Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

ST: South. Paiute Hist&Culture (Face-to-Face)

INDS 4900-01

Course: INDS 4900-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: INDS
CRN: 32501

Course Description

This course examines the history and culture of the Southern Paiute. Students will learn about the history of the Southern Paiute and their ancestral ties to the Colorado plateau and Great Basin. Students will explore their traditions, governance, and cultural beliefs, as well as the impact of westward expansion and Euro-American influence. The course highlights the Southern Paiute’s resilience and enduring cultural legacy.

Required Texts

Posted Readings on Canvas

Learning Outcomes

  • learn about historical events, people, societies, and how they are connected to each other
  • examine the past and how it has shaped the present
  • complete two authentic writing projects through collaborative and archival activities.
  • develop research, critical thinking, and communication skills, particularly through writing.

Course Requirements

There are two instructors for this course. Professor Gillard will teach the course on Tuesdays; Dr. Combs will teach the course on Thursdays.  As part of this course, students will attend cultural events, visit museums and locations of cultural significance, and learn from Southern Paiute Knowledge Keepers. In the event a student cannot attend some activities that may fall outside of our scheduled class time, other activities/assignments can substitute.  

Requirements: To pass this course you must complete the reading responses, lead one class discussion, complete a collaborative/community partner project, and write a final research paper.  You are expected to complete assignments on time, attend all class meetings and participate actively in guest lectures, peer reviews, and cultural events.  You are expected to attend the planned excursions.  If you cannot attend those activities, other approved activities/work can be completed. 

Grade Breakdown (There are 100 points total for the course, each percent is 1 point)
  • Weekly Reading & Response Assignments (30%)
  • Lead ONE classroom discussion (10%)
  • Final Written Project (Student Choice) 20%
  • Collaborative/community Partner Project (Student Choice/Instructors approve) 20%
  • Participation 20%
Calculating Grades
Grades will be determined on a percentage basis. Major assignments will be graded on the standard letter-grade scale with plusses and minuses. Your overall grade and project grades are based on the following percentages:
A = 100 – 94 % | A- = 93 – 90 % | B+ = 89 – 88 % | B = 87 – 83 % | B- = 82 – 80 %
C+ = 79 – 78 % | C = 77 – 72 % | C- = 71 – 70 % | D+ = 69 – 68 % | D = 67 – 62 %
D- = 61 – 60 % | F = 0 %

Course Outline

INDS 4900 Class Calendar This calendar is subject to change, based on the needs of the class. Items listed on the calendar are due at the beginning of class. For example, everything listed as “due” on Sept 6 is due at the beginning of class on Sept 9.

Subject to modification based on availability of Southern Paiute Knowledge Keepers

DateClass DiscussionAssignments Due
Week 1ThurAug 28Course introduction / Review of rhetoric
Week 2TueSept 2Cultural Awareness IntroctionRead: Rhetorical listening Response
Week 2ThurSept 4Cultural Awareness ContinuedDue: Reading Response 1
Week 3TueSept 9Rhetorical listening: the community project
Week 3ThurSept 11Pre-contact HistoryDue: Reading Response 2
Week 4TueSept 16Exploring potential projects
Week 4ThurSept 18Excursion to Frontier Museum (during class)Due: Reading Response 3
Week 5TueSept 23Excursion to Kanab (Wed Sept 24) Pipe Springs museumDue: Proposal for cultural project
Week 5ThurSept 25Museum ConferenceDue: Reading Response 4
Week 6TueSept 30Turn of the century Paiute History
Week 6ThurOct 2Palmer Collect at SUUDue: Reading Response 5
Week 7TueOct 7Special Collections at SUU (Autumn gone)
Week 7ThurOct 9MidtermMidterm /
Week 8TueOct 14Fall Break No ClassFall Break No Class
Week 8ThurOct 16Southern Paiute Bands/Language
Week 9TueOct 21Guest: Karma GraymanDue: Cultural Project presentation
Week 9ThurOct 23Excursion to Lion’s Mouth (during class)Due: Reading Response 6
Week 10TueOct 28Due: Proposal for major paper
Week 10ThurOct 30Due: Reading Response 7
Week 11TueNov 4Freemont State Park / CirclevilleDue: References list for major paper
Week 11ThurNov 6No classDue: Reading response 8
Week 12TueNov 11Cultural LandscapesDue: Article reviews for five sources
Week 12ThurNov 13Fall Gathering (PITU) on FridayDue: Reading response 9
Week 13TueNov 18Eleanor Tom visit (Boarding schools)Due: Narrative sketch of major paper
Week 13ThurNov 20Due: Draft of paper
Week 14TueNov 25Thanksgiving BreakThanksgiving Break
Week 14ThurNov 27Thanksgiving BreakThanksgiving Break
Week 15TueDec 2Terminatoin and restablishmentDue: Reading Response 10
Week 15ThurDec 4Shane Parashonts visit to classDue: Peer Reviews of Final Project
Final ExamDue: Final Project
Due: Cultural Project

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Rude and Disruptive Behavior

Rude and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in this class. Southern Utah University students are governed by the Student Responsibilities and Rights section of University Policy (5.46). All students are expected to demonstrate “conduct that respects the rights and interest of others in common endeavor...Students who violate expected standards of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action.” Inappropriate use of electronic devices during class time constitutes rude and disruptive behavior.

Attendance Policy

Attendance: This course will require a high degree of participation. We are working with people who are sacrificing their time and knowledge. Active, rhetorical listening and responding during guest visits and cultural events will be expected. Also, we have three required out-of-class activities. Please let me know if you cannot attend these events. Alternative assignments can be devised, but participation in these events is highly encouraged.
As part of this course, students will attend cultural events, visit museums and locations of cultural significance, and learn from Southern Paiute Knowledge Keepers. In the event a student cannot attend some activities that may fall outside of our scheduled class time, other activities/assignments can substitute.
You are expected to attend all class meetings and participate actively in guest lectures, peer reviews, and cultural events. You are expected to attend the planned excursions. If you cannot attend those activities, other approved activities/work can be completed.

Course Fees

No additional fees are required

Writing Center

The SUU Undergraduate Writing Center invites all students to the writing center in Braithwaite Center 101 where qualified peer tutors are ready to help with any stage of the writing process. Fall hours start September 3, M-Th 8-9 pm, F 8-5, and Saturday 11am-3 pm. All appointments are free, and both in-person and zoom appointments are available. To schedule, visit our website: .

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.