University of Wyoming

GEOL/ERS 1650: The Water- Energy-Climate Nexus

Fall, 2020: August 24 – December 11, 2020

(GEOL-ERS1650 syllabus - 2020.pdf)

Instructor Information: James D. Myers; office: -; phone -; email: magma@uwo.edu or Wyocourses

Lecture: MW 7:30-8:20 am, online via Zoom

Lab sections:            10: Monday, 3:10-5:00 pm, online via Zoom

                                    11: Tuesday, 1:10-3:00 pm, online via Zoom

Office hours: MW 10-11:00 am, via Zoom, https://uwyo.zoom.us/j/95821743513

Course prerequisites, co-requisites, enrollment restrictions: None

Course Description: Among the grand challenges facing humanity perhaps the most significant are water, energy, and climate. Yet these issues are not isolated but intimately connected thereby forming the water-energy-climate (WEC) nexus. In this course, we will investigate this nexus using complementary STEM (science-technology-engineering-mathematics) and PEGS (policy-economics-governance-social context) perspectives. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to analyze grand challenges will be introduced, explored, and practiced. Given the temporal and spatial scales of the built, human, and natural systems impacted by grand challenges, we will also take a system science approach to investigating these impacts and consequences. Because all grand challenges constitute wicked problems, we will also investigate the unique problem-solving methodologies that have been developed to deal with such confounding and contentious issues.

Student Learning Outcomes: This course fulfills the Physical & Natural World (PN) requirement of the 2015 University Studies Program. PN courses help students understand the fundamental concepts of scientific and quantitative inquiry and develop the ability to understand the relevance of scientific, technological, and quantitative skills to contemporary society. Physical & Natural World courses also develop and promote critical and creative thinking skills through active learning, inquiry of pressing issues, and individual and collaborative processing of ideas.

• Physical and Natural World (PN)
  • Understand the principles of the scientific method
  • Use scientific and quantitative logic to examine contemporary problems.
  • Use quantitative data analysis as the basis for making critical judgments and drawing conclusions.
  • Examine the impact of technology on science and society.
• Critical & Creative Thinking (CCT)
  • Separate facts from inferences and relevant from irrelevant information and explain the limitations of information.
  • Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and reliability of conclusions drawn from information
  • Recognize and synthesize multiple perspectives to develop innovative viewpoints.
• WEC specific learning outcomes
  • Understand the difference between models and the real world.
  • Use a systems science approach to investigate the environmental grand challenges of water, energy, and climate.
  • Understand and explain the interaction between the built, human, and natural worlds.
  • Understand and explain the nature of grand challenges and their relation to wicked problems.
  • Recognize the connections and feedbacks between the water, energy, and climate grand challenges.
  • Appreciate the need to address grand challenges, in general, and the WEC nexus, in particular, from complementary STEM and PEGS perspectives.
  • Grasp the nature and roles of uncertainty, randomness, heterogeneity, and complexity in understanding built, human, and natural systems.
  • Be aware of how these system characteristics are often used to promote a business as usual (BAU) approach to environmental problems and grand challenges.
  • Develop the cognitive and metacognitive practices necessary to navigate a world awash in social media, fake news, and ‘alternative facts’.

Required texts, readings, and special tools or materials: material of Wyocourses website

General requirements and expectations for the course:

Attendance and participation: Although attendance is strongly correlated with success in any class, lecture attendance is not mandatory and will not be monitored since you are no longer in high school. Some topics not covered in the readings will be presented in lecture and there are lecture activities that are graded and part of your final grade. Missed graded lecture activities can be made up only if you have a University excused absence or have made arrangements with me prior to your absence. If you choose not to come to class on a day when a lecture activity is done and do not have a University excused absence or made prior arrangements with me, you will be assigned a zero for the activity missed. The material covered in lecture activities is fair game for exam questions. Unlike for lecture, lab attendance is mandatory.

You must submit all required assignments on time. Please complete all parts of an assignment to the best of your ability. If you are having problems with a task, please contact your TA or instructor for assistance. If you submit an incomplete assignment, you will receive credit only for the portion of your submitted work that is correct. Although not ideal, you are better off turning in an incomplete assignment than not turning in anything. When in class, it is expected that you will contribute to class discussions and respond if called on. Appropriate civil and professional behavior is expected of you when attending scheduled class sessions and interacting with your instructors and peers.

