In the process of rewriting a model syllabus for the De Anza College Academic Senate I worked with colleagues, the Faculty Association, and Disability Support Services and read more than a hundred syllabi.
For this webpage I am also including, at the end, examples from syllabi at other colleges.
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The main items that really should be
(or must be, see the note about a Board of Trustees Administrative Procedure below)
in all syllabi are below at this page in large type face, bulleted and/or numbered and in bold.
Note that in Board of Trustees FHDA Administrative Procedure 5500 I B
it says:
“Protection Against Improper Academic Evaluation
Students shall not be evaluated in a prejudiced or capricious manner. At the same time, students are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled. Standards relating to matters of class attendance, punctuality, dress (e.g. safety goggles and uniforms), and other similar classroom requirements, where essential in evaluation, should be clearly communicated by the instructors to the students enrolled in the courses where they apply.”
read it at: https://www.boarddocs.com/ca/fhda/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9U2U5X7A11CD
Suggested additions, many from course syllabi in use by my colleagues as this was written, are after the main points, and have the word Example preceding them.
– – – Some divisions send out an outline or checklist to accomplish standardization.
– – – It makes it easier for potential students to find out about your classes if you have a faculty website on which to post your syllabi. For faculty at De Anza College, start at: http://dadev.deanza.edu/webteam/faculty-site.html
If you post syllabi online or email them to students, each quarter be sure to test links to webpages that are within your syllabi.
Below you can find:
1. Basic Information
2. Goals for Students in the Course
3. Grading Criteria
4. Academic Integrity (Three alternate approaches)
5. Disruptive Behavior
6. Extra Help and Support
7. Late Assignments
8. Schedule of Topics, Coursework and Exams
9. Final Exam and Other Important Dates
10. Class policies / Homework
11. Class policies / Exams
12. Class policies / Cell Phones
13. Other Potential Class Policies
14. Syllabus is subject to change
15. Health and Safety
Notes from other colleges, including SJSU, SFSU, UCLA, Yale and UCSD.
1. Basic Information
• De Anza College, course, course section number(s), and course title
• Quarter and year
• Days, time, and location
Example of more about the classroom / lab / office location if your syllabus is online and people can read it in advance (or if you email it to students in advance):
To find the classroom, S56, go to https://www.deanza.edu/maps-and-tours/s_quad.html Look for the S5 building and then find S56.
Example
“Hybrid course. Access to the Internet is required. This class physically meets on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:30 PM to 6:20 PM. The online portion of the class is conducted via Canvas. The instructor will be available online Tuesdays from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm”
• Instructor name, phone number, electronic mail address,
(many divisions require that the email address instructors give out is their lastnamefirstname@deanza.edu Or lastnamefirstname@fhda.edu, not a Gmail, etc.)
Example
“Messages may be e-mailed to ——–@fhda.edu. ALL MESSAGES MUST INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME, CLASS TITLE, CLASS TIME AND DAY. Any messages without full name, class, & time will not be answered. Emails will be reviewed at 9 am daily. Emails after 9 am will not be answered until the next day.”
• Office hours and office location
(For office hours, “To Be Announced” or “by arrangement” is not acceptable.)
• Advisories, prerequisites, and /or corequisites
Use the exact wording from the course outline, available at;
http://ecms.deanza.edu/deptoutlinespublic.html
(It could be different that what is required at another college you teach at.)
Some prerequisites require not only completing the prerequisite class, but with a specific grade
as in for MATH 1A “MATH 43 (with a grade of C or better)”,
Some have prerequisites that have timelines, as in
“or appropriate score on Calculus Placement Test within the past calendar year. “
A prerequisite can sometimes be fulfilled by classes in high school, such as the prerequisite for Japanese 4 being Japanese 3 at De Anza “(equivalent to three years of high school Japanese) or equivalent,”
and that might need an explanation in the syllabus.
Permission of the instructor might be required, as in the massage internship prerequisite: “successful completion of the class selected for internship. Student must also receive approval from the instructor of the class in order to participate.” How to get that permission from you should be detailed in the syllabus.
A prerequisite sometimes does not literally need to be taken by the student, and might need an explanation, as in the prerequisite for KNES 1C, which is KNES 1B “or equivalent swimming skills.” It could be appropriate to give a simple swim test in the appropriate depth of water the first day of class and make it clear in the syllabus that passing that test is required to remain in or add the class.
The prerequisite section can include a sales pitch for the course, especially if your syllabus is online and can be read by students who are deciding whether or not to add the class.
Example:
“KNES 1A Prerequisite: None, except to be tall enough to work in water 4 to 5 feet deep.
Novice swimming has many different kinds of swim students.
Some are new to swimming, including some who have never been in a pool.
(Most colleges do not offer a true entry level swimming class; you are expected to already have some swimming skill. If you are afraid of the water, this is the right class.)
Some students in this class will be over their fear and able to swim some, but not quite ready for a beginning swim class in water deeper than they are tall.
Others are self taught, or have not swum for quite awhile and want to relearn from scratch.
Others know breaststroke, but not freestyle.
When I do surveys of students I find many who had some kind of swim class previously, but who just didn’t learn to swim. Others are in a pool or swim class for the first time. I teach from the very beginning. I don’t assume anyone knows how to float, or even how to get into a pool. I do assume many students will be uncomfortable at first.
The teaching assistants and I teach from in the pool, not up on the deck.”
• Required and recommended texts and materials
Example:
“(Text title, author). The De Anza bookstore has the text. If you have already purchased any version of the series, any version will work for this class. You don’t have to buy the textbook. There are some copies on reserve in the Learning Center. You can also rent this text. See more info at: https://www.deanza.edu/bookstore/
To check out copies of the text at the Learning Center you need to get a De Anza library card, which is also the photo student ID card or DASB card. The cards are usually processed in the lower level of the Campus Center.
You need to bring a photo ID (driver’s license or passport), and proof of registration and fee payment. If you don’t have a driver’s license or passport, you can get a photo ID from the Department of Motor Vehicles by bringing in a birth certificate, Social Security card and a small payment. Hours to get a DASB card are listed in the schedule of classes. Once you have the student ID, you can use your student ID as a library card, or to get online at the Internet lab. Various local businesses also give discounts to card holders.”
Example: “Please bring the textbook to class every day.”
Example:
” REQUIRED TEXT
Getlein, Mark. Gilbert’s Living with Art, 11th edition, 2016, McGrawHill.
ISBN: 9781260270433. Students need to purchase the e-book and the access code to the digital learning resources on line called M-H Connect. The best price is offered through De Anza Bookstore.”
Example:
“Text and Required Materials
1. Required: 1” – 3” three ring binder w/ notepaper.
2. Required: Elgin, Dema High Performance Engine Theory
3. Recommended: Lewis, W.G. Automotive Machining and Engine
Repair. 2006
4. Recommended: PTI Engine Analyzer Software, vs3.0
5. Safety glasses for demonstrations.”
Example:
“Essential Student Materials
A. Safety glasses
B. Approved coveralls and work shoes
C. Basic hand tools and required specialty tools as
stated on the Automotive Technology General,
Chassis and Powertrain tool lists.”
