Course Information

Course Name: General Biology 2 - BSC1011c

CRN: 11068

Term/Year: Fall 2021

Modality: Mixed Mode (Online Lecture and In-Person Lab)

Length of Term: August 23, 2021 - December 12, 2021

Credit Hours: 4 Contact Hours: 6

Expected Weekly Workload: 12 - 18 Hours

Campus/Building/Room: West Campus AHS-317

Meeting Day/Time: Every Thursday from 2:30 - 5:15 PM

Class canceled for holidays on 11/11 and 11/25

Instructor Availability

Instructor: Laura D'Alessio, MA (You can call me @ProfD) - Mrs/she/her but *not* a Doctor

Preferred Contact Method: Discord

Other contact methods are *only* to be used if Discord is not working

Email: LDalessio@valenciacollege.edu

Phone: 407-582-5048

Office Location: West Campus AHS-207

General Weekly Work Hours: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday with time taken for lunch, meetings, and other obligations

Office Hours

In-Person Open Office Hours

Thursday 5:30 - 6:30 PM in either AHS-317 (Lab) or AHS-207 (Office)*

*To meet in my personal office, students must be fully vaccinated and wearing a mask

Virtual Open Office Hours on Discord

Monday - Thursday at 11:00 AM and 6:30 PM

Friday at 11:00 AM

1-on-1 Virtual Meetings strongly encouraged!

Please send a Discord Direct Message to schedule a meeting

Instructor Feedback and Response Time

- - Students can expect replies to messages within 24 hours during the work week
  - Messages sent after 5pm Friday may not receive replies until Monday of the following week
  - Students can expect work to be graded and receive feedback within 7 business days of the due date of an assignment or assessment

Course Catalog Description

General Biology II is a rigorous, college-level science course intended to satisfy degree requirements for STEM and Allied Health students.

A continuation of BSC1010C. Includes an analysis of biological systems at the organismal and supraorganismal levels: unity and diversity of life, organismal structure and function. Topics discussed will include: Darwinism, origin of life, evolution and diversity of the three domains (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya), animal and plant morphology, reproduction, animal development, population biology, and ecology. Students should be prepared to complete college level reading, writing, and mathematics assignments as part of this course. This course meets the General Education science requirements for graduation.

Major Topics, Concepts, Skills, and Issues

- - Processes of evolution and resultant patterns of change to phenotypic and genotypic variation
  - Concepts of species, processes of speciation, and factors other than evolution affecting biodiversity
  - The data and methods of phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy resulting from phylogenies
  - Evolution, taxonomy, life-history, and ecology of organisms from domains Bacteria and Archaea
  - Origin, evolution, taxonomy, life-history, anatomy and physiology, and ecology of organisms from Domain Eukarya

Valencia College Course Competencies

This course seeks to reinforce the following Valencia Student Core Competencies:

- - THINK clearly, critically and creatively by analyzing, synthesizing, integrating, and evaluating
  - Reflect on your own and others’ VALUES from individual, cultural and global perspectives
  - COMMUNICATE by reading, listening, writing and speaking effectively
  - ACT purposefully, reflectively and responsibly by implementing effective problem solving, and decision making strategies

Prerequisites

- - Minimum grade of C in BSC 1010C or BSC 1010H

Course Learning Outcomes

- - Valencia College Course Outcomes for BSC1010c

Important Dates in Fall 2021

First Day of Classes: Monday, August 23

Drop/Refund Deadline: Monday, August 30

First F2F Class Meeting: Thursday, August 26 in AHS-317 (PPE Required)

Student Withdrawal Deadline: Wednesday, November 3

Last Day to Submit Course Assignments: Sunday, December 5

Our Final Exam Sessions: December 6 - 9

No Office Hours during Final Exam week; available only for 1-on-1 appointments

Classes Do Not Meet/No Office Hours

- - - Labor Day: Monday, September 6
    - Veteran's Day: Thursday, November 11
    - Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 24 to Sunday, November 28

View the Valencia College Academic Calendar for other important academic dates and deadlines

Course Calendar and Weekly Overview

This course uses two time management resources:

Weekly Overview - A summary of each week of the semester with a general listing of what content and assessments are being covered that week. Since it is very general, the weekly overview does not change much during the semester. Students are encouraged to print and post the overview wherever they typically do their schoolwork.

