BIOLOGY 103 (BIO 103): PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I

INSTRUCTOR: Nancy Gilbert

OFFICE: 08 Browder Hall

PHONE: 256-549-8433

EMAIL: ngilbert@gadsdenstate.edu

 CREDIT HOURS: 4 Semester Hours

 WEEKLY CONTACT HOURS: 7

 PREREQUISITES: None

 CO REQUISITES: None

 REQUIRED TEXTS:  BIOLOGY, 6^th edition; Raven and Johnson; McGraw-Hill
                                       Publishing Companies, Inc.

                                       Biology103 Lab Manual, Shirley Colvin & Nancy Gilbert

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course consists of lecture material pertaining to the characteristics of living things, organization, hierarchy of organization, cellular anatomy, cellular physiology, cell division, cellular metabolism, cellular photosynthesis, and genetics.

 ASSIGNMENT OUTLINE

The tentative daily class schedule changes by semester and is provided as a handout to the students.

GRADES AND ASSESSMENT

 TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE = 800

4 unit exams @ 100 points each                      2 laboratory exams @ 100 points each

1 final exam @ 100 points                               laboratory manual & participation @100 points

 ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:

On occasion, the opportunity to earn bonus points may be given in the form of a “pop quiz” or extra
assignments. To participate in these extra activities, the student must be present when the assignment is
made. These activities may not be made up for any reason.

LABORATORY:   300 points possible 

100 points of the total laboratory grade is based upon laboratory participation, technique, neatness, accuracy, and completion of the manual.  The student’s ability, their willingness to follow instructions and efforts are also considered.  Due to the nature of the laboratory in this course, no make-up for lab is possible.  Every effort should be made to be present and attentive for every laboratory and lecture session, since absence could effect the participation portion of the final grade.  The remaining 200 points of the total laboratory grade is based upon two laboratory exam scores.

FINAL GRADE ASSIGNMENT

 The following scale will be used to assign grades based on a total of 800 points possible:

 800 - 720 points = A

 719 - 640 points = B

 639 - 560 points = C

 559 – 360 points = D

 359 points and below = F  

  

SCHOOL POLICIES

 Class Attendance Policy:

Class attendance is considered essential to the educational process.  The College subscribes to the philosophy that academic success is directly proportional to class attendance.  It is important that students regularly and punctually attend all class sessions.  Attendance will be recorded from the first day the class meets through the final exam.

 STUDENT ABSENCES:

Recognizing that situations may arise to prevent a student from attending a class, the College will accommodate occasional absences but recommends that students who attend less than 80% of the scheduled class meetings submit a withdrawal request to the Registrar’s Office according to the Withdrawal Procedures described in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.  Instructors may advise any student with excessive absences to withdraw from the course involved to protect the academic standing of the student.  It is the student’s responsibility to monitor absences and to comply with the instructor’s syllabus concerning make-up work.  Failure to complete make-up assignments or to withdraw when it is clear that the student cannot achieve an acceptable grade in the class may result in a low grade, including possibly an “F” based on grade performance in the course.  Grades will not be raised or lowered based directly on attendance.

*Some programs require a higher percentage of attendance to enable the student to sit for licensure exams.

 

 Tardiness or leaving class early:

Attendance for less than a full class period will be counted as one-half of an absence.

 Make-Up Work:

Make-up work is at the discretion and convenience of the instructor.  Recommended excused absences include accidents, military service, court appearances, illness of the student or an immediate family member or the death of an immediate family member.  Make-up work will be provided for work missed when the student is participating as a representative of the College in a College sponsored activity.  Students will in no way be penalized for work missed when the student is participating as a representative of the College.  Instructors are not obligated to provide make-up work for pop-quizzes or other in-class daily assignments. 

 Appeals Process:

If a student disagrees with the assignment of an unexcused absence, a tardy or denial of permission to make up missed work, an appeal may be made to the Dean of Instructional Services or his designee.  The appeal must be submitted in writing within one week of the incident.

 Policy for ABSENCES FOR APPROVED COLLEGE ACTIVITIES

 Absences for students participating in official college activities that have been approved by the President, Dean of Instructional Services, or the Dean of Student Services are considered official school business and are thereby excluded from and are not affected by the attendance policy.  Faculty must receive  written notification from the activity director/coach/sponsor prior to the absences for approved college activities.   This notification will meet the following guidelines:

 (1.)       Notification must be given to the instructor prior to the absence(s) and include the official name listed on the MS-03 screen; and

(2.)       Notification must state the time frame of the activity including, specifically, the time which the student must leave for the activity and when the student will return to campus.