Example:
“A. Hats must be worn straight or not at all
B. Coveralls must be kept clean. I will decide if they are clean.
C. No ragged edges on your sleeves. If you cut them off, sew them up.”
Example:
“UNIFORMS (required by 2nd class meeting)
Professional scrubs (any color as long as they look professional); White or black professional shoes (no open toed or heel shoes) only, ID Name tag will be discussed at the first class meeting and must be worn during class time; hair must be worn back or above the collar. Light color nail polish only, no bracelets, very small earrings, one ring, no facial piercings, and no chewing gum allowed. You will receive 5 points per each day that you are in full uniform; not being in uniform will not allow you to participate in the skills.”
Example:
“Calculator: A scientific calculator is required. You may not use your cellphone (or any internet -connectable device) as a calculator and you may not share calculators.”
• Attendance/on time policy
Example: “Students are expected to attend all class meetings and fully participate each time.”
Example:
“If you want to turn in homework and then leave class without participating you must make that clear when you do so. If you leave early you must check out and be sure the time you leave is noted. Checking in and then leaving without telling us is dishonest, and will be reported to a college administrator.”
Example:
“If you hand in an assignment at the beginning of class, then leave, that will be counted as an absence. If you take the exam and leave, that is also counted as an absence. Please notify me if you have to leave early for any urgent reason, appointments should be made at times other than class time.”
Example:
“Two absences may be accepted if approved in advance by the instructor”
Example:
“The student will not be allowed to participate in the class if he/she is 10 minutes late. Punctuality and safety is a must.”
Example:
“Attendance: Attendance at all classes is expected. While the student’s attendance record is not part of his/her grade, the workload is designed to make full use of the hours allocated for this class. That is to say, if a student doesn’t put 8 hours of work per week on the subject matter, (s)he cannot expect to finish the assigned work by the end of the quarter. Attendance will be noted once every session. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that his/her presence at class is recorded.”
NOTE: Attendance/on time policy in online classes:
“Example: Participate in weekly Discussion/Response sessions and Instructor Assigned Discussion in Canvas. Points are given for your contributions in (“Muddiest Point” and Instructor Assigned) discussions. Identifying and sharing of resources is encouraged. These discussions are an important part of the learning process.
Points earned in the weekly discussions contribute to your “participation points”. In addition to the weekly discussions, there will be one required discussion/response activity on ethics during the quarter.”
Example: ” COMPREHENSIVE ON-CAMPUS MIDTERM EXAM: The Comprehensive Midterm Exam is mandatory. This midterm must be taken in-person and on-campus on Friday of the 11th week. This exam will be given 4:00pm-6:00pm. Friday December 8, 2017 on campus in MLC-105 (MLC is the Media and Learning Center). This is the only time that the exam can be taken. Please mark the time and date on your calendar and reserve that time. This Comprehensive Midterm Exam is worth 180 Course Points. Almost half of the course grade is determined by the score on this one exam. Official photo identification will be required for this exam.”
Example:
“CANVAS: This course resides on the course management system called Canvas. It is accessible from MyPortal. The course becomes open to students starting on the Friday before the first day of the quarter.
DO THESE 3 TASKS IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE QUARTER….OR ELSE YOU WILL BE DROPPED!
You must log onto the course on Canvas and complete the following 3 tasks by noon on Thursday of the first week of the quarter:
1. Fill out a short questionnaire
2. Submit your first introductory post
3. Post a photo of yourself on your Canvas Profile.
IMPORTANT: Students who have not completed all 3 tasks noon on Thursday of the first week of the quarter will be dropped from the course on Thursday. Students who add the class have 3 days to do these tasks once they are registered.”
2. Goals for Students in the Course
This can be taken from the Course Objectives on the Course Outline and the Student Learning Outcomes for the course.
Example:
“The Goals of This Course
By the end of this course, you will be able to read and
• understand literal and inferred meaning in academic material and fiction;
• identify organization and style;
• identify main and supporting ideas;
• use academic vocabulary correctly;
• write a summary;
• identify literary techniques used in fiction.”
Goals can also be a sales pitch for the course , especially if your syllabus is online and can be read by students who are deciding whether or not to add the class.
Example:
“This is an introductory class on the U.S. political system. You’ll learn not just about how the system works, but how you can think critically and act effectively as a citizen participant in this process. It’s an important and challenging time in the world. There are big issues at stake, perhaps bigger than at any other time in the history of the human species. The speed and effects of technological change combined with reach of the global economy present us with important opportunities and grave dangers. We hope through this class you will be inspired to action and that you’ll learn how to make this action effective.”
Example:
“Our department mission is to inspire, excite, and train our automotive technology students to achieve a valuable place in our local and global community; by serving a widely diverse student population, including career-oriented students, lifelong learners, and those who choose our program to enrich their own knowledge base. We do this by focusing on integrity, personal achievement, service to our community, and excellence in all we do.
Example: Goal: Successful completion of this class can mean certification in American Red Cross First Aid. This class can be considered a class to prep for future EMT training or lifeguard training, since much of the material stressed in this class is also required for EMTs and lifeguards.”
In the goals section, Student Learning Outcomes must be listed exactly as they are written at: https://www.deanza.edu/slo/
(scroll down to Student Learning Outcomes for all courses by Division/Department. )
Example:
The Student Learning Outcome for HLTH57A is
“• Student Learning Outcome: Demonstrate life saving skills in care of injuries and sudden illness as specified by the American Red Cross.”
3. Grading Criteria
Include points or percentages for coursework and grading scale.
Here is an example.
Coursework / Points
Writing Assignments 30
Homework 10
Quizzes 10
Midterm 25
Final 25
Total 100
Example:
“30 points of class grading is active participation and steady improvement in skills and knowledge during class. 100% participation in class each session, including completing each lab session (for example, checking capillary refill, removing potentially contaminated gloves, controlling external bleeding, completing a secondary survey, checking a responsive person, completing the F.A.S.T. skills for a potential stroke victim, the choking scenarios, and more) will earn you 8 points per class session for the first three sessions, and 6 points for the fourth session.”
70 points is written: “homework assignments and the final exam. The final exam is 25 points. There are no makeups for the final exam, it must be taken in class the last day of class.”
Example:
“The class has a total of 100 points. A+ = 97 points, A = 90, A- = 87 B+ = 84, B= 80, B- = 77, C+ = 74, C= 70, (no C- grades are given at De Anza), D+ = 64, D = 60, D- = 57, (no F+ grades are given at De Anza), F = less than 57 points.”
Example:
“Regardless of your overall point total, you will receive an ‘F’ for the entire course if you do not complete all of the lab experiments or if you do not complete the lab portion of the class with a passing grade (a grade of ‘C’ or better).”
Example:
“Basis for Grade: A: 90% – 100% Project Check-Off Sheet: 75%
B: 80% – 89% Mid-Term Project: 10%
C: 70% – 79% Final Project: 15%
D: 60% – 69%
F: < 60%”
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Example: “Nine assignments will be used for your grade. Your assignment with the lowest grade will be discarded.”
Example: “Please be advised that the instructor rounds to one-tenth of a percent when computing the final grades.”
Example: “TO HAVE A CHANCE OF PASSING THIS COURSE YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS AND FINAL PAPER.”
Example: “Final grades are non-negotiable.”