Detailed Canvas Calendar - A detailed summary of the upcoming due dates and times. Students should not look more than one Unit ahead on this calendar, as these dates may shift frequently and will be updated frequently during the semester.

Due dates will never be moved earlier than they were originally posted unless an error occurs. If an error occurs, students will be notified with a Discord Announcement, and students are welcome to request an extension of they are not able to complete the work by the new due date.

Materials and Supplies

Required Supplies

- - White lab coat that fully covers the torso, arms, and thighs
    - - Available from the Valencia Bookstore, on Amazon, or in various Uniform Supply stores across Orlando
  - Proper lab clothing, including shoes (like sneakers) that fully enclose the foot, and pants that cover the lower legs

Useful Materials

- - A printer with black ink
  - A small cell phone stand or tripod for use during exam proctoring
  - You do *not* need to buy a webcam for this course - your cell phone camera works just fine

Completely Free

Textbook: OpenStax Biology, 2e

Lab Workbook: Provided by instructor D'Alessio via Canvas

Third-Party Software

- - Students are encouraged to review the privacy policies before agreeing to the terms & conditions of any third-part software
  - Students under 18 should have guardian consent to download and use third-party software
  - All third-party software listed here is available for free

- - - - Discord (Privacy Policy)
      - Zoom (Privacy Policy)
      - Respondus LockDown Browser (Privacy Policy)
      - Microsoft Lens (Privacy Policy)
      - Microsoft Office 365 (Privacy Policy)
        
        Microsoft Office Instructions for free software
      - Adobe PDF Reader (Privacy Policy)
      - Google Chrome (Privacy Policy)
      - Popplet (Privacy Policy)
      - YouTube (Privacy Policy)
      - Doodle (Privacy Policy)

Recommended Technology

Internet Connection

Absolute minimum speed: 1.5 Mbps download, 750 Kbps upload

Recommended speed: 10 Mbps download, 3 Kbps upload or higher

Computer

Operating Systems:

- - Microsoft Windows 8 or 10
  - Apple MacOS 10.11 or higher

Browser: Google Chrome, version 79 or higher

Smart Phone

Operating Systems:

- - Android 9 Pie (API28) or 10 (API29) or higher
  - Apple iOS 12 or higher

Requires: Functional screen, camera, microphone, enough free memory to download free apps as needed, and the ability to use data or Wi-Fi for streaming video

Course Policies

In-Person Attendance Policy

Students are expected to make every effort to attend the weekly lab session

- - - Students who miss lab should contact the instructor explaining the reason for their absence
    - To be polite, students should also communicate with their lab partners about missed labs

The instructor will provide online make-up assignments for students who miss the in-person labs

Students who miss 2 class meetings without contacting the instructor or completing make-up work will be withdrawn*

Online Attendance Policy

Attendance in an online course is documented through continued engagement in academically-related activities

- - - Completing assignments during the first week is mandatory
    - Students who do not submit the mandatory week-1 assignments by the due date will be reported as no-show students

Students are required to complete at least one of the following each week during the entire term:

- - - Submit an assignment online
    - Take an online assessment
    - Initiate contact with the faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course (biology)

If a student does not complete any of the above tasks for two consecutive weeks (14 days) without instructor consent, the student may be withdrawn from the course (see withdrawal policy)

Course Engagement

It is reasonable to expect to spend 12 to 18 hours per week on this course

Students are expected to:

- - - Attend the weekly lab session prepared to work
    - Log in to Canvas & Discord multiple times during the week
    - Pay close attention to Announcements and respond accordingly
    - Submit work before the due date and check the Canvas Calendar frequently to stay on pace
    - Book reservations for and attend proctored exam sessions
    - Book reservations for and attend mandatory faculty-student conferences
    - Reach out to the professor for help as needed
    - Act in accordance with the Valencia Code of Student Conduct

