapt. 8: Criminal Law Chpt. 9: Torts	Chpt. 8 Chpt. 9	Chpt. 8 Quiz Chpt. 9 Writing Assignment
5	09/14	Chpt. 10: Contracts	Chpt. 10	Chpt. 10 Quiz
6	09/21	09/25: O’dham Tas. College Closed Chpt. 11: Sales Contracts	Chpt. 11	Chpt. 11 Quiz
7	09/28	FALL BREAK
8	10/05	10/05: St. Francis Day. College is Closed Chpt. 12: Writing Contracts	Chpt. 12	Chpt. 12 Writing Assignment
9	10/12	Chapt. 13: Employment Law	Chpt. 13	Chpt. 13 Quiz
10	10/19	Chapt. 14: Anti-Discrimination Law	Chpt. 14	Chpt. 14 Quiz
11	10/26	Chpt. 15: Agency	Chapt. 15	Chpt. 15 Writing Assignment
12	11/02	Chpt. 16: Business Organizations	Chpt. 16	Chpt. 16 Quiz
13	11/09	11/11: Veteran’s Day. College is closed. Chpt. 17: Partnerships	Chpt. 17	Chpt. 17 Quiz
14	11/16	Chapt. 18: Corporations	Chpt. 18	Chpt. 18 Writing Assignment
15	11/23	11/26-27: Thanksgiving Break. College closed. Chapt. 20 Consumer Law	Chpt. 13	Chpt. 20 Quiz
16	11/30	Chpt. 21: Workplace Privacy and Information Security	Chpt. 21	Chpt. 21 Quiz
17	12/07	FINALS WEEK

 

DISCLAIMER: This syllabus is designed to evolve and change throughout the semester based on class progress and interests.  You will be notified of any changes as they occur.

Grading Scheme:

90 and above is an A                    

80 - 89 is a B

70 - 79 is a C

60 - 69 is a D

Under 60 is Failing

Your grade will be determined by the following:

 

You will be graded on:	Total Assignment	Points Each	Total Points
Attendance/Participation	-	-	100
Chapter Quizzes	12	10	120
Chapter Writing Assignments	5	20	100
Final			100
TOTAL			320

Himdag Cultural Component 

Students are encouraged to explore and apply the Himdag in their professional lives.  The application of T – So : son is a necessary requirement to be a successful supervisor and manager.

 Policies and Expectations

• As a college student, your instructors expect the following from you:
  • Log into your Canvas shell and do the first activity during the first week of classes. Failure to do so may result in you being withdrawn from the course.
  • Arrive to class on time and be prepared to participate in each class period.
  • Be physically and mentally present. Four unexcused absences may result in a withdrawal.
  • Immediately notify the instructor if you will be absent from class for religious observances and practices, for illness, for school or work-related travel or for personal or family emergency.
  • Be prepared to provide evidence to justify your absences.

Attendance Policy

• Log into your Canvas shell and do the first activity during the first week of classes. Failure to do so may result in you being withdrawn from the course.
• Complete all learning activities, participation in class, assignments and quizzes by the due dates listed in the course syllabus.
• Be mentally present. Because this is an asynchronous class, your attendance is represented by the assignments submitted on time. Four unexcused absences (or four missed assignments) may result in a withdrawal.
• Immediately notify the instructor if you will be unable to log into the course for religious observances and practices, for illness, for school or work-related travel or for personal or family emergency.
• Be prepared to provide evidence to justify your absences.

No cell phone use is allowed during class. Use of cell phones during class, unless permitted by your instructor, is a violation of the T-So:son. Also, it is prohibited to attend a Zoom class using a cell phone while driving. Please park your car by the side of the road so you can attend class.

Make-up policy:

  There will be a ten per cent reduction in grade.  Consideration will be given to students who experienced extenuating circumstances. This will be considered on a case by case basis.

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity refers to honest and ethical conduct in all aspects of academic life. The primary attributes of academic integrity are honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, and responsibility. Some violations to the Academic Integrity policy are:

• Plagiarism (copying and pasting from the web or from previous work created for a different course)
• Cheating (copying or presenting work as yours when you did not create it)
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), if prohibited by the faculty, and/or without disclosure of its use.
• That you work in groups or pairs, it does not mean that all of you will have exactly the same work.
• Falsification or fabrication of results or records.
• Allowing others to use and submit your work as theirs

All forms of academic deceit constitute academic misconduct that may result in serious disciplinary consequences. All students and faculty members are responsible for reporting suspected instances of academic misconduct.  Find the complete Academic Integrity Policy in the Academic Catalog.

 Course Feedback:

All assignments will be graded and returned to you promptly, typically within a week after the assignment is closed.  E-mail and phone messages will be returned within two days.  You or the instructor may request a conference at any time during the semester. You can agree to meet with your instructor during established Office Hours.

 Incomplete Policy

Incomplete (I) grades are not awarded automatically. You must request an "I" from the instructor. The instructor can award an Incomplete only if all three of the following conditions are met:

1. You are in compliance with the attendance policy (you have attended class regularly).
2. You had unavoidable circumstance that prohibited you from completing the course (life happened).
3. You have completed over 75% of the course requirements with at least a “C” grade.

Incompletes are not a substitute for incomplete work due to frequent absences or poor academic performance. You and the instructor will complete an Incomplete Contract stating what is missing for you to complete. You and the instructor will sign the contract. If the work stated in the contract is not completed by the end of the ninth week of the following semester, the grade will be automatically changed to an F.

What happens if I cannot continue in the enrolled class?