Late work: Assignments, including the labs and Web assignments, that are turned in late will receive an automatic 10% reduction in grade. After one week past the stated due date, no credit will be given.

Required examinations, assignments, activities, and projects

Grade Policy

Introduction

Your grade will be based on a total of 1,290 points that are divided between lecture worksheets, lecture exams, a final exam, lecture and lab reading questionnaires, lab quizzes, and lab exercises. The large number of graded activities should ensure that if you do poorly on one graded task, e.g. an exam, your final grade need not be adversely impacted if you perform well on other tasks. The grading scheme for the course is summarized the table below. Because things change unexpectedly during a semester (particularly in these times), the most up-to-date summary of the grading scheme can be found on Wyocourses since the system tracks changes in assignments and assigned points automatically. The most up-to-date summary of the grading scheme can be found on Wyocourses since the system tracks changes in assignments and assigned points automatically.

Table 1: Course Grading Scheme

activity		value		#		total points		% of lecture grade		% of lab grade	% of grade
lecture reading questionnaires		10		14		140		18.2		-	10.9
lecture worksheets		10		13		130		16.9		-	10.1
lecture exams		100		3		300		39.0		-	23.3
final lecture exam		200		1		200		26.0		-	15.5
lab reading questionnaires		10		13		130		-		25.0	10.1
lab exercises		20		13		260		-		50.0	20.2
lab quizzes		10		13		130		-		25.0	10.1
Total Points						1,290		59.7		40.3	100

 

There will be no grading curve for this course. Final grades will be assigned according to the following grading scheme:

Grade	Percentage cut-off	Point cut-off
A	>90	1161
B	>80	1032
C	>70	903
D	>60	774
F	<60	774

When calculating final grades, WyoCourses carries the calculation out to one decimal place. For uniformity reasons, I will be using this scheme for assigning final grades. Therefore, what you see as your final grade in WyoCourses at the end of the semester is the grade you earn for the course. I will not be rounding the final percentages displayed in WyoCourses to zero decimal places. If you are on the border of a grade division, do not contact me requesting some extra credit work to improve your grade. The time to ensure yourself a good final grade is during the semester by submitting all assigned work and completing any extra credit opportunities provided. This grading scheme reflects what is planned at the beginning of the semester. It will probably change as the semester progresses. The most current versions of the grading scheme can be found on the WyoCourses class web site.

Lecture

Currently, I plan to add narration to the PowerPoint presentations I would normally present in class. These presentations will be posted on Wyocourses and you will be able to access them through the Modules pages. You are expected to review these presentations before lecture. Two days before a lecture, I will post which PowerPoints you should review for next lecture session. During the semester, we will meet synchronously via Zoom during the scheduled lecture time. I will not intend to cover the assigned PowerPoints during lecture but engage in discussion about the material in them. I will also present the daily Resource News items I have found. We will also use the Zoom lecture sessions to do unannounced lecture worksheets.

The tentative lecture schedule for Fall, 2020 is shown in the table below.

Table 2: Lecture Topic Schedule

week of	topic
24-Aug-20
31-Aug-20
07-Sep-20
14-Sep-20
21-Sep-20
28-Sep-20
05-Oct-20
12-Oct-20
19-Oct-20
26-Oct-20
02-Nov-20
9-Nov-20
16-Nov-20
23-Nov-20
30-Nov-20

This lecture schedule reflects what is planned at the beginning of the semester. It will probably change as the semester progresses. The most current lecture schedule can be found on WyoCourses on the Modules page.

Lecture Reading Questionnaires

Each week there will be a weekly lecture reading questionnaire due every Friday. They will constitute 140 points of your final grade (11%). Each questionnaire covers an assigned reading and consists of ten simple questions. The questionnaire is due by midnight on the due date. Questionnaires must be submitted via Wyocourses. They are graded automatically so pay attention to spelling. You will have two attempts to submit a questionnaire. When you try your second attempt, Wyocourses presents you with a page in which all your previous answers have been erased. Consequently, you should note which of your answers were correct on the first attempt so you can re-enter them. The system will save the attempt with the highest score. After two attempts, you can no longer change your answers to the questionnaire although you can view your answers and the correct answers after the final due date.