Exam Proctoring

Exams will be proctored by Professor D’Alessio using a combination of Zoom and Respondus LockDown Browser

- - - Tutorials will be posted in Canvas to help students understand the testing regulations and how to prepare/set-up before an exam
    - Students will need a computer and a smartphone (as stated in the Required Technology section of the syllabus)

Proctored testing sessions will be offered at multiple times during the exam period

- - - Students will select and sign-up for an exam session date and time using a website called Doodle
    - Students who do not attend the session they registered for will not be given an extension or a make-up
    - Additional exam protocols are available in Canvas

Late Work/Makeup Policy

Students will be given every reasonable opportunity to make-up missed work

Exams

- - - Submitting an exam after the due date WITH instructor’s permission
      - Student will lose 5% off their official exam score per day
    - Submitting an exam after the due date WITHOUT instructor’s permission
      - Student will receive a 0% and will not be permitted to take the exam

Assignments

- - - “Assignments” refers to all coursework that is not an exam or extra credit
      - Late submissions lose 5% per day
        
        Maximum possible penalty: Loss of 50% of the points on an assignment

Extra Credit

- - - Extra credit will not be accepted late
    - Extra credit will not be accepted if the student did not complete all other coursework in that unit

Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

All course materials created by Instructor Laura D’Alessio are her intellectual property

Course resources, including all assignments, videos, quizzes, labs, exams, answer keys, and completed assignments cannot be:

- - - Photocopied, photographed, or screen-captured
    - Uploaded to the internet
    - Shared with other students (past, present, or future)
    - Sold or published

Improper use or distribution of course materials may constitute theft, cheating, or both, depending on the scenario, and violate Valencia’s Academic Honesty Policy

Academic Honesty Policy

All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College

Academic dishonestly includes, but is not limited to:

- - - Acts or attempted acts of plagiarism
    - Cheating
    - Furnishing false information
    - Forgery
    - Alteration or misuse of documents
    - Misconduct during a testing situation
    - Facilitating academic dishonesty
    - Misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive
    - Unauthorized use of the professor’s intellectual property (see above)

All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of each student’s individual thoughts, research, and self-expression

- - - Whenever a student uses ideas, wording, or organization from another source (such as the internet, or another student), the source must be appropriately acknowledged

According to Valencia College policy, academic and disciplinary penalties for academic dishonesty may include: Loss of credit for an assignment, examination, or project, withdrawal from the course, a reduction in course grade, a grade of F in the course, warnings, probation, suspensions, and/or expulsions from the College

In this course, students found in violation of Valencia’s College Policy with regard to graded assessments will face the following specific repercussions in addition to those listed above:

- - - The student will receive a 0 for the assessment in question AND will lose all of the points associated with that entire grade category
      - Example: If a student cheats on an exam, the student will receive a 0 for ALL previous and future exams, and will fail the course
        
        Example: If a student cheats on an online quiz with another student, both students will receive 0s for their entire quiz grade, including all previous and future quizzes. This will severely negatively affect the student’s final course grade
    - Any instances of more severe cheating will follow Valencia’s policy above, and will include both academic and disciplinary action at the College level

ALL disciplinary decisions are the sole discretion of the instructor

- - - Severe issues may be discussed with the Dean of Science and/or Dean of Students

Student Collaboration

Students are allowed to collaborate using Discord

Anything a student shares in a collaborative setting MUST be something they would be comfortable:

- - - Sharing with the WHOLE CLASS and
    - Sharing with the instructor

If you are distributing/saying things you would NOT want your instructor to see, then you are probably violating the academic honesty policy and/or student code of conduct

If you receive something from a classmate that *may* violate academic honesty policies, you are obligated to report that to a Valencia employee.

