Course Syllabus

BIOLOGY 100 – General Biology

We have an exciting semester planned for Biology 100. Along the way you’ll learn the fundamental biological ideas behind atopic range of topics so you can be more well informed about how and why behind the science of biology.

Catalog Description: This is an introductory course for non-majors emphasizing the scientific method in investigating the origins, physiology, ecological roles, and comparative characteristics of living organisms.

This is a four-unit class. It consists of 48 - 54 contact hours per semester of lecture time and 48 - 54 contact hours per semester of lab time. This does not include study time outside of class time. 

Associate Degree Applicable. Transfers to both UC/CSU.

Prerequisite Advisory: ENGL 101 or eligibility for ENGL 101 or ENGL 101H as determined by the SBVC assessment process.

This syllabus, its contents, and the appended schedule are subject to change based on circumstances. All changes will be clearly communicated to students.

This course has me, Professor Murillo, as your lecture instructor and Instructor Mr. Rivera for lab.  We are a team that works together to help you succeed.

• Consult the lab instructors syllabus and Schedule for Lab Component Information

You can locate me two ways:

Email: jbackey@valleycollege.edu   Office: HLS 209 (in HLS 208)

I hold student office hours in-person Wednesday from 10 AM to 1 PM and via Zoom as requested.

Throughout this course we will complete several learning objectives- things we’d like you to walk away with knowing.

Lecture:

• Explain the relationship of a biological concept to inequities in our community in an exam essay question of higher-order bloom's taxonomy.
• Identify the interconnection of biology, their everyday life, and information literacy using a metacognitive reading analysis worksheet on a contemporary secondary or tertiary science article of their choice.

Lab:

• Employ scientific thinking and methodologies by creating a research proposal based on outdoor and/or laboratory animal observations.
• Ignacio Rivera lab instructor: here is my syllabus. Rivera_Spring23 Syllabus Bio_100_73.docx 

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Develop and apply reliable strategies of biological information literacy to evaluate scientific claims and situations requiring decision making, problem solving, and of acquiring knowledge.
• Integrate evolution in all aspects of biology, including at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels.
• Evaluate biodiversity at the evolutionary, molecular, cellular, organismal, and community levels and relate to modern society aspects.
• Practice scientific thinking, process, and methodologies to explore nature and human issues, while recognizing evidence-based logic, scientific uncertainty, and the limits of science.
• Apply modern technology and biotechnology to build knowledge, inform policy, address societal issues, and provide culturally appropriate solutions.
• Perform laboratory and outdoor classroom (Living Lab Garden and Oak Garden) experiences to connect numerical and qualitative evidence with biological concepts and real-world applications.
• Recognize racial, ethnic, gender, cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic issues as they may intersect with biological concepts and impact our local, state, and global communities.
• Recognize eurocentric views and practices of biological science while exploring modern equitable scientific efforts and multicultural contributors to biological research.
• Evaluate ecosystems, their dynamics and services, and ethical perspectives of the environment.
• Collaborate with peers and faculty to analyze and discuss biological concepts and their impacts.
• Identify and implement characteristics and strategies of growth mindset through lecture and laboratory activities and assessments.

Course Materials and Resources:

The course will use various tools to help you learn. You are responsible for all items below:

Canvas: You must have access to Canvas. Canvas is a webpage where instructors place course materials, including assignments, reading materials, and announcements. There will also be some quizzes or assignments on Canvas.

Textbook: We will be using Biology by Raven as our course textbook. It is a free online textbook available through the “McGraw-HIll” link on Canvas. You are required to do all readings and assignments in each module.

Supplemental Lecture Packet: Readings found on Canvas.

Lab Packet: Lab materials will be provided to you at the start of each lab.

Assignments: there will be a combination of online and paper assignments. You must have internet access to complete online assignments.

If you have trouble accessing Canvas, contact: https://support.valleycollege.edu/

Attendance Policies:

It is important we hold ourselves accountable to the material. Attendance will be taken in lab and monitored on Canvas, and will be counted as an absence if you are late or leave early without a documented reason.

Behavioral Policies:

A good course is much like an ecosystem – we must all work together to ensure each other’s success. This means being attentive to our behavior, remembering to be respectful and courteous to students and professors.

Professors reserve the right to ask a student to leave the class for disruptive behavior.

Academic Integrity:

I place a high standard on academic integrity. Cheating on assignments, quizzes, and exams will result in a zero to all parties involved. Allowing someone else to copy your exams or classwork will get both parties zeros.

Every student will be held accountable for upholding SBVC’s Academic Standards and Policies:  https://catalog.valleycollege.edu/academic-standards-policies/

Campus policy defines cheating as

• Obtaining information from another student during an examination.
• Communicating information to another student during an examination.
• Knowingly allowing another student to copy one’s work.
• Offering another person’s work as one’s own.
• Taking an examination for another student or having someone take an examination for oneself.
• Sharing answers for a take-home examination unless specifically authorized by the instructor.
• Using unauthorized material during an examination.
• Altering a graded examination or assignment and returning it for additional credit. ● Having another person or a company do the research and/or writing of an assigned paper or report.
• Misreporting or altering the data in laboratory or research projects.
• Collusion: when any student knowingly or intentionally helps another student perform an act of academic dishonesty.