Table 3: Lecture Reading Questionnaire Schedule

Due date	Lec RQ#	Title	Points
28-Aug-20	-	no lecture reading questionnaire	10
04-Sep-20	1		10
11-Sep-20	2		10
18-Sep-20	3		12
25-Sep-20	4		10
02-Oct-20	5		15
09-Oct-20	6		10
16-Oct-20	7		15
23-Oct-20	8		11
30-Oct-20	9		10
06-Nov-20	10		10
13-Nov-20	11		10
20-Nov-20	12		20
27-Nov-20	13	TBD	10
04-Dec-20	14	TBD	10
Total:			173

Lecture Worksheets

Throughout the semester, you will complete 13 lecture worksheets during class time that are worth 10 points each. The 130 points from these worksheets will comprise 10% of your final grade. Worksheets are done during Zoom sessions and are unannounced. They are not graded, rather you simply submit the completed worksheet at the end of the Zoom session to earn the 10 points. If you miss a class when a lecture worksheet is completed, you can only make it up if you have a valid excuse for your absence. Lecture worksheets focus on topics we have covered in lecture and provide you an opportunity to apply your new knowledge while preparing for exams.

Lecture Exams

Three hundred points (23%) of your final grade will be from three lecture exams. Each exam will be worth 100 points. They will consist of short-answer questions. Each exam will be worth 100 points. Exams will cover the material presented in lecture and any assigned readings, but not the labs. To assist you in studying, particularly important slides in lecture PowerPoints are marked with the ‘Critical Content Heads-up’ icon. Past exams and their keys are posted on Wyocourses under Modules on the Past Lecture Exams page. To prepare for exams, study the old exams. To accommodate changes from one semester to another in timing of topics and content, questions on exams are grouped by topic. Study only those topics we have covered this semester. Because course content evolves and changes from semester to semester, it is your responsibility to check diagrams and answers on past lecture exam keys for consistency with this semester’s course content. Checking past exams against current course content also provides a useful learning and study tool. Use them when you study for exams. You can complete the exam anytime on the day it is originally scheduled. You must obtain prior permission to take an exam on any day other than the scheduled day. If you skip an exam, you fail it with a zero. The exams will be on:

Table 4: Lecture and Final Exam Schedule

Date	Day	Exam#	Format	Points
23-Sep-20	Wednesday	1	online via Wyocourses, proctored by HonorLock	100
26-Oct-20	Monday	2	online via Wyocourses, proctored by HonorLock	100
02-Dec-20	Wednesday	3	online via Wyocourses, proctored by HonorLock	100
09-Dec-20	Wednesday	Final	online via Wyocourses, proctored by HonorLock	200
Total:				500

Note: Depending upon how the lecture goes and how much we cover in class, these dates may change. Lecture Exam III is scheduled during the last week of classes.

Final exam

There will also be a comprehensive, closed book, closed note final exam on 200-point online final exam (16%) on Friday, December 11 from 8:00 to 10:00 am. Although not specifically addressed in the new final exam policy, for this course you can take the final exam at any time on the 11^th of December. This exam will be comprehensive and have approximately twice the number of questions as one of the hour long, lecture exams. At least 50% of the points on the final exam will be from questions taken from the three previous lecture exams. The time of the final exam is established by the Office of the Registrar (http://www.uwyo.edu/registrar/class_schedules/fall2020/fall2020finals.pdf). It may not be taken early. Students who have two exams at the same time or more than two exams in one day and wish to ask for an exception must complete the Final Exam Conflict form available from the Office of the Registrar. The online form is available at http://www.uwyo.edu/registrar/students/forms_and_petitions.html. The form must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of finals week. Requests submitted after this date are left to the discretion of the instructor as to whether they will be accommodated. If you cannot make the scheduled time of the final exam, you need to drop this course immediately.

Lab

Introduction

In lab, you will apply the content knowledge you are introduced to in lecture to real world. The lab will make up the final 515 points (40%) of the course grade. The table below shows the tentative lab schedule for Fall, 2020.

Table 5: Lab Activities and Scoring

activity		value		#		total points		% of lab grade
lab reading questionnaires		10		13		130		25.0
lab exercises		20		13		260		50.0
lab quizzes		10		13		130		25.0
Total Points						520		100

 

Note: This lab schedule reflects what was planned at the beginning of the semester. It will likely change as the semester progresses. The most current lab schedule can be found on Wyocourses.

All students must participate in lab and complete the assigned work. You must receive a passing lab grade to pass the course. The lab syllabus, which you will receive the first week of lab, more fully describes how the lab will work. Missed work can only be made up if you have an official University excuse for missing lab or have obtained permission from your lab TA before you miss lab. Any late work must be made up within one week of its due date (see lab syllabus for additional details). There will be no lab final.

