IMPORTANT NOTICE
The syllabi, schedules, and policies at this site pertain only to sections of first-year chemistry taught by Gale Rhodes. The web pages are the OFFICIAL versions of all course documents, and take precedence over conflicting information found elsewhere. I will announce in class, and get your approval of, changes in schedule or policy. Then I will post policy changes on a separate web page linked here.
None as of 2007/01/03
Students are responsible for the policies and schedules posted here as of the first class meeting.
Notice to Disabled Students: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please inform me during the first week of the semester, after consulting with the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities, 237 Luther Bonney (780-4706). For problems with writing or study skills, make an appointment at the Learning Center, 253 Luther Bonney (780-4228) or the Counseling Center, 106 Payson Smith (780-4050).
Assignments: On exams, you are accountable for all assigned material, even though I will not cover all the material in class. As the course progresses, you should develop greater ability to read and use the text. I will try to cover the most difficult concepts in class and leave the rest for you. If you have difficulty with problems, concepts, or sections that I do not cover, ask me about them in class, in my office, or on the phone.
Attendance at class: I expect you to attend class. I do not keep a record of attendance, but I sincerely believe that attending class regularly will improve your performance. I may make announcements in class, such as changes in exam dates or course policies. You are responsible for all announcements and for all material covered in class, even if you do not attend.
Subscription to class discussion list: I expect you to receive and read emails from the class discussion list. You are responsible for all announcements send to this list.
Attendance at exams: No early, late, or makeup exams -- no exceptions. If you miss an exam, whatever the reason, your grade for that exam will be the average of your other scaled exam scores, minus one letter grade (ten points). This applies to all exams, including the final exam. If you miss more than one exam, you cannot pass the course.
PLEASE NOTE: It is not advisable to skip an exam because of this no-makeup policy. Preparing intensively for exams is an important part of your learning. If you choose to skip an exam, you will undoubtedly compromise your learning in that section of the course and hurt your performance on subsequent exams. In addition to the grade penalty, if you miss an exam, I cannot lower the impact of your worst exam score, nor can I consider such intangibles as improvement in arriving at your final grade. As you will learn from the course Grading Policy, under no circumstances will you damage your grade more by taking an exam than by skipping it.
Attendance at quizzes: Quizzes are given only once, at the begining of the specified period, and are accepted only if received before 10 minutes have elapsed in the class period.
Consulting and Advising ||| Office Hours |||:I will post my office on the web and outside Science 366 and Payson 305. Send me your tired, poor, confused, lost, harried, or just plain lonely. If you are having problems with this course, I can suggest study methods that will work, if you will apply them immediately. See me NOW, before the grim examiner is at your door, because my study methods take time -- no last-minute measures will bail you out if you fall far behind.
Tutoring: Free group tutoring is available. Tutor hours are posted around the building. For private tutoring (at your expense), ask at the Chemistry Office (Science 161)
End-of-Semester Blues: I do not give the grade of I (incomplete), and I try to avoid late W (withdraw). You may drop with a W immediately (within 48 hours) after I return the second exam, even if this event occurs after the last day to withdraw with W. Otherwise, you must be carrying a grade of C- or higher before I will consider approving a late W.
Winter Storms or Other Cancellations: If classes are cancelled on a test (exam or quiz) day, I will give the test at the next meeting of the class. If any classes immediately before an test are cancelled, I will still give the test as scheduled. Call 780-4800 to find out if USM classes are affected by the weather.
Gale Rhodes Contact Information
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