Name of Department: Science

Course Subject Area, Number, Title, and Section Number: BIOL 1408-80 Biology for Non-Science Majors I

Instructor Name:  Matthew McClure

Building/Office Number:  AB 105.10

Office Hours:  Mondays: 9:00-11:00am, 12:15-1:00pm.

Tuesdays: 9:30-11:00am, 12:15-1:00pm, 3:00-6:00pm.

Wednesdays: 9:00-11:00am, 12:15-1:00pm.

Thursdays: 9:30-11:00am, 12:15-1:00pm.

Virtual Hours:  During posted office hours

Office Telephone:  (409) 882-3304

Email Address: matt.mcclure@lsco.edu

Provides a survey of biological principles with an emphasis on humans, including chemistry of life, cells, structure, function, and reproduction. Laboratory activities will reinforce lecture content.

Quick Orientation: This lecture class is online and is designed for you to access your study notes and review videos within Blackboard in the Content section. Study these along with your chapters in the textbook and go over your notes as often as necessary to master the material. Pace yourself daily and keep up with your studies according to the Tentative Lecture Schedule on Page 3. Exams are to be taken using the Respondus Lockdown Browser and proctored through Respondus Monitor requiring you to have access to a working computer/laptop with a webcam & microphone and a reliable internet connection, but if you want to take the exams on paper (on campus) then you must contact me and also make an appointment with the LSCO Testing Center during their hours of operation (409-882-3330).  

Simultaneous enrollment in BIOL 1408 lecture and BIOL 1408 laboratory is required.

Concepts of Biology, by Openstax. https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology  

Electronic version can be downloaded for free. Print version can purchased directly from Openstax or their distributor. 

BIOL 1408 Biology Laboratory Packet, available free in pdf format from Blackboard.

VanDeGraaff and Crawley. A Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory, Morton Pub

Upon registration, LSCO students are automatically charged $25 per semester credit hour for access to all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes, and e-books through the Gator Book Pack program. Physical materials may be picked up in Beaumont or shipped for an additional fee. Information and FAQs are available on the LSCO Gator Book Pack webpage. Students have until the second class day of the semester to opt out of the program.

Students are expected to have access to all required materials during the first week of class and are responsible for completing all assigned coursework. Students who do not have access to their materials during the first week should notify the instructor immediately for guidance.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will acquire the following course learning outcomes:

Course Level Learning Outcomes (ACGM or WECM)Core Objectives  Associated Course Activities/Assignments/Projects

Tentative Lecture Schedule

Faculty who suspect violation of academic honesty, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, or abuse of resource materials may assign an academic penalty. Students must be notified of their right to appeal before the academic penalty is imposed.

Students subject to penalty due to academic honesty have the right to appeal the decision. Refer to the current LSCO Catalog for details on the appeal process.

LSCO students are required to use their LSCO email account (Office 365 / Microsoft Outlook) for all electronic communication. In order to ensure the privacy and identity of the student communicating via electronic methods, LSCO faculty will direct students to use their LSCO email accounts rather than personal accounts. If a student has trouble accessing their LSCO email account, they should contact the LSCO Help Desk at (409) 882-3033 or helpdesk@lsco.edu.

See also "Quick Orientation" above. Also, to be counted as attending, post in "roll call" before the given deadline.

Federal regulations require students who receive financial aid to have begun “attending” and participate substantially in each course for which they are enrolled on or before the official census reporting date outlined on the LSCO Academic Calendar. Students documented as “not attending” a course upon the census date are assumed (for financial aid purposes) to have not begun attendance for that course This negatively affects their financial aid eligibility and disbursement and requires the student to repay any financial aid funds that have already been disbursed . Attendance in an ONLINE course is verified by substantial participation in the course on or before the census date published in the LSCO Academic Calendar. Substantial participation in this online course is defined as logging in and completing/participating in at least one requirement of the course. Note: Simply logging in to your online course does not constitute attendance.