All students must participate in lab and complete the assigned work. Unlike for lecture, lab attendance is mandatory. You must receive a passing lab grade to pass the course. The lab syllabus, which you will receive the first week of lab, more fully describes how the lab will work. Missed work can only be made up if you have an official University excuse for missing lab or have obtained permission from your lab TA before you miss lab. Any late work must be made up within one week of its due date (see lab syllabus for additional details). There is no lab final.

Each week there will be a weekly lab reading questionnaire due the day before your lab session. Each questionnaire covers an assigned reading and typically consists of ten questions. The questionnaire is due by midnight on the due date. Questionnaires must be submitted via WyoCourses. They are graded automatically so pay attention to spelling. You will have two attempts to complete a questionnaire. The system will save the attempt with the highest score. After your second attempt, you can no longer change your answers to the questionnaire although you can view your answers and the correct answers after the final due date. The lab reading questionnaires cover the material you will be working on in lab that week. Unlike typical labs, your TA will not be providing an introduction to the background for the lab exercises. Thus, it is important to do the lab reading so you are prepared for lab.

Lab Reading Questionnaires

Each week there will be a weekly lab reading questionnaire due the day before your lab session. They will constitute 140 points of your final lab grade (23%). Each questionnaire covers an assigned reading and consists of ten short-answer questions. The questionnaire is due by midnight on the due date. Questionnaires must be submitted via Wyocourses. They are graded automatically so pay attention to spelling. You will have two attempts to submit a questionnaire. When you try your second attempt, Wyocourses presents you with a page in which all your previous answers have been erased. Consequently, you should note which of your answers were correct on the first attempt so you can re-enter them. The system will save the attempt with the highest score. After two attempts, you can no longer change your answers to the questionnaire although you can view your answers and the correct answers after the final due date.

Table 6: Lab Reading Questionnaires

week of	Lab RQ#	topic	points
24-Aug-20	-	no lab reading questionnaire	-
31-Aug-20	1		10
07-Sep-20	2		10
14-Sep-20	3		10
21-Sep-20	4		10
28-Sep-20	5		10
05-Oct-20	6		10
12-Oct-20	7		10
19-Oct-20	8		10
26-Oct-20	9		10
02-Nov-20	10		10
09-Nov-20	11		10
16-Nov-20	12		10
23-Nov-20	13		10
30-Nov-20	-	no lab reading questionnaire	-
Total:			140

Lab Exercises

During the first four weeks of lab, you will be completing a series of lecture exercises. These labs are designed to introduce you to the lab techniques you will need to complete the lab case studies done in the remainder of the course. The exercises introduce you to populations and population demographics as well as the map and 3-D visualization skills necessary to master the geologic portions of resource exploration and extraction. Each lab exercise consists of a several worksheets that you must complete. Although you may work with other students in completing the worksheets, you must complete and submit your own worksheet. Working with your peers means collaborating with them to understand the content covered not simply copying their work and submitting it as your own (see University Regulations on cheating below). Your completed worksheets are do at the beginning of the next lab. You will submit them as Word or PDF documents through Wyocourses. Your TA will grade the worksheets and provide written comments and returned the annotated worksheets via Wyocourses. There will be synchronous Zoom lab sessions for you to obtain assistance from the TA. If you are having problems mastering the content, please take advantages of this resource. Each lab exercise is worth 25 points for a total of 40 points.

Table 7: Lab Exercise Schedule

week of	Lab Ex#	topic	points
24-Aug-20	-	no lab	-
31-Aug-20	1	Population: The Demand Behind the Need for Water and Energy	10
07-Sep-20	2		10
14-Sep-20	3		10
21-Sep-20	4		10
28-Sep-20	5		10
05-Oct-20	6		10
12-Oct-20	7		10
19-Oct-20	8		10
26-Oct-20	9		10
02-Nov-20	10		10
09-Nov-20	11		10
16-Nov-20	12		10
23-Nov-20	13		10
30-Nov-20	-	no lab	-
Total:			130

This lab schedule reflects what is planned at the beginning of the semester. It will probably change as the semester progresses. The most current lab schedule can be found on WyoCourses.

