Newton Polytechnic

http://www.dmacc.edu

Syllabus

 

Academic Standards Commission

ENV 116 - Environmental Science Lab Spring - 2010

Instructor Information

Name

Matt Abbott, PhD

E-mail address

mabbott1@dmacc.edu

Phone number

(641) 791-1775

Fax number

 

Office location

118A

Office hours

As posted or by appointment

Course Information

Semester

Spring

Year

2010

Course title

Environmental Science Lab

Course number

ENV 116

Credits

1

Section number

NA

CRN number

21815

Days & Time

W: 11:15-1:15

Location

130B

Course description

This lab supplements discussion in ENV 115. Lab includes measurement of soil nutrients and water pollutants. Selected field trips deal with soil conservation, wildlife management, wastewater treatment and other aspects of environmental conservation.

Prerequisites

Enrollment in or prior completion of ENV 115 or equivalent

Course competencies

http://www.dmacc.edu/competencies/  

Important Dates

Midterm

http://www.dmacc.edu/academiccal.asp

Final

http://www.dmacc.edu/academiccal.asp

Textbooks & Materials

Required textbooks

None

Course Policies

Attendance

Attending class is essential for success in this course.  Therefore, the student is expected to attend all class sessions.  If you miss a session, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from a classmate.  Missed laboratories can not be made up.

Grading criteria

Lab Participation / Write-ups (20 pts. Each)            280 pts   (65%)

Paper (50pts) and Presentation (50pts)                   100 pts   (23%)

Paper Outline (50pts)                                                50 pts   (12%)

  

       Scale: A   =  92% or above                      C   =  72-77%

                  A- =  90-91%                               C- =  70-71%

                  B+ =  88-89%                               D+ =  68-69%

                   B   =  82-87%                               D   =  62-67%

                  B- =  80-81%                                D- =  60-61% 

                  C+ =  78-79%                                F   =  below 60%

I expect you to keep track of your own grade.

Calculation = (# points earned / # points possible) X 100%

Classroom conduct

Refer to the DMACC Student Handbook:

http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp

Late assignments

Lab discussion questions are due at the end of each lab.  Labs can not be made up.  Paper and outline for paper are not accepted after the due date.

Extra credit

None

Study expectations

Please read the lab exercises on WebCT before coming to Lab

Weather policy

“Individual circumstances such as health, childcare, rural roads, distance from the College, etc. can vary greatly among students and staff.  It is always DMACC’s goal to provide safe learning conditions, as well as provide the opportunity for students to attend classes when the vast majority is able to safely attend.  The final decision to come to College can only be made by the individual student based on their specific extenuating circumstances that may make it unsafe for them to travel.  During adverse weather, DMACC faculty is considerate of students who are unable to attend classes due to unique extenuating circumstances.  It is the responsibility of each faculty member to notify their students (in addition to their dean or provost) through some predetermined means if they are must postpone or cancel a specific class due to weather or illness.”

 

Announcement of class cancellations will be made via email or phone.

Academic dishonesty

Refer to the DMACC Student Handbook:

http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp

DMACC Information Web Sites

DMACC home page

http://www.dmacc.edu/

Instructor home pages

http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/welcome.asp

Admissions & registration

http://www.dmacc.edu/potienti.asp

Cellular phone use statement

http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/cellphone.asp

WebCT ****

http://webct.dmacc.edu/webct/public/home.pl

Student handbook

http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp

Add/drop dates

http://www.dmacc.edu/registration/add_drop.asp

Refund policy

http://www.dmacc.edu/refund.asp

Support Services

Accommodations

“It is the policy of DMACC to accommodate students with disabilities.  Any student with a documented disability who requires reasonable accommodation should contact the special needs coordinator at 515-964-6850 voice or 515-964-6810 TTY.”

