Course Policies
Course Objectives
Biol. 345 is an animal physiology course with an emphasis on functional processes in vertebrates. Specifically the course will focus on physiological mechanisms involved in coordination, movement, metabolism, respiration, circulation, excretion, and temperature regulation at the molecular, tissue and organ or organ system level. The objectives of this course are threefold: 1) to introduce you to the central principles/concepts of animal physiology; 2) to further develop your data interpretation and problem-solving skills; and, 3) to expand your factual knowledge of animal physiology.
Teaching Methods
BIOL 345 is taught in an interactive lecture format in LA 106 from 12:40 - 2:00 PM. The textbook for the course is: Moyes CD and PM Schulte. Principles of Animal Physiology. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, 2006.
Course Requirements
The stated prerequisite for this course is BIOL 221 or the equivalent. It is also expected that you will have completed one year of college chemistry and one semester of introductory biology.
Evaluation Methods
Your course grade will be determined by your performance on the three equally weighted noncomprehensive examinations scheduled during the semester. Each examination will be worth 100 points and will consist of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and/or interpretation questions. Material from both lecture and the reading assignments will be covered on the examinations.
Although BIOL 345 does not have an attendance policy, as stated in the University of Montana Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007 - 08 "students are expected to attend all class meetings and complete all assignments for courses in which they are enrolled."
Please note the final examination policy from the University of Montana Undergraduate Course Catalog 2006 - 07 - "Students may seek relief from writing more than two examinations during the same day. Students who are scheduled for more than two examinations may contact the appropriate faculty to arrange an alternate testing time during the scheduled final examination period." (http://www2.umt.edu/catalog/policy_procedure.htm) For BIOL 345, any "alternate testing time" will be scheduled at a time after the originally scheduled examination, and will require written documentation of more than two final examinations on a given day. This documentation must be provided to Dr. Westphal by 6 December.
Grading System
Your final course grade will be will be determined using the following system:
A ≥ 90%
B ≥ 80%
C ≥ 70%
D ≥ 60%
F < 60%
Please note that grades will NOT be assessed by a plus/minus (+/-) grading system.
Credit/No Credit
Students opting to be graded on a credit/no credit system should take note of the University policy that
"A CR is given for work deserving credit (A through D-) and an NCR for work of failing quality (F). CR and NCR grades do not affect grade point averages. The grades of CR and NCR are not defined in terms of their relationship to traditional grades for graduate course work.
Election of the credit/no credit option must be indicated at registration time or within the first 15 class days on CyberBear. After the fifteenth day, but prior to the end of the 30th day of instruction, an undergraduate student may change a credit/no credit enrollment to an enrollment under the A F grade system, or the reverse by means of a drop/add form.
The University cautions students that many graduate and professional schools and some employers do not recognize non traditional grades (i.e., those other than A through F) or may discriminate against students who use the credit/no credit option for many courses. Moreover, students are cautioned that some degree programs may have different requirements regarding CR/NCR credits, as stipulated in the catalog."
Audit
Students opting to audit BIOL 345 should take note of the University policy that a change of grading option to audit is not allowed after the 15th instructional day.
Incompletes
Students opting to request an "incomplete" should be familiar with the University policy that "the incomplete is not an option to be exercised at the discretion of students. In all cases it is given at the discretion of the instructor within the following guidelines:
1. A mark of incomplete may be assigned students when:
a. They have been in attendance and doing passing work up to three weeks before the end of the semester, and
b. For reasons beyond their control and which are acceptable to the instructor, they have been unable to complete the requirements of the course on time. Negligence and indifference are not acceptable reasons.
2. The instructor sets the conditions for the completion of the course work and notes these conditions on the final grade report.
3. When a student has met the conditions for making up the incomplete, the instructor will assign a grade based upon an evaluation of the total work done by the student in the course.
4. An incomplete which is not made up within one calendar year automatically will revert to the alternate grade which was assigned by the instructor at the time the incomplete was submitted.
5. An incomplete remains on the permanent record and is accompanied by the final grade, for example, IA, IB, IC, etc."
For additional grading information please refer to the University of Montana Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007 - 08 (http://www2.umt.edu/catalog/policy_procedure.htm)
Examinations
Students are expected to prepare, and be present, for lecture examinations on the scheduled dates, and at the scheduled time.
If a dispute should arise regarding the answer to a lecture or laboratory examination item, the judgment of the faculty member will be final. Any disputes regarding test items, or examination grades, must be communicated within five (5) class days after the examination has been returned to the class. Under no circumstances will examination grades be reconsidered after this time.
Make-up Examinations
Make-up examinations are not considered a right, but are reserved for those students who are prevented from taking an examination on the originally scheduled date due to:
- a documented illness,
- or documentation of participation in a University-sanctioned activity
- Documentation of participation in a University-sanctioned activity requires written communication from the University of Montana Office of Academic Advising.
- Student athletes must provide this documentation to Dr. Westphal within the first week of classes.
You must call Dr. Westphal at 406-243-6058 before the scheduled time of the examination in order to communicate the nature of the problem you feel precludes you from taking a scheduled examination.
If you are unable to speak with Dr. Westphal personally, leave a voicemail message. Absolutely no make-up examinations will be scheduled if you have not communicated with Dr. Westphal prior to the originally scheduled examination. Also, please note that simply informing Dr. Westphal that you will be absent does not constitute an excused absence. After receipt of the written documentation that supports the stated reason for an absence, Dr. Westphal will consider whether a make-up test is merited. If it is determined that a make-up examination will be provided, Dr. Westphal will notify the student of the date and time, as well as the format of the test. (Make-up examinations most likely will have different test items, and a different format than the original examination.) If a make-up test is not provided, the student will receive a zero (0) as a score for that examination.
Make-up (Extra Credit) Assignments
Under no circumstances will any additional assignments/projects be provided. For all students, the final grade for the course will be determined solely by performance on the evaluation methods mentioned above.
Dropping and Adding Courses or Changing Sections, Grading or Credit Status
Dr. Westphal will adhere to the clear instructions regarding these academic policies and procedures outlined in the University of Montana Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007-08. (http://www2.umt.edu/catalog/policy_procedure.htm)
Student Conduct
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University.
All students must be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at http://ordway.umt.edu/SA/documents/fromWeb/StudentConductCode1.pdf.
As stated in the University of Montana Undergraduate Course Catalog 2006-07: " The Student Conduct Code, embodying the ideals of academic honesty, integrity, human rights and responsible citizenship, governs all student conduct at The University of Montana-Missoula. Student enrollment presupposes a commitment to the principles and policies embodied in this Code."
Disabilities
Dr. Westphal is committed to creating an environment of equal access for students with and without disabilities. In an attempt to be fair to all students, Dr. Westphal will adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by only making accommodations based upon guidance received from the staff of the University of Montana Disability Services for Students (DSS) ( http://www.umt.edu/dss/default.htm ). Before these accommodations can be suggested and granted, "DSS requires comprehensive documentation of a disability and its impact on learning".
Information required for verifying a learning disability may be found at http://www.umt.edu/dss/new_students/LD_doc_requirements.htm.
Information required for verifying an attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be found at http://www.umt.edu/dss/new_students/ADD_doc_requirements.htm.
Information required for verifying a psychiatric or psychological disability may be found at http://www.umt.edu/dss/new_students/PSYCH_doc_requirements.htm.