Lab Quizzes

Each week at the beginning of lab, there will be a weekly lab quiz. The quiz will cover the material presented in the previous week’s lab session. Each quiz consists of 10 questions, and you have two attempts to complete it. It will be limited to twenty (20) minutes in duration. Quizzes will be completed online via Wyocourses and monitored by HonorLock. They must be completed before the next lab session begins. Wyocourses will record your highest score from your two attempts. The quizzes will constitute 130 points of your final lab grade (8%).

Table 8: Lab Quiz Schedule

week of	Lab Qz#	topic	points
24-Aug-20	-	no lab	-
31-Aug-20	-	no lab quiz	10
07-Sep-20	1	Population: The Demand Behind the Need for Water and Energy	10
14-Sep-20	2		10
21-Sep-20	3		10
28-Sep-20	4		10
05-Oct-20	5		10
12-Oct-20	6		10
19-Oct-20	7		10
26-Oct-20	8		10
02-Nov-20	9		10
09-Nov-20	10		10
16-Nov-20	11		10
23-Nov-20	12		10
30-Nov-20	-	no lab	-
Total:			130

Course Disclaimer

I reserve the right to make changes to any aspect of this syllabus as the course proceeds. These changes will be announced in class. Substantive changes made to the syllabus shall be communicated to you verbally in class and in writing via Wyocourses.

General University Principles

Classroom Behavior Policy

Learning is enhanced by a supportive and positive classroom environment. Such an environment is facilitated by civility, respectful discussion, active participation, timely completion of preparatory assignments, and dynamic engagement. At all times, treat your presence in the classroom and your enrollment in this course as you would a job. Act professionally, arrive on time, pay attention, complete your work in a timely and professional manner, treat all deadlines seriously, and consider in good conscience any feedback from your instructor. You will be respectful towards your classmates and instructor. Spirited debate and disagreement are to be expected in any classroom and all views will be heard fully, but at all times you must behave civilly and respectfully towards your peers and instructors. Personal attacks, offensive language, name-calling, and dismissive gestures are not warranted in a positive learning atmosphere and can be grounds for dismissal from a particular class or lab. During classroom discussion, show respect to your peers and instructor by not talking over someone who has been recognized and has the floor or by conducting disruptive side conversations with your neighbors. As the instructor, I have the right to dismiss you from the classroom, study sessions, electronic forums, and labs whenever your behavior is disruptive and impedes learning. Electronic devices such as mobile phones should be set to silent. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are allowed, indeed encouraged, for note-taking purposes and information searches. No video or audio recording during class is allowed to protect the privacy of your fellow students.

Classroom Statement on Diversity

The University of Wyoming values an educational environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The diversity that students and faculty bring to class, including age, country of origin, culture, disability, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, immigration status, linguistic, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, worldview, and other social and cultural diversity is valued, respected, and considered a resource for learning.

Disability Support

The University of Wyoming is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. If you have a disability, including but not limited to physical, learning, sensory, or psychological, and would like to request accommodations in this course due to your disability, please register with and provide documentation of your disability as soon as possible to Disability Support Services (DSS), Room 128 Knight Hall. You may also contact DSS at (307) 766-3073 or udss@uwyo.edu. It is in your best interest to request accommodations within the first week of classes, understanding that accommodations are not retroactive. Visit the DSS website at www.uwyo.edu/udss for more information.

Academic Dishonesty Policies

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. Cases of academic dishonesty will be treated in accordance with UW Regulation 2-114 (see below). The penalties for academic dishonesty can include, at my discretion, an “F” on an exam, an “F” on the class component exercise, and/or an “F” in the entire course. Academic dishonesty means representing someone else’s ideas or work as your own without attribution. It is intellectual theft – stealing - and includes (but is not limited to) unapproved assistance on examinations, plagiarism (use of any amount of another person’s writings, blog posts, publications, and other materials without attributing that material to that person with citations), or fabrication of referenced information. Facilitation of another person’s academic dishonesty is also considered academic dishonesty and will be treated identically.

Duty to Report

UW faculty are committed to supporting students and upholding the University’s non-discrimination policy. Under Title IX of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), discrimination based upon sex and gender is prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex- or gender-based discrimination, we encourage you to report it. While you may talk to a faculty member, understand that as a "Responsible Employee" of the University, the faculty member MUST report information you share about the incident to the university’s Title IX Coordinator (you may choose whether you or anyone involved is identified by name). For example, if you inform me of an issue of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination I will keep the information as private as I can, but I am required by federal law to bring it to the attention of the institution’s Title IX Coordinator. If you would like to talk to those offices directly, you can contact Equal Opportunity Report and Response (Bureau of Mines Room 319, 766-5200, report-it@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/reportit). Additionally, you can also report incidents or complaints to the UW Police Department. You can also get support at the STOP Violence program (stopviolence@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/stop, 766-3296) or SAFE Project (www.safeproject.org, campus@safeproject.org, 766-3434, 24-Hour hotline: 745-3556).