Anyone observing an act of academic dishonesty must refer the matter to the instructor as an academic violation, and/or to the Dean of students or designee as a violation of the Student Code of Conduct as described in the Student LifeMap Handbook.

Grades

This course uses a weighted grading scale based on percentages

Grade Categories and Relative Weights:

70% Exams (5 Exams worth 14% each)

15% Assignments - All assignments count equally

This includes Lab Workbooks

15% Online Quizzes - All quizzes count equally

All assignments in a unit are MANDATORY and must be completed to unlock the Unit Exams

Grades are calculated and available in the CANVAS grade book

Grading Scale

Numerical grades are rounded out to the hundredths place

89.45% - 100.0% = A

79.45% - 89.44% = B

69.45% - 79.44% = C

59.45% - 69.44% = D

0.00% - 59.44% = F

Attendance Policy* Violations, Academic Dishonesty, or Behavioral Violations = W*

Attendance does not count toward the course grade

*See attendance policy and withdrawal policies

Grade Grievances

Your grade should never be a mystery to you; if there is ever a question or concern about a grade, contact your professor

- - - Grades will be maintained in Canvas at all times and the grade shown in Canvas is the official grade for each student

Valencia College Grade Grievance Policy:

- - - Students have recourse to dispute their grades through the Student Academic Dispute Resolution Committee, in order to seek a fair determination for the assignment of a final course grade
    - Final grades of W, based upon the failure of the student to take an exam, excessive unexcused absences, or other administrative reasons may not be grieved to the Student Final Grade Dispute Resolution Committee. See Withdrawal Policy for further information
    - For non-final grades and matters, each Campus President shall be responsible for designating a person or persons to assist students who wish a review of decisions that are related to access to courses and credit granted toward the degree (excluding final grades)

Withdrawal Policies in This Course

The instructor WILL NOT withdraw a student without the student’s consent

- - - This means the instructor will contact the student, and the student MUST reply/confirm in order to be withdrawn
    - The only exceptions to this policy are code of conduct (behavioral) or academic honesty violations, and would require consent from the Dean of Sciences

The instructor WILL NOT withdraw students who ‘ghost’ the course

- - - Ghost = student who is unresponsive to communications, stops attending class, and stops submitting work
    - Students who ‘ghost’ this course will receive an ABCDF letter grade

The instructor CANNOT withdraw students after the instructor withdrawal deadline for any reason

View this Withdrawal Guidelines video for more details about withdrawing from this course

Instructor Recording Policy

Students MUST use their real name as their Zoom/Discord nickname

- - - Students with non-identifiable usernames will NOT be permitted to enter
    - Misuse of the Zoom or Discord web service violates Valencia’s Student Code of Conduct and students can face disciplinary action

When using Zoom or Discord voice, students should be prepared to:

- - - Share their webcam and join audio
    - Open their microphone when speaking
    - Keep their microphone muted when not speaking

Students may be recorded during Zoom or Discord chats

- - - Recording allows virtual class meetings to be saved and posted on Canvas
    - Recording will also occur during proctored exams to ensure academic honesty
    - Students will receive an on-screen notification when recording begins in Zoom
    - Signing the syllabus consent form and continuing your enrollment in the course indicates your consent to being recorded

Student Recording Policy

As your professor, I’m committed to giving you as many opportunities and resources to support your learning as possible. Therefore, you may find it beneficial to record class lectures to review later.

- - - Please keep in mind that you do not have your peers’ permission to record them, and they have a right to privacy; your peers should not be in your recordings.
    - You may not record class discussions, student presentations, labs, group work, and private conversations.
    - These recordings are permitted for your own personal use; you should contact me to discuss sharing options.

Note that while these recordings are useful for review, we want you to attend class for your insights and questions; these recordings are not substitutes for class participation and attendance.

Should you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me through Discord.

Irritants and Distracting Scents

Many people are irritated by smoke & vape scents, perfumes, colognes, body lotions, and many other scented personal products.

- - - Students who arrive to class “heavily scented” may be asked to leave to prevent others from becoming ill.

