PSU 016 First Year Seminar

Forensic Science

Welcome to PSU 016! We are so excited to be able to introduce you to the academic community of Penn State, the Eberly College of Science, and the Forensic Science discipline. We look forward to working with you this semester and learning more about our first-year students. This is just the beginning of your Penn State journey and from now until your graduation, we will work with you to prepare you as a scientist, a forensic scientist, and a professional.

Dr. Smith (section 600)

Dr. Bumbaugh (section 601)

Dr. Holland (section 602)

______

THE BASICS:

Who’s teaching my course?Dr. Mitchell Holland

Office: 107 Whitmore

Phone: (814) 865-5286

Email:

Office Hours: By appointment (contact Missy Thomas, maz11)

As the Director of the Forensic Science(FS) programhere at Penn State, I’m delighted to be working with you as you travel down thepath of personal grow, both academically and professionally. These first few weeks at Penn State are important ones as you find your footing and direction. The faculty in the FS programare here to support our students, so please use us as a resource. I also teach BMB 400, FRNSC 421W and FRNSC 821, which are upper level courses for both the undergraduate and graduate programs, and I ran forensic DNA labs for ~15 years before coming to Penn State.

What is this course about?

This seminar course is designed to facilitate your adjustment to the high expectations, demanding workload, increased academic liberties, and other aspects of the transition to college life. We will help you think critically about how you manage your time, your academic goals, and your interactions with others in the campus community. You will have the opportunity to listen to practicing Forensic Scientists as they present information about their areas of specialization. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about the Penn State campus and the Forensic Science program.

When does this course meet?Mondays, 12:20 – 1:10pm

Where does this course meet?

This course will meet in several locations throughout the semester. For combined sections meetings, we will meet in 062 Willard; for combined sections meetings with a seminar speaker, we will meet in 117 John Bill Freeman Auditorium (HUB Auditorium); and for individual section meetings, we will meet in 122 Pond. Please refer to the Course Schedule each week so that you know the correct meeting location.

Why will this course be important to me?

We have several goals for this course:

  • To introduce you to university study and to Penn State as an academic community
  • To acquaint you with learning tools and resources
  • To provide an opportunity for you to develop academic relationships
  • To introduce you to their responsibilities as part of the academic community
  • To introduce you to the Forensic Science Program

At the end of this course, you will have accomplished the following objectives:

  • Employ time management skills and effective study strategies for use in this course and in subsequent courses
  • Generate a collaborative presentation describing course content and instructor expectations for a 400-level Forensic Science courses or academic advising
  • Develop a long-term academic plan
  • Formulate academic and career goals
  • Describe several career areas of forensic scientists, including the necessary training and job responsibilities

What materials are required for this course?

Lecture Notes: A Professor’s Inside Guide to College Success, Philip Freeman (Author);

Paperback: 160 pages; Publisher: Ten Speed Press (April 6, 2010); ISBN-10: 158008754X, ISBN-13: 978-1580087544

The “Lecture Notes” book is an easy read for students and it provides you with some excellent tips that can be used throughout your college career. We will have an in-class activity based on this book.

iClicker or iClicker+; ISBN-13: 978-1464120152

You will likely use iClickers in several of your courses during your time at Penn State. We have decided to use iClickers as a part of PSU 016 to help you get familiar with the response system and to help generate thoughtful discussions during class meetings.

What if I have a question or need help?

You can contact your assigned section instructor for assistance. Please keep in mind that we are happy to help you, but planning ahead is very important. As with any course, get your questions answered when they first come up – this can save you time and effort in the end!

Anything else?

All course materials will be accessible through ANGEL( a Web-based course management system. For this seminar, ANGEL will be used to enhance your experience: a virtual folder will help reduce paper handouts; assignment points will be posted for each graded assignment. Additionally, MOST (not all) assignments for this seminar are to be turned in digitally via the DROP BOX. All documents that are submitted into the drop boxes should be sent as a Word document or as a PDF.

Since this seminar meets only once per week during the semester, attendance is mandatory and will be tallied toward final grade determination. Only confirmed emergencies, such as illnesses and family emergencies will be excused. You are responsible for notifying the instructor prior to any expected absences (e-mail is preferred).

THE DETAILS:

