200820 Term VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Fundamentals of Biology I CRN 25803 Section E15 - BSC 1010C 4 Credit hours Instructor: Dr. Jaime S. Solorzano Lab: Monday 10:00am - 12:45 pm. Contact by email (ATLAS) Only. EC-008 Room: 219 E-mail: [e-mail] Lecture: T-T 12:00pm 1:15pm Valencia East Campus EC-008 Dates: 01/7/2008 04/28/2007 Room:1215
TEXTS Required:
1. Campbell, N.A. et al. 2007, Biology, 7th edition, Benjamin Cummings. 2. Fundamentals of Biology I, Symbiosis Lab Manual, Benjamin Cummings.
COURSE DESCRIPTION BSC1010C is a biology course with a laboratory. It is the first of two courses to meet first year requirements for biology and other specific majors in the state of Florida. BSC1010C is not a general studies course by design although you can apply credit in this course to general studies but much more appropriate courses exist for students pursuing general studies credit. We will cover some critical and unifying concepts of biology such as: Cell structure and function, cellular and organism biochemistry, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, cellular and organism reproduction, and genetics to include inheritance and molecular aspects. Lab is a collaborative, `hands-on' endeavor, however, you are individually responsible to know and be able to perform each lab. Labs are evaluated based on your individual aptitude and performance. This class is four credits, one grade. General Competencies and Guidelines: This course is designed to provide a foundation of biological understanding, foster development of your learning skills, and embrace the Valencia Community College competencies: THINK, VALUE, ACT, and COMMUNICATE. Policies and regulations of the college will be applied in the classroom. For more information on Valencia competencies go to http://valenciacc.edu/pdf/studenthandbook.pdf. For student polices and guidance obtain a Valencia Student Handbook or view it online http://valenciacc.edu/pdf/studenthandbook.pdf Course Schedules & Dates Please make a note of the dates that credit classes will not be held as you prepare your schedule: 01/21/2008 NO LABS THIS WEEK MLK HOLIDAY
03/31/2008 - 04/03/2008 SPRING BREAK
ATTENDANCE and CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: PLEASE NOTE THESE ITEMS! 1. Students are expected to read the lab exercises and text before coming to class! 2. Attendance is expected at all scheduled class meetings. Excessive absences will affect your final grade. Students who have 1 or more absences in lab may be dropped from the course. Students absent from lecture 2 or more times may be dropped from the class. 3. Out of courtesy to the other students and the instructor, students are required to turn off all cell phones and pagers before class begins. 4. 5. There are no make-up tests or Homework during the regular semester.
6. Students may not leave the classroom for the following reasons: a) To answer their cell phone-don't come back-I find it extremely rude and inconsiderate. b) During a test or quiz until the student is finished, c) Until the test/quiz is finished. d) Until dismissed from the lab for the day. 7. Disruption of the learning environment. Students have paid to listen to the professor, not their neighboring students. The first time I will give you a warning to be quiet. The second time you will be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the period. The third time you are removed from the course. MAKE-UP POLICY: There will be no makeup exams, homework, quizzes or finals (lab or lecture) Unless there is a serious circumstance that prevents you from attending class, please notify your instructor as soon as possible by email. Emergency absences include but are not limited to the following: serious illness/injury of the student or immediate family member, traumatic emotional experience involving student or immediate family member, and others as determined by the instructor. Student must have on writing proved of the incident (medical note, traffic violation, judge notation etc.); documents will be evaluated at the instructor's discretion for further evaluation. EVALUATION PROCESS Your grade will be based upon: 4 Lecture exams, and 1 final exam during final period, a lab practical exam, quizzes (on lecture or lab), lab write-ups, items from your lab book, homework(articles, Key Terms) and participation . Any work may announced be in class without previous or follow-up notification. Note that this makes attendance important to know what is going on, what is due, what is coming up, and so on. Points towards your course grade are indicated below. All grading is objective and fairly applied to all students. To contest a grade, you must give a written statement requesting which items to re-grade and your grievances. The entire item will then be re-graded. Grades will be assigned based on a straight percentage of the number of points earned out of the number possible. (Please review the Lecture & Lab Schedule document posted in Atlas for further information about the evaluation process) Any student who fails to appear for the final examination may be assigned a grade of F. NOTE TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Please schedule a conference with the instructor so that we can arrange assignments or testing to assure your best chance to succeed in this course. In order to receive special arrangements for tests, etc. you must be registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities on campus and present the proper paperwork to the professor as soon as possible after the start of classes.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CLASS Students who withdraw after the withdrawal deadline will be assigned a WP (withdrawn passing) or WF (withdrawn failing). To receive a WP, the student must have satisfactorily completed all assignments due as of the last date of attendance and have an overall average of 60% or higher. Students who simply stop attending class and fail to withdraw will receive a grade of WF (withdrawn failing). Students may withdraw themselves at any time during the semester using their Atlas accounts. STUDENT CONDUCT Valencia Community College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning as well as the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia Community College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of conduct. For further detail, refer to the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia Community College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive. Any student determined by the professor to have been guilty of engaging in an act of academic dishonesty shall be subject to a range of academic penalties as determined by the professor. These penalties may include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following:
Loss of credit for an assignment, examination, or project; Reduction in the course grade; A grade of "F" in the course. For further details, refer to the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook. Plagiarism is not allowed. Do not cut and paste information without giving credit to the original authors or you may fail the course! Caution: Occasionally lab will involve the use of equipment or materials that may be hazardous, particularly if handled incorrectly. You will be instructed how to conduct yourself these days. If you fail to follow instructions and procedures, you assume all personal risks and liabilities. You may be asked to leave if you do not comply with safety guidelines. It is possible too that you will be withdrawn from the course for not complying with lab safety guidelines. Disclaimer: This is an outline of course policies and procedures. The professor may change them. If so, I will inform you by any number of mechanisms such as: an announcement in class, or a written amendment handed out in class. Any changes are your responsibility to know. Consent: I have read and understand this syllabus and by continuing in this course I agree to comply with the professor's policies and procedures to conduct class and I accept the grading procedure. WEEKLY ACTIVITIES & ASSIGNMENTS: (Lecture Topics, Assignments, Tests, Projects etc. for lab.) ***NOTE: The outline on this and the following pages may be altered, at the instructor's discretion, during the course of the semester. Students are responsible for changes announced in class.