First Offense: Warning

- - - Students will not be marked as absent on the first occasion, but will be unable to participate in class activities. Students are expected to make-up the activities to earn credit.

Second+ Offenses: Consequences

- - - Students who must be asked to leave more than once will be marked absent – it will count as an unexcused absence, and students will not be permitted to make-up the missed work.

Evolution Policy

This class incorporates the biological Theory of Evolution and covers the 4.5 billion year history of the Earth

- - - I celebrate diversity and am open to a wide variety of personal beliefs and views. However, we will not be able to discuss non-scientific alternatives to evolution during class time.
    - Students are expected to provide answers that are in line with the published course materials in order to earn full credit on assessments and assignments.
    - Students who think they will be unable to fully engage in the content of this course for personal reasons are encouraged to talk to the instructor, and possibly reconsider their enrollment in the course prior to the close of the drop/refund period.

Dissection Policy

This course requires students to engage in dissection and observation of deceased and preserved samples

All students will be assessed on their understanding of topics studied through dissection

- - - Students do not have to take a hands-on role during the dissection
      - This is not advised, but will be allowed
    - Students who do not attend a dissection lab will be marked absent
      - Absence will not be excused without documentation of another issue
    - Students must complete the lab activities and work associated with the dissections
    - Students must take any quizzes, practicals, or exams associated with the dissections

Lab Policies

Occasionally, the lab will involve the use of equipment or materials that may be hazardous, particularly if handled incorrectly.

Students are expected to follow the chemical hygiene protocols (CHP) and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on recommendations from their instructor and from the Safety and Data sheets (SDS) or biohazard handling policies.

The CHP and SDS are on file with:

Shivani Persaud, Lab Supervisor, Biological Science
Office: West Campus, AHS-325
Phone Number: 407-582-1927
E-mail: spersaud19@valenciacollege.edu

A full laboratory safety briefing will take place during the first week of classes – it is mandatory!

- - Students will receive a full laboratory safety briefing within the first week of the term.
    - - Valencia College and the instructor are not liable for students who may be injured due to a failure to follow CHP, follow other written or oral lab rules, or wear appropriate PPE.
  - Simply put, if you fail to follow instructions and procedures, you assume all risks and liabilities
    - - You will be asked to leave the lab for not complying with lab safety guidelines.
      - You will lose points associated with that lab.
      - You will be considered absent.
      - You may be potentially withdrawn from the course, depending on the severity of the incident.

Communication Guidelines

1. BEFORE contacting your instructor, did you take time to look for the answer yourself using resources in Canvas, Discord, Atlas, and/or the Valencia website?

Good Example: I checked the syllabus, Canvas, and the McGraw-Hill website, but I am still not sure how to access the Connect Virtual Labs.

Bad Example: How do labs work?

2. Did you begin the message with your full name and the course you are enrolled in?

Good Example: Hi, this is John Smith from your Biology 1 course.

Bad Example: Hi! I need help.

3. Did you clearly and respectfully state your needs in your message?

Good Example: I was reviewing online quiz 3, and I don't understand why my response to question 6 was marked incorrectly. Could you please check?

Bad Example: You graded my quiz wrong. Fix it.

4. Did you provide me with the best way to get back in touch with you and (if necessary) times when you are available or unavailable?

Good Example: Please call me back as soon as convenient at 407-555-5555. I am available today from 8am-3pm.

Bad Example: Call me.

Core Principles of Netiquette

Rule 1: Remember the Human

When communicating online, remember to practice the golden rule: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” Your words are being read by real people who deserve respect. Before you click “send,” ask yourself if you would be okay receiving a message like what you just wrote.

Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life

It could be argued that virtual communication is different from real life, but our standards should not be lower online. Act within the laws, ethics, and values of the society you inhabit. If you would not behave or speak in a certain way in real life, you shouldn’t say or do it online either

Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace

A text message, an e-mail, a tweet, and a Discord thread are very different spaces requiring different types of communication. Always consider the medium you are using and ask if the message is appropriate to the platform

Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth

It takes time to write a message, and it takes the recipient time to read it. Always be respectful of other people’s time. Write messages that are meaningful, specific, and brief while also being polite.