Example:
“STANDARDS OF WORK:
Written work that is graded must be complete, logically organized, neat, and legible. When justification is requested, correct answers must be supported by appropriate work to receive credit. This requirement applies both to numerical answers and to non-numerical conclusions. When asked to “prove“ or “explain your reasoning“ or “show that,“ you may lose credit if you do not include all steps needed to support your conclusion. In general, you may lose credit, even if the final answer is correct, if: the instructor cannot read/understand your work; steps, details, work, explanations are missing; work is incorrect or not consistent with answer; the work is not logically and clearly presented. Furthermore, correct use of mathematical notation is important to communication in the language of mathematics. Incorrect or missing notation will be penalized in grading all work.”
Example:
“Department policy mandates that the grading scale must be followed once it is stated
on this syllabus. Therefore, I cannot “bump up” grades. Example: a 79 is a C+. I cannot change the grade to a B-.”
4. Academic Integrity (Three alternate approaches)
• Approach One – Minimal mention
Example “I don’t expect you to cheat in this class but, for all your classes, you should be aware of the college Academic Integrity Policy and its consequences for students.”
• Approach Two – Policy and definition
Reference the college policy on academic integrity and the faculty member’s responsibility to report incidents
Definition of what constitutes academic dishonesty
Example” Academic dishonesty regarding tests in this class is defined as using resources not made available by me to everyone in the class during the testing time. Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism.” (Instructor adds definition of plagiarism as desired.)
• Approach Three – Policy, definition, and consequences
Reference to the college policy on academic integrity and the faculty member’s responsibility to report incidents
Definition of what constitutes academic dishonesty
Linking specific consequences to specific dishonest actions up to and including a failing grade on the assignment or test in question.
Example:
“You will be required to comply with all De Anza rules and regulations, especially the section on academic integrity http://www.deanza.edu/policies/academic_integrity.html
All information at the policies webpages applies in this course and students will be held accountable for this information.
You will find descriptions of cheating and plagiarism: “Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means… Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own” (and the webpages give many detailed examples), and these statements: “Academic and/or administrative sanctions may be applied in cases of academic dishonesty.
• Academic consequences may include
• Receiving a failing grade on the test, paper or exam
• Having course grade lowered
Administrative consequences may include
• Disciplinary probation
• Disciplinary suspension
• Expulsion
Students may also be subject to arrest or monetary fines if the academic dishonesty offense violates state or federal law.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Important Note: The college follows the legal opinion set forth by the California Community Colleges’ legal department which limits the consequences of an act of academic dishonesty to a failing grade on the activity, assignment, or test involved.
Faculty can NOT give a failing grade “F” for the course because of one instance of plagiarism or cheating.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
5. Disruptive Behavior
Example:
“The college will enforce all policies and procedures set forth in the Standards of Student Conduct (see catalog). Any student disrupting the class may be asked to leave that class. Administrative follow-up may result.”
Example:
“If disruptive behavior occurs in a class, “the instructor may remove the student from his or her class for that day and the next class meeting if the student interfered with the instructional process,” and the behavior will be reported to the Office of Student Development for possible disciplinary action/reprimand/suspension.”
“It would be impossible to list all the ways a student could be disruptive, but the basic definition is: a disruptive person is one, who through his/her behavior, speech or actions, interferes with academic activity.”
(And see:
California Education Code,
ARTICLE 3. Removal, Suspension, or Expulsion
76032
“The adopted rules of student conduct may authorize an instructor to remove a student from his or her class for the day of the removal and the next class meeting. The instructor shall immediately report the removal to the chief administrative officer for appropriate action. . .”
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=76032 )
Example:
“CONDUCT: Professional behavior, conduct, communication (verbal and nonverbal), and language is expected at all times. A student who does not demonstrate these or who is disruptive or suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be asked to leave the clinical site/skills lab and/or receive a PI, reflection, recommendation for Withdrawal with Penalty or Disqualification. De Anza College will enforce all policies and procedures set forth in the Nursing Student Handbook and/or Standards of Student Conduct (see college catalog).”
Example:
“Class Etiquette Each student will be expected to act as an adult and will be treated as such until that student proves otherwise. Please treat each other, the teacher and the subject with respect or college rules will be applied appropriately, i.e., no cell phones, text messaging, talking, passing notes, etc. Thank you.”
Example:
“THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REMOVE ANY STUDENT FROM CLASS FOR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO INSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION.”
Example:
“To promote a safe and positive learning environment, you are to be respectful to me and to your classmates. Please do not talk during lecture. If you have a question, raise your hand.”
Example:
Any student who is disruptive will be asked to leave the class quietly. Some class distractions are including:
a) Talking during lecture
b) Having strong odor such as cigarette or sweat odor
c) Making unnecessary noise with pen or paper
6. Extra Help and Support
List support services and facilities that can help students succeed. Your list can include both college-wide support and/or support specific to your course.
Here is an example:
“Take advantage of these free support services!
• Writing and Reading Center in AT 309
• Listening and Speaking Center in AT 304
• Math, Sciences and Technology Resource Center in S43
• Academic Skills Center in AT 302
• General Subject Tutoring in AT 305
• Disability Support Services in SCS 141”
And more examples:
“Programs for student success in all kinds of classes, including tutorials, readiness, academic skills, instructional computing and more:
http://deanza.edu/studentsuccess/
More students qualify for financial aid than use it or even know they qualify. There are enrollment fee waivers you can apply for online which take about a week to get an answer. For all the details go to:
http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/financialaid/index.html
You don’t have to pay for all your classes/fees at once. De Anza has an installment payment plan that allows you to defer most of your payments. Go to: http://deanza.edu/cashier/installment_plan.html
De Anza College offers many scholarships, some of which have few applicants!
Check out the loot:
http://deanza.edu/financialaid/types/scholarships.html
De Anza college has a webpage with resources for food, shelter / housing, transportation and more.
https://www.deanza.edu/resources/index.html
The De Anza College Food Pantry provides food to students in need. You can get a bag of groceries with few forms to fill out. http://deanza.edu/outreach/food_pantry.html
Various local businesses give discounts to De Anza Associated Student Body card holders. A page of discounts (mostly 10% off food) is at
http://www.deanza.edu/dasb/discounts.html/index.html
There are Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), some available 24 hours a day for use by anyone trained to use them, at many locations on the De Anza campus: https://marydonahue.org/aed-locations-at-de-anza-college
“Family Issues, romantic relationship difficulties, anxiety, stress” and other personal issues should preferably be dealt with while they are not a big deal, before they do become a big deal. “From time to time, problems of everyday living can be resolved through talking with friends, family, or someone whom we trust to help us. However, there are times when seeking help outside of one’s familiar environment might be more helpful. https://www.deanza.edu/psychologicalservices/ is here to meet such needs.”
NOTE: (ACCESSIBILITY/ACCOMMODATIONS: The De Anza College Model Syllabus at the Academic Senate webpage previously said you should describe “accessibility for students with disabilities appropriate to the discipline.” But this wording is no longer appropriate.
Accessibility is not worked out between the instructor and the student or detailed by the instructor in the course syllabus. Disabilities Support Programs and Services (DSPS) counselors work with individual students to make these decisions and then report them to faculty.
In the Clockwork Faculty Help Guide
https://www.deanza.edu/dsps/testingtutorial/ClockWork%20Faculty%20Help%20Guide.pdf
we read:
“When a student with a verified and eligible disability meets with their DSPS Counselor, they will agree upon the appropriate academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and services (accommodations) that the student will need in their specific classes.