 Students engaged in approved college activities are to be excused no more than 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the activity or 30 minutes prior to the latest time at which they must leave campus in order to arrive safely at their destination.

 It is the responsibility of each student engaged in approved college activities to make arrangements to complete any missed assignments, exams, etc., at a time convenient for the instructor.

 To the degree possible, students should schedule classes on days and at times which will not be affected by participation in official college activities so as to minimize their absences.

A student participating in approved college activities should make every effort to arrange class responsibilities such as oral reports, speeches, recitals, group presentations, demonstrations, etc., around the schedule of college approved activities so that no hardship is placed on other class members or the instructor.  Instructors are not required to “reteach” classes for students who miss class for approved college activities.

 Since most official college activities are scheduled months ahead of time, the activity director/coach/sponsor may notify instructors at the beginning of the semester of all absences for approved college activities as long as the notification meets the guidelines above.

 INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE POLICY:  If the instructor knows in advance that he will be out, a substitute will be sent if possible.  If arrangements for a substitute cannot be made, students are still expected to remain in the classroom for the entire class period and to read the assignments or work problems related to the course material.  Contrary to the popular collegiate myth, there is no “10 minute rule” whereby students are dismissed if the instructor does not show up within 10 minutes after class is scheduled to start.

 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:  Gadsden State, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, will make every reasonable accommodation for students with special learning needs, including hearing impaired and visually impaired students and students with diagnosed learning disabilities, as well as other classifications of disabilities specified in the Act.  Students wishing assistance under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact the Dean of Student Services (256-549-8271).

 SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY:  Gadsden State Community College is committed to protecting its students, staff, and faculty from sexual harassment, intimidation, and exploitation as prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and of Title VII (Section 703) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Any person who believes herself or himself to be subjected to such sexual harassment, intimidation, and/or exploitation should contact Ms. Lisa Thacker, the GSCC Coordinator of Title IX.  Her office is on the 3rd Floor of the Joe Ford Center, Room 342, on the East Broad Campus; her telephone number is 256-549-8241;  her e-mail address is lthacker@gadsdenstate.edu.  Ms.Thacker will provide information about the procedure to be pursued in compliance with the EEOC 1604.11 guidelines.  

 ASSIGNMENTS:  Students are expected to spend two-three hours outside of class reading and/or studying the material or working problems for every hour spent in class.  Students are required to read the chapters listed on the Assignment Outline.  Lectures and class discussion will follow and supplement the text.  Students should read the assignments before class, take notes during class and follow up by reviewing and/or working related problems immediately after class.  Many classes meet every other day and some students make the mistake of thinking that they should study for that class every other day.  Best results are realized when students study each class every day.

 ACADEMIC PREPARATION:  A student’s success in this course depends, to some extent, on his/her previous academic preparation.

 ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:  Academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarism is not permitted.  Suspected cases of academic misconduct or dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Instructional Services and may result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course.

 COMMUNICATION DEVICES:  All communication devices that make noise (i.e. pagers, cell phones, etc.) must be turned off during class.  Any disturbance caused by such devices can result in the student being dismissed from class.

 AUDIO AND VIDEO TAPING:  With permission of the instructor, students may record portions of the class lectures or discussions.  Additionally, this class may be videotaped at any time by the instructor or other representatives of the College.

 TO OBTAIN GRADES:  In accordance with GSCC policy, grades will not be posted.  Grades also will NOT be given out in person or over the phone.  A student needing to know his/her grade before receiving the GSCC official grade report must bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the instructor by the last class day.  After grades are posted on the computer, students may obtain their grades by calling 256-549-8290 or 800-746-6472.  Students may also obtain their grades by logging onto the Gadsden State Web site at www.gadsdenstate.edu. 

  EMERGENCY PROCEDURES:

Medical emergency:  Call 911 or ask your instructor or other GSCC staff member to make the call.

Fire:  Emergency exits are marked in hallways.  Go to the nearest exit and evacuate the building. College personnel will direct you when it is safe to return to the building.

Tornado or other weather emergency:  A continuous horn will be sounded for thirty (30) seconds.  All faculty, staff and students should proceed to the first floor of any building and seek shelter in an interior hall or office away from windows.  Individuals should not go to their cars. Everyone should stay inside until a college representative notifies you that the danger has passed.