BSC1930 Biological Issues
Course Policies/Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name: Dr. Warren Hunnicutt
Office Hours: Contact online/phone only
Office Location: NA
Email:
Phone: 727-744-8688
Instructor Web Page:

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT
Academic Program Chair: Dr. Amanda Gilleland
Office Location: Seminole Campus
Office Number: 727-394-6995

Dean: Dr. John Chapin
Office Location: UP 337, Seminole Campus
Office Number: 727-394-6995

COURSE DESCRIPTION: BSC1930 Biological Issues – 3 Credits

This course is designed to provide an opportunity for non-science majors to learn about concepts and current issues of importance within the life sciences. One goal is to encourage learning through discussion of topics of interest to the class, primarily via asynchronous chat. Another important aspect of the course is to make students conversant with some of the language of biology. This should be realized as a result of regular reading, discussion and evaluation via quizzes, projects and preparation for the final exam. There is a 2000-word written requirement for this course.

TEXTBOOK REQUIREMENTS:

Discover Biology with Inquisitive

By SINGH-CUNDY

  • EDITION: 6TH
    PUBLISHER: NORTON
    ISBN: 9780393936728 SELECT FORMAT REMOVE THIS ITEM

Bookstore Link:

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the termination of this course, the student will be expected to:

1.understand the complexity of the diversity of life

2.understand the global importance of the diversity of life

3.discuss subcellular structures and their functions

4.understand basic genetics, the concept of genetic screening and the impact of Project Genome

5.be conversant in the Creationism Vs Evolution debate

6.be able to discuss the basic tenants of form and function in biological context

7.understand basic interactions with the environment

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Please see "Schedule" under Course Content.

GRADING POLICY

Grades will be determined by six unit quizzes, midterm exam (proctored), final exam (proctored), participation in discussions and debates and a research paper. Quizzes and exams will be essay in form and will draw from both reading assignments and discussions.

Final grades will be determined based on a 10-point scale, where 90-100%=A; 80-89%=B' 70-79%=C; 60-69%=D; and 0-59%=F.

Evaluated Item Percentage

Quiz Average 15%

Discussion and Participation 10%

Research Paper 15%

Midterm and Final Exam60%

The number of points earned in each evaluated area will depend on student performance.

•Quizzes 1 through 3 are set to open the second day of the first half of the course and close on various dates up to the day prior to the Midterm Exam. Quizzes 4 through 6 will open the day after the Midterm Exam and close on various dates up to the day prior to the Final Exam. This will allow the students to work at their own pace. Please note, however, that once the quizzes are closed, they will NOT be reopened. You only have one attempt for each quiz and the time limit for each is one hour. Once the time expires, the quizzes will be automatically submitted. The time clock cannot be paused once it has begun. The quizzes are essay in format.

•Discussion is an important component of this course and will be evaluated based on both the quantity and quality of interactions with other students. The intent is that each student will respond to questions and comments posed by the instructor and other students.

•There will be five informal point/counter-point format discussions about topics of interest to the students and pertinent to course material addressed. Each student will be expected to contribute to the discussions while they are open, consulting additional sources as necessary to support their side of the discussion. It is not necessary that a student particularly believe in the point they are making. The important issue will be finding and providing support for a given point of view.

•A research paper of 6-8 pages is required. Each student should begin considering potential biological topics to research as soon as possible. The topic should be submitted to the professor no later than October 16, 2016, for guidance on whether it is an appropriate topic with adequate available resources. Several references should be consulted and listed in a reference section, including at least one primary scientific source. It is expected that this paper will be uploaded to the college plagiarism detection software prior to submission. The paper must be submitted to the Turnitin.com Drop Box located on the Course Content page. I must receive the completed version of this paper no later than November 22, 2016.

•Both the Midterm and the Final exam will be given at a proctored location and will be composed of essay questions relating to topics discussed throughout the session. The time limit for each is 120 minutes. There are three days on which each exam is available in order to better fit in with the student's schedule. Check the “Proctored Exam Information” on the Course Contents page for those dates.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

While online classes do not require attendance per se, it is important to commit time each week to the class. Since you would normally be in class three hours per week, that should be a bare minimum for participation in this course. Please note that it is normally suggested for any college course that you also invest about two hours outside of class for every hour in class, thus you should also plan on several, if not six, additional hours of class related work per week.