If you cannot continue in the enrolled class, or if you feel that you need more preparation to take this class, you can withdraw from the class. The fact that you stop attending class does not mean that you withdrew from the class. There are several ways to withdraw at different times of the semester with different consequences:

1. Withdrawals within First Two Weeks of Semester. If you do not want the course to show in your transcript, you need to withdraw before the Drop/Full Refund deadline of the semester (refer to the Academic Calendar). Your instructor can also withdraw you during this time for the following reasons: you have not logged into Canvas; you have not submitted any work; and/or you have not attended class (for virtual and/or in-person classes). Refer to the Academic Catalog for the entire policy. Immediately contact your advisor if you believe you have been unjustly withdrawn from a class!
   
   
2. Withdrawal during the Semester up to the Withdrawal Deadline. TOCC Attendance Policy states that “Four unexcused absences may result in a withdrawal…” If you or your instructor withdraw you from the class the day after the Drop/Full Refund Deadline, the course will show a W in your transcripts. The last day to withdraw from the semester is  Monday, November 2^nd.  Remember that the result of this withdrawal is a W in your transcript. Faculty may withdraw you from a course due to:
   1. Lack of active participation in the enrolled class.
   2. Missing four (4) consecutive course due dates for learning activities, participation, assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. (for online asynchronous classes)
   3. Being absent from the class four times (synchronous and in-person classes)
   4. If you need to stop attending a course, you must withdraw from the course. Failure to withdraw from the course will result in a failing grade (F).

 Student Withdrawal Policy “W”

If you would rather withdraw without telling your instructor, you can do it yourself by contacting Admissions and completing a Registration Transaction Form (RTF). You may withdraw from class at any time during the first two-thirds of the semester without instructor permission and without incurring any grade penalty, although a withdrawal may have Financial Aid consequences. Consult the Academic Catalog for more information.  Please be sure to withdraw yourself by Monday, November 2^nd. If you do not expect to complete the class, otherwise you may receive an "F" letter grade for the course. For more information on the student withdrawal process, email admissions@tocc.edu.

 Equal Access Statement/Disability Accommodations

Tohono O’odham Community College seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. The College will comply with all applicable regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to ensure an equal educational opportunity. The process to receive accommodations is:

1. You self-identify as a student with a disability by contacting the Disability Resource Office.
2. Provide supporting documentation of your disability
3. You can receive accommodations only if you are approved for services through the Disability Resources Office (DRO).
4. It is your responsibility to make known to the Counselor or Disability Resource Coordinator your specific needs within the context of each class in order to receive appropriate accommodations.
5. You will work with the Counselor to develop an accommodation plan specifically designed to meet your needs and requirements. Please note that the instructor is obligated to provide accommodations only when receiving notification from the DRO.

For more information or to request academic accommodations, please contact: Anthony Osborn, TOCC Disabilities Resource Coordinator, aosborn@tocc.edu for additional information and assistance.

Title IX   

Tohono O'odham Community College encourages each student to have the knowledge and skills to be an active bystander who intervenes when anyone is observed or being harassed or endangered by sexual violence.  Sexual discrimination and sexual violence can undermine students’ academic success and quality of life on campus and beyond. We encourage students who have experienced or witnessed any form of sexual misconduct to talk about their experience and seek the support they need.

Confidential support and academic advocacy can be found with: Student Services Title IX Coordinator located in I-We:mta Ki:.  

Conduct: Bias, Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment

Tohono O’odham Community College faculty and staff are dedicated to creating a safe and supportive campus environment as a core value.  Harassment based on age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and tribal sovereign status will not be tolerated.

 This course has a generative AI policy because I believe in the value of your active participation in the learning process. By prohibiting the use of generative AI, I aim to ensure that you fully immerse yourself in critical thinking, research, and original content creation.

• It is important to understand that generative AIs, while powerful, is often susceptible to inaccuracies and bias in the information it produces. AI systems can generate content that is factually incorrect or lacks context. As a result, I want you to avoid relying on AI-generated content, and instead, engage with the course material by presenting your original ideas and insights.
• If there is a concern about a student’s use of AI in this course, I will conduct a thorough investigation to understand the situation. Adhering to the course policies regarding AI is crucial to maintain fairness and equality for everyone in the learning environment.

 Flexible statement/philosophy/policy

 It is essential for students to be open and honest about their use of AI in assignments. My goal is to help students understand the importance of academic integrity and the responsible use of AI. Adhering to the course policies regarding AI is crucial to maintain fairness and equality for everyone in the learning environment.

How students disclose the use of generative AI:

              ‘Generative AI Disclosure’; - Make sure to link the chat history

 Generative AI Disclosure: This assignment was supported by the use of the AI platform,

ChatGPT. Specifically, I used GPT 3.5 to assist in the title creation (link here), although the

final title was modified slightly. I also used ChatGPT to give me grammar feedback (link

here). I implemented the chatbot’s recommendations.

 How to Reference AI using APA format:

 Reference

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (July 30 version) [Large language model].

https://chat.openai.com/chat

Parenthetical Citation: (OpenAI, 2023)

*This citation includes the name of the organization (OpenAI), the year of publication (2023), the specific name of the model (ChatGPT), the version date (July 30), and the type of model in square brackets (Large language model). Additionally, the citation provides the URL where the model can be accessed.

 Example of an AI Disclosure:

Claude.AI & ChatGPT

AI disclosure: This guide was written with the help of Claude.AI and ChatGPT AI, generative AI platforms. Claude was used to generate an idea to this generative AI policy outline, and the human author edited and modified the provided outline. ChatGPT was used to edit the policy outline. Claude provided the first draft of the example policy language, which was reviewed and edited by the human author