If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you privacy or confidentiality, there are people who can meet with you. Any faculty member can help direct you or you may find info about UW policy and resources at http://www.uwyo.edu/reportit

You do not have to go through the experience alone. Assistance and resources are available, and you are not required to make a formal complaint or participate in an investigation to access them.

Substantive changes to syllabus

The assignment deadlines and requirements as well as course structure outlined in this syllabus are simply a guide to what may happen during the semester. Circumstances may require that they be changed for a variety of pedagogical, administrative, and logistical reasons. Consequently, I reserve the right to make changes to any aspect of this syllabus as the course proceeds. If significant changes are necessary, you will be notified of these changes verbally in class, on the class’ WyoCourse Announcements page, and via email. You are required to check WyoCourses and your UW email at least once a week for any changes to the course.

Daily or weekly schedule of topics, activities, and graded work

The schedules for lecture topics, reading assignments, exams, lab quizzes, and lab exercises are available on WyoCourses. The most current schedules can always be found on the class web site in WyoCourses.

Student Resources: Campus

• DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES: udss@uwyo.edu, 766-3073, 128 Knight Hall, uwyo.edu/udss
• COUNSELING CENTER: uccstaff@uwyo.edu, 766-2187, 766-8989 (After hours), 341 Knight Hall, uwyo.edu/ucc
• ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: 766-4286, 312 Old Main, uwyo.edu/acadaffairs
• DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE: dos@uwyo.edu, 766-3296, 128 Knight Hall, uwyo.edu/dos
• UW POLICE DEPARTMENT: uwpd@uwyo.edu, 766-5179, 1426 E Flint St, uwyo.edu/uwpd
• STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT WEBSITE: uwyo.edu/dos/conduct

General University Policies/Regulations

Class Effort

According to the UW catalog “Each credit hour unit requires an average of three hours of student effort per week". Since this is a 4-credit course, you should expect to work a minimum of twelve hours a week outside of class meetings. To get a good grade in the class, expect to work more than this. Also prepare for exams well in advance. Don’t start studying the night before and expect to earn a good grade on the exam.

Final Examination Policy (UW Regulation 6-403)

• The Registrar is authorized to schedule final examinations. With only the exceptions specifically designated below, exams will be given at the times thus designated and no other times. The examination schedule shall be published at least one month before the first day of final examinations.
• No student shall be required to take more than two final examinations in any one day. Along with the specific final examination schedule, the Registrar shall indicate a system of priorities which will determine which course is expected to offer an examination at a different time for a student who is scheduled for more than two final examinations in one day or more than one at the same hour.
• To avoid excessive pressure on students during the week before final examinations, no examination or graded exercise should be given in the last week of classes unless it is essential for the effective functioning of the course. If an examination or graded exercise in the last week of classes is deemed essential, the instructor shall notify the students of it in a class syllabus distributed at the beginning of the course. Notification: The third lecture exam for this course will be scheduled for the last week of classes.
• Instructors are not obligated to give final examinations ahead of schedule to those students who, for legitimate reasons connected with official University activities, cannot take the final examination at the scheduled time. In such cases, students are entitled to receive a grade of "X", subject to the usual procedures and conditions of the grade of "X".
• More information: http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounsel/_files/docs/uw-reg-6-403.pdf.

Student Absence Policy (UW Regulation 6-713)

• Class Attendance: Each student shall attend the lectures, recitations, and laboratories and participate in field work deemed necessary to fulfill adequately the academic requirements of each class. Each instructor, at the beginning of every semester, shall stipulate the attendance policy necessary for satisfactory completion of the course.
• Authorized Absences: For participation in a University-sponsored activity or for unusual circumstances, such as a personal hardship, an authorized absence may be issued to the student by the Dean of Student’s or the Dean’s authorized representative. If a student has been hospitalized, or if the student has been directed by the Student Health Service or the student's private physician to stay at the student's place of residence because of illness, the Health Service medical staff or the student's private physician may issue a statement to the student giving the dates of the student's confinement.
• Recognition of Authorized Absences: All instructors shall permit students who have official authorized absences to make up work without penalty in the classes missed. An authorized absence, however, merely gives the individual who missed the class an opportunity to make up the work and in no way excuses the student from the work required.
• More information: http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounsel/_files/docs/uw-reg-6-713.pdf.

