Please note: Prior to June 2008, Biology 160 was Biology 101 at Bellevue Community College

Contents
General Information
Topics Covered
Required Materials
Course Calendar This links to the course calendar. Please use your browser's back button to return to this course information page.
Class Preparation
Attendance
Laboratory
Exams
Quizzes
Assignments
Course Grading
Waitlist and Blue Cards
Special Needs
Classroom Civilty
BCC's Cheating Policy
Course Withdrawal
Course Syllabus

1. Instructor Information
Name: Rosemary Richardson
Office Location: L-200K
e-mail: rrichard@bellevuecollege.edu

Office Hour: Tuesday at 1:30 in L-200K
I am also available most days after class, by appointment, and by e-mail. Please identify Biology 160 in the e-mail subject line.

Biology 160 B and C Class Website: http://scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/rkr/biology160/biology160.html
BCC's Life Science: http://scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/lifesci/
BCC's Science Division: http://scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/
Bellevue Community College: http://bellevuecollege.edu/

2. Topics Covered
Biology 160, an introductory course emphasizing cell and molecular biology concepts, is the prerequisite course for microbiology, and for human anatomy and physiology, required courses for students entering health occupation fields. Biology 160 is also the first college biology course for those pursuing science careers that require a one-year biology sequence, such as Biology 211-212-213. Students who wish to have a one-term biology experience should consider Biology 100 as an alternative to Biology 160.

Biology 160 meets the General Education Outcomes #16, Nature of Science, and #17, Science and the Natural World, with ratings of "2". See the BCC Catalog for more information on General Education Requirements.

During this term, we will discuss some chemistry background for the molecules from which we are all constructed; focus on the structure, reproduction and metabolism of cells; and conclude our term with an introduction to the fields of genetics and evolutionary biology. Details of subjects covered are listed on the attached course syllabus. In addition, the course calendar, lecture notes and lab handouts for Biology 160 are posted on the Biology 160 class website.

3. Required Materials:

1. Textbook: Life on Earth, 8^th (BCC Custom) Edition, by Audesirk, Audesirk and Byers
2. Laboratory Manual: Biology 160 Student Handbook , 4^th Edition
3. Additional Laboratory Handouts, as noted on the course syllabus and calendar, to be downloaded from the Biology 160 Laboratory Supplements class website
   
4. Scan—Tron cards for exams

4. Class Preparation
It is your responsibility to prepare in advance for all course materials. The syllabus is the best "guess" for the progress of the course. You are expected to read the assigned textbook and laboratory material before each topic is discussed. You should reread the material following lecture and classroom discussions to coordinate text materials with the classroom presentations.

The syllabus may need revising during the quarter. Revisions to the syllabus will be announced in class. You will be responsible for any revisions even if you are absent at the time of announced changes, or for some reason, fail to note the revision at the time it is announced.

The course calendar lists references with links to lecture notes, supplemental lab materials and other course information. Syllabus updates are usually, but not always, posted on the course calendar.

Please note that all assignments and papers are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late papers are not accepted and receive no credit. If you anticipate being late to class, turn your assignment in early in the Science Division Office, L-200.

5. Attendance
Class attendance is expected. It is difficult to do well in any subject without attending class, and lecture and laboratory materials are essential for the exams. You are responsible for knowing class materials whether you attend class or not. You are also responsible for any announcements, including assignments, and/or changes in the syllabus/course calendar, including exam dates or assignment due dates whether you have been attending class or not, or if for some reason, fail to note a change at the time it is announced.

6. Study Groups
It is valuable to form a study group with two or three other students. A good study group helps each of you learn the course materials more effectively as you collectively work with the pieces given in class to build a complete picture of the subject. BCC's Science Study Center, located in B-105, is open daily. Open hours are posted on the SSC website and at the Science Study Center.

7. Academic Success Center The Academic Success Center is open Monday through Thursday Fall 2008. Open hours for the Math Lab, Reading Lab, Writing Lab and Academic Tutoring within the center are posted on the center website. Academic Tutoring group session times are listed on the Academic tutoring website.

8. Laboratory, Lab Preparation Quizzes and Laboratory Reports
Laboratory activities are a major part of this course and should be taken seriously. The laboratory provides you with the opportunity to reinforce your text and lecture exposure with direct observation and experimentation. Since laboratory time is limited, it is essential that you come prepared for each laboratory, and on time.