There will NOT be makeup lecture exams. The cumulative final exam grade will be substituted for one (only) missed lecture test (if a second test is missed, it will receive a grade of zero).  Makeup laboratory examinations may be scheduled ONLY when the student provides notification in writing of a legitimate emergency that prevents you from taking a laboratory exam. If possible, please notify me IN ADVANCE if a legitimate emergency (death in immediate family, serious illness of student) prevents you from taking your exam.  Late assignments without a verifiable legitimate excuse, if accepted, will accrue a 10% penalty per calendar day for five days, and afterward would receive a maximum score of 50%. In-class quizzes or graded-in-class activities that are missed cannot be made up. 

• Online - Since face-to-face meetings in the classroom may be replaced by online meetings through discussion boards, emails, and/or Blackboard Collaborate, students are expected to follow the rules of netiquette in these forums.

Academic Honesty

Faculty who suspect violation of academic honesty, cheating, plagiarism*, collusion, or abuse of resource materials may assign an academic penalty**. Students must be notified of their right to appeal before the academic penalty is imposed***.

Students subject to penalty due to academic honesty have the right to appeal the decision. Refer to the current LSCO Catalog for details on the appeal process.

*Behavior indicative of cheating on online exams will be considered a violation of academic honesty.Examples of behavior indicative of cheating on online exams include but are not limited to:

o  disabling or blocking the camera and/or microphone,

o  deliberately moving one’s face away from camera view,

o  frequently looking down, around, or in directions other than the computer,

o  reading the exam questions loud enough for another person to hear it or an electronic device to receive it,

o  taking the exam in a noisy environment, e.g., loud conversations, movies, or music,

o  evidence of other persons involved,

o  use of prohibited materials during the exam, such as notes, book(s), cheat sheets, note cards, cell phone, earpieces (other than hearing aids), smart watches, or other such electronic devices.

o  using or attempting to use AI to answer test questions (as indicated by the above behaviors),

o  failure to show photo ID and testing environment when prompted to do so upon the beginning.

Any such observation or incident report from the proctoring agency can result in the imposition of academic penalties.

*Plagiarism is the taking and using writings of another as one’s own.

**Any student caught cheating or aiding another student in cheating will be receive a grade of zero for the exam or assignment in question. If cheating occurs on a regular basis, the instructor will have the student dropped from the course with a grade of F. 

*** This syllabus statement serves as official notification of the right to appeal.

·       ALL EXAMS WILL BE TAKEN IN A SECURED PROCTORED SETTING WHETHER ON CAMPUS OR ONLINE. Exams are to be taken using the Respondus Lockdown Browser and proctored through Respondus Monitor (Instructions will be provided in Content in Blackboard). If you prefer to take the exams on paper (on campus) then you must contact me and also make an appointment with the LSCO Testing Center during their hours of operation (409-882-3330). Each exam has a deadline to take it (see TENTATIVE SCHEDULE above).

·      Exams are not open-book or open-note.

·      Lecture exams - There will be three major lecture exams and a final exam. Lecture exams generally contain 50 multiple choice, matching, and some short answer questions. The final exam may consist of 100 questions, be about 50% comprehensive, and will count twice that of a lecture exam.  Bring a Scantron # 882, #2 pencils, and eraser to each exam. Once scantrons are returned there will be no points awarded for scantron mistakes due to eraser errors, so be sure to mark your scantron appropriately and erase completely when appropriate. Final Exam Substitution Policy: If your grade on the final examination is higher than your lowest exam grade, it will be substituted for that lowest grade, including a zero due to absence from one (only) exam. You will write your name on both the answer sheet and test; both are turned in. A grade of zero is given if a student leaves the room with a test, and no tape recordings can be made when test questions are reviewed in class. You are expected to be on time and bring a scantron and number 2 pencil to each examination. Once the first person has left the examination, no other student will be admitted to take the examination. Students wishing to review lecture exams afterward may do so only in the instructor’s office, and copies may not be made on any exams.

·      Laboratory Exams – Refer to laboratory instructor.

Students should use AI technology responsibly and ethically. This includes refraining from using AI to engage in harmful or unethical activities, such as generating false information, spreading misinformation, or engaging in malicious behaviors. The use of AI should align with the principles of academic integrity, honesty, and respect for others. Students are responsible for adhering to LSCO's Academic Honesty policy found in the Catalog. LSCO's full AI policy can be found at AI Policy | Lamar State College Orange (lsco.edu)

For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16-week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. All Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as you would in the traditional, face-to-face class.