Academic Honesty (UW Regulation 6-802)

• All members of the University community are responsible for upholding the values of academic integrity. The faculty considers academic integrity a matter of common concern, not merely a private issue between instructor and student. Honesty in all academic endeavors is a component of academic integrity that is vital to the educational functions of the University. Whatever form academic dishonesty may take, the faculty considers it as establishing a student’s failure to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and the failure to apply it to an academic endeavor. It is a student’s responsibility to learn the standards of conduct for the performance of academic endeavors; it is an instructor or faculty member’s responsibility to make reasonable effort to make known the standards of conduct for the performance of academic endeavors. Through an atmosphere of mutual respect, we enhance the value of education and maintain high standards of academic excellence. Failure on the part of the student to observe and maintain standards of academic honesty, as hereafter defined or made known by an instructor responsible for a course or other academic endeavor, requires corrective action as hereafter authorized.
• Academic Dishonesty: An action attempted or performed that misrepresents one’s involvement in an academic endeavor in any way or assists another student in misrepresenting his or her involvement in an academic endeavor. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:
  • Plagiarism: presenting the work (i.e., ideas, data, and creations) of another, wholly or in part, as one’s own work without customary and proper acknowledgement of sources and extent of use, unless authorized by the instructor.
  • Cheating: using information, study aids, notes, materials, devices, or collaboration not explicitly approved by the instructor. For example: doing a class assignment for someone else or allowing someone to copy one’s assignment; copying from, or assisting, another student during an examination; or stealing, or otherwise improperly obtaining, copies of an examination before or after its administration.
  • Fraud: altering or inventing data, research, or citations for an academic endeavor; fabricating, forging or otherwise misrepresenting to an instructor or an institution one’s past or current academic or professional activities; impersonating someone or allowing oneself to be impersonated for an examination or other academic endeavor; using a ghost writer, commercial or otherwise, for any type of assignment.
  • Violation of Standards: violations against ethical and professional standards required by individual University programs, academic courses, and clinical programs that may result in qualification for entry into a profession that maintains standards of conduct.
  • Multiple Submissions: submitting, wholly or in part, the same academic endeavor to earn credit in two or more courses without explicit approval by all concerned instructors.
  • Interference or Obstruction: interfering with academic efforts of other students to gain unfair advantage for personal academic advancement. Interference may include but is not limited to, sabotage, harassment, tampering, bribery, or intimidation of another student.
  • Complicity: assisting another person in any act of academic dishonesty as defined above.
• Academic Endeavor: Any student activity undertaken to earn University credit or meet some other University program requirement. Examples of academic endeavors include, but are not limited to:
  • Course assignments (written and/or oral, projects, research, exhibitions of work)
  • Exams (written and/or oral, quizzes
  • Clinical assignments (internships, rotations, practical)
  • Presentations (on and off campus)
  • Publications
  • Independent study coursework
  • Plan B papers or projects, theses, dissertations
  • Student media associated with academic credit
  • More information: http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounsel/_files/docs/uw-reg-6-802.pdf.

Assignment and Removal of the Grade of I (incomplete) (UW Regulation 6-720)

• A grade of I (incomplete) is a temporary grade assigned in those rare instances when no other grade will ensure justice to the student. An "I" given by the instructor should be accompanied by a written authorization setting forth:
  • the reason the course cannot reasonably be completed on time,
  • the tasks which must be performed to complete the course,
  • the date upon which the final grade will be received by the Office of the Registrar and which normally may not exceed 120 days beyond the end of the semester in which the "I" is given, and
  • the name of a substitute faculty member if the instructor does not expect to be available to supervise completion of the course.
  • This information will be forwarded to the student and copies should be retained by the student, instructor, and a substitute faculty member.
• The Dean of Students is authorized to petition for an "I" in the name of a student who has been incapacitated. If a student has suffered a severe medical, emotional, or personal problem, the 120-day limit for completing the course may be extended with the approval of the instructor and the Dean of Students.
• In certain research courses designated to the Registrar by the Dean of the College, the date of submitting the final grade for the course may be set to exceed the 120-day limit at the discretion of the instructor.
• If the final grade for the course is not received by the Registrar by the date in the authorization:
  • the "I" will revert to an "F" for a student who has not graduated in the interim, and
  • the "I" will stand permanently for a student who has graduated in the interim.
• More information: http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounsel/_files/docs/uw%20reg%20updates%202015/uw%20reg%206-720.pdf.