These accommodations are specific to the course, or courses, into which the student is enrolling. Their purpose and design is to “level the playing field” for the student in the classroom and not to provide the student an advantage over the other students in the class. Likewise, academic accommodations do not require an instructor to make any fundamental alterations in the nature of the discipline or the subject matter to be learned or the skills to be obtained.
Once the accommodations are agreed upon for a specific course, each instructor will receive an Accommodation Letter from the student’s DSPS Counselor. The Accommodation Letter notifies the instructor that the DSPS student has a qualifying disability and lists the accommodations the student is authorized to use in the class. Instructors are asked to keep this letter for their files in a confidential location.
NOTE: Instructors should not ask students to bring them paperwork from DSPS, the Accommodation Letter is sent directly to the instructor from DSPS.
Example: (two suggested additions to syllabi from DSS / DSPS)
1) A short version suggested by DSPS
“Students who have been found to be eligible for accommodations by Disability Support Services (DSS), please follow up to ensure that your accommodations have been authorized for the current quarter. If you are not registered with DSS and need accommodations, please go to the DSS office in the Registration & Student Services Building (RSS) – Room 141 for information on eligibility and how to receive support services. You can also go online to https://www.deanza.edu/dsps/
for additional information.”
2) A longer version also suggested by DSPS
“De Anza College DSPS Syllabus Statement
De Anza College views disability as an important aspect of diversity, and the college is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. Disability Support Services (DSS) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations
If you have, or think you have, a disability in any area, such as mental health, attention, a learning disability, chronic health, sensory (e.g., hearing or vision), or physical, please contact DSS to arrange a confidential discussion, regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations.
If you are registered with DSS and have accommodations set by a DSS counselor, please be sure that your instructor has received your accommodation letter from Clockwork early in the quarter to review how the accommodations will be applied in the course.
Students who need accommodated test proctoring must meet appointment booking deadlines at the DSPS Testing Center.
Exams must be booked at least five (5) business days in advance of the instructor approved exam date/time.
Final exams must be scheduled seven (7) business days/weekdays in advance of the instructor approved exam date/time.
Failure to meet appointment booking deadlines will result in the forfeit of testing accommodations and you will be required to take your exam in class.
Contact the DSS if you cannot find or utilize your MyPortal Clockwork Portal.
DSS strives to provide accommodations in a reasonable and timely manner, some accommodations may take additional time to arrange. We encourage you to work with DSS and your faculty, as early in the quarter as possible, so that we may ensure that your learning experience is accessible and successful.
DSS Location: RSS Building, Suite 141
Phone: 408-864-8753
On the web: https://www.deanza.edu/dsps/
Email: DSS@deanza.edu ”
Example:
(In May 2019 the De Anza College DASB Senate asked that we include this:)
“De Anza Associated Student Body Senate
De Anza College students are represented in school and district governance processes by elected student representatives. The De Anza Associated Student Body Senate funds programs, clubs, and events across campus, and defends the rights of students.
Student elections are held every spring and fall quarter, and meetings are held on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in the student council chambers in the lower level of the Hinson Campus Center. Students are encouraged to attend meetings, make public comments, and vote in elections.
For more information, please visit https://www.deanza.edu/dasb/, stop by the DASB Senate Office in the lower level of the Hinson Campus Center, or contact the Office of College Life at collegelife@fhda.edu or (408) 864-8756.”
7. Late Assignments
Possibilities include:
• Points deducted or grade lowering depend on number of days late
• Not accepted after deadline
• Not accepted
• Point at which late assignment value equals “0”
example:
“Assignments submitted after the due date will be reduced by 5-10% per day.”
example: “all homework must be completed on Canvas, (not in a mailbox, emailed, etc.) by 1:50 p.m. June 23”
Example:
” LATE WORK
Lab reports will be accepted after the due date according to the following rules: Ten percent (10%) of the maximum possible points will be subtracted for each working day (24 hours) the assignment is late. This will continue until 5 days have elapsed beyond the due date, when the points total will drop to zero and no credit will be earned. If you have clear and compelling reasons for not getting an assignment in on time, please let me know on or before the day it is due, and I will arrange an extension for you. ”
Example:
“No late work will be accepted during finals week!”
8. Schedule of Topics, Coursework and Exams
– daily or weekly schedule recommended in the syllabus or mentioned in the syllabus and posted at a class webpage
9. Final Exam and Other Important Dates
Source for these dates: http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/calendar/
Source for final exams: http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/calendar/final-exams.html
• Final exam for this course…
• Last day to add quarter length classes…
• Last day to drop for a refund (out of state and foreign students)…
• Last day to drop for a refund (resident students)…
• Last day to drop a class with no record of grade…
• Last day to request a class be changed to Pass/No Pass…
• Last day to drop with a “W”…
• College closed (add dates AND names of holidays)…
Example of a description of pass/no pass:
“If you choose to ask for a pass/no pass instead of a letter grade, please note: No more than 30 units of credit with a “P” grade can be applied toward an Associate of Arts degree. And ordinarily, no “P” grade may be applied toward a student’s major requirements unless the major lists a pass/no pass course on their curriculum sheet. Usually you need to apply for a pass/no pass at the Portal early in the quarter, but we may have a different deadline since we are not an eleven week class. Do not give the P/NP paperwork to your instructor, do it at the Portal. To earn a ‘pass’ you must do at least the work required for a ‘C.’
https://www.deanza.edu/apply-and-register/register/passnopass.html”
Example:
“Drops: There is a deadline for drops. After the deadline neither you nor your instructor can drop you.
You are responsible for dropping classes you do not want to take.”
Example:
“Dropping • If, for whatever reason, you choose to drop or withdraw from this course, it is your responsibility alone to initiate the drop or withdraw by the appropriate deadline, either online or in person. However, prior to the drop deadline, if you stop attending class, I am required to drop you from the course so as to ensure an accurate census count, which in turn determines the level of funding provided to De Anza by the State of California. Additionally, due to federal restrictions related to financial aid, after the drop deadline but before the withdrawal deadline, if you stop attending class I am also required to drop you from the course. If you stop attending class for whatever reason, especially before the drop deadline, you must contact me to ensure you are not removed from the course.”
Example:
“An ‘incomplete’ grade is only appropriate for verifiable unforeseen illness/injury or other unforeseen emergency situations, not doctor’s appointments you forgot you had and did not reschedule, jury duty you could have requested to do after the quarter is over, or because you forgot to drop in time.”
Example:
“If you decide to drop the class, you must do so by the final date to drop with a “w”, or you risk receiving an ”F” if you haven’t earned enough points to pass the class. . . Also –and this is very important –ASKING FOR AN INCOMPLETE GRADE WILL NOT WORK AS A WAY AROUND THE FINAL DROP DATE! I can only assign an Incomplete in a few, very specific situations. For example, if you miss the ——— field trip, you will get an “I” grade, and that grade will get cleared up after you go on the field trip the following quarter. But if it’s after Week 8, and you realize you should have dropped, and someone in Counseling or Admissions and Records tells you to ask me for an Incomplete, it is VERY UNLIKELY that the situation will actually warrant one! “I” grades cannot be given for missing a large fraction of the work in the course.”
10. Class policies / Homework
Example:
“Homework is to be completed by each individual, not as a group. Answers to questions must be in your own words, but you can quote from the book if you make it clear with quotation marks around the parts you quote.
Please do not trust Googled sources for the correct answers to homework, use your text.
If you do not have a computer with online access there are many in the basement of the De Anza Learning Center, and most public libraries have a few. You can usually get a public library card quickly, often the same day you come into a library.”
Example:
“Homework: The “only” homework required for this class is to complete the reading in the text prior to starting work on the computer. The student should do this reading outside of class in order to make the best use of lab time. Students should be able to complete all assigned lessons and projects during lab time, provided preparatory reading is done outside of class. Any other homework assigned will not require the use of the lab workstations. Something unique to the DMT CAD classes is that e-blasting a class with so-called ‘spam’ messages is a necessary evil (unintended consequence) we have to do in order to give the student a chance at keeping up with the latest developments which will affect your work. I try as an instructor to be judicious here. I hate spam as much as the next guy, so I try to keep these blasts to a minimum. Having said that, I consider what I do send to be ‘Need-To-Know’ . . . something the student ‘Needs to Know’. Therefore, you are also responsible for content issued in any official DMT CAD message, specifically e-mails sent via the course’s CATALYST News Forum. I will often refer a student to the course News Forum for information I know to be posted there. The CATALYST News Forum is available to any student who has access to this course’s CATALYST Interface Shell.”
Example:
“Homework is due in the first five minutes of class. If it is not typed it must be printed in a readable manner, with letters at least as big as the type on this page.
I do not accept early, late or emailed homework.
You are responsible for keeping a copy of each homework assignment, so doing them on a computer is wise.”
Example:
“If you forget to get your homework printed, I will not accept just looking at it on your laptop or other electronic device. The reason for this is that if, for example near the end of the quarter, ten students had not printed their essay, and wanted to show it to me, taking time during class for me to look at cell phones and read all of them could leave us with little time for required work. What seems like a simple courtesy could waste a lot of class time.”
Example:
“There will be NO make-ups for in-class assessments or exams.”
Example:
” The student will complete any missing assignments within 7 days. Late assignments are subject to 1 grade penalty. 2 points will be deducted from ALL late assignments.”
Example:
“Homework – done in Canvas
Midterm – done in Canvas
Final Exam – Project/case – submitted online”
Example:
“TURNITIN.COM
Students need to create a student account on turnitin.com and enroll in “Arts 1A Online. Fall 17”. The class ID is 160446. Enrollment key – Arts1A
Please use your first and last name when you turn in your assignments. Students may submit and resubmit files early to inspect and correct grammatical and originality errors; however, it is impossible to submit assignments after the due date.”
Example:
“Format for Lab Reports:
1. Be legible.
2. Be stapled together with pages in proper order.
3. Follow directions specified. Label drawings as specified. All questions answered.
4. All lab reports must be handed in BEFORE taking the final exam.”
Example:
“No assignment will be accepted on RIPPED OUT SPIRAL BOUND notebook paper. If you MUST use this paper, remove(cut) the remaining nibs on the recently bound edge.”
Example:
A common mistake happens when, as a student described it, you have
“multiple assignment windows open at the same time”
and post the wrong homework into the wrong tab.
(Or even homework from a different class you are taking).
11. Class policies / Exams
Example:
“Using a calculator if an exam or quiz does not permit it is considered cheating. On quizzes or exams that permit calculators, using an electronic device other than approved calculator model can be considered cheating. Sharing a calculator with another student for exam/quiz is considered cheating as work may be saved in memory.”
Example:
“Use the restroom before an exam begins. Once you have begun a quiz/exam you will not be allowed to leave the classroom, for example to go to the bathroom and return to finish the test. During the final exam, only a pen/pencil/eraser can be on your desk. No books, notes, phones/computers, dictionaries, translation devices or other aids are allowed during exams. Do not wear ear buds. Do not talk to anyone, except an instructor or teaching assistant, during an exam. Anyone who talks to anyone else except an instructor/teaching assistant or uses a phone, laptop or other aid during a quiz/exam will not get any points for that quiz/exam (they will fail the exam) and they will probably be reported to a college administrator.”
Example:
“Exam Policies
1.Be on time for the exam.
2.Bring all items needed for exam with you (e.g. 2 pencils with erasers, scantron sheet, completed study guide, etc.)
3.All books, backpacks, purses etc. will be placed in the front of the class and picked up after the exam. No items should be under your seat.
4.If space permits, students will alternate seats for exams.
5.Turn cell phones/pagers off during the exam and place in backpacks or purses.
6.You may not leave the exam room for any reason once the exam has started. Use the restroom before the exam. Once you leave the room, I will grade what you have completed up to that point.
7.Once the first person leaves the exam room, no latecomers will be admitted to the exam.
8.Cheating will result in a zero on the exam and probable expulsion from the class.
9.Make-up exams are for emergencies only. You must notify me the day of the exam to let me know of your situation.
10.Make-up exams are in all-essay form and will be given within one week of the missed exam.
11.Do not schedule appointments etc. during an exam or any class time.”
Example:
“There will be a comprehensive two-hour Final Examination, Tuesday, June 29, from 6:15 to 8:15 pm. Any student missing the final exam will fail the course; no excuses are acceptable.”
Example: ” Bring unwrinkled Scantron #2 pencil/eraser to class.”
Example: “Exams are closed book / notes, except one-half to one page of notes can be used.”
Example: “All exams are open book, open notes, no electronic devices.”
Example: (from an online class with on campus exams)
“Contact your instructor if it is impossible (not simply inconvenient) for you to be on campus to take an exam. Some accommodations can be made.”
12. Class policies / Cell Phones
Example:
“Please turn off ringers on cell phones or pagers during class, unless you are having an emergency at home, in which case let me know at the start of class that your phone might ring.”
Example:
“No cell phone interruptions – turn cell phones off or to vibrate mode during class.”
Example:
“Cellular phones must remain off and put away in the classroom and lab at all times.”
Example:
“CELL PHONES: Must be turned OFF during all classes and exams. Cell phones may not be used to audio or video record in the classroom. Cell phones may not be used as calculators during exams or quizzes”
Example:
“PLEASE be respectful of other students. During class, all electronic devices, other than your TI calculator, must be OFF (not vibrate mode). If your phone, pager, or any other electronic device goes off during an exam, even on vibrate mode, your exam must be turned in immediately and you may receive a 0 for the exam. Disrespectful behavior (which includes, but is not limited to, noise from electronic devices) may result in you being asked to leave the class, and/or being dropped from the class, and/or being reported to the Dean.”
Example:
“Cell phones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices should not be used, seen or heard during class time unless otherwise instructed. Your cell phone is not considered a calculator for the purposes of this class, and you will not be allowed to use a cell phone or tablet during quizzes or tests. If I see or hear your cell phone or you using it during class time, I may confiscate it until the end of that class meeting.”
Example:
“NO Phones, Cameras, IPhones, Ipads, Ipods, I-Touch, recording, taking pictures (or anything else I left out) can be on or used in class at any time.”
Example:
“Cell Phone Use: There is no reason to have your cell phone out during class. If I see your cell phone, I will ask you to put it away.”
Example:
“There is a zero tolerance policy for using laptops, ipods, ipads, iphones, any other electronic device, and especially for texting during class. The 1st offense is a verbal warning. Repeated offenses will be dealt with through one on one counseling, and ultimately will result in your being dropped from class. Please mute your cell phones before the beginning of our class sessions – they can be tremendously disruptive.”