Class Schedule

Date / Topic and Location / Assignment
8/26 / Introduction to PSU 016
Combined Sections in 062 Willard / Bring Syllabus to class for review
9/2 / No Class Meeting – Labor Day / Due in Drop Box: Self-Assessment
9/9 / Time Management and Student Panel
Combined Sections in 062 Willard / Due in Drop Box: Know the Code/Academic Integrity
Due in Class: Time Log
9/16 / Seminar Speakers: Jeff Friedel and Deb Calhoun
Combined Sections in HUB Auditorium / Due in Drop Box: Speaker Form (Friedel and Calhoun)
9/23 / Seminar Speaker: Kate Theisen
Combined Sections in HUB Auditorium / Due in Drop Box: Speaker Form (Theisen)
9/30 / Time Management and Project Discussion
Individual Section meeting in 122 Pond / Due in Drop Box: Revised Time Log
Due in Class: Library Open House Certificate
10/7 / Seminar Speaker: Mike Garvey
Combined Sections in HUB Auditorium / Due in Drop Box: Speaker Form (Garvey)
Due in eMail: Team members and course selection
10/14 / Academic Planning and Learning Resources
Combined Sections in 062 Willard / Due in Class: “Lecture Notes” reading
10/21 / Seminar Speaker: Roger Kahn
Combined Sections in HUB Auditorium / Due in Drop Box: Speaker Form (Kahn)
10/28 / Team Presentations
Individual Section meeting in 122 Pond / Due in Drop Box: Slides (BEFORE presentation)
Due in Drop Box: Evaluation (AFTER presentation)
11/4 / Team Presentations
Individual Section meeting in 122 Pond / Due in Drop Box: Slides (BEFORE presentation)
Due in Drop Box: Evaluation (AFTER presentation)
11/11 / Hands on Guide to Library Resources (Helen Smith)
Individual Section meeting in E302 Paterno Library / Due in Drop Box: Academic Plans and Goals
Due at end of Class: Library Exercise
11/18 / Team Presentations
Individual Section meeting in 122 Pond / Due in Drop Box: Slides (BEFORE presentation)
Due in Drop Box: Evaluation (AFTER presentation)
11/25 / No Class Meeting – Fall Break
12/2 / International Study and Internship Opportunities (Paul Shaffner)
Combined Sections in 062 Willard / Due in Drop Box: Current Resume and Future Resume
12/9 / Ethics and Professionalism
Individual Section meeting in 122 Pond / Due in Drop Box: WinC Reaction Paper
Due in Drop Box: Discover Penn State
12/16 / Finals Week – No PSU 016 Final Exam

Course Assignments

All course assignments can be accessed through ANGEL and the due dates can be found in the Class Schedule table. It is a good idea “pre-view” all of the assignments as you will need to plan ahead in order to successfully complete some of the activities. Most assignments will need to be completed and submitted electronically as a Word or PDF document. The table below provides an overview of the assignments and point values. You can keep track of your grade by completing the last column!

Assignment / Point value / Your earned points
Attendance and Participation / 40 (includes Know the Code and Academic Integrity assignment)
Self-Assessment with Photo / 10
Time Log / 10
Library Open House / 10
Library Exercise / 10
Lecturer Forms / 40 (10 x 4)
Team Presentation / 40 (20 + 20)
Current Resume and Future Resume / 10 (5 + 5)
Academic Plan and Goals / 10
Discover Penn State / 10
WinC Participation and Reaction Paper / 10 (5 + 5)
TOTAL POINTS / 200

GRADES:

Grade / Point Range
A / 190 – 200
A- / 180 – 189
B+ / 174 – 179
B / 166 – 173
B- / 160 – 164
C+ / 154 – 159
C / 140 – 153
D / 120 – 139
F / 0 – 119

The final grade for this seminar will be based on attendance, participation, assignments, and presentations. Letter grades will be assigned as indicated in the table to the right. In order to be successful in this course, you will need to attend and actively participate in the course meetings as well as complete your assignments on time. Remember to proof-read your work and follow directions!

Late Assignments: Late assignments are reduced by 10% of assignment points, and points will begin to be deducted immediately after the seminar meeting period. Late assignments should be turned in as soon as humanly possible (ANGEL DROP BOX or e-mail is preferred).

POLICIES:

Citizenship: In order to create a classroom environment for inclusive learning, I have several expectations for my students and myself. These expectations include:

  • Be respectful and courteous (this includes putting away electronic devices and not “packing up” early)
  • Be on time and prepared for class
  • Have an open and positive attitude toward learning and sharing your ideas/experiences
  • When composing an email, use proper salutations and grammar

University Citizenship: One assignment in this course includes learning more about the University’s Code of Conduct. This Code provides appropriate behaviors and actions for all Penn State students. The Eberly College of Science has also developed a Code of Mutual Respect and Cooperation that embodies the values that faculty, staff, and students should possess and endorse to make the Eberly College of Science a place where every individual feels respected and valued, as well as challenged and rewarded.

Both the Code of Conduct and Code of Mutual Respect and Cooperation with provide you with life skills which will be used now and throughout your lifetime. Please keep in mind that you represent the Forensic Science program, the Eberly College of Science, and the Pennsylvania State University not only on campus but also world-wide (including the digital world!).

Please take time to review the Penn State Code of Conduct and the ECoS Code of Mutual Respect and Cooperation.

  • Penn State Code Of Conduct is found at:
  • ECoS Code of Mutual Respect and Cooperation is found at:

Academic Integrity

All Penn State University policies regarding ethics and honorable behavior apply to this course. Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception and is an educational objective of this institution. For any material or ideas obtained from other sources, such as the text or things you see on the web, in the library, etc., a source reference must be given. Direct quotes from any source must be identified as such.

