Science Seminar -330 ES 330-09: Syllabus Montreat College - Fall 2003

Instructor: Mark T. Lassiter, Ph.D. Montreat College Office: Morgan Science Building, Room 203 Fall 2003
Office Hours:.MWF 10 a.m. - 12 noon, Monday 2-4 p.m.
Phone: 828.669.8012.3303 (Office)
FAX: 828.669.9554
E-mail: mlassiter@montreat.edu
Web Site: http://cesc.montreat.edu

Course Description:
ES 330.Science Seminar. (1/2): Science training in academic and professional skills. [This] course will complement the student’s development at progressive levels of their program training. [Students will prepare and present topics to the class and campus. Students will develop skills in public speaking and be trained in the utilization of modern presentation materials.] Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 230. [Class time: Ave 1 hr/week: Credit 0.5 hr]

Class Structure:
The class will establish components of a student’s background matched wtih the skills and training identified as important for the specific academic year that the student enrolls. Independent projects and skill development will be pursued weekly and outside the class. A check-list of accomplishments will be maintained and serve as a record for the course grade. The student is responsible for presenting for approval the accomplishments that will be evaluated at the Presentation / Summative Class Meetings. All other scheduled weekly class meetings will be for tutoring and assistance in preparation for the presentation meetings and prepared in accordance with student needs. Campus speakers, readings, and outside activities may be scheduled with the class and attendance will be required.

Presentation / Summative Class Meetings: Morgan Science Building: Room 209
Note: Weekly meetings will be held to address what needs are suitable for the needs of the students in preparation for the goals and tasks of each of the following class meetings:

1st meeting: Monday, September 1st, 4-5 p.m
2nd meeting: Monday, September 8th, 4-5 p.m. [September 15th, 4-5 Tutorial - Student must arrange with professor.]
3rd Meeting: Monday, September 22nd, 4-5 pm.[September 29th, 4-5 Tutorial - Student must arrange with professor.]
4th Meeting: Monday, October 6th,4-5 pm.
5th Meeting: Monday, October 13th, 4-5 pm.
Attend invited Speaker Sessions: Three class meeting around David Mahan’s visit and related to Readings. (TBA class times.)
6th Meeting: Monday, November 10th, 4-5 pm. Note: All “A-Projects” due.

Final class meeting: Monday, November 17th - Posting of Class Work

Course Goals:
1. To pursue educational, career, life, and faith development components of a student training that are linked to the academic year of enrollment in the seminar, involving communication skills, computer skills, faith integration exercises and portfolio / resume development. Educational Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7*

2. To investigate how scientific and environmental conclusions are communicated. Educational Objectives: 3,5,7*

3. To engage in scientific literature search and investigate how to establish selection credibility from an overwhelming access to information. Educational Objectives: 3,5,7*

4. To explore how our faith development influences our presentation of materials and what role our faith plays in how we communicate. Educational Objectives: 1,3,5,7*

5. To provide a communication tool for interchange with professionals in scientific / environmental fields through the development of a class web resource site. Educational Objectives: 1,2,4,6,7*

6 . To prepare and present a professional presentation with computer tools. Educational Objectives: 4, 5,7*

*Educational Objectives from the Academics section of Montreat College’s web site: http://www.montreat.edu

Class Policies:

Attendance:
Attendance to the sessions of the course is required. Evaluations will determine if any grade reductions should be addressed with individual students.

Participation:
Each individual is responsible for participation in the discussions and any associated projects. Student participation comes through discussion, reflective attendance and sharing, compilation of projects, and attendance at planned sessions of the class.

Respect for each other:
If a student shows a lack of respect for fellow classmates or faculty, the student will be approached. If the behavior continues, the student may be removed from the course or receive a drastic reduction in their final grade for the course.

Academic Honor:
You will be working on a project individually, but you can pursue assistance. Your work must be yours and the assistance can refine or sharpen your skills, but you are to be the one developing your work. You must be extremely careful to document and credit components of your project. If copying or plagiarism is found, the work on that assignment is given a zero, but the next event results in a failure for the class. An exception would be the application of this concern to the final document, which would result in failure in the class even if this is the first event for an individual.

Resources:
First check the numerous resources of our library and the internet resources available for us.
Internet searches will be utilized for some components of the course. See especially the Center for Christian Environmental Studies @ Montreat College http://cesc.montreat.edu
HTML development of a communication medium will be developed on campus computers.

Writing Assistance:
All students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available in the Writing Center, located adjacent to the Bell Library computer lab. See http://www.montreat.edu/writing

Grades:

The components of each meeting make up portions of the student’s grade. The below sheet details what is to be brought to each class.

All components of the meeting date must be completed in order to get any portion of the meeting precentage grade given in “()” next to the listed meeting.

Attendance is part of the grade and if for some reason the student must miss the class, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to make-up the meeting PRIOR TO THE ABSENCE!

There is no exam, the last projects are due on the last Presentation / Summative meeting date.