13. Other Potential Class Policies
Example:
“Video or audio taping of this class is not allowed. (California makes it a crime to record or eavesdrop on any confidential communication, including conversations in a classroom without the consent of all parties to the conversation.)
http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/california-recording-law ”
Example:
“No cameras or recording devices of any kind allowed in this class at any time.”
Example:
“Laptops may be used in class to access materials relevant (my definition, not yours) to class.”
Example:
“Since many students will download the text to their laptop for free, laptops or other similar devices will need to be out on desktops during class (but never during quizzes/exams). Laptops or other similar devices are not to be used during class for any purpose except reading the Red Cross text/class webpages we are working from or taking class notes (at all times during class, including when videos are being set up). A teaching assistant or the instructor might actually see inappropriate work/webpages on a laptop/cell phone/iPod screen. Or, if it looks like a student is taking more notes than needed, or writing on their laptop at times when no note taking seems to be needed, for example, they will be asked to show what notes they were just writing. If they can’t produce any it will be assumed that they were not taking class notes, but were instead texting friends, working on their Facebook page, working on homework or otherwise not paying attention to the work at hand in our class. The first instance of such misuse of a laptop/cell phone/iPod can cause a student to be dropped from the class and if they were not paying attention during an official Red Cross portion of the class, they will not be allowed to certify since the Red Cross requires 100% attendance and attention to the material.”
Example:
“D. Do not lie or cover up a mistake. If you break something, it is your duty to tell the instructor so that it can be repaired for the rest of the school to use. You embarrass yourself and your class if someone else finds it. And they will.”
Example:
Proper seating and etiquette
a) Seating up right
b) Face toward the board
c) Do not use the other desk as leg or arm rest
d) No hat, beanie, or sunglasses in classroom
e) After making the seating chart for the class, you are responsible for your proper arrangement and cleanliness of the seat and it’s surrounding
f) Your desk must be clear of backpack, phone, hat and all unnecessary items
Example:
Protect the fabric on the classroom seats: do not put your feet on the seats or leave hair-styling materials residue on them.
14. Syllabus is subject to change
Example:
“CAVEAT
The instructor reserves the right to change the content and/or sequence of the course material.”
Example:
This syllabus is subject to change as needed, even after the quarter has started.
Example:
This syllabus is subject to change with fair notice!
Example:
SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY Information contained in the course syllabus may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor. Updates to the syllabus will be communicated via a Canvas Announcements post and/or an email to students using Conversations.
15. Health and Safety
at https://www.deanza.edu/policies/health.html we read and example you could use:
Example:
“The De Anza Health Policy says (in part) “A De Anza student will: Not attend college if he/she has a contagious condition (i.e., T.B., measles, hepatitis, etc.). Not attend college if he/she is under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. Obtain a physician’s note and cooperate openly and honestly with college officials about medical problems that may threaten the health and/or welfare of self and others.
Adhere to safety regulations and use safety equipment and protective devices as required.”
Example:
“Report any injuries and equipment or facilities problems immediately to your instructor. In case we have an accident in class, or outside of class time or around campus, I will describe during class the first day how to call Campus Security at 5555 (non-emergency) or 911 (emergency).
Cupertino police/sheriff can be direct dialed from a cell phone at: 1 (408) 299-2311.
De Anza emergency can be directly dialed from a cell phone at 1 (408) 924 8000.”
Example:
“FOOD AND DRINKS: Per De Anza College rule, there are no food or drinks allowed in the classroom (exception: water in bottles with secure lids, sport nozzles, etc.) For your health & safety, however, even water is not allowed in lab classrooms.”
Example:
“Wear safety glasses in the lab during demonstrations.
Wear safety glasses, coveralls (snapped-up all the way), and work shoes the duration of labs. In our lab these will be strongly enforced
Food and drink containers must be removed from classroom and lab every day, and must never be placed on lab equipment.
All required tools must remain available for lab activities; basic hand tools cannot be checked from the tool room after the first 6 weeks. Spot checks of tools will be made at random.
Borrowing tools from a classmate is not encouraged.”
Example:
“Wearing your contact lenses to swim is dangerous. The Red Cross warns: “Swimmers with contact lenses should remove them before opening eyes underwater.” Pool chemicals can damage some kinds and others will absorb bacteria, leading to infection. All brands of goggles can leak or slip off and do not fully protect contact lenses.
If you decide to wear your prescription eyeglasses some of the time, it could be a good idea to find an older pair, as the pool chemicals can eventually corrode some frames.
Waterproof sunscreen, a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 means you can supposedly stay in the sun 15 times as long as without using it, but it rarely works that well. If you are worried about getting too much sun you should be using suncreen of 30 or even 60 regularly, not just at the pool.
Read the instructions, do they say you have to wait 30 minutes after applying the sunscreen before you can get in the pool? (Most kinds will wash right off and just make an oil slick in the pool if you apply them right before getting in). I use a brand that allows me to get in the pool right away.
Test a little before you use any extensively; some people are allergic to some kinds. If you choose to use a spray, stand away from others so they don’t have to breath it.
If you use sunscreen, any other toiletry or over-the-counter medications or eat/drink anything given to you by anyone in the class, or borrow a towel or swimsuit you take full responsibility and hold harmless the person(s) who gave them to you, if the sunscreen/medications are not effective or you develop an allergic reaction, or any other malady.”
Example:
“Security
It is understood that the facility and all within is exposed. It is therefore necessary that each and every student assume responsibility for their own security and that of other students and the department. To this end, observe the following guidelines:
A. Lock your own toolboxes and store them in locked areas.
B. Watch out for fellow students’ tools and secure them as well if necessary.
C. Do not allow strangers to roam lab areas. Ask questions and secure unattended lab areas.
D. If you unlock a door or cabinet outside of class time, lock it when done.
E. Do not enter the tool room unless accompanied by your instructor.”
Example:
“If you come to swim class with a problem that you think is serious enough to keep you out of the water or keep you from fully participating in class (examples, but not limited to: pulled or sore muscle/joint, eye or ear infection) I will need a note from your doctor, on their official stationery, at the next class session in which you want to start participating again. It should tell me that you are either fully okay to be in the class, or describe what restrictions you have been told to follow.
You are responsible for following any orders from your doctor. Your instructor and the teaching assistants/lifeguards will not be held responsible for making sure you don’t re-injure yourself. Likewise, you might tell one of the instructors or teaching assistants about a medical condition or disability that will prevent you from taking part in some of the skill practice sessions, but we are not responsible for making sure you do not injure yourself, you are responsible.”
Example:
“Loose clothing must be constrained. Hair reaching the top of the shoulders must be tied back securely.
A long example from a chemistry lab:
“Lab safety
No functioning chemistry lab can ever be entirely free from hazards or accidents. As humans, we all make mistakes – a fact that is confirmed every quarter by the quantity of glassware broken. Human error is most frequently the cause of accidents
in a chemistry laboratory at the undergraduate level. However, in more advanced laboratories, fires, explosions, and floods (yes, floods) often occur unexpectedly, especially when the outcome of a chemical reaction may not be known (because it may have never been done before). Regardless of the type of laboratory involved, it is your responsibility to be aware of your safety and the safety of those around you the entire time you are in the laboratory environment.
General safety rules
• Unauthorized experiments are expressly forbidden and can result in your expulsion from the course.
• Absolutely no chemicals may be taken from the lab without the express explicit written permission of your instructor.
