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BSC 1010C: Fundamentals of Biology I
Session I, 2003
Valencia College

Instructor: Susan Matthews

Office: Building 1, Room 246, Science Computer Lab or Prep Lab


Office Hours:

Day:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday


Time:
9 00 - 11:00pm
12:00 - 2:10pm
2:00 - 4:00pm
11:35 - 1:35pm
8:30 - 9:30am


Phone: (407) 582 - 1384


Email: smatthews@valenciacollege.edu

Course Description: A general biology (with laboratory) course designed to provide understanding of the principles of biology -chemistry, cell biology, energetics, reproduction, molecular genetics, evolution and ecology. The diversity of the biological world will also be examined. The laboratory that accompanies this course will reinforce many concepts in a hands on situation. The laboratory will also allow the student an opportunity to become technically functional in a science laboratory.

Course Objectives:
1. To understand and apply the basic principles and concepts of modern biology.
2. To develop critical thinking skills.
3. To develop basic study skills.


Textbooks:
Required:
1. Biology, 6th edition. (2002) Campbell and Reece. Bejamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.
2. Student Study Guide for Campbell's Biology, 6th edition. (2002) Taylor. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.


Exams: All exams will be based on both the lecture material and assigned reading. There will be live multiple choice lecture exams. Any student missing a major exam shall be required to complete comprehensive multiple choice final exam at the end of the semester. If you miss an exam, you must contact the instructor, in person, by phone or by email, within 24 hours of the exam date and present an excuse from an appropriate authority (doctor, police, judge, etc) upon your return to campus. NOTE: failure to take the final exam at the end of the semester will automatically result in a “WF” grade.

All exams will require machine-scored answer sheets. These can be purchased for a nominal price in packs of 6 at the campus bookstore. You are responsible for making sure you have a Scantron sheet of the correct type for each exam. You need to bring a 2 pencil. Your name and ID must be printed on the answer sheet and will be checked as you leave the exam room. You are responsible for your personal belongings in the exam room; all books, book bags and notes must be placed to the side of the room prior to the start of the exam. Anyone arriving more than 10 minutes late may not be allowed to take the exam and must make arrangements to take the exam as a makeup. Scantrons will not be returned to students; however, they may be examined in the instructor’s office during office hours.

Grades will not be given out over the phone, or by email, by the instructor or the Department secretaries. Grades will be made available to students as soon as possible after the exam in a manner that preserves student privacy.


Cheating: Cheating, in any form, will not be tolerated in this class. Anyone caught cheating or copying from another paper will receive zero for that exam. Representing another student’s work as your own in a lab report (plagiarism) will also not he tolerated. Both students involved will receive zero for the lab report.


Grading: There will be a total of 800 points available for the semester. These will be allocated as follows:

500 points from 4-5 exams (multiple choice, oral or essay)
200 points from the final exam
300 points from the labs (100 for lab write-ups, 2 x 100 lab practicals)

At the end of the semester, your score for each of these components will be added together and converted to a percentage. Grades fro the semester will be awarded using the following scale:

90% - 100 = A
  80% - 90% = B
  70% - 80% = C
  60% - 70% = D
  0% - 60% - F

Perserverence points (PP) may be offered at the discretion of the instructor.


Valencia College Core Competencies:
The faculty of Valencia College has identified four core competencies th define the learning outcomes for a successful Valencia graduate. These competencies are at the heart of the Valencia experience and provide the context for learning and assessment at Valencia College. You will be given opportunities to develop and practice these competencies in this class. The four competencies are:
1. Think-think clearly and creatively, analyze, synthesize, integrate and evaluate in the many domains of human inquiry.
2. Value-make reasoned judgments and responsible commitment.
3. Act-act Purposefully. effectively, and responsibly
4. Communicate-communicate with different audiences using varied means
  Note: Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. Their office can be located on West Campus SSB 102, ext. 1523.

Class Policies:

1. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures unless unavoidable emergencies prevent attendance. Documented absences will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Roll will be taken at the beginning of every class. Students arriving more than five (5) minutes late willbe recorded as being late to class. Three late arrivals will count as one unexcused absence. After five unexcused absences, students will be sent a warning about excessive absences. Absences may resultin the student being administratively- withdrawn from class.

2. Laboratories: Students are required to attend all laboratory sessions. Laboratory sessions cannot be made up. If you have a valid, documentable reason for missing a lab, you must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the lab; you must also present your documentation to the instructor as soon -as possible. You are allowed one unexcused lab absence, at which time you will receive written notification of your absence. Any further absences may result in your being. administratively withdrawn from class.

3. Withdrawal: You are responsible for initiating a voluntary withdrawal from the class prior to the published withdrawal date. You must withdraw prior to the withdrawal date, by completing a withdrawal form in the Registrar’s office, in order to avoid being given a “WF” grade. After the official withdrawal date, you may still be allowed to withdraw but you will be given a “WF” (equivalent to an “F” for the semester and counts towards your GPA). A grade of “WP” (does not count towards your GPA) may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor and will be based on your results at the time of your withdrawal. You must complete the withdrawal form in the Science Department office in order to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline.