*Newton* *Polytechnic* http://www.dmacc.edu					*Syllabus* Academic Standards Commission
ENV 115 – Environmental Science – Summer 2010
Instructor Information
Name	Matt Abbott, PhD		E-mail address			mabbott1@dmacc.edu
Phone number	(641) 791-1775		Fax number
Office location	118A		Office hours			As posted or by appointment
Course Information
Semester	Summer			Year		2010
Course title	Environmental Science
Course number	ENV 115		Credits			3
Section number	NA		CRN number			30767
Days & Time	TR: 12-2:30PM		Location			136
Course description	This course combines the basic principles of ecology with current environmental issues. Issues examined include energy, land use, pesticides and pollution. Wildlife, fisheries, forestry, soil and water resources are also emphasized. Designed for the non-science major.
Prerequisites	None
Course competencies	http://www.dmacc.edu/competencies/
Important Dates
Midterm	http://www.dmacc.edu/academiccal.asp
Final	http://www.dmacc.edu/academiccal.asp
Textbooks & Materials
Required textbooks	Withgott and Brennan. Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, 3^rd ed. ISBN: 978-0-8053-9573-0
Course Policies
Attendance	Attending class is essential for success in this course. Therefore, the student is expected to attend all class sessions. If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from a classmate. All materials posted on WebCT.
Grading criteria	Five (5) Exams (50 pts each) 250 pts Term Paper Outline 50 pts Term Paper Final Version 50 pts Scale: A = 92% or above C = 72-77% A- = 90-91% C- = 70-71% B+ = 88-89% D+ = 68-69% B = 82-87% D = 62-67% B- = 80-81% D- = 60-61% C+ = 78-79% F = below 60% I expect you to keep track of your own grade. Calculation = (# points earned / # points possible) X 100%
Classroom conduct	Refer to the DMACC Student Handbook: http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp
Missed exams	Missed exams can only be made up with prior approval from the instructor. Missed exams must be made up outside of class within ten (10) days. Make-up exams may be of another format and are only allowed for emergencies.
Late assignments	Late assignments will have a 5% deduction on its grade per day it is late.
Extra credit	None
Study expectations	Recipe for Success: 1) Read the chapters covering the lecture material before coming to class. This will make it easier to understand the lectures. 2) Make the most of time in class (Actively participate in lecture by taking good notes and pursuing answers to your questions). 3) As soon as possible after class, review your notes and re-read the chapter material. 4) Ask questions to fill-in any potential gaps in your notes (ask in class, during office hours, by email, etc.). 5) Review your notes often.
Weather policy	“Individual circumstances such as health, childcare, rural roads, distance from the College, etc. can vary greatly among students and staff. It is always DMACC’s goal to provide safe learning conditions, as well as provide the opportunity for students to attend classes when the vast majority is able to safely attend. The final decision to come to College can only be made by the individual student based on their specific extenuating circumstances that may make it unsafe for them to travel. During adverse weather, DMACC faculty is considerate of students who are unable to attend classes due to unique extenuating circumstances. It is the responsibility of each faculty member to notify their students (in addition to their dean or provost) through some predetermined means if they are must postpone or cancel a specific class due to weather or illness.” Announcement of class cancelations will be made via email or phone.
Academic dishonesty	Refer to the DMACC Student Handbook: http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp
DMACC Information Web Sites
DMACC home page		http://www.dmacc.edu/
Instructor home pages		http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/welcome.asp
Admissions & registration		http://www.dmacc.edu/potienti.asp
Cellular phone use statement		http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/cellphone.asp
WebCT		http://webct.dmacc.edu/webct/public/home.pl
Student handbook		http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp
Add/drop dates		http://www.dmacc.edu/registration/add_drop.asp
Refund policy		http://www.dmacc.edu/refund.asp
Support Services
Accommodations	“It is the policy of DMACC to accommodate students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability who requires reasonable accommodation should contact the special needs coordinator at 515-964-6850 voice or 515-964-6810 TTY.”
Services for students with disabilities	http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/disabilities.asp Contact the special needs coordinator at 515-964-6850 voice or 515-964-6810 TTY or contact the Academic Achievement Center on the Newton campus at 641-791-1730 for an Application for Accommodation.
Academic & educational advising	http://www.dmacc.edu/newton/newtonadvisors.htm
Career counseling	http://www.dmacc.edu/newton/newtonadvisors.htm
Interactive Learning Center	http://www.library.dmacc.edu/ Room 120 · Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm · Friday – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Academic Achievement Center	http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/academic_achievement_center.asp Services include academic help, tutoring, testing (Compass), pre-admission and high school diploma courses, GED, and credit classes 641-791-3622 or 1-800-362-2127 Room 107 Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Computer labs	http://www.dmacc.edu/helpdesk/pc_labs.htm Room 110 A · Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 9:00 pm · Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Disclaimer
“This syllabus is representative of materials that will be covered in this class; it is not a contract between the student and the institution. It is subject to change without notice. Any potential exceptions to stated policies and requirements will be addressed on an individual basis, and only for reasons that meet specific requirements. If you have any problems related to this class, please feel free to discuss them with me.”
Nondiscrimination Policy
Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in or allow discrimination covered by law. This includes harassment based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedures. Complaint forms may be obtained from the DMACC Web site, the Ombudsperson, Judicial Officer, Human Resources Department, the campus Provost's Offices, and Academic Deans’ Offices. Students who wish additional information or assistance may contact the Executive Dean, Student Services, Laurie Wolf, Building 1, 515-964-6437 or the EEO/AA Officer, Dr. Sandy Tryon, Human Resources, Bldg. 1, 515-964-6301 or they may refer to Student Services procedure 4645 located on the DMACC Intranet at http://my.dmacc.edu/procs.aspx. Go to Policies & Procedures and choose Student Services Procedures. Employees and applicants who wish additional information or assistance may contact the EEO/AA Officer, Dr. Sandy Tryon, Human Resources, Bldg. 1, 515-964-6301 or refer to HR Procedures 3000, 3005, 3010, 3015, and 3020 at http://www.dmacc.edu/hr/hrpp.asp . For requests for accommodations, the Accommodation/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Sharon Bittner, can be contacted at 515-964-6857. Students with requests for accommodations should refer to the Student Services procedure 4610 located on the DMACC Intranet at http://my.dmacc.edu/default.aspx . Go to Policies & Procedures and choose Student Services Procedures.