Plagiarism is not allowed. Presenting someone else’s  written material (your classmate’s work or text from a book or online) as your own is a form of cheating called “plagiarism.” Turning in a writing assignment copied from another source, or that is written by someone other than yourself, will result in a zero for that assignment. Copying even a portion of a sentence is considered plagiarism.

If you are caught cheating in any way, you will receive a zero on that work (assignment, quiz, or exam) and you will forfeit any chance to make up the lost points. When I have to lower a score due to cheating, an Academic Integrity report will be filed, and this could result in further disciplinary measures, such as academic probation or suspension.

What happens if someone violates these policies?

We must each strive to create and promote an authentic and honest community to pursue knowledge and aim to achieve academic excellence. If you believe that a member in our community has violated these academic integrity policies, please report concerns to me immediately by email. In your email - indicate the violation and include specific evidence. All concerns will be addressed promptly and appropriately. All reported concerns and individuals will be confidential.

Make-Up Quiz/Exam and Late Assignments:

Make up quizzes for lecture are allowed ONLY with a documented excuse. The student must then take the exam at a time prior to the corrected and graded exam or quiz is returned to the class that is suitable for both the professor and the student requiring the make-up.

Assignments (online or on paper) submitted past the due date will be deducted 10% of the possible score for each day late. For example, if you would have received all ten points on a ten-point assignment that submitted late by two days, you can now only earn a maximum of eight points – each day was 10% off the total possible score.

There are no make-ups for labs. These are experiences we engage in with our class, and are thus not possible to recreate.

Points and Grading:

This course gives students different types of opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge. Each of these opportunities will have a set of points assigned to them.

Lecture: Type of assignment and points to be determined by lecture instructor. Lecture is 70% of your grade.

Lab: Points to be determined by lab instructor. Lab is 30% of your grade.

There will be extra credit assigned by the lecture and lab instructor.  The lecture instructor will allow 10 points extra credit and the lab instructor will allow 10 points extra credit.

Grading follows a standard format, and the professors reserve the right to either curve or not.

Grading range (% based): 100 – 94 = A; 93.99 – 82= B; 82.99 – 70 = C; 69.99 – 58 = D; 7.99 and lower = F

Our wonderful campus has many resources to help you.

Tutoring and Academic Support:

Valley 360 Center: Free food pantry and resources are available on campus: https://www.valleycollege.edu/about-sbvc/facilities/360-resource-center/index.php

STEM MESA Center: Valley College Academic Success Center provides a variety of tutoring  options for STEM courses. Remote tutoring is available! Please contact the Tutoring Center to find out more: https://www.valleycollege.edu/student-services/tutoring-academic-support/student-success-center/

Library: The library provides access to online databases, as well as al great team of librarians and staff: https://library.valleycollege.edu/

Writing Center: The writing center offers many resources by staff to support and enhance student skills in reading writing in all disciplines: https://www.valleycollege.edu/student-services/tutoring-academic-support/writing-center/

Student Accessibility Services: SAS coordinates all academic accommodations for students with disabilities. If this applies to you, be sure to contact SAS (located at Student Services Bldg, Rm  105 at (909) 384-4443 or https://www.valleycollege.edu/student-services/specialized-counseling-services/student-accessibility-services/index.php

If you are already registered with DSPS and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can assist you in a timely manner. I do not make accommodations after an assignment or exam has been completed if you do not alert me beforehand.

Student Health Services: https://www.valleycollege.edu/student-services/specialized-counseling-services/health-services/

Counseling Services: SBVC has many focused counseling services and programs available to assist and promote your success: https://www.valleycollege.edu/student-services/counseling/

MESA-STEM Program: provide a series of resources and workshops for science and allied health majors https://stem.valleycollege.edu/mesa/

Student Well-being and Safety: Valley College is committed to supporting the physical and mental health of all our students. If you or another student you know needs support, please do not hesitate to use the following resources:

Campus Safety & Security (non-emergencies): (909)-384-4491

Title IX Information and Website: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs, including athletic programs, or activities that receive federal funding. For more information, please go to https://www.valleycollege.edu/contact-sbvc/. 

Week	Week of:	Tentative Biology 100 Lecture Schedule
1	2/13	Module 1: Getting a Great Start Due: orientation activities by Sunday night
2	2/20	Module 2: Molecular Basis of Life  Due: assignment, discussion and quiz by Sunday night
3	2/27	Module 3: Biology of the Cell
4	3/6	Module 3: Biology of the Cell Lab exam
5	3/13	Module 4: Energy Sources & Use and Role of DNA in Reproduction
6	3/20	Spring Break
7	3/27	Module 4: Energy Sources & Use and Role of DNA in Reproduction
8	4/3	Module 5: Evolution
9	4/10	Module 5: Evolution
10	4/17	Module 6: Diversity of Life on Earth
11	4/24	Module 7: Animal Form and Function
12	5/1	Module 8: Ecology and Behavior
13	5/8	Lab exam

Murillo 100 S23 Hybrid Syllabus.doc