Please see further attendance information below under "Addendum"

It is particularly important in a discussion based course to regularly check and complete assignments so that other students will not be negatively impacted by your lack of participation. Similarly, you should expect the same of me. I will be checking discussions and email daily, Monday through Friday.

Please realize that if you try to contact me after 3:00 PM on Friday, you may not receive an answer within the 24 hour expected turnaround time. Likewise, grades may not be forthcoming during the week-end.

The "Withdrawal" deadline for this session is on the Schedule page and on the Calendar. You must decide by that date either to drop the course or stay in the course for a letter grade. If you do decide to drop, please inform the instructor. However, you must withdraw yourself by using the Withdrawal link on the SPC Homepage. After the drop date, you may only be allowed to change your status for one of the following special circumstances:

1. Complete withdrawal from the college: A written withdrawal notice must be sent form the student records office to the instructor.

2. Extended illness or accident: Written verification must be provided to the instructor.

3. Required job change: Written verification must be provided to the instructor.

4. Other instructor approved reasons, not covered above, which would make continued enrollment impossible.

Unexcused, excessive lack of participation (lack of course access for four consecutive days) prior to the drop date may result in withdrawal. After the drop date, if there is an unexcused excessive lack of participation, you may receive a failing grade (WF).

I take online attendance Saturdays. If there is no indication of participation in the course since the previous Wednesday, you will be marked absent for that week. Please note: simply logging on to the course does not constitute participation. Participation will be noted as an entry in one of the discussion forums, an email to the professor or taking one of the quizzes.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum:

The policy notes that each instructor is to exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in class (and, therefore, “attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus. For this class, attendance is defined as having no more than three unexcused absences. Attendance shall be taken on Saturday, checking for online activity lasting at least two hours from the previous Wednesday. No activity as defined above for that period of time will constitute one absence. The last day for YOU to voluntarily withdraw with a grade of W is October 22, 2015. I will not be able to withdraw you from the course during any point throughout the semester. Students will be automatically withdrawn at the beginning of the term for non-payment of course fees. Faculty verifies that students are in attendance at least once each week during the first two weeks of class. Students classified as “No Show” for both of the first two weeks will be administratively withdrawn. Immediately following the 60% point of the term, each instructor will verify which students are actively participating in class as defined above. Students classified as not meeting the criteria for active class participation will be administratively withdrawn with a “WF”. Students will be able to withdraw themselves at any time during the term. However, requests submitted after the 60% deadline will result in a “WF”. Students and instructors will automatically receive an email notification to their SPC email whenever a withdrawal occurs. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Exam Policy:

Both Midterm and Final Exams must be in a proctored location. Please check in "Proctored Exams" folder on Lessons tab.

Academic Integrity:

Caution: Learning is not a spectator sport. You are required to think and work in an independent and scholarly manner during this course. You are responsible for your learning experience.

Students are expected to respect and uphold the standards of honesty in submitting written work to instructors. Though occurring in many forms, plagiarism in essence involves the presentation of another person’s work as if it were the work of the presenter. Any cheating or plagiarism will result in disciplinary action to be determined by the instructor based on the severity and nature of the offense. It is the student’s responsibility to review the E-Campus Expectations and Performance Targets Policy.

Note: Any submissions that appear to be the result of cut and paste will be assessed a grade of zero ("0").

SYLLABUS ADDENDUM:

The Syllabus Addendum is an important part of your syllabus and can be easily accessed by using the link below. Do take the time to read this very important information.

IMPORTANT COLLEGE POLICY REGARDING COURSE DROP-ADD PERIOD AND AUDIT INFORMATION

Students CANNOT add a course following the 1st day the class meets. Students CAN drop a course during the 1st week of class and be eligible for a refund. (See a counselor/advisor to finalize your schedule, so you won’t be left without the classes you want or need). Students may not change from credit to audit status after the end of the first week of classes.

GRADING AND REPEAT COURSE POLICIES

State policy specifies that students may not repeat a college credit course for which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned except by appeal to the campus Academic Appeals committee. Students may repeat a college credit course one time without penalty. At the third attempt, students will pay the full cost of instruction. In addition, at the third attempt students may NOT receive a grade of “I,” “W,” or “X,” but must receive the letter grade earned. This grade will be averaged into the overall grade point average.

