If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ AVOID ANY APPEARANCE OF CHEATING. Cheating will result in loss of the grade for that quiz or exam. Hats are not to be worn during exams.
\
\ CELL PHONES & PAGERS: Cell phones and pagers are to be in silent mode during lectures and must be turned off during exams.  Use of cell phones in class is not permitted except in the case of recording lectures. If you are texing or surfing the net during class I will ask you to leave.  Assignments missed after being excused will result in the grade of Zero for the assignment. If you have an urgent need to have a phone or pager on, you must inform the Instructor before class, and must quietly exit the room to take a call.

\ LABORATORY SAFETY. Food and drink are allowed in Lab/Lecture but please use caution.  

\ Student are expected to follow all safety rules and to notify the instructor immediately if any accident occurs. While the risk of an accident is minimized as much as possible, there is the potential for contact with electrical appliances, heating elements, sharp instruments, chemicals, and organic materials, some of which may be biohazards. Any student deemed to be jeopardizing the safety of others will be asked to leave the lab immediately and possibly permanently. Other safety rules are listed in the Laboratory Manual and will be covered the first day of class.

\  

\  

Grading Criteria

Grading Scale: A =90 - 100%, B = 80 - 89.9%, C = 70 - 79.9%, D = 60 - 69.9%, F < 60%.
To pass the course, students must attain 59.5% or better in the course. Most medical fields require 69.5% (C) or better.

Lecture - 50%

Lecture exams are 40% of the total grade for the semester.  Five in class lecture exams will be given. The material for each exam will be based on lecture material.  Each will be worth 100 points, the lowest exam grade will be dropped. There are no make-up exam grades.

Chapter based - Key Points/Connecting Ideas 5% - Each student will identify 3 key points from each chapter and write and short paragraph on each of these key points (Pictures are acceptable as well).  The form to fill out for each chapter will be available on blackboard.  Each student will be responsible for submitting their work to the designated folder on blackboard by the correct time.  This assignment will be accepted late at a penalty.  For each late day (not including weekends) 10 percentage points will be removed from the grade. 

Quizzez 5 % of your of your total grade.  There will be a 5-10 question quiz at the beginning of every week. Quizzes will be at the beginning of class (Don't be late). If a test is given at the beginning of the week there will be a quiz at the end of the week instead. I will use the 12 highest grades to calculate your quiz average.  There are no make-up quiz grades.

Lab - 25%

Ecology Poster/Presentation is 5% of your final grade.  Poster details will be discussed in class and instructions posted on blackboard.

Editing of Peers Ecology papers 5% of your final grade. Editing details will be discussed in class and instructions posted on blackboard .

Phylogeny Group Presentation is 5% of your final grade.  Presentation details will be discussed in class and instructions posted on blackboard .

Ecology Paper is 5% of your final grade.  One short ecology paper will be completed this semester. Details about the paper will be discussed in class and posted on blackboard.

Lab Homework and participation is 5% of your final grade.  Assignments will be announced in class.

Final Exam - 25%

The Final Exam is 25% of the total grade for the semester. The exam will be comprehensive, 2 hours, in class, as scheduled on the Amarillo College Final Exam schedule. 

There are NO makeup exams; a missed exam becomes the drop grade.  There are No makeup lab tests;a missed lab test becomes the drop grade.  All grades for lecture exams, laboratory tests and quizzes, the unknown identification, and the final exam will be posted on blackboard.

Attendance

\ Attendance is not a numerical component of the grading of this course, but regular attendance is required for success.

Calendar

Additional Information

Science Testing Center:
Warren Hall 112

Lecture tests, excluding the Final Exam, will be taken in the Science Testing Center and may be taken during normal Science Testing Center hours, day or evening.  Tests are to be taken outside of class lecture time.  If an exam is retaken, the higher of the scores is counted.  Please note:  No tests will be given out less than one hour before the Science Testing Center closes. You must present an Amarillo College student ID every time you take a test. The Science Testing Center staff will retain your ID while you take your test and it will be returned to you when you turn in your test.

When using the Science Testing Center students should scan in and out with their Amarillo College student I.D.

Mandatory Tutoring:
Warren Hall 110

In an effort to increase retention in Biology courses, any student who scores below a 70% on any exam (excluding he Final Exam week) must complete a mandatory 30 minute tutoring session with his/her instructor or in the Science Enrichment before taking the next exam.

Appointments for 30 minute tutoring are required and can be scheduled in the Science Enrichment Center or by calling (806)371-5536.

A Record of Tutoring form will be given to you when you complete 30 minutes of required tutoring. You will not be allowed to take the next exam without the complete Record of Tutoring form.

Free Drop-in: Peer tutors are available at the Science Enrichment Center