If the student desires to obtain an “A” in the course*, then a polished HTML site for the student’s portfolio is prepared to the quality suited for web posting and the presentation includes a compilation of a bibliographic literature search (meeting the following criteria - scientific, peer reviewed, professional journal publications) compilation as both hard copy duplications of journal articles in a reference folder for the resourcse room and prepared as an HTML site of internet sources suitable for posting.

More on the “A-Project”.
If the student would like to purse the work required for an “A” in the class, an independent project is required. Otherwise, the highest grade received in the class is a “B”. The project is for the student that seeks to bring their grade to the level of excellence. The project is designed around the student’s interests and is linked with the course materials. The student with this recognized initiative will be required to develop a project, organize their goals, develop a time line of tasks, anticipate project dynamics, and determine the utilization of the project within the class.

GRADING PROCEDURES
[*Project (only required for students pursing an “A” level grade) 10%]
All components of preparation completed on the Task sheet 70%
Presentation 20%
Quality of Materials and Projects 10%

Grading Scale:
• Project and a grade compilation of: A=100-92, A- = 91-90,
• Grade compilation without project: B+=above 89-88, B=87-82, B-=81-80, C+=79-78, C=77-72,C-=71-70, D+=69-68,D=67-62, D-=61-60, F= below 60.

The instructor reserves the right to adjust final grades based on attendance, attitude, behavior and/or special projects. Unannounced quizzes will be given and incorporated into the second unit test. Material for quizzes and exams will come directly from the lectures and reading assignments. You are responsible for material discussed in class.



Academic Integrity Policy

A. Definition of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, such as cheating on tests and plagiarizing essays, violates the fundamental trust underlying all academic work: that the work be the product of the student who submitted it. Montreat College defines academic dishonesty as the representation of another’s words, ideas, or images as one’s own. It applies equally to intentional and unintentional quotations, paraphrases, visual images, auditory images, and all electronic means of storage and communication. When academic dishonesty occurs, these procedures will be followed:

B. Discipline of Academic Dishonesty
When a professor suspects a student of academic dishonesty, the professor will meet with the student(s) to discuss the incident and to determine to the faculty member’s satisfaction whether or not academic dishonesty has occurred. If, in the instructor’s judgment, such a violation of academic integrity has occurred, the faculty member will present the charges in writing to the student. The only possible disciplinarian actions are, (1) a “zero” for the assignment, or (2) an “F” for the course. A student may choose to admit his or her guilt of Academic Dishonesty and waive a hearing. This involves signing the Academic Dishonesty Notice outlining the disciplinary action. The Academic Dishonesty Notice will then be put on file in the Registrar’s office. The record(s) regarding academic dishonesty will be retained until the student successfully graduates. A student who does not agree to the professor’s charges must appear before a panel of three faculty members appointed by the Assistant Academic Dean or designee on charges of academic dishonesty. During the intervening period, a student is expected to continue to attend class.

The panel will convene a hearing with the student and the professor at which the faculty member will explain the student’s alleged violation. A student may choose to counter with evidence of her or his innocence or may admit guilt.

C. Punishment of Academic Dishonesty
If the panel indicates, by simple majority vote, that the student has been dishonest, the panel shall uphold the penalty assessed by the professor. The Assistant Academic Dean or designee will notify the student, professor, advisor, and Registrar in writing of the panel’s decision. If the student received a failing grade for the course the student may remove the impact of the "F" on the grade point average by successfully retaking the course. Two incidents of academic dishonesty will result in a student’s being subject to dismissal from the college. The student will not be eligible to reapply to Montreat College for at least two (2) years after dismissal. If the panel finds the student not guilty of academic dishonesty, it will notify both the student and the faculty member.

If a student receives a zero for the assignment and wishes to drop the course within the time frame for dropping without penalty, he or she may do so, but the Academic Dishonesty Notice will be kept on file if the student has admitted or been found guilty of academic dishonesty. If the student has been given a zero for the assignment due to academic dishonesty and wishes to drop the course, but the time has passed for dropping without penalty, the student will have “WF” recorded on the transcript. A student receiving an “F” for the course as a result of academic dishonesty is not permitted to withdraw from the course; rather, the “F” is recorded on the transcript. In all instances, the record(s) regarding academic dishonesty will be retained until the student graduates.

D. Exoneration of Academic Dishonesty
If exonerating evidence becomes available in the five business days following notification, a student may appeal to the Vice President and Dean of Academics. Appeals will be heard only if they meet one of the following conditions: (a) Discovery of new evidence; (b) Violation of procedure. A student must remain in the class and work toward its successful completion during the appeal process. The student will be notified in writing of the final decision. Adopted 5/15/03




ES 330
Readings will be selected from the Christian Scholar’s Review, Vol. XXXII:4, Theme: The Fate of the Earth
Guest Speaker: David C. Mahan, Au Sable Institute for Environemental Studies

ES 330 - Science Seminar for Juniors Fall 2003 Lassiter , Posted 8/26/03