CLASS EXPECTATIONS
GENERAL COURSE PROCEDURES:

• Class will meet as listed on the syllabus. Labs meet once a week (more often in summer).
• Regular class attendance is expected.  Students who repeatedly miss classes always do poorly.
• Tests are listed on the syllabus (and any changes are posted on Class Notices). Lab quizzes are explained on the LabInfo web page.
• Students are expected to read online postings at least twice each week.

ALL STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED:

1. To come to class each day mentally and intellectually prepared for work.
2. To pay attention, work hard and do their best.
3. To read the textbook and other course materials carefully and thoroughly, with the aim of learning the material. There is usually no need to bring the book to class.
   • RECOMMENDATION: Before class, read each assignment lighly, but pay attention to the boldface words and the illustrations (including their captions). After class, reread the assignment thoroughly for full detail.
4. To ask for assistance when they need it. (Extra help can be arranged.)
5. To enjoy learning new skills.
6. To develop new and increased understanding of the scientific inquiry process.
7. To develop new and increased understanding of living systems.
8. To become familiar with the web pages posted for this class.
9. To check the course web pages frequently for any assignments, notices, or schedule changes;
   ESPECIALLY DURING ANY ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL.
10. To e-mail me with any questions, concerns, or special needs.
11. To cooperate with other students in an environment of mutual learning and mutual respect.
12. To treat their fellow students and teachers with respect, which includes the academic courtesies listed below(*).
13. To treat school property and other private property with respect.
14. To be familiar with and to abide by the University's policies on academic honesty, as explained here.
15. To observe all safety rules.

• Most important: you also need an alert mind, focused on learning, not sleep-deprived or impaired in any other way.
• Meeting the above expectations is your responsibility. "A teacher can open the door to learning, but you must enter on your own."   —Confucian proverb

(*)Attendance and academic courtesies (comportment):
Attendance is essential to the learning process.
Passing the course requires participating in at least 60% of the laboratory sessions.
Punctuality is expected, but, if you must arrive late, please do so courteously and without disrupting the class.
Please do not chat, surf the web, or send any messages during class; doing so impairs your learning
    and is both a discourtesy and a distraction to your fellow students.
Please mute your cell phones while in class.
If you need to discuss something with me, please consider using email instead of taking class time;
    you can usually get a longer and more thoughtful response that way.
Please address me as Dr. Minkoff; the use of "hey" identifies you as crude and discourteous.
Please be as clear as possible in your communication, and specify the course and section to which you belong.
If the information that you seek can be found online, please look there first. I will try to respond to emails as soon as I can.

In case of absence for any reason:

IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK THE CLASS WEB PAGE DURING ABSENCES.

Please e-mail me if the absence lasts longer than two days.


OUTCOMES— WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO GET OUT OF THIS COURSE:
From any educational experience, you will get two kinds of outcomes. They are both important, but very different:

CREDENTIALS, like a degree, a certificate, or a grade in a course: These will help you get your first job or graduate school placement.
      For more about grading in this course, go back to the class syllabus and click the link to "grading".

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS:  These will help you do well in your first job or in graduate school, or your second or third job as well, so the importance is more lasting.
      If you work seriously to fulfill the expectations listed above, you will gain both subject knowledge, including an understanding of biology and
      biological systems at all levels, and also important skills, including both laboratory skills and learning skills, such as:

How to use lab equipment (safely) How to mix and pour lab chemicals (safely) How to examine things carefully, and compare them How to measure things and record data How to collaborate with others in joint projects How to plan your work How to write up and communicate what you have done

How to read, carefully and critically How to evaluate what you read (especially when different sources say different things) How to look up useful information How to organize knowledge that you have learned How to communicate your knowledge to others

Now go back and look at the above list of skills, and think about why an employer would value an employee who has those skills (and can teach them to others), but would be more inclined to get rid of an employee who displayed a lack of one or more of these skills. Your knowledge and skills, not your credentials, will help you to keep your job, or get a promotion, or get a good letter of recommendation for your next job.


WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME, the teacher:

1. Love of learning (a life-long passion)
2. Love of teaching (another life-long passion)
3. Willingness to help every student, as much as they need
4. Fairness to all
5. A commitment, which I take seriously, to make sure that every student who takes seriously their commitment to live up to the expectations listed above will (a) learn a lot and acquire knowledge, (b) acquire many useful skills, and (c) earn a high grade.
   

Individual help is available for those who need it.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Accommodations for students with disabilties are arranged on a case-by-case basis in cooperation with the Office of Student Accessibility Services in the Administration Building (first floor). If this may apply to you, it is your responsibility to send me email to make me aware of your particular situation and the accommodations that may be necessary and appropriate.
Worcester State University is committed to providing reasonable academic accommodations for all students with disabilities. If you have a disability and are concerned about the format or requirements of this course, please meet with me to discuss ways to ensure full participation. Students must be registered with Student Accessibility Services in order to receive academic accommodations. Student Accessibility Services is located in the Administration Building, Room 131 and can be reached by phone (508-929-8733) or email (sas@worcester.edu). Please notify me if you need this syllabus in an alternative format.
The Department of Biology makes every effort to assure that risks to students are minimized. Students with any medical or other conditions, including but not limited to pregnancy, asthma or conditions that compromise the immune system, that may affect use of, or ability to come into contact with substances used in our laboratories, whether airborne or directly, or to safely work in this environment, should consult with their physician regarding participation in any lab and advise the instructor. The Department of Biology and/or the Office of Student Accessibility Services will make every effort to work with students and their personal physician to determine appropriate accommodations.

To contact Dr. Minkoff: please e-mail me at eminkoffbates.edu
I am here to help.

A detailed syllabus is posted online.