In addition to the Biology 160 Laboratory Handbook, several supplemental laboratory exercises are available in pdf on the Biology 160 lab supplements website. You are responsible for downloading the files and bringing a copy of the appropriate laboratory exercise to class.

You must work safely and efficiently in the lab. Often you will work with a partner or in groups. Report injuries, potential or actual hazards or accidents immediately to your instructor.

Lab Quizzes: To ensure that you have prepared for each laboratory session, you will take a short quiz at the beginning of each laboratory based on the lab to be completed that day. Credit for pre-lab quizzes is a part of your course grade. If you are late to laboratory, or if you do not attend the lab, you will miss the quiz and receive a zero (0). There are no lab or lab quiz make-ups no matter what the extenuating circumstance might be.

Note: Points earned on the lab preparation quizzes count only when you also complete the laboratory exercises. If you leave lab before the completion of the exercises you will not receive points for the quiz for that lab, no matter how well you did on the quiz.

Lab Reports: You may be required to submit lab reports during the term. Laboratory report requirements and due dates will be announced during the laboratory period and posted on the class assignments website at the time the assignment is given.

Note: A copy of the laboratory assignment with answers filled out is not acceptable for a laboratory report.

9. Examinations
Five unit exams and a comprehensive final exam will be given in Biology 160. Exams cover lecture, text and laboratory material. The exam format is primarily objective, and includes a laboratory and visual recognition practical component. You will need to bring a scan-tron card and a soft lead pencil to each exam. (Both can be purchased in the BCC bookstore.)

The anticipated exam dates are listed in the course syllabus and calendar. Any changes in exam dates will be announced, in class, in advance. You must take the exams at the scheduled time. If you have a conflict with the scheduled exam time, you may be able to take the exam earlier at the discretion of your instructor. No make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam you will receive a zero (0).

If there is an extenuating circumstance for missing an exam that includes discussion of the circumstance with the instructor prior to the exam time, the instructor may, at her discretion, use the final exam score as a "make-up" exam for the missed exam. Missing an exam will seriously affect your course grade. Any extenuating circumstance must be documented in writing and approved by the instructor.

Graded exams are provided to students for learning and evaluation after each exam. All exams are to be returned on the final exam day to the instructor. All course materials provided to students, including exams, are the work of the instructor. Making copies of exams and sharing exams with others is a form of cheating.

10. Quizzes and Quizlets
Quizzes may be given during the quarter on specific subject areas of biology. Quizzes will be announced in class prior to the day given. Credit earned on quizzes will be a formal part of the course point total. There will be no makeŠups for quizzes. If you are absent, you will receive a zero (0) for the quiz.

Occasionally you may have the opportunity to take quizlets. Credit earned on quizlets will be added to your total course grade as bonus points. Quizlets may be on any subject. Quizlets are not announced in advance. Points earned on quizlets are added to your course point total.

11. Assignments, Projects and Reports
All assignments and reports are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late papers are not accepted and receive no credit. If your paper is more than one page in length, you must staple the pages together. Pages held together with folded edges or paper clips will not be graded. If you are using paper from a spiral-bound notebook, please remove the spiral edges before turning in your paper. Assignments and reports are to be word-processed unless otherwise noted at the time the assignment is given.

Due dates for assignments, projects and reports are announced in class on the day the report or assignment is given. Credit earned for assignments and reports will be added to the total course point total. You are responsible for assignments even if you do not attend class on the day an assignment is announced, or for some reason, fail to note the assignment at the time it is announced. If you anticipate being late to class on the day an assignment is due, you should turn your assignment in early in the Science Office, L-200.

On occasion, there may be group assignments on which members of the group work collaboratively. Each member of the group may receive a common score on the project or an individual score depending on his/her contribution to the assignment's completion. Group members will be consulted when there are questions about participation. A collaborative assignment means that one comprehensive report/project is turned in. Although each member uniquely contributes to the whole, the project is not a sequential compilation of each individual's component part. For example, a laboratory report should not just be each group member's "contribution" stapled together. All members of the group are collectively responsible for ensuring that the paper or project is turned in on time. It is in the group's interest to have a copy available to turn in if the designated person fails to attend class or is late to class on the due date. Group members, with the concurrence of the instructor, may submit individual reports.

12. Grading
Your grade is determined at the end of the quarter as a percentage of the total points possible on exams, assignments, reports, lab quizzes, problems, non-scheduled quizzes and any additional work that may be required. The instructor carefully examines borderline grades at the end of the term before submitting course grades. Factors such as the final exam score, class participation, missed assignments, and attendance may be considered in the borderline grade evaluation.