FEDERAL GUIDELINES RELATED TO FINANCIAL AID AND TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE

The U.S. Department of Education has implemented rules for students who obtain a Pell Grant, Stafford Loan, and/or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and subsequently totally withdraw from the College. The rule requires you to refund to the Department of Education a portion of your financial aid if you completely withdraw from St. Petersburg College prior to the 60% point in the term. You also may be required to repay funds to the College if you are identified as not actively participating in all of your classes, or if you do not receive at least one final passing grade (D or higher). Should you consider totally withdrawing from all classes before the published withdrawal date, it is important that you consult the Scholarships & Student Financial Assistance office on your home campus to understand your options and the consequences of total withdrawal.

DUAL ENROLLMENT, EARLY ADMISSIONS, & EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS

A Dual Enrollment, Early Admissions, or Early College student may not withdraw from any college level course without consultation with the Early College/Dual Enrollment office. Withdrawal from a course may jeopardize the student’s graduation from high school. The Dual Enrollment office can be reached at 712-5281 (TS), 791-5970 (CL) or 394-6000 (SE).

ACADEMIC HONESTY

St. Petersburg College has an Academic Honesty policy. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the policies, rules, and the consequences of violations. There is no tolerance for cheating and academic dishonesty. Discipline can range from a zero on a specific assignment to expulsion from the class with a grade of F. Note that copy/pasting published information, whether it's from your textbook or the Internet, without citing your source is plagiarism and violates this policy. Even if you change the words slightly the ideas are someone else's so you still have to cite your sources. Cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation, conspiracy, and fabrication are defined in Board Rule 6Hx23-4.461. Student Affairs: Academic Honesty Guidelines, Classroom Behavior.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

All electronic devices such as cell phones, beepers, pagers, and related devices are to be turned off prior to entering the classroom, library, and laboratories to avoid disruption. Use of any device in these areas is a violation of College Policy and subject to disciplinary action.

College computers are intended for academic work. Inappropriate use of computers during class time is prohibited. Students should understand that they may be required to use the Internet for some courses. Furthermore, students may be required to have discussions of class assignments and share papers and other class materials with instructors and classmates via chat rooms and other mechanisms. Therefore, Internet users may be able to access students’ work whether the access is secured or unsecured. The College cannot protect students from the type of materials on the Internet or the potential piracy of students’ materials.

Each student’s behavior in the classroom or Web course is expected to contribute to a positive learning/teaching environment, respecting the rights of others and their opportunity to learn. No student has the right to interfere with the teaching/learning process, including the posting of inappropriate materials on chatroom or Web page sites.

The instructor has the authority to ask a disruptive student to leave the classroom, lab, or Web course and to file disciplinary charges if disruptive behavior continues

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

In the event that a hurricane or other natural disaster causes significant damage to St. Petersburg College facilities, you may be provided the opportunity to complete your course work online. Following the event, please visit the college Web site for an announcement of the College’s plan to resume operations.

Students should familiarize themselves with the emergency procedures and evacuation routes located in the buildings they use frequently. Located in each classroom is an Emergency Response Guide (flip-chart) that contains information for proper actions in response to emergencies. Students should be prepared to assess situations quickly and use good judgment in determining a course of action. Students should evacuate to assembly areas in an orderly manner when an alarm sounds or when directed to do so by college faculty or staff or emergency services personnel. Students may access additional emergency information by going to In face to face courses your instructor will review the specific campus plans for emergency events.

CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY

For information on campus safety and security policies please contact 791-2560. If there are questions or concerns regarding personal safety, please contact the Provost, Associate Provost, Campus Security Officer, or Site Administrator on your campus.

SEXUAL PREDATOR INFORMATION

Federal and State law requires a person designated as a “sexual predator or offender” to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE is then required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends, or is employed by an institution of higher learning. Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an institution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus by calling the FDLE hotline (1-888-FL-PREDATOR) or (1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website at

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

If you wish to request accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on campus. If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at 727-791-2628. If you will need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation, please contact your campus learning specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety. The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities can be reached at 791-2628 or 791-2710 (CL), 341-4758 (SP/G), 394-6108 (SE), 712-5789 (TS), 341-3721 (HEC) or 341-4532 (AC).

COLLEGE ACADEMIC CALENDAR:

COLLEGE EVENT CALENDAR: