UNM Biology Undergraduate Labs

Fall 2009

Pre/Co-requisites:              Bio 123 – if prerequisite, must have a C or better.  Otherwise, must be co-registered.

 

Required:                     Biology for Health-Related Sciences and Non-Majors, 5th Edition, Couch & Berger is available in the UNM bookstore.  Bring your lab manual with you to class every week.

 

Preparation:                 Labs are scheduled to last two hours and fifty minutes.  You can shorten the time spent in lab by coming prepared.  Check the lab syllabus to determine which lab exercise is to be done on a particular date.  READ the exercise BEFORE coming to lab to familiarize yourself with the procedures. 

 

Grading:                      Lab quizzes, daily assignments, 3 scientific papers and a final practical will total 200 points.  This class is completely separate from Biology 123.  You are also responsible for all University of New Mexico grade policies (refer to UNM Catalog). 

 

WP/WF policy:                   Up until the end of week 3 (Sept 11th) you have the ability to drop the class without receiving a WP/WF.  After Sept 11th, you will receive a WP if you are not failing (a D- or better) at the time you drop.  Otherwise you will receive a WF.

 

BE ON TIME TO LAB!!  You will have a quiz over the previous lab’s material and the lab for that day at the beginning of each lab period.  If you are 5 minutes late, you will NOT be allowed to take or make up that quiz AND your homework will be considered LATE and will receive an automatic zero!!

 

This is a Biology class, but Biology is NOT an exclusive subject – language and communication are vital components of any biological endeavor.  Therefore, you are expected to WRITE WELL in this class.  Your grade WILL suffer if you turn in poorly written work!!

 

Quizzes:                       There will be quiz every lab.  Each quiz will consist of metrics/conversions, material you studied the previous lab and material that you will cover in lab that day.  You have the option to bring one 3x5 note card, handwritten back and front with relevant study notes, to be attached to your quiz.

 

Assignments:                Assignments will be posted on the lab website, weekly.  It is your responsibility to check the website each week, download the appropriate homework, complete it and turn it in at the beginning of your class on the proper due date.  ALL WORK MUST BE TYPED (including your name) in 12 pt font & single-spaced, double-sided – Handwritten or emailed assignments will receive no credit.

 

Scientific Papers:          These papers are written in peer-reviewed scientific journal format and focus on specific experiments performed in class.  Over the course of the semester you will learn to write a scientific paper complete with tested hypotheses, description of the experiment, results obtained, and discussion and conclusions about analyses of the results.

                                                                                               

Practical:                      The last week of lab there will be a final cumulative practical.  No makeup finals or orange cards will be issued during this week.  Note cards will not be allowed on the practical final.

 

Late Assignments:        NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS!!  Assignments are considered late if they are not turned in at the beginning of lab.  If you are 5 minutes late to lab, your homework will be considered LATE and will receive an automatic zero.

                                                                                               

Attendance:                  Attendance is required.  You are responsible for notifying your TA prior to, or immediately after, missing lab.  If you miss your scheduled lab, you MUST obtain an orange excused absence pass from the lab coordinator or technician (Castetter Hall Rm 66/68) to attend a lab later that week.  Failure to notify your TA and lack of an excused absence will result in a loss of points for that lab period.  Labs cannot be made up after the week of the absence and missed section.  With over 1700 students a week attending labs, it is not possible to maintain live materials after the last lab of the week.  If you have more than 2 unexcused absences, you will be in danger of being dropped from the class.    (Limit - 2 make-up labs)    

                                    There are NO make-up quizzes OR assignments should you have an unexcused absence.

 

Academic Dishonesty:          Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise fails to meet the standards. Any student judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question and/or for the course.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, dishonesty in quizzes, tests, or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others; hindering the academic work of other students; misrepresenting academic or professional qualifications within or without the University; and nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filling out applications or other University records.                          
(http://pathfinder.unm.edu/policies.htm#studentcode)

 

AS A COURTESY TO YOUR TA AND FELLOW STUDENTS, PLEASE TURN OFF COMMUNICATION DEVICES!!