University Faculty Senate Rule 49-20 states: “Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students.” Specific instances of academic dishonesty in this course would include (but not limited to) copying another student’s assignment, altering answers or grades on graded assignments, having someone else complete an assignment for you, not referencing material or ideas which are not your own, using an iClicker which is not registered to you, and attempting to do any of the above. Any of these infractions, at the least, would result in a grade of “0” for the assignment in question (and not permitting the student to drop the course).

All University policies regarding academic integrity apply to this course. Any instances of academic dishonesty will be pursued under the University and Eberly College of Science regulations concerning academic integrity.

University Faculty Senate Policy:

Procedures for Suspected Misconduct:

ECoS Academic Integrity Policy:

Disability Policy

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services (ODS) at 814-863-1807 (V/TTY). For further information regarding ODS, please visit the Office for Disability Services Web site at
In order to receive consideration for course accommodations, you must contact ODS and provide documentation (see the documentation guidelines at If the documentation supports the need for academic adjustments, ODS will provide a letter identifying appropriate academic adjustments. Please share this letter and discuss the adjustments with your instructor as early in the course as possible. You must contact ODS and request academic adjustment letters at the beginning of each semester.

HELPFUL ACADEMIC RESOURCES:

Academic Calendar

The University Academic Calendar provides you with important academic dates including: registration deadlines, commencements, holidays, and breaks.

Penn State Forensic Science Program

This web site is the central source of information about the Forensic Science Program at Penn State. It is a great resource for students who are considering majoring in Forensic Science. It contains helpful documents such as the Four Year Plans for both the Biology and Chemistry tracks, the course checklist that contains information about the required courses for the major, and the list of supporting courses that are recommended for the major. This website also provides important information about the faculty and staff of the program, academic advising, and contact information for any questions or concerns.

Advising @ PSU

The Advising @ PSU Web site provides you with a central source of information about academic advising and related educational topics at Penn State.

Eberly College of Science Academic Advising Center

This web site is a central source of academic advising and information for the Eberly College of Science.

Academic Success

The Eberly College of Science is committed to the academic success of students enrolled in the College's courses and undergraduate programs. When in need of help, you can utilize various College and University wide resources for learning assistance.

eLion

eLion is an award winning Web-based service for students, advisers, faculty, and parents. eLion provides secure real-time access to academic and financial records in the University’s administrative database.

University Bulletin

This bulletin is intended primarily to provide you with Penn State academic information. The bulletin contains University course descriptions, University-wide General Education requirement explanations, and academic program information.

PSU 016 - Syllabus FA13 1

Self-Assessment with Photo (page 1 of 2)

Due on September 2, 2013

Name ______

Penn State E-mail ______

Why are you considering Forensic Science as your Major?

Who is your assigned academic adviser in eLion? (If one is not assigned, then you MUST contact your intended major department so you are assigned an adviser for your educational planning needs.)

I expect my GPA to be ______. For me to achieve this GPA I expect to study about ______hours per week.

Have you reviewed all your course syllabi to plan for assignments, exams, etc.?

How do you plan to stay organized with various course meetings, assignments, deadlines, and exams?

What do you think is the most significant difference between Penn State and high school? Why?

What features of high school do you miss? Why?

What problems have you encountered since you arrived at Penn State? Have any problems been resolved and how? If any problems have not yet been resolved, then what can you do to help resolve the problems?

What changes in your expectations have you encountered since you started at Penn State? Explain.

Which aspects of your life and/or behavior, if any, must you change to succeed at Penn State?

Self-Assessment with Photo (page 2 of 2)

My biggest concerns (and fears) with studying/my education at Penn State and completing my degree are:

______

______

My professional career goal is to become______.

because______

What are your goals – academically, professionally, and personally – for this academic year?

I am in college/studying at Penn State because...

1.______

2.______

3.______

4.______

I think that the most serious social issues at Penn State are ______

because ______

______

It does not matter how many credits I enroll in each semester as long as the courses fit in my weekly schedule. TRUE / FALSE

What else do you plan to do outside of your academic studies at Penn State to enhance your college experience? Why?

*** Not Your First Semester? ***

What do you know now that you wish you knew in your first semester at Penn State?

What resources (i.e., learning assistance, library, counseling, advising, etc.) have you used during your academic career at Penn State? Why? Did you find the resources to be beneficial?

Know the Code and Academic Integrity Assignment

Due on September 9, 2013

This assignment deals with two very important topics, the Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity.

Know the Code isan introduction to the Student Code of Conduct, the University Discipline System, and the Penn State Principles. In order to complete the Know the Code portion of the assignment, you will go to the Student Affairs Office of Student Conduct webpage, review the information concerning the Penn State Student Code of Conduct and take the “Know the Code” Quiz. Upon completion of the quiz, you will be asked to fill out a form so that you may win a prize. In the field that says “How did you hear”, please fill it in with PSU016 600, PSU016 601, or PSU016 602 (use your section number). Your instructor will be sent a copy of all of the quizzes that have been completed by the due date of September 9, 2013.