The total course average is calculated from the lecture and laboratory averages for which lecture counts 75% and the lab counts 25%.

Numerical Average for Lecture                                

Exam 1           ____% X 1 = _____               

Exam 2           ____% X 1 = _____               

Exam 3           ____% X 1 = _____               

Book Report ____X 0.5 = _____

Final Exam ____% X 2 = _____      

SUBTOTAL            _____   

Lecture Average = subtotal/5.5 = _____       

Numerical Average for Lab

Lab Exam 1   ____%

Lab Exam 2   ____%

Lab Exam 3   ____%

Assignments  ____%

SUBTOTAL   _____ 

Lab Avg = subtotal/4 = _____

Course total average = (Lecture avg)(0.75) + (Lab avg)(0.25) = _____

Grade Scale:

A        89.5% - 100%

B        79.5% - 89.4%

C        69.5% - 79.4%

D        59.5% - 69.4%

F         00.0% - 59.4%

The instructor will respond to emails within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. On weekends and holidays, the instructor will respond to emails from students within 24 hours of the first business day following the weekend or holiday.

Weekly participation and engagement in the courses are critical for student success. Assignments should be completed by the due date. Students should also refer to the instructor’s attendance policy for additional information. (See LSCO Catalog, Class Attendance.)

Lecture Exams can be reviewed in my office during office hours or virtually by appointment. Graded lab exams and assignments are generally returned within one week. If a student has an issue about his/her grade, the instructor must be contacted within three (3) days after receiving the grade.

This syllabus contains information, policies, and procedures for a specific course. By enrolling, the student agrees to read, understand, and abide by the rules, policies, regulations, and ethical standards of Lamar State College Orange as those contained in the current LSCO Catalog and schedule of classes.

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus if deemed necessary. All changes will be provided to the students orally or in writing before the implementation of the change.

TimelyCare is a virtual health and well-being platform that is available 24/7 for all non-dual credit enrolled LSCO students. There is no cost to eligible students for this service. TimelyCare providers offer emotional support, mental health counseling, health coaching, psychiatry, and basic needs support. Non-Dual Credit students enrolled in classes can log in to the TimelyCare website or app available at timelycare.com/LSCO.

Any student who faces challenges securing their food, housing, transportation, or childcare for minor dependents and believes this may affect their performance in the course is encouraged to contact the student care office (studentcare@lsco.edu)for guidance on how to access possible resources. Please notify the instructor of your circumstance if you are comfortable doing so.

Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is an equal opportunity educational institution and does not discriminate against any person regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, in admissions, educational programs, student activities or employment. For further information about this policy, contact the Director of Student Care and Accessibility at studentcare@lsco.edu.

LSCO prohibits discrimination, including sexual harassment and retaliation, against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Any student who believes that he or she has experienced prohibited conduct or believes that another student has experienced prohibited conduct should immediately report the alleged acts to the Title IX Coordinator, Rebecca Gentry rebecca.gentry@lsco.edu.

LSCO students will access Blackboard through the MyGator portal. Login credentials will use the following format: NetID@my.lsco.edu/Password. For help in identifying your NetID/Password, visit https://www2.lsco.edu/sspr/userinfo1.asp.

Students needing help learning how to navigate Blackboard are encouraged to reach out to LearningTechnology@lsco.edu. Blackboard student resource videos and help-sites are available at https://www.lsco.edu/distanceed/blackboard-student.asp.

Lamar State College Orange provides career advising services to all students and alumni through Career Coach, an online career planning tool. Career Coach assists students through all phases of developing, initiating, and implementing career plans.

Information regarding employment opportunities and career options are provided along with access to live local job postings. Full-time and part-time employment opportunities, as well as internships, are available through Career Coach. Access https://www.lsco.edu/advising/career-planning.asp for more details on how to use LSCO’s Career Coach to plan for and learn more about your future career.

Lamar State College Orange provides currently enrolled students support for daycare and/or transportation costs on a first come first serve basis as funding allows.

Access https://www.lsco.edu/advising/gator-assistance.asp for details on assistance services.

Students needing course content or study skills support are encouraged to make an appointment or walk in to receive tutoring and academic support services. Our series of student success seminars, named Lifesavers, are available Face-to-face, online, and self-paced throughout the semester. Reach out to OASIS@lsco.edu for more information on how students can receive academic support. Visit https://www.lsco.edu/student-life/library/lifesavers.php for more information about Lifesavers.