Services for students with disabilities

http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/disabilities.asp

 

Contact the special needs coordinator at 515-964-6850 voice or 515-964-6810 TTY or contact the Academic Achievement Center on the Newton campus at 641-791-1730 for an Application for Accommodation.

Academic & educational advising

http://www.dmacc.edu/newton/newtonadvisors.htm

Career counseling

http://www.dmacc.edu/newton/newtonadvisors.htm

Interactive Learning Center

http://www.library.dmacc.edu/

 

Room 120

·         Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

·         Friday – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Academic Achievement Center

http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/academic_achievement_center.asp

 

Services include academic help, tutoring, testing (Compass), pre-admission and high school diploma courses, GED, and credit classes

 

641-791-3622 or 1-800-362-2127

 

Room 107

Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Computer labs

http://www.dmacc.edu/helpdesk/pc_labs.htm  

 

Room 110 A

·         Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

·         Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Disclaimer

“This syllabus is representative of materials that will be covered in this class; it is not a contract between the student and the institution.  It is subject to change without notice.  Any potential exceptions to stated policies and requirements will be addressed on an individual basis, and only for reasons that meet specific requirements.  If you have any problems related to this class, please feel free to discuss them with me.”

Nondiscrimination Policy

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in or allow discrimination covered by law.  This includes harassment based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability.  Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.  Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedures.  Complaint forms may be obtained from the DMACC Web site, the Ombudsperson, Judicial Officer, Human Resources Department, the campus Provost's Offices, and Academic Deans’ Offices.

 

Students who wish additional information or assistance may contact the Executive Dean, Student Services, Laurie Wolf, Building 1, 515-964-6437 or the EEO/AA Officer, Dr. Sandy Tryon, Human Resources, Bldg. 1, 515-964-6301 or they may refer to Student Services procedure 4645 located on the DMACC Intranet at http://my.dmacc.edu/procs.aspx.  Go to Policies & Procedures and choose Student Services Procedures. Employees and applicants who wish additional information or assistance may contact the EEO/AA Officer, Dr. Sandy Tryon, Human Resources, Bldg. 1, 515-964-6301 or refer to HR Procedures 3000, 3005, 3010, 3015, and 3020 at http://www.dmacc.edu/hr/hrpp.asp .

 

For requests for accommodations, the Accommodation/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Sharon Bittner, can be contacted at 515-964-6857.  Students with requests for accommodations should refer to the Student Services procedure 4610 located on the DMACC Intranet at http://my.dmacc.edu/default.aspx .  Go to Policies & Procedures and choose Student Services Procedures.

 


 

Tentative Course Schedule

Week or Date

Topic

Location

Week 1    1/13

Introduction; FILM: Garden of Eden

*Discuss next week

130B

Week 2    1/20

Energy and Water Conservation

Solid Waste Management

130B

Week 3    1/27

Soil Conservation

Soil Surveys, the Soil Conservation Farm Plan

130B

Week 4    2/3

 Present/Discuss soil report write-ups

*Discuss and Assign Projects

130B

Week 5    2/10

Wildlife Management

Mark-Recapture Method

130B

Week 6    2/17

Human Ecology

Human Populations

Union Cemetery

Week 7    2/24

Land Use and Water Resources

Park Planning

Mariposa

Week 8    3/3

Land Use and Water Resources

Park Planning

Jacob Krumm

Week 9    3/10

Present/Discuss Park Planning Findings

FILM: Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

* Project Outline Due

130B

 

Week 10  3/24

Biodiversity scavenger hunt

Water Pollution

Water Chemistry, turbidity, dissolved Oxygen

Mariposa

Week 11   3/31

Present/Discuss scavenger hunt results

FILM:  Understanding Biodiversity

130B

Week 12   4/7

Forest Management

Timber Cruising

Maytag Park

Week 13   4/14

FILM:  Tallgrass Prairie

130B

Week 14   4/21

Ecology

Restoration Ecology

Neal Smith Prairie Center

Week 15   4/28

* Project Presentation and Paper due

130B