• You may not be in the laboratory unless an instructor is present to supervise.
• If for any reason you feel faint during lab, notify an instructor before stepping out for air so you can be supervised.
• Eating, drinking, or using cosmetics in lab is not permitted due to the spread of chemical contamination by touch.
• Appropriate clothing must be worn in lab. Specifically, shorts and open-toed shoes of any form are not allowed.
• Personal headphones may not be used in lab, as you must be able to hear any emergency announcements.
• Never point a heated system towards any person, including yourself (or me).
• Glass and needles must only be disposed of in the appropriate containers, never in the regular trash.
• Never use chemical refrigerators to store food or any other personal items.
Eye safety
Rules numbers one, two, and three •
Safety goggles must be worn in the lab at all times!
Eye hazards •
One of the most preventable but most serious types of laboratory accidents is eye injury. Many students incorrectly assume that chemicals are the prime source of danger in the laboratory, when in fact it is often glassware that is more hazardous. If a test tube is dropped unexpectedly, for example, regardless of whether the compound inside that tube is hazardous or not, the flying pieces of glass certainly have the potential to cause injury. In fact, it is often bystanders that are injured in such accidents, since they may not be immediately aware of what the person next to them is doing. All it takes is one shard of glass travelling in just the right (or wrong) way to damage an eye irreparably. As such, you must wear your goggles the entire time you are in the lab or in front of the stockroom window – even if you are finished with your experiment and you are “just” chatting with your friends, even if you are “just” in the balance room, even if other students are (foolishly) not wearing theirs. Refusal to always wear safety goggles when required will result in expulsion from the course.
Types of goggles •
Your safety goggles must make a seal around your eyes to prevent objects or chemicals striking from the sides as well as directly towards your eyes. If you wear prescription glasses, you must still wear safety goggles over your regular glasses, as most regular glasses are not shatter-proof and do not have appropriate side shielding. If you are certain that you will be taking many laboratory classes and you wear prescription glasses, you may want to purchase a pair of prescription safety glasses.
My current favorite type of safety goggles is the Uvex Stealth, since it has a comfortable cushioning pad around the goggles.
Contacts •
If you wear contacts, be aware there is some concern that certain types of contact lenses (particularly soft lenses) may be potentially hazardous to wear in the presence of some chemicals. Although at De Anza there is no prohibition
against wearing contact lenses (as long as safety goggles are also worn), you may want to make your own informed decision.
Accidents in the laboratory can and inevitably do occur, regardless of the level of training a person has or the extent of precautions taken. I will not be mad if an accident occurs, since you are students learning how to operate in the laboratory and not trained chemists; in particular, I fully expect glassware to be broken in the lab (by accident, of course). However, since chemicals are present as well, you must inform me immediately if an accident does occur so that I can ensure your safety, the safety of the laboratory environment, and the safety of your fellow students.
Emergency procedures
• Always report any chemical spills to me. Do not attempt to clean any chemical spills yourself unguided.
• If a chemical splashes in your eye, alert me immediately then flush your eyes at an eyewash station as directed.
• If you are splashed with a chemical, alert me immediately then, unless otherwise directed, rinse the affected skin or clothing with large quantities of water.
• If you are splashed with large quantities of a hazardous chemical, alert me immediately then, if advised, use the emergency chemical shower. You may wish to keep an extra change of clothes in your car for this very rare but possible emergency, since in such cases you may be forced to remove chemically contaminated clothing.
• In case of a fire, alert me before attempting to put out the fire, as water cannot be used to put out all kinds of fires, particularly electrical fires or fires involving metals. Please note that fire alarms are located in all lab classrooms.
• In case of an earthquake, step away from all lab equipment, duck under a lab bench or door frame, and cover your head. Do not exit the building during an earthquake as exit doors may contain glass or be near windows, and tiles or debris may fall from the roof. Once the quake passes, gather only vital personal possessions and evacuate the building.
Handling chemicals
Chemical safety •
Most chemicals inherently have some form of health risk associated with them; sometimes the risk is quite minor, sometimes it is extreme. A chemical might be a skin irritant, a lachrymator (causes tearing or choking), a carcinogen (causes cancer), a mutagen (causes genetic mutations), a teratogen (causes fetal deformations), or a pyrophor (spontaneous ignites upon contact with air). Although in relative terms many of the chemicals used in this course are not overly hazardous, others can be quite harmful, so you should always take appropriate precautions to protect yourself. Aside from always wearing safety goggles and appropriate clothing, you may want to consider purchasing a lab coat to further protect yourself (and your clothes). You may also want to consider buying disposable lab gloves.
Note:
Some people have allergies to specific materials, particularly latex, so you may want to make sure you know the type of glove you purchase in case you need to switch to a glove of a different kind of material. Finally, regardless of whether you wear gloves, you should always wash your hands immediate after lab.
Chemical storage and segregation •
All liquids must be stored in an appropriate container that will prevent a liquid from spreading if the bottle containing it were to somehow break. This additional precaution is known as secondary containment and is intended to prevent an unintended reaction in the event of a catastrophe like an earthquake. To further reduce the chances of an adverse reaction, only chemically compatible chemicals may be stored together in the same secondary containment – for example, acids may only be stored with other acids. Solids do not need to be kept insecondary containment, however they must still be segregated by type – particularly if they are flammable solids such as sodium metal.
Chemical safety rules
• All stored samples must be labeled with the names (not formulas) of the chemicals and the date the sample was created.
• Never leave any chemical uncapped after use, as it may decompose or evaporate/sublimate, causing a greater hazard.
• Please return any reagent bottles neatly to the appropriate storage bin after you are finished with them.
• Always double-check reagent labels; it is easy to misread “sodium nitrite” for “sodium nitrate” when in a hurry.
• Never return unused chemicals to their original containers (make sure to only take the quantity you need to avoid waste).
• Never re-use the same pipette to transfer a chemical once it has made contact with another container.
Chemical disposal
All chemicals or chemically-contaminated waste must be disposed of in an appropriately labeled waste container.
No chemicals may ever be poured down the sink unless specifically directed.
Besides the legal ramifications of contaminating the environment by improperly disposing of chemicals, we as humans have already caused enough damage to the planet without our class contributing to the problem. Accidents do happen, so if you do accidentally pour a chemical down the sink, please notify me immediately so that I can quarantine the sink and initiate the appropriate protocol for mitigating the spill.
Types of waste •
Three types of waste containers will be available in the lab: acidic aqueous waste; basic aqueous waste; and organic waste. Just as chemicals must be segregated when in storage, chemicals must also always be disposed of in the appropriate, segregated container to avoid unintended reactions.
Rinses •
When cleaning glassware, the first rinse with water or another substance should be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of appropriately. Subsequent rinses with water can be disposed down the drain if there is no obvious contamination.
Labels •
All waste bottles are labeled with the type of waste they contain and the instructor who prepared the waste bottle.
Always make sure to check that you are disposing of waste only in a bottle that I generated and that corresponds to the appropriate waste type. Waste is also labeled according to whether it only contains solids or whether it also contains liquids. Solids may be disposed of in containers labeled as liquid waste, but liquids may not be disposed of in containers labeled as solid waste.
Fill level •
Waste bottles should never be filled completely; instead, a small amount of space called “head space” must be kept, so that the contents of the container have less chance of accidentally escaping if the container were to somehow be dropped or hit. If you need to dispose of waste and the appropriate bottle is full, let me know so that I can quickly create a new waste bottle.
