Schedule of Lab Topics
	Lab Syllabus
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	Assignments
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Environmental Science Laboratory Schedule* Summer 2008

Room 241

*Schedule is subject to change

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Objective:
By the end of the semester students will be:

1. introduced to the scientific method
2. able to understand basic principles of ecology and environmental science
3. able to discuss current issues related to the environment

Grading:

A grade of "I" will only be given at the discretion of the department to students who demonstrate extenuating circumstances and who are passing the course at the time the request for an incomplete is made.

Note: The lab and the lecture are treated as two separate classes. You will receive a grade for the lab that is completely independent of your grade for the lecture.

Release of Grades:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (1974), does not permit faculty or staff to report grades by phone or email. In addition, per University policy, grades can not be posted.

Quizzes:
You will have three quizzes during the semester. Quizzes will be handed out at the beginning of the class period and you will have approximately 30 minutes to complete them. Quiz time will not be extended for late arrivals and can not be made up.

Assignments:
Most labs will have an assignment associated with them. The assignments consist of a few short answer questions regarding the lab experiment performed in class. The assignment will be due at the beginning of the next lab class. Assignments are to be completed and turned in on time. No late assignments will be accepted. Please see Appendix 2 of the Lab Manual for additional information on written assignments.

Field Study:
The field study exercise is a required Friday or Saturday trip to the Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA). Your instructor will divide the class into groups of four or five students. Each group will collect and analyze data then summarize the results in a five-page group lab report. The lab report must be typed using standard margins and 12-point font, double-spaced with complete sentences, and in paragraph form. The lab report may include references, as necessary. Any references used must be cited properly. Please see Appendix 1 of the Lab Manual for additional information on citing references. Failure to properly cite references when used is plagiarism and will result in a grade of 0% for the assignment.

The field study counts for 20% of your grade: 10% for the lab report and 10% for attending and participating at LLELA. Grades for the report will be a combination of self evaluations and instructor evaluations. Grades for attendance/participation will be assigned by the instructor only. Students who arrive late, leave early, do not actively participate, do not follow the rules, and/or have an unfavorable attitude at LLELA will have a reduction in their grade. If it becomes apparent during the evaluation process that a group member did not actively participate in the field study, that group member may receive a zero for the lab report, for attendance/participation or for the entire field study, at the instructor’s discretion.

Attendance:
Each Student is required to attend his/her scheduled lab section. If you miss a lab you are responsible for obtaining notes, data, etc. Students are allowed to make up labs but the lab must be made up during the same week in a regular semester or the same day as the lab you missed during a summer session. To make up a lab, you must obtain permission from your instructor as well as the instructor whose class you plan to attend. In addition, students who have two or more unexcused absences for the lab may be administratively dropped from the course.

Lab Rules:
Students at each lab table are responsible for leaving it clean and orderly for the next lab session. Class will be dismissed in time to leave the room tidy. Outdoor labs will be held regardless of the weather, so please dress appropriately. In addition, some experiments are messy or involve chemicals, so again, please dress appropriately.

No food or drinks are allowed in the lab at any time. In addition, students must wear closed-toe shoes or booties during labs that use chemicals.

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty:
Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students who are found to have committed scholastic dishonesty (all forms, including but not limited to copying from another student’s quiz or homework, or plagiarism) will fail this course. The term ‘plagiarism’ includes, but is not limited to: (1) the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and (2) the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Examples: copying, word for word, even a phrase, from a publication, including web pages, without placing quotes around the phrase and citing the source. Students suspected of academic dishonesty will automatically be assigned a grade of "F" until the matter is resolved through proper procedures. Students are expected to know their rights and responsibilities as put forth in the University of North Texas Undergraduate Catalog and the Student Guidebook.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices
Cell phones, pagers and other wireless communication devices (e.g. laptops with wireless modems, pda’s, blackberry devices) must be turned off during class. If one of these devices becomes obvious during class, it may be confiscated by the instructor for the rest of the day or the offending student may be asked to leave the lab. Students asked to leave the lab will not be allowed to turn in assignments for work they missed.

Policy on Disability Accommodations:
The Department of Biological Sciences, in cooperation with the Office of Disability Accommodation, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Written requests need to be made prior to the 4th class day.

Field Study Dates:

Lab Coordinator:

Marie King

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Send comments to Jennifer Henderson. This page was last updated May 28, 2008 .
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