Zeigler: Fall 2012 COURSE SYLLABUS Biology 1000

Week Beginning                                                                                                                                           Text Pages

COURSE INFORMATION & POLICIES FOR BIOLOGY 1000-Fall 2009:

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: An introduction to modern and classical biological concepts. Credit, 3semester hours.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students successfully completing this course should be able to demonstrate knowledge or understanding in several key areas: 1) the fundamental concepts of cellular biology, genetics, ecology, and evolution, 2) the purpose, methods, and principles of scientific inquiry, 3) a understanding of humans and our world, and 4) the effects of technology on the physical and human environment.

REQUIRED TEXT: BIOLOGY: Concepts & Connections, 7th edition, by Campbell, Reese, Simon & Dickey .

EXAMS: There will be 5 lecture exams plus a comprehensive final. The lowest of the first 5 exam grades will be dropped. If you should miss one of these first 5 exams for any reason whatever, that will become your dropped exam grade of zero. No make-up exams will be given for any reason. The four remaining exams, along with the final, each count 20% of the course. The lecture exams will be mostly multiple choice, matching, and fill in the blank. These grades alone will determine your course grade, except in the case of excess absences (see below) where your grade will be reduced accordingly. Individual extra credit of any kind does not exist in this course.

GRADING: Final grade assignments will be made according to the following system.
      There will be no curves on individual exams or on the final course averages.
          The last day to withdraw from the course with a "W" is ____________.                  

There are no A+, F+, or F- grades. Other + and - grades will break out as in this example:

My web site (above) includes my list of tips for success in university coursework. You might benefit greatly from some of the ideas listed there.

Attendance: I of course expect attendance at every class meeting (both lecture & lab). If you are a responsible adult who cares about your education, you will strive for perfect attendance. I will not take attendance, nor will you be either rewarded or punished for your attendance habits. Missed class notes (except handouts) will not be obtained from me.

Behavior: I expect you to be aware of the contents of the Academic Honor Code, found in Section IV. Rights and Responsibilites of the Student Handbook (online and hardcopy), and its wording on cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and the Code of Conduct. I especially stress that you should be in class to take notes, ask questions, give input when it is pertinent, and to give your attention to what is being presented in the class. Any continued/repetitive form of disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. You need to be respectful of the material presented and of your fellow students who have come to learn the material. As laid out in the Student Handbook under Code of Conduct (items 15 & 17), disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Should disruptive behavior become excessive, you will be asked to leave the classroom, and you must seek permission from me before reentering the class on the next class day. Continued problem behavior will be reported to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and you may be administratively withdrawn from the class. There will be no eating in either lectures or lab. Drinks will be tolerated if you are careful and clean up any spilled liquid.

Closing Hotline: The school does at times cancel classes for all or part of a day, usually due to bad weather. To find out if classes are running as usual, call the University Hotline at: (910) 521-6888.

EMAIL: If you should email me concerning the course, please make your subject start with BIO 1000, otherwise I may delete it without opening it--due to the many virus-containing emails that have cropped up lately.

TUTORING & ACADEMIC AID: Tutoring for this course is usually available through the Student Support Services Office in the Lowery Building. They also offer a wide variety of help with study skills, note-taking, time managment, stress, etc. Contact the TRIO office in the A & B suites of Jacobs Hall. Tutoring is also available in the Center for Academic Excellence--contact Courtney Walters at 910-775-4408.

CHEATING: Cheating on any exam will result in an exam grade of 0 !!

CELL PHONES: No professor appreciates cell phones ringing in class. Please turn them off or to vibration mode while in class. Off is preferable, unless you are expecting a real emergency call.

CLASS VISITORS: Please check with me beforehand if you have someone with you who you want to sit in on the class session (especially so in the case of children).

DISABILITY: Any student with a documented learning, physical, chronic health, psychological, visual, or hearing disability needing academic adjustments is required to speak directly to Disablility Support Services and the instructor as early as possible, preferably within the 1st week. All discussions will remain confidential. This syllabus is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact: Disability Support Services, DF Lowery Building 103 or call 521-6695.