BIOL 4001: Field Botany

Syllabus

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Field Botany Urban Botany syllabus 2021Download as Word Doc

Course Requirements

Each student is to collect, press, dry and mount samples of all of the trees and shrubs presented in the course listed in the Excel file on Blackboard, except for those that are highlighted in yellow in the excel file.  This collection is to be presented for grading at the time of the final exam.  The grade on the collection will be based on completeness, accuracy and general neatness and quality of presentation.  Directions for preparing the plant material for the collection will be posted inside and outside of the “open lab.”

Drawings:

Required drawings of the leaves, branches and habit of the yellow highlighted plants. Images from the internet are not an acceptable substitute.

The assignment must be submitted in person on the day of the exam.

Each student will take a multiple-choice final exam in which fresh samples of the trees and shrubs presented in the course will be mounted for identification.  The student must know the common name, scientific name and family of the plant.

As part of the final examination identification of the selected annuals and perennial plants on the course list will be tested using live plants.  There is no makeup exam available for this reason. The exam is run like a practical and must be taken in the assigned room on the assigned day. Students should go to nurseries, etc. to become familiar with these plants. They also grow all over the BC campus!

For each week there will be readings assigned and a 20-minute quiz given on the reading for that week. Quizzes available from Monday to Sunday on the week they are open and can be taken multiple times.

Stop by the open lab and submit at least 5 correctly identified plants. Extra credit half point if the plant is one that we didn’t have in lab at the time.

Course Grading

The grading in the course will be based on the following:

  • 25% weekly quizzes (5% each)
  • 40% plant collection packet assignment
  • 25% tree and shrub identification final exam
  • 5% annual/perennial identification final exam.
  • 5% participation.

There is no curve.

Any plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment.

Collection packets will not be accepted late without a documented excuse.

The final examination identification of the selected annuals and perennial plants will be tested using live plants.  There is no makeup exam available for this reason. The exam is run like a practical and must be taken in the assigned room on the assigned day. Students should go to nurseries, etc. to become familiar with these plants. They also grow all over the BC campus!

A+ = 100+
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = Below 60

Honors and Extra Credit

For Honors credit in the class, prepare One additional plant profile on plants of your choice. (No points only Honors credit)

For Extra credit, prepare One additional plant profiles on plants of your choice. (1 point). Additional profiles will not be accepted for extra credit.

Additional extra credit point (only one!) can be gained by submitting an extra participation plant in the lab. Extra half point if any of the participation plants you bring in are harder to find and the lab has been lacking the sample for more than a week.

University Policies and Information

The Center for Student Disability Services is working remotely at this time.  Please email them at testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu for assistance.

Students should inform the professor if they have a disability or any other situation that may require Section 504/ADA accommodations.  The faculty and staff will attempt to work out whatever arrangements are necessary.

Please provide me with your course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with me as soon as possible to ensure accommodations are met in a timely fashion.

In order to receive academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or who suspect that they might have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell or the Assistant Director, Josephine Patterson or their general email testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both.

Please review the complete text of CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation. Item opens in new window/tab. Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.

If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation.

Bereavement Policy:

  1. Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). Contact Email: studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu
  2. Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
  3. As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
  4. Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
  5. Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Bereavement Procedure:

  • Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused absence.
  • Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
  • The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student’s faculty and academic staff of the student’s courses.
  • Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
  • Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus.
  • Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure:

  • Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
  • The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
  • Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college.
  • Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
  • Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
  • Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
  • Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.

  • Tuesday, May 31  First day of classes – Summer 1
  • Wednesday, June 1 Last day to add a course for Summer I; Purge Summer I waitlists
  • Thursday, June 2      No classes scheduled
  • Monday, June 6        No classes scheduled; Last day to submit a Pass/Fail elective application online for Summer Session 1
  • Tuesday, June 7 Conversion day – Classes follow a Monday schedule; Last day to drop a course with a “WD” grade for Summer I
  • Wednesday, June 8   First day to withdraw from course with a “W” grade for Summer I
  • Monday, June 20      Juneteenth – College Closed
  • Wednesday, June 22  Conversion day – Classes follow a Monday schedule
  • Monday, July 4           Independence Day – College Closed
  • Monday, July 11         Last day of undergraduate classes – Summer I; Last day to withdraw with a “W” grade for Summer I
  • Tuesday, July 12        Undergraduate final examinations; Graduate final exam/class – Summer I