Rule 5: Make yourself look good online

You will be judged by the quality of your writing, so always:

- - - Check for spelling and grammar errors
    - Know what you're talking about and state it clearly
    - Be pleasant and polite

Rule 6: Resist letting your passion become aggressive

Strongly holding opinions is okay, but posting angry, aggressive, or inflammatory posts is not acceptable. Don’t feed the flames of an argument. Instead, guide the discussion back to a more productive direction.

Rule 7: Respect other people's privacy

Some people may choose to share personal information online because they trust the group they’re posting to. Don’t violate that trust by sharing another person’s message outside the intended audience. Err on the side of caution when deciding if you should share someone else’s post.

Rule 8: Don't abuse your power

Some people may have more experience expressing themselves in online formats. Just because you are more fluent does not make your opinions or comments more correct or important than those of a peer. Go back to Rule 1 - Remember the human.

Rule 9: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Most people are not native and fluent communicators, especially online. At some point, you will read a “stupid” question or an unnecessary comment. You may also see typos and misstatements. Again, treat others with the same forgiveness and grace you would like to receive. Let minor offenses slide. If you feel compelled to elevate the error, do so in a private message, not a public forum.

Adapted from The Core Rules of Netiquette Shea, V. (1994). Core rules of netiquette. Netiquette (Online ed., pp. 32-45). San Francisco: Albion Books.

College Policies

College Start Right (No Show) Policy

Class attendance is required for face-to-face classes beginning with the first class meeting. If you do not attend the first class meeting, you may be withdrawn from the class as a "no show."

Class attendance is required for online classes; students who are not actively participating in an online class and/or do not submit the required attendance activity or assignment by the scheduled due date must be withdrawn by the instructor at the end of the first week as a "no show."

If you are withdrawn as a "no show," you will be financially responsible for the class and a final grade of "W" will appear on your transcript for the course."

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Policy

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students.

- - - Some student information is confidential, such as grades and attendance
    - All students enrolled in college are considered adults in charge of their own educational records regardless of age
    - College employees cannot disclose confidential information to anyone other than the student without the student’s signed consent

What FERPA means for you

- - - Your instructor will only communicate confidential information, such as grades and attendance, through Canvas or face-to-face in a private web chat
    - Your instructor will not disclose confidential academic records to non-authorized individuals such as classmates or relatives

To avoid violations of FERPA rules, instructors should not:

- - - Use the Social Security Number of a student in a public posting of grades
    - Link the name of a student with that student's social security number in any public manner
    - Leave graded assessments in a stack for students to pick up by sorting through the papers of all students
    - Circulate a printed class list with student name and social security number or grades as an attendance roster
    - Discuss the progress of any student with anyone other than the student (including parents) without the consent of the student
    - Provide anyone with lists of students enrolled in your classes for any commercial or other purpose
    - Provide anyone with student schedules or assist anyone other than college employees in finding a student on campus

College Withdrawal Policy

Per Valencia Withdrawal Policy, a student who withdraws from class before the established deadline for a particular term will receive a grade of "W." A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline (see important dates).

To withdraw from a course(s) you must access registration on Atlas. The Withdrawal Deadlines for each term are published in the Important Dates and Deadlines document. All requests for withdrawals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the Withdrawal Deadline date.

A faculty member will withdraw a student up to the withdrawal deadline for violation of the class attendance policy. A student who is withdrawn by faculty for violation of the class attendance policy will receive a grade of "W." After the withdrawal deadline, faculty will not withdraw a student and the student will receive the grade earned at the end of the course. Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of "F." If you do not intend to complete the course, you must withdraw yourself prior to the withdrawal date.

