Introductory Chemistry I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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Course

CHEM-1305-002 Introductory Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: MATH 0303-minimum grade of C, Accuplacer score of 75, THEA score of 270 or an equivalent score on a state-approved test; RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
Corequ

Course Description

Survey of introductory chemistry principles including measurement, quantitative problem solving, energy, atoms, elements and atomic structure, reactions and equations. This course is a preparatory course for CHEM 1311.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

1. Nivaldo Tro, 5^th Edition. Introduction to Chemistry (Essentials). – Optional

2. Modified Mastering Chemistry Access Code. – Mandatory

Supplies

1. Pencil(s)
2. Highlighter(s)
3. 3”, 3 ring binder if you plan to print out your notes.
4. Notebook for personal notes
5. Scientific calculator is required by the 2^nd day of class. It is not guaranteed that there will be any extra calculators in the classroom and cell phones are not permitted on any quizzes or tests. It is your responsibility to have your calculator with you EVERY DAY of class or you will be required to perform calculations without any calculator assistance. A graphing calculator is not necessary but if you already own a graphing calculator, purchasing another calculator is not necessary. 

Student Performance

OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF COURSE:

The primary objectives of this class are:

1. To gain a basic understanding of general inorganic chemistry and its application.
2. To learn fundamental theories, concepts, terms and skills to master basic inorganic chemistry.
3. To develop an understanding of basic applications of chemistry in everyday living.
4. To develop a healthy understanding and respect for general chemistry.
5. To provide a physical science elective for students not majoring in science, engineering, or related fields that would require CHEM 1311.

PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course the student should be able to do the following with a competency level of at least 70%.

1. Have a basic understanding of chemistry and its everyday applications.
2. Explain the relation between atoms and molecules.
3. Understand simple atomic structure and the periodic table.
4. Have a basic understanding of the different types of chemical reactions.
5. Perform simple calculations related to the topics covered in the class, such as density, heat, stoichiometry, solutions, and gases.
6. Write and balance chemical equations and use the equations for basic calculations of chemical quantities.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

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

Absolutely no call or text (or electronic communication) shall be taken during a quiz or exam, and cell phones will be required to be turned off prior to all exams and quizzes. Cell phones are not physically allowed to be on the student or on the desk of the student during exam or quiz time. Noncompliance with these rules will automatically result in a grade of zero on that exam, quiz and/or potentially the class (up to discretion of professor). 

 

If you are in an emergency situation and it is essential that you use your cell phone during class, please notify professor before class and step outside the classroom to complete the call. If the instructor for any reason should feel that these materials (cell phone, tablet, computer and/or pager) are disruptive to the classroom, she reserves the right to ask you to turn them off or to leave the class while they are on. 

 

If you walk into class late, please find a seat near the door. Walking in front of the instructor while she is teaching is disturbing and will not be tolerated in this class. 

 

Use of profanity is not acceptable in this class. This is a professional setting and we should conduct ourselves accordingly. If the instructor feels that a student(s) is/are disturbing the class in any manner, she has the right to dismiss student(s) from class where students will be forced to forfeit their grade or ability to make up that grade. The same is true for behavior in the Science Enrichment Center and/or Science Testing Center. 

Grading Criteria

This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor at any time.  Material included is intended to provide an outline of the course and rules that the instructor will adhere to in evaluating the student's progress.  Students are expected to read the textbook before and after the material is presented in lecture.

 

Testing:

Students are required to read all test directions before testing and abide by all test rules. Grades will be posted on Blackboard online once graded and can be checked at any time thereafter.

Students are expected to show up to class on time. If a student does not show up on time, the instructor reserves the right to not allow the student to take that quiz or exam according to her discretion. 

If you make less than a 70% on test(s) 1-5, you will be required to obtain 30 minutes of tutoring from the Science Enrichment Center prior to taking the next test. You will not be allowed to take the next major test until or after I have received verification that you have received this tutoring. You must inform the Science Enrichment Center staff upon arrival that you are there to receive tutoring (ie, you can’t show up, sit at a desk with no tutoring and expect that effort to count). 

*Legibility: Your handwritten work must be legible by the instructor and the final answer must be clearly indicated by circling or highlighting to receive full credit.