The Grading scale is:

A	4.0	95% or higher of total points possible
A-	3.7	90-94% of total points possible
B+	3.3	87-89% of total points possible
B	3.0	83-86% of total points possible
B-	2.7	80-82% of total points possible
C+	2.3	77-79% of total points possible
C	2.0	73-76% of total points possible
C-	1.7	70-72% of total points possible
D+	1.3	66-69% of total points possible
D	1.0	60-65% of total points possible
F	.	Less than 60% of total points possible

13. Course Grade Information
Your Biology 160 course grade is computed on a spreadsheet. A copy of the grade spreadsheet is posted on the class website so you can track your progress in the course. It also allows you to verify that your scores have been recorded correctly. The spreadsheet uses a code to identify each student. You may choose a code (a combination of any 4 keyboard characters) to be used on the spreadsheet.

The spreadsheet displays percentage scores rounded to whole numbers. The final letter grade does not round up so there can be minor discrepancies in the spreadsheet display relative to the actual percentage score and grade earned.

14. Waitlist and Permission (Blue) Cards
BCC uses a waitlist for students who wish to take a class that is filled at the time of their registration date. From the registration date through the third day of the quarter, if there is a withdrawal, students from the waitlist are automatically enrolled in the class in the order in which they were placed on the waitlist. Students are notified via e-mail and must officially register and pay their tuition within the time frame given or they lose their spot in the class.

For Fall 2008, from September 25 - October 3, students must have a permission (blue) card to register. Blue cards are provided exclusively at the discretion of the instructor. Consideration for blue card admissions will be done by the instructor on an individual basis, but in no case will blue cards be distributed to students who have not been attending class and doing the course activities from the first day of the term. Science laboratory class size is limited by the number of laboratory stations; overloading laboratory classes creates potential safety issues.

15. Special Needs (Special needs syllabus information included at Disability Resource Center's request.)
If you need course modifications, adaptations or accommodations you should contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) staff, room B-132 (425) 564-2498 or TTY (425) 564-4110), to establish eligibility for accommodation. Disability resource information is also available at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/drc/. The DRC provides eligible students with an accommodation letter. Please make an appointment with your instructor the first week of the quarter to discuss accommodation needs.

If you have medical information that your instructor should be aware of, or might need assistance during an emergency situation or evacuation, please let your instructor know.

16. Classroom Civility
Bellevue Community College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at BCC, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

All members of our college community are expected, while participating in college activities, to exhibit and practice civility, including:

• Respecting students, staff. faculty, guests and college property, policies, rules and regulations
• Communicating in a professional and courteous manner, whether verbal, non-verbal or written
• Taking responsibility for one's choices and actions
• Accepting consequences of one's inappropriate choices and actions

17. Bellevue Community College Science Division Policy on Cheating
Cheating is not tolerated in this class. You are expected to conduct yourself with integrity. When you cheat, or aid someone else in cheating, you violate a trust. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying answers on tests or homework, glimpsing at nearby test papers, swapping papers, stealing, plagiarizing, illicitly giving or receiving help on exams or assignments, turning in work that you did not do or submitting false data. If you cheat the following actions may be taken:

1. You will receive a grade of 0 on the exam, lab, quiz, etc., where evidence of cheating has been demonstrated. This grade cannot be dropped.
2. A report of the incident will be sent to the Dean of Student Services. He/she may file the report in your permanent record or take further disciplinary action such as suspension or expulsion from the college.

If you feel you have been unfairly accused of cheating, you may appeal. (For a description of due process procedures see WAC 132H—120, copies of which are available in the Student Body Government Office).

Note: If you are involved in more than one cheating incident in this class, you will be given an "F" grade for the class no matter how well you have performed on the other course components.

18. Withdrawal From the Course
Withdrawal from a course is the termination of the student's registration in that course. To withdraw you must complete an official Add/Drop form, available at the Registration Office. For Fall 2008, withdrawal is permitted through November 7 in person (by 5:00 pm PST), or November 9 online (by noon PST). Students who withdraw will have a "W" posted on their transcript. Students enrolled after that date will be graded. If you stop coming to class and do not complete the course, you will receive an "F" at the end of the quarter. If an extraordinary situation arises after the withdrawal deadline that prevents the student from completing the course, a grade of "HW" (hardship withdrawal) may be given at the discretion of the instructor.