Medical considerations
Although your health and your medical history is entirely confidential and you are in no way obligated to divulge any such private information to me, if you are aware that you have an allergy to a specific compound being used in an experiment, for your own safety you should inform me prior to that experiment so that alternate arrangements can be made. Also, if you are a woman and you are pregnant or feel that you may be, I strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor about being in this course.
Many doctors recommend that pregnant women avoid this course due to some of the organic compounds used in lab. A list of chemicals used during the quarter is available upon request so that your doctor can best advise you.”
Many De Anza instructors do not allow taping / recording in their classes.
from San Jose State University (circa 2019 & 2020, but not guaranteed by me to be current):
“http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf requires students to obtain instructor’s permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:
“Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor’s permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material.”
It is suggested that the greensheet include the instructor’s process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.
“Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent.”
=========================
other notes from SJSU syllabi that I did not see in any from De Anza College:
“Note: iSchool requires that students earn a B in this course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.”
“Writing Requirement
If the instructor finds that a student’s writing is unacceptable, the instructor will require the student to sign up for online writing tutoring. The student will ask the tutor to confirm with the instructor that he or she is attending sessions.”
“Teamwork Policy
Once a team is formed, it will last through out the semester. If you dissolve your team, a
significant amount of penalty will be determined by the instructor and given to both parties.
For the project, students are expected to report their own results as well as their
collaborators. The task responsibility and contribution of every team member must be
precisely documented in a report. During the project demo, team members are expected to
be able to provide correct answers to questions that are specific to their tasks. Team
members will be graded individually based on the report, their participation in project demo
and peer evaluation.”
“Grading Scheme:
The below course grading scheme will be followed. If you do better on the final exam than you do on the midterm, your final exam grade will replace your midterm grade. This allows you to improve a poor performance on the midterm.
The only exception to this is that you may NOT replace a zero on the midterm.”
“Final Exam:
Your final exam will be Monday, Dec 17th 7:15-9:30am in our lecture classroom. You will not be able to take the exam early or late.
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE FINAL EXAM DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE.
If you have an emergency that makes it impossible for you to attend the final exam, verification is required (example: doctor’s note), and university policy will be strictly followed.
Extra Credit
There is no extra credit for this course. This is final and there are no exceptions.”
“San José State University recommends 2 study hours per week per unit. This means that you should schedule at least 8 hours of time outside of class each week for doing physics. We strongly suggest breaking this up into at least three different chunks so that you are devoting time almost every day to physics. If you’ve done poorly in a math class before, or if you have never had high school physics, you will find that you will need to invest more time than that . . .”
other notes from SFSU syllabi that I did not see in any from De Anza College:
“This is fairly complex subject matter. You will have a hard time passing this class unless you attend all class sessions and do all the assigned reading. Readings and lectures complement each other, but reading doesn’t substitute for class attendance and vice versa.”
“Etiquette, Support, and Course Drop
It is expected that students will approach their course work with a professional attitude. Please observe the following common courtesies:
1.Eating while others are engaged in their lessons can be disruptive
2.E-mails are formal communication; please do not use abbreviations and casual tone with instructors
3.Please do not bring pets to class
4.Punctuality demonstrates respect for one’s classmates and the instructor
5.Language is a powerful instrument and best used with discretion and respect for others . . .”
And from UCLA:
“EMAIL POLICIES
Emails are a useful and expeditious communication tool. Responses to all emails will be within 24 hours, including weekends. However, a few individuals view email as an around-the-clock substitute for attending class or interacting with classmates. As such, before sending an email, please consider:
1. Administrative issues and topics discussed in a class you missed should be directed to a fellow classmate.
2. Unless a matter is urgent, please save your inquiry for the next class session or for office hours. Personal conversations will allow a more thorough answer, gain an insight into your conceptual struggles, understand any faulty underlying assumptions, and diagnose your problem more accurately.
3. There are many subjects that are too sensitive to discuss over email mainly because misinterpretation could have serious consequences. Some topics that should generally be resolved outside of email are:
Disciplinary action
Conflicts about grades or personal information.
I am happy to discuss your grades in person. Privacy laws prevent me from using email.
Concerns about fellow classmates/group mates
Complaints
4. If your email concerns grading records or the textbook, please assume that these items may not be with me when I receive your email.
5. Be concise and to the point. Do not make an e-mail longer than it needs to be. Remember that reading an e-mail is harder than reading printed communications and a long e-mail can be very discouraging to read. Extremely long emails take longer to elicit a response.
6. Please state discrete questions that call for succinct answers. If you pose more than one
question, please number your questions, so they can be referred to by number.
7. Read the email before you send it. A lot of people don’t bother to read an email before they send it out, as can be seen from the many spelling and grammar mistakes contained in emails. Apart from this, reading your email through the eyes of the recipient will help you send a more effective message and avoid misunderstandings and inappropriate comments.If your email meets the above criteria, be sure to type UCLA and the course number in the subject heading of your email. Otherwise, it will end up in my “junk” mail folder and go unread . . .”
and note these Yale sample policies
“Mobile Device Policy
Research has shown us that even having our cell phones on the table in front of us diminishes our ability to learn well; further, taking notes via computer diminishes one’s ability to process information. Checking texts, emails, and messages is also unprofessional and disrespectful to our class community. Please turn off your phone, emall, and computer during class; I will do so as well. I appreciate your cooperation with this important aspect of creating a class of which we all want to be a part.
I maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards cell phones, and do not want to see them out. Phones must remain on vibrant or silent.
If a phone call is pressing, please feel free to excuse yourself from the classroom.
Repeat offenses will result in a half letter grade drop.”
And advice from Yale about writing syllabi:
“• Minimize Adjustments to the Syllabus During the Course – If the instructor finds certain changes to be necessary, those changes should not disadvantage students. While adjustments to the syllabus are unavoidable and often desirable to accommodate particular students constituting a class, the following aspects of the syllabus should not be changed after students have finalized their schedules:
o Due dates of papers or timing of exams to the disadvantage of students
o Assessment and evaluation structure if rendered more inequitable
o Required materials for the course which place new financial burdens on students or render their previous purchases obsolete.”
And from UCSD:
“Electronic Devices and Laptops:
Using your phone and other electronic devices will distract other students. All phones and electronic devices other than laptops must be turned off or silenced during class. Electronic devices must be stowed away in bags or pockets.
Laptops may only be used to take notes. If you choose to use a laptop, you must sit in the designated section of the lecture hall. Anyone using a laptop who is not in this section will be asked to move or to leave class. During quizzes and exams, however, all electronic devices, including laptops, must be turned off and stowed. If you take your electronic device out during a quiz or exam you will automatically fail the assignment.”
also from UCSD:
“Electronic Devices and Laptops
NO LAPTOPS. All phones and electronic devices (PDA/iPod/etc.) must be turned off or set to vibrate in the classroom. Your device (PDA/iPod/etc.) cannot leave your bag when you are in the classroom. It must be in your bag, out of reach, and invisible. If your cell phone rings out loud twice in the course of the quarter, you will receive a failing participation grade.”
Also perhaps of interest:
The webpage portal tricks and tips details ideas brainstormed by De Anza College faculty to use portal features and email to increase enrollment/retention and make life easier for students.
Student attitudes about disruptive behavior