INSTRUCTOR: Dr. James H. Martin  ( http://staff.jsr.vccs.edu/jmartin/ )

OFFICE: ROOM 240C

PHONE: 523-5593 (VOICE MAIL)

E-MAIL: jmartin@reynolds.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Posted on my web site and on my office door (or by appointment).

BIO WEB SITE: www.vacadsci.org/jsr/biology.htm

TEXT: CAMPBELL. BIOLOGY. BENJAMIN CUMMINGS. MENLO PARK, CA.
Also, Required Lab Book should be purchased from College Book Store
Note on texts -- Read this!

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This is a two semester sequence course in general biology.  Biology 101 is a prerequisite for biology 102. This is a college transfer course accepted for credit by most colleges and universities.  It is assumed that each student has successfully completed high school biology and chemistry (as well as Biology 101 before 102 is taken).  Each student is advised to have completed a college level math and/or English course before enrolling in this class.  The general biology course will include basic concepts in biology such as plant & animal cells and tissues, organ systems, immunology, reproduction, plant tissues, plant growth and development, and ecology.

ATTENDANCE:  Students are expected to attend all lectures and labs.  Students are expected to read and study all assigned material prior to lectures and labs.  All assignments and tests are due on time with no exceptions unless a previous arrangement is made with the instructor.  Attendance will be recorded as per J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College policy.
    J. Sargeant has recently revised the policy on student attendance (see link above). The policy revision requires instructors to document and report student attendance for all courses. If you must be absent but plan to continue in your class, it is recommended that you contact your instructor. Students who register for a course and fail to attend or communicate with the instructor within the drop period for the course will be withdrawn. In addition, failure to attend for an extended period before the scheduled withdrawal date for the course will result in a withdrawal.
Therefore,
You will receive a grade of “W” if you:
    • Fail to attend courses by the drop deadline for the course and have not communicated with the instructor
    • Stop attending the course for an extended period before the withdrawal deadline for the course and have failed to communicate with the instructor.
If you stop attending the course for an extended period of time after the official withdrawal date, you will receive a grade of “F” and your last date of attendance will be reported.
Note: There will be no refund for withdrawn courses.
    If the College is closed because of inclement weather, and there is an announcement that “classes will resume at ****,” all classes scheduled to begin on or after that time will meet.  Classes scheduled to begin before that stated time that would be in session will meet for that portion of the class time remaining IF THAT REMAINING TIME IS 30 MINUTES OR GREATER.

LABS:  Biology 101 has 15 lab assignments worth 25 points each. In Biology 102, there will be 10 to 13 lab assignments worth 25 points each.  In additions there will be a three to five week ecology project worth 75-150 points.  Each week students will complete a lab assignment consisting of either a lab report, quiz, or other written assignment.  All material must be completed by the end of the lab period, and must be turned in to the instructor. There are no lab make-ups, but sometimes arrangements may be made to complete parts of a lab if arrangements are made within a week of the missed lab.

Missing more than 5 labs will result in a grade of F for the entire course, no matter what the quiz grade. This is a lab course and you are expected to participate in the lab.

Students are expected to spell all words correctly or the words will be counted as incorrect answers. Correct grammar and punctuation are also expected. The class Schedule shows when a student is responsible for given material. Registering late or missing a class does not excuse a student from this responsibility. Unless specific exception is given by the instructor, the student is responsible for this material even if it has not been covered in lecture or if the school closes because of bad weather or other reasons.

TESTS:  There will be cumulative tests (no final exam) consisting of multiple choice, matching and other short answer questions and picture labeling. In Bio 101 and Biology 102, there will be five tests, one approximately every three weeks (every two weeks for Summer). Exact dates and material covered will be announced in the class schedule and on the test schedule. Check the schedule given to you.   Students are expected to take all tests on the scheduled dates. If a student does not take a test on the date scheduled, he/she will receive a grade of 0 for that test unless he/she can provide documentation of serious illness, injury or emergency. Make-up tests will be allowed only at the discretion of the instructor. Contact must be made with the professor before the next class period following the missed test or no makeup will be allowed for any reason.  Only one make-up test will be allowed per student in a given semester.    If a make up test is allowed, it MUST be completed within one week of the student's return to class and before the next scheduled test is given, otherwise, no make up will be allowed. There is no make up for the last test.  Failure to take the last test will result in a 225 point deduction rather than a 0 grade.  Tests will be worth 225 points for each three week test.  Grades will be posted on the web, but, tests and labs will not be returned to students.  It is expected that  each student will schedule time to go over the tests and labs on a one-to-one basis with the professor to learn what was missed,  to discussed what was missed and why, and to develop better study skills.

	Grades are based on the percentage of total possible points earned.

	Grading Scale:
	90% - up	A
	80% - 89%	B
	70% - 79%	C
	60% - 69%	D
	Below 60%	F

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: The college is committed to compliance with both the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities. Students with special needs should contact the offices of the Dean of Student Development Services for additional information and fill out "The Request for Accommodations Form". IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO IDENTIFY HIM OR HERSELF AND THE NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION TO THE INSTRUCTOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER.

CIVILITY: "Civility" is treating others the way we would like to be treated through behavior that conveys mutual respect, sensitivity, and tolerance of our differences, resulting in a productive learning and working environment. This policy is a college-wide initiative.

HONESTY: Academic dishonesty includes acts of cheating, plagiarism, or collusion. According to college policy, cheating is defined as "giving, receiving, offering, or soliciting assistance on any examination or other assignment, unless authorized by the instructor". Plagiarism is defined as "the appropriation of passages or an entire work, either verbatim or in substance, from the work of another, and the representation of those passages as one's own work". Collusion is defined as "collaboration with another person in preparation or editing of notes, themes, reports, or any other work offered for credit, unless such collaboration has been authorized by the instructor". Acts of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated by the college

CHILDREN: Children are generally not permitted in class and there are no circumstances when children under ten years of age are permitted in Science class rooms.

ELECTRONICS: Phones, pagers, players or other electronic devices should be turned off during class time. Answering a call or leaving the class to answer a call will be considered disruptive behavior.  If a student is so rude as to answer a page or call during class,  he will be asked to leave and not come back.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR: Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior will be asked to cease/desist and warned that further disruption will be subject to disciplinary action. Behavior that interrupts, obstructs, or inhibits teaching and/or other college-sanctioned activities or that endangers or threatens faculty, staff, and/or students of the college. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:  verbal attacks, unrecognized speaking out or talking during lectures, incessant arguing, intimidation, shouting, and inappropriate gestures or other behaviors noted under the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook that inhibit educational opportunities. Tardiness is disrespectful behavior which usually interrupts teaching. It is, therefore, disruptive behavior.

The college has recently published a statement called "The Learning Environment". Please read this.