College Student Conduct Policy

Valencia is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but also to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. As a registered student, you assume the responsibility for conducting yourself in a manner that contributes positively to Valencia’s learning community and that does not impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the college as described in the Student Code of Conduct

Being convicted in a court of law for a criminal offense involving personal misconduct may constitute sufficient grounds for suspension or expulsion from the college.

College Academic Integrity Policy

All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, acts or attempted acts of plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive.

Students may be subject to both the Student Code of Conduct and academic sanctions as determined in the academic judgment of the professor in cases where there is a combination of alleged violations of academic and non-academic regulations.

Any student determined by the professor to have been responsible for engaging in an act of academic dishonesty shall be subject to a range of academic penalties (apart from any sanctions that may be imposed pursuant to the Code) as determined by the professor which may include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following: loss of credit for an assignment, examination, or project; a reduction in the course grade; or a grade of "F" in the course.

Student Services & Resources

A wide variety of Student Services & Resources are available at Valencia College

Learning Support Services provides students with academic support through distance tutoring, face-to-face tutoring at the campuses, writing consultations, library services, and resources. Tutoring is offered in most academic disciplines including math, science, foreign languages, English for academic purposes (EAP), computer programming and writing assistance for any course. Assistance with library research can be accessed online through Atlas or the tutoring LibGuide. For more information on how to access tutoring and library research assistance, please visit the college-wide Learning Support Services Guide

Brainfuse is our new 24/7 online tutoring and learning hub, which is available to all of Valencia’s students. This service is best used as a back-up to Valencia’s Distance Tutoring service, not as a replacement. Brainfuse is accessible as a link in the left-hand navigation menu of our Canvas course.

Baycare Student Assistance Services

Valencia College strives to ensure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP)Links to an external site. services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. If needed, the counselor may refer the student to appropriate resources or to speak face-to-face with a licensed counselor.

Office for Students with Disabilities

Valencia is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and services are accessible to students with disabilities. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) determines reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities based upon the need and impact of the specific disability.

Any student requiring course accommodations due to physical, emotional or learning disability must contact the instructor and provide a Notification to Instructor form by the end of the second week of class. To obtain a letter of accommodation, contact OSD at 407-582-2229 or TTY: 407-582-1222

COVID: Mask policy and CDC Physical Distancing Guidelines

The health and safety of everyone at the college is our top priority. Therefore, anyone attending the class is expected to wear masks indoors and maintain physical distancing. If you do not have a mask, the college will provide one for you. You may find it helpful to refer to current research on the importance of masking for public safety. Feel free to check out the CDC guidelines on masking.

COVID-19 Wellness, Reporting, and Support

If you find yourself feeling unwell and suspect you might be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 virus, please stay home. Please also report this to Valencia’s COVID-19 case manager Tanya Mahan, at COVIDillness@valenciacollege.edu, so the College can determine how to best support you.

If you are unable to participate in the course due to illness, family emergency, etc., please communicate with me as soon as possible in order to create a plan for the best course of action. In the case of a prolonged online absence of one week or more, you and I will meet to discuss options and develop a strategy to help you succeed in the course.

Links to College Resources

Student Services Overview

Valencia Mental Health CARE Counselors

Virtual Answer Center

Virtual Academic Advising

Contact an Academic Advisor

Financial Aid Services

International Student Services

The Business Office

Valencia Career Center

Internship and Workforce Services

Office for Students with Disabilities

Student Development

Engage @ Student Development

College Catalog

Valencia Policy Manual

Student Handbook

Student Code of Conduct

Student Support

Tutoring

Tech Support

Disclaimer Statement

This syllabus document is an outline of course policies and procedures
All information posted to Canvas and the Team BIO Discord Server by your instructor are extensions of this syllabus and the policies therein
Changes to the course calendar may be made at the discretion of the professor, and students will be notified of any changes with a Canvas Course Announcement and Discord Announcement
Any changes to the course, syllabus, or schedule are the student’s responsibility to know and incorporate
This document is not legally binding and carries no weight in a court of law
Continued enrollment after the Drop Deadline constitutes consent to all course and syllabus policies