This policy is determined by consensus of the Biology Department Full-Time Permanent Faculty Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee), with input from other departmental personnel and is reviewed annually prior to the start of Fall classes.

SYLLABI:

The department syllabus for each section of a course must have the same core content. It must be made available or handed out in its entirety at the beginning of each semester to each student taking the course. Instructors can add his or her personal policies (cell phones, beverages, etc. see this site for examples) to this document.

COURSE CHANGES:

·  1. Major changes to a course must be submitted in writing to the Department Chair and approved by the committee prior to the beginning of the semester.

·  2. There will be no open book exams, take-home exams, networking or cooperative or group exams without prior submission to the chair for approval by the committee.

TEST ADMINISTRATION:

·  1. The instructor or proctor is to remain in the scheduled room during test administration.

·  2.  If an exam is given during a multi hour class, the class will meet for the balance of the allotted time.

NUMBER OF EXAMS:

Anatomy and Physiology I and II.

In each of these courses, there is to be a minimum of four lecture exams and a minimum two lab practicals. In addition, there will be a mandatory comprehensive final exam. An instructor may give more than the minimum number of exams.

Microbiology, Biology I and II

In each of these courses, there is to be a minimum of four lecture exams and a minimum two lab grade components, or a combination of lecture/lab material to give a minimum of six exams. In addition, there will be a mandatory comprehensive final exam. An instructor may give more than the minimum number of exams.

Zoology, Botany

In each of these courses, there is to be a minimum of four lecture exams and a minimum two lab grade components, or a combination of lecture/lab material to give a minimum of six exams. In addition, there will be a mandatory comprehensive final exam. An instructor may give more than the minimum number of exams.

                  Integrated Biology

In this course there is to be a minimum of two exams and four other assessment instruments or other combination to equal six major grades. A comprehensive final exam is also mandatory. An instructor may give more than the minimum number of exams.

Life Science I and II (Lecture and Lab), Environmental Science (Lecture and Lab)

In each of these courses there is to be a minimum of two exams and two other assessment instruments or other combinations to equal four major grades. A comprehensive final exam is at the discretion of the instructor. An instructor may give more than the minimum number of exams.

STUDENT INITIATED DROP OF A CLASS

Instructors will not drop any students after the posted drop date, unless prior approval is given by the Committee.

GRADE DETERMINATION:

Microbiology, Biology I and II, Zoology, Botany, and Anatomy and Physiology I and II. In these courses the lab will count as 1/4, the lecture will count as 1/2, and the final exam will count as 1/4 of the total course grade, unless an alternative method is approved by the Committee.

An instructor may drop a grade or have make-up exams, but not both.  If an exam is to be dropped, more than the minimum number of exams must be given.

Integrated Biology. The lecture and lab will be integrated. Therefore, the grade determination is 4/5 lecture/lab and 1/5 final exam.

Other courses. The grade determination is up to the instructor.
Bonus Points.  The instructor has the option to award bonus points, but the possible points must not exceed 10% of the grade, and may only be awarded for work relevant to the course, i.e. off-topic questions or projects are not permitted.

ROTATION OF EVENING AND SATURDAY CLASSES:

Evening and Saturday classes will be rotated among the staff unless one individual specifically requests to teach an evening or Saturday class.

ROTATION OF COURSES:

In an effort to maintain a more viable teaching faculty, courses will be rotated from time to time so that at least two full-time faculty are qualified to teach each course offered by the department.

OFFICE HOURS:

Every effort should be made to maintain adequate office hours. Office hours should be scattered over the week and at times convenient for students, such as prior to and after scheduled classes and labs. Office hours may include various faculty duties, such as working on projects, committee responsibilities, library research, etc.  Part-time faculty should be available at least 15 minutes before class and stay after class for as long as students are needing help.  Faculty office hours and class schedule should be posted near the faculty person’s office and a copy provided to the department secretary.  Office hours should also be provided to students at the beginning of the semester.

CLASSROOM PROTOCOL:

In an effort to fulfill Amarillo College's philosophy of the student coming first and to encourage students to ask for help, the instructor should strive to be the last one to leave the classroom.  The classroom should be left in order (boards erased, chairs pushed in, etc.)

CLASSROOM AND LABORATORY USAGE:

Students will not be allowed to utilize laboratory rooms or multimedia classrooms without direct or indirect faculty or staff supervision. The faculty or staff member that allowed the student into the room, under their supervision, is responsible is for safety, cleanliness, and security when the students leave.

NO MODELS, EQUIPMENT, DISSECTING TOOLS ARE TO BE TAKEN HOME BY THE STUDENTS

LABS INVOLVING HUMAN FLUIDS:

Each instructor should receive prior approval from the Committee for blood tests to be conducted in the labs they teach.  Saliva samples or “taste” (PTC) tests must be conducted in a location where eating normally occurs, not in the laboratory classrooms.  Instructors will make their own decision as to doing urinalysis in the labs that they teach.

MAIL:

The Biology Department number (401405) is to be put on all college business mail which is run through the postal meter.

GRADE RECORD SUBMISSION:

All Part-time/Supplemental Biology Faculty are to turn in at the end of the semester to the Department Chair a grade-book that includes all grades and how the grade was calculated. If a computer grade book program is used, then a hard copy is to be turned in. At the end of the semester, the Department Chair is to also be given a photocopy of the grade sheet showing the student's final letter grade that was turned into the registrars office

TRAVEL:

College travel money is to be spent to send one faculty member to a professional conference. The rest of the money will be divided among faculty who are attending other conferences. Those desiring to attend a conference should submit a proposal to the appropriate Travel Committee and to the Department Chair for approval. The travel monies will be rotated among the full-time permanent faculty.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM:

The Natural History Museum is to be used to enhance teaching as well as the promotion of Amarillo College.  Group tours must be scheduled through the appropriate faculty/staff person.

CHANGE OF GRADES:

Extra work is not to be given to an individual student for the purpose of grade improvement. If one student is given an opportunity that other students in the same class were not given, then charges of discrimination can be brought against the instructor. As long as all students are given the same opportunity, we are not discriminating against an individual student.

After grades are posted with the registrar’s office, no grades are to be changed except when an error in recording the grade is discovered. Requests for grade changes for other than recording error can only be approved by the Committee.

11-3-2006 revision

Last updated 11-3-2006