Disability Statement

If you have a physical, learning, sensory or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and provide documentation of your disability to, University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall, 766-6189, TTY: 766-3073.

COVID-19 Policies

During this pandemic, you must abide by all UW policies and public health rules put forward by the City of Laramie (or by Natrona County if at UW-Casper), the University of Wyoming and the State of Wyoming to promote the health and well-being of fellow students and your own personal self-care. The current policy is provided for review at: https://www.uwyo.edu/alerts/campus-return/index.html.

As with other disruptive behaviors, we have the right to dismiss you from the classroom (Zoom and physical), or other class activities if you fail to abide by these COVID-19 policies. These behaviors will be referred to the Dean of Students Office using the UWYO Cares Reporting Form for Student Code of Conduct processes (https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofWyoming&layout_id=5).

Syllabus Changes

I will alert you to any possible course format changes in response to UW decisions about community safety during the semester.

HyFlex, Zoom, and WyoCourses expectations:

As with all UW coursework, this course will be educational and useful to you. I will respond to questions, concerns, and feedback in a timely manner. Your responsibilities:

• Give and receive feedback from me and your classmates respectfully and constructively in all interactions. This includes in Zoom chats, on WyoCourses boards, and within physical classroom spaces.
• Actively engage in civil discourse in a respectful manner. Use professional language in all course related forums.
• Communicate professionally. Whenever you send class-related email or messages, please include a clear, specific subject line, and use the body of the email or message to explain the purpose for the email and any attached materials. Conduct yourself professionally.
• Meet assignment deadlines. We expect that you are interacting with course material multiple times during the week.
• Ask for help when you need it. For academic assistance for this course please contact me for available resources. For Dean of Students assistance please see: https://www.uwyo.edu/dos/student-resources/covid-19-student-resources.html.
• Please let us know if you notice another student who needs help in our (anonymous) WyoCares referral option (https://www.uwyo.edu/dos/students-concern/index.html).

Information Technology (IT)

If you have any IT related challenges, please contact the UWIT Service Center: https://uwyo.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1940/Portal/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=8890

Coronavirus Pandemic Addendum to Attendance Policy

During the fall of 2020 and for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, the attendance policy applies as noted below:

• Self-Quarantine and Isolation: Any student notified that they have tested positive for covid-19 or that they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for covid-19 may need to isolate for up to two weeks at a time (https://www.uwyo.edu/alerts/campus-return/index.html). Students will not be penalized for having to self-quarantine for exposure to an known positive. Students who test positive will be told to isolate and should continue to complete course work online for the duration of their isolation as they are able.
• Illness: Under no circumstances are students to attend in-person classes if they are experiencing any symptoms of covid-19. Illnesses are covered under the Authorized Absence program managed within the Dean of Students Office (https://www.uwyo.edu/dos).

Note: All campus community members are requested to use the COVID Pass as tool to track their personal health symptoms. If a student enters their daily temperature and symptoms and receives a “fail”, they should notify their faculty they will need to participate virtually for that day.

Hyflex Absences

An official student absence for the hyflex version of this course is when a student meets the following criteria:

• The student misses a scheduled in-class drawing session.
• The student or a dedicated representative of the student fails to communicate the reason for their absence within the week of the absence.
• The student does not engage with the week’s course material and/or does not turn in the week’s assignment on time.

Online Absences

In the event that the course moves online at any point in the semester, an official student absence for the online version of this course is when a student meets the following criteria:

• The student does not engage with the week’s course material and/or does not turn in the week’s assignment on time.
• The student or a dedicated representative of the student fails to communicate the reason for not engaging with the course material and/or not turning in the week’s assignment on time within the week of the absence.

Other University regulations can be found at:

http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounsel/new-regulatory-structure/index.html.

University Disclaimer

The University of Wyoming COVID Policy, including this Student Attendance Policy, is informed by health and safety recommendations from the CDC and the Wyoming Department of Health. The COVID Policy may be modified based on the evolving environment and virus transmission.