*If special accommodations are necessary, arrangements must be made at least 48 hours PRIOR to exam date.

* NO MAKE-UP tests and/or assignments of any sort for ANY reason.

You must use the periodic tables, scratch paper and calculators supplied by the department for quizzes and exams unless specified otherwise by the professor. 

 *All tests, excluding the Final Exam, will be taken in the Science Testing Center and may be taken during normal Science Testing Center hours. It is the responsibility of the student to know the hours of the Science Testing Center. The instructor will not take an excuse revolving around confusion about Science Testing Center hours to be an excuse for not taking an exam. Bear in mind, there are NO MAKE-UP tests for ANY reason. 

5 major unit exams can consist of a comprehensive mixture of multiple choice, matching, true/false, completion, problem solving and/or short answer questions. The 4 BEST exam scores will be used and account for 60% of your total grade.

 

Quizzes:

There will be 20 quizzes throughout the semester. The 15 best quiz scores will be used and account for 10% of your grade.

Homework:

There will be a total of 10 homework assignments periodically throughout the semester. Due dates are pending and it is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to due dates when they are announced verbally in class. The 8 best homework grades will account for 10% of your grade. 

Bear in mind that homework is an online assignment. It is the responsibility and obligation of the student to give the professor 24 hours written notice via email if there should be any technology issues that would impede turning the assignment in on time. There will be zero tolerance for turning homework in late. Homework #10 will be an IN CLASS assignment on the last week of class. It is essential that the student attends class this day as there will be no opportunity to make up this grade.

 

Final Exam:

The final exam is comprehensive and will account for 20% of your grade.

 

Grading:

Grades will not be curved nor are extra credit assignments allowed / given for ANY REASON.

90.0-100 % = A

80 - 89.99% = B

70-79.99% = C

60-69.99% = D

59.99% or less = F

 

MAKE UP POLICY:

If you MISS, COME IN LATE or LEAVE EARLY to any test or quiz for any reason or MISS the DUE DATE and TIME for any homework assignment, the grade of a zero will be assigned for that test, quiz or homework assignment for the semester.

**NO MAKE UPS or LATE WORK will be allowed FOR ANY REASON on any test, quiz or homework assignment, so PLEASE DO NOT ASK. **

Grade Disputes:  While I encourage you to ask questions, if you wish to dispute a grade, you must contact me within a week of the grade being posted online in the gradebook or there will be no change to the disputed grade. 

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Attendance will be taken every day at the end of class.

If you miss class for any reason, it is YOUR responsibility to read in the textbook over the material you missed and fill out your notes accordingly. Also, it must be understood that even though you miss a day, it is your responsibility to catch yourself up well enough to be able to potentially (more than likely) take a quiz over that information the next class period. 

Important Dates:

^{Thursday, May 25th - Census Day}

Monday, May 29th - Memorial Day (COLLEGE CLOSED)

Wednesday, June 21st - Last Day to Withdraw

Scheduled LECTURE FINAL: Thursday, June 29th from 9:30AM - 11:30 AM. Finals are taken in the regularly assigned classroom (Failure to arrive on time will forfeit the student's right to take the final).

Calendar

Additional Information

Cheating Policy: There is a no tolerance cheating policy in this course. If the instructor suspects or catches a student(s) cheating, an "F" will be issued to that student(s) for the course. The instructor also reserves the right to issue an "F" without confronting the student especially if it is finals week.

 

WITHDRAW: A grade of "W" will be given for drops or withdraws on or before the published official withdraw date.

 

FINAL GRADE CHANGES: The final grade turned into the registrar's office will not be changed unless approved by all full time chemistry faculty committee. Request must be submitted in writing.

 

BAD WEATHER: 
If classes are canceled due to inclement weather, you are responsible for reading and learning the material that would have been covered. If an exam was scheduled and classes are canceled, the exam will be given the next class meeting. (BE PREPARED). If class is canceled the last day of class and an exam was scheduled, then the exam will be added to the Final Exam and the questions will count as the exam and as the final exam. All attendance policies will be be enforced, unless Amarillo College officially cancels classes, NO EXCEPTIONS. Cancelations will be announced on the radio by 6:30 AM or by 3:00 PM for evening classes. Also check the AC website.