Tentative Course Schedule

Week

Topic

Chapter

1 5/25;

5/27

An Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Policy: Decision Making and Problem Solving

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology (start)

2 6/1;

6/3

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology; Review

EXAM I (Chapters 1,3,5)

Species Interactions and Community Ecology (start)

3 6/8;

6/10

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology

Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution

4 6/15;

6/17

Global Climate Change; Review

EXAM II (Chapters 6,7,17,18)

* Discuss Paper Assignment

5 6/22;

6/24

FILM: An Inconvenient Truth

FILM: The Great Global Warming Swindle

6 6/29;

7/1

Human Population; Soil and Agriculture

Agriculture, Biotechnology, and the Future of Food; Review

8, 9

7 7/6;

7/8

EXAM III (Chapters 8-10)

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

* Paper outline DUE

Resource Management, Forestry, Land Use, Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

8 7/13;

7/15

Freshwater Resources: Natural Systems, Human Impact, and Conservation; Review

EXAM IV (Chapters 11,12,14,15)

Fossil Fuels: Energy and Impacts

9 7/20;

7/22

Conventional Energy Alternatives

New Renewable Energy Alternatives

Waste Management; Review

10 7/27;

7/29

FILM: Car of the Future

TBD

Final 8/3

EXAM V (Chapters 19-22) (Tuesday 12:30-2:30)

* Paper DUE

Academic Standards Commission

Course Information

Important Dates

Accommodations

Disclaimer

Nondiscrimination Policy