Students are encouraged to visit library.lsco.edu to find the library’s current operating hours, access the catalog to locate print materials, and access GatorSearch to explore the vast electronic collection. The library provides over 77 electronic database collections that include eBooks, newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and streaming video. The physical library contains a specialized collection of research materials specifically chosen to support the degrees and courses offered. Additionally, Students with research questions or questions about library services are encouraged visit the library in person, call 409-882-3352, access the chat on the library webpage, or to email their question to lscolibrary@lsco.edu.

Under the Texas State System, Lamar State College Orange complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, pertaining to the provision of reasonable academic adjustments/auxiliary aids for students with disability. We strive to provide reasonable academic adjustments/auxiliary aids to students who request and require them.

Students who believe they have a disability requiring an academic adjustment/auxiliary aid are encouraged to contact the Director of Student Care & Accessibility at studentcare@lsco.edu. Students are encouraged to apply before the start of the semester when at all possible. The Accommodation Request Form and details regarding the appropriate documentation needed can be found here: https://www.lsco.edu/advising/disability.asp. Once approved, the signed accommodation form provided by the Director of Student Care & Accessibility must be submitted to the instructor at least two business days in advance of need.

Lamar State College Orange provides currently enrolled students with access to online tutoring through a partnership with Upswing, an online tutoring platform. Tutors are available 24/7 online in almost every subject.

Access https://www.lsco.edu/tutoring/online-tutoring.asp for details on how to log-in to the FREE services.

In the event of an emergency campus closure in excess of three class days, Lamar State College Orange’s classes will continue via the use of Blackboard. In such an instance, the college website, www.lsco.edu, will have information concerning the event and anticipated re-opening plans.

Please be considerate of other classmates’ feelings, ethnic background, cultural differences, situations, and level of maturity. Students will be asked to leave the course if disruptive or inappropriate behavior is exhibited in any of the course requirements. If your instructor feels that you have not contributed appropriately to course requirements, your final course grade may be reduced accordingly.

The instructor reserves the right to manage a positive learning environment and will not tolerate inappropriate conduct in the course. Rude correspondence (discourteous or impolite, especially in a deliberate way) in e-mails, telephone calls, in person, or comments made to other class members, the instructor, or the office staff.

Students should develop a backup plan should their computer system or their Internet provider fail. Computer or internet connectivity issues are not valid excuses for missing a deadline. The College provides many opportunities for using computer equipment, as do many public libraries. Refer to the LSCO website for operational hours of the Library and OASIS.

Students should check in advance with the institution to which they plan to transfer credit to confirm transferability.

LSCO awards some certificates and degrees in which a criminal history MAY disqualify candidates from becoming licensed, certified, and/or employed upon degree/certificate completion. Students with a criminal background enrolling in courses leading to a degree/certificate in Criminal Justice, Barber, Cosmetology, Emergency Medical Technology, HVAC, Electrician, Plumbing, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Vocational Nursing (VN), Registered Nursing (RN), Pharmacy Technician, Real Estate, or Teacher Preparation program are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to discuss the certification and/or licensing regulations of the program with the program director listed in order to learn more about the current guidelines related to criminal history as well as the right of individuals to request a criminal history evaluation letter.

Never attending or ceasing to attend classes DOES NOT constitute a drop or withdrawal. You remain registered until you request a drop from the instructor. Failure to act in a timely manner will result in an "F" grade for the course. It is the student's responsibility to follow up with the LSCO advising office to ensure that all drops/withdrawals are processed as desired.

The grade of "I" may be given when any requirement of the course, including the final examination, is not completed. Students seeking an incomplete should have completed 75% of the course requirements and be passing the course at the time of the request. Arrangements to complete deficiencies in a course should be made in advance of the end of the semester with the instructor. The instructor will process the Incomplete form online, and a confirmation will be sent to the student’s LSCO email.

Incomplete work must be finished during the next long semester. If not, the Office of Admission and Records must change the "I" grade to the grade of "F." The course must then be repeated if credit is desired. An "I" grade also automatically becomes an "F" if the student registers for the course prior to removing the deficiencies and receiving a grade change. The instructor may record the grade of "F" for a student who is absent from the final examination and is not passing the course.

