Home and Syllabus

A downloadable copy of the syllabus is being created and will be added to the website.

I’d love to learn how and if you’re using this Open Educational Resource! You can send me an email gcolonlopez[at]gradcenter.cuny.edu to send me a note about your experience using this website. I look forward to comments, questions and feedback as this information is useful for upcoming semesters and my own professional portfolio.

Instructor: Colón López

Semester: Spring 2023

Course Number: PRLS 1001
Course Name: Introduction to Puerto Rican & Latin@ Studies
Course Website: https://prls1001colonlopez.commons.gc.cuny.edu/

Survey and theoretical foundations in Puerto Rican and Latin@ studies. Case study on Puerto Rico. Pertinent themes in Puerto Rican and Latin@ history, culture, literature, contemporary society, and politics. Impact of the United States’ economic policies on Puerto Rico and the causes of Puerto Rican and Latin@ migration to New York city and urban centers. Satisfies Pathways Flexible Core U.S. Experience in its Diversity requirement.

  • Identify the inter-/multi-disciplinary foundations and theoretical frameworks in the fields of Puerto Rican and Latinx Studies, Caribbean Studies, and/or Latin American Studies.
  • Design a plan of action, research project, or creative work focusing on advocacy and leadership involving issues of equity and social justice vis a vis Puerto Rican/Latinx communities, the Caribbean and/or Latin America, inclusive of Afro-Latinx and indigenous populations pertaining thereto.

  • We use Open Access materials and make use of the Brooklyn College Library resources.
  • Students are not expected to purchase any articles or journal memberships to access course content.
  • All course readings & podcasts can be accessed on this very website you are on, the PRLS 1001 OER URL: https://prls1001colonlopez.commons.gc.cuny.edu/
  • And through Blackboard (BB) URL https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/ under “Course Materials.”

A: 93% and above
A-: 90 – 92.99%
B+: 87 – 89.99%
B: 83 – 86.99%
B-: 80 – 82.99%
C+: 77 – 79.99%
C: 73 – 76.99%
C-: 70 – 72.99%
D: 60 – 69.99%
F: Below 60%

Active Class Participation

Attendance is important because of course discussions; please communicate with the professor should you need to discuss this further. If the professor needs to be absent, they will notify students via e-mail, please make sure your Blackboard email is up to date!

Students are encouraged and expected to have questions, reactions and comments about course readings, current affairs, and other course related materials for lecture-sessions. Quizzes may be introduced as assessments throughout the semester and will count towards participation.

Our course-room is both a SAFE and BRAVE space respectful and supportive of each other’s experiences, culture, religion, abilities, appearance, language(s), nationalities, immigration journey, and identities.

Recording of course sessions is not permitted.

This semester we will engage the use of Digital Tools to expand our learning. We will be using digital archives, photography & digital mapping, that will allow us to create visual data representing what you’ve learned. Students do not have to sign up for an account and there is no financial cost to students for the use of digital tools in this course. For security reasons, all map links will be posted on our Blackboard site.

CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY PROJECT (15%)
We will use the CUNY Digital History Archive website to learn more about CUNY & PRLS History. Students will conduct research with the archival materials available through https://cdha.cuny.edu and will create short presentations to share with peers.

REFLECTION-REACTION PORTFOLIO
This assignment is designed to be an expression related to one or more of the readings/materials from the semester. The paper is expected to be approximately 5 pages in length (double-spaced, 12pt font). You will build on this throughout the course. You may choose any of the topics, and/or readings/materials listed in the course description to support your reflection.

The purpose of this assignment is for you to discuss how you have critically assessed topics, readings, and/or content in relation to your experiences. These are NOT summaries of the readings/content. I am interested in learning how you interacted, interpreted and/or related (or not) to the material(s)/content and how this has developed over the semester. Please include a direct (quoted) reference to an excerpt from the readings that directly relates to your reaction/reflection.

Please refer to the BC Library Citation Guide website (https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/cite) or the Purdue Online Writing Lab (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html) for a guide on how to properly cite your work. Opportunities to revise your work will be offered and we will discuss the details of this portfolio further during the first two weeks of the semester.

MIDTERM PROJECT
We will build on this project further during the first month of the course. Please refer to the second bullet in the “Course Learning Outcomes” section above for the framework of this project. This project requires research and an annotated bibliography, we will go over how to do this with BC & local library resources.

FINAL: DIGITAL RESEARCH PROJECT
The purpose of the digital project is to reveal new information relating to our course using photography and/or digital mapping (or other digital tool of your choice) to visually represent diaspora formations of Puerto Rican and Latino/a/x/e peoples, cultures and histories. Each student will be responsible for creating digital content related to course materials/topics/themes. Students should also prepare a brief oral/aural presentation for the end of the semester. Further details will be shared during course sessions.

Language borrowed from Prof. J. Entin: We will do our best to accommodate all of our levels of comfort, hesitations, precautions and re/entry to in-person learning as a course community. We will discuss any in-person meetings together on zoom to make sure we find a collective solution with everyone’s physical, mental, emotional and medical health and well-being as a priority.  

  • Physical distancing Course-session: At present, the college does not have a social distancing policy in the classroom space, but it is important to protect each other’s health.
  • Basic Information: Critical information about the College’s COVID policy is available on the “Returning Safely Together” website. Returning Safely Together information is also available at the top of the BC Navigator app.
  • Masking: Masks are no longer required on campus. Due to the low levels of COVID-19 in New York City, CUNY has lifted its temporary mask mandate. Anyone who would like to continue wearing masks in any setting is welcome to do so at any time. Masks will continue to be available on campus and offices.
    While the CDC is not requiring people to wear a mask in communities that have low or medium COVID-19 levels, faculty, staff and students who are still not vaccinated, or those who have been or will be granted a medical exemption or religious exception, are urged to continue to wear a mask.
    Mask requirements associated with isolation and quarantine as referenced later in these guidelines remain in effect. Individuals cleared to return to campus after a shortened isolation period are recommended to wear a well-fitted mask while on campus. A well-fitted mask should also be worn for 10 days from the date of last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
  • Vaccination: As you know, all students attending in-person classes are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted, unless you have a medical or religious exemption (roughly 200 out of approximately 15,000 students on the BC campus have exemptions). Here is the CUNY student guide for vaccination.

Accessibility & Disability

The Center for Student Disability Services is working remotely at this time.  Please email them at testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu for assistance.

Students should inform the professor if they have a disability or any other situation that may require Section 504/ADA accommodations.  The faculty and staff will attempt to work out whatever arrangements are necessary.

Please provide me with your course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with me as soon as possible to ensure accommodations are met in a timely fashion.

In order to receive academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or who suspect that they might have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell or the Assistant Director, Josephine Patterson or their general email testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Plagiarism & Cheating

Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards.

Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the “…test, examination, term paper or other assignment on which cheating occurred” (Faculty Council, May 18, 1954).

In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection (Adopted by Policy Council, May 8, 1991).

NOTE: If you have a question about how to cite correctly ask your teacher BEFORE submitting your work.

  • 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.
  • View complete text of CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation.
  • 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.
  • Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.

Bereavement Leave

Bereavement Policy

  • Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). Contact Email: studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu
  • Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
  •  As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
  • Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
  • Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Bereavement Procedure

  • Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused absence.
  • Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
  • The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student’s faculty and academic staff of the student’s courses.
  • Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
  • Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus.
  • Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure

  • Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
  • The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
  • Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college.
  • Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
  • Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
  • Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
  •  Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.

Religious Accommodations

  • 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