Grade determination and awarding of grades in a course are the responsibility of the instructor and should be calculated according to college policy, procedures, and written details provided in the course syllabus. NOTE: Final grades are available to students within 48 hours of the instructor posting the grade in Banner. Students may view final grades by logging into MyGator and then accessing Gator Self-Service.

An academic appeal process is afforded to students who desire to dispute a grade or any decision that affects the student’s ability to complete and earn a grade for the course provided it is not related to a violation outlined in the LSCO Student Code of Conduct. If an informal conference with the faculty member regarding an academic complaint fails to reach the outcome requested by the student, the student may initiate the formal process. Even after initiating the formal complaint process, students are encouraged to seek informal resolution of their concerns. A student whose concerns are resolved may withdraw a formal complaint at any time.

Refer to the current catalog or for details on the formal grade appeal process.

Lamar State College Orange has identified seven educational goals to specify the knowledge and skills that students should gain from completing academic and technical programs with the College. These goals are:

• Critical thinking (General Education, Technical) – Students will be able to demonstrate creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.

• Communication (General Education, Technical) – Students will be able to effectively develop, interpret and express ideas through written, oral and visual communication.

• Empirical and quantitative skills (General Education, Technical) – Students will be able to manipulate and analyze numerical data or observable facts and create informed conclusions.

• Teamwork (General Education, Technical) – Students will be able to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.

• Social responsibility (General Education, Technical) – Students will be able to recognize and acquire a sense of intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national and global communities.

• Personal responsibility (General Education, Technical) – Students will be able to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making.

• Professional competency (Technical) – Students will be able to recognize or demonstrate skills that depict professional values and employability. If the career has licensure or certification requirements, students may prepare for the licensure and certification in a capstone course and sit for the licensure or certificate at the end of the program.

Current students will access many LSCO applications through the MyGator portal. Login credentials will use the following format: NetID@my.lsco.edu/Password.

Students can set a password here: https://www2.lsco.edu/sspr/

IMPORTANT: It is a violation of College policy, state laws, and federal laws for anyone to gain or help others gain unauthorized access to MyGator or any LSCO application or service. All accounts shall be for use by a single individual – the person for whom the account was approved or assigned. This includes Blackboard accounts as well as any application within MyGator. Sharing or loaning accounts is strictly prohibited, can be construed as a form of cheating, and violates College policy, state laws, and federal laws.

LSCO adheres to the policies and procedures established in the Texas Education Code, Texas State University System Rules and Regulations, LSCO Faculty Handbook, and LSCO Catalog.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. It is inappropriate for minor children to be on campus due to the potential liability to the College, the risk of harm to the children, and decreased employee productivity due to distractions and disruptions.

LSCO believes that all matters involving a staff member (non-instructor) OR an instructor are best resolved directly with the employee. Should it not be resolved at that level, access and complete the Student Complaint Intake form within five (5) business days from the date of the offense. The Student Complaint Intake Form can be found in any of these locations: 

• LSCO Website (Current Students)
• LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints)
• MyGator Card
• Blackboard (Student Resources, Student Services, Student Resources)

After a student completes the Student Complaint Intake Form, they will be contacted by an LSCO employee unrelated to the offense and provided guidance on how to proceed with the Complaint process. 

Refer to the LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints) for details on the complaint process. 

Student-Staff and Student-Instructor Complaint Process involving Safety, Harassment, or Title IX: 

Students who have experienced a safety, harassment, or title IX event should access and complete the Title IX/Clery: Anonymous Reporting Form found in any of these locations: 

• LSCO Website (Sexual Misconduct & Title IX)
• LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints)
• MyGator Card
• Blackboard (Student Resources, Student Services, Student Resources)

After a student completes the intake form, they will be contacted by an LSCO employee and provided guidance on how to proceed. 

Refer to the LSCO Catalog (Student Services, Complaints) for details on the complaint process. 

The privacy of all students, including Distance Education students, is protected through strict adherence to the rules of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. LSCO’s statement regarding the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act can be found in LSCO’s Catalog. Additional information regarding privacy for Distance Education students can be found in the Distance Education Handbook, appendix D.