Grading and Policies

I strive to keep your grades up to date throughout the semester so you always know where you stand in the class. Assignments and quizzes are typically graded relatively quickly. However, when it comes time to grade exams, I will admit it, I am slow grader. This is because I look over each exam with care and strive to give partial points where I can and consider possible additional answers to any given question. I know you are eager to know how you did (I sure was as a student) so I promise never to drag out returning exam grades longer than 2 weeks (unless life happens, but I will always communicate delays to you). 

Academic dishonesty in any form (including, but not limited to, cheating, using a textbook, notes or generative artificial intelligence for online assessments, copying test answers or outside assignments, sharing answers, using cell phones, smart watches, or any other information during an assessment, plagiarism, etc.) will not be tolerated. If any academic dishonesty is discovered, it is grounds for immediate failure of the class assignment and/or test with a grade of F and serious disciplinary action by both the college and myself. Also, it is your responsibility as a student to not only refrain from acts of academic dishonesty but also refuse to aid any other student in academic dishonesty and notify your instructor and/or appropriate administrators about observed incidents of academic dishonesty. 

Midterm and Final Exams

There will be two midterm examinations worth 150 points each and a 150-point cumulative final examination.  Missed exams will be assigned a grade of zero.  All examinations will cover material presented in both lecture and lab, and they will be administered using a written, multiple choice and practical exam format. Exams require a comprehensive understanding of the material to be successful. Please plan your studying time. Recommended studying is approximately 15-20 hours a week to stay up to date with course material. “Cramming” for these exams will not be possible. See course schedule for exam days and times. 

All students will have an in-class review of their midterm exams after they are graded. At the time of your review, you have the opportunity to discuss changes in your grade with the instructor. If a change is warranted, the instructor will update your grade during this meeting time. If you are absent for the in-class review, you must schedule a review time during student hours. Changes to midterm exam grades will only be made within 1 week after the exam is reviewed in class. After this time window, the grade is firm. However, you may review your exam in office hours at any point throughout the semester.

Quizzes

There is one 10-point syllabus quiz in Canvas due the first week of class. The standard quizzes (totaling six) will cover material presented in both lecture and lab, and they will be administered using a laboratory practical exam format, short answer, and/or fill-in items. They cannot be made-up.  If you miss a quiz due to tardiness or an absence, the missed quiz will be assigned a grade of zero. See course schedule for quiz days and times.

Quizzes are reviewed during lab immediately after they are completed. Should students want to ask about a change in grade, they must do so before they leave the lab on the quiz day. Quizzes are kept throughout the semester and the student may request to review them at any time. 

Missed Assessments

In the event of non-attendance on an assessment day, no make-up quizzes, labs or exams will be given. Missed quizzes/exams, with no previous communication to me, will be assigned a grade of zero. Communication prior to the missed assessment will not guarantee the student a chance to make it up.

Assignments

There is one study guide assignment at 10 points, this assignment will help you to practice techniques for creating and using your own study guide for assessment preparation.

There will be a total of eighteen hand-in assignments due throughout the semester.  They will be based on selected pages from your lab manual, textbook, critical thinking questions, modules, etc., and they must be turned in promptly at the beginning of the class period immediately following the one in which they were assigned.

You will have a total of two review worksheets due throughout the semester worth 15 points each.  They are designed to review two important physiological topics that students will sometimes struggle with - chemistry and the neuromuscular junction.  Although students may work together to complete each assignment, each student must submit their own review worksheet in order to receive credit.

Late Assignments

This semester you will be given the chance to turn in late homework assignments without penalty by using my “No Questions Asked” Policy. I know that life happens to all of us, so you may turn in any hand-in or review assignment late (up to 3 only), without an excuse. However, you must turn in the assignment within a week of the original due date, or it will not be accepted.

There will be an “assignment” posted in your Canvas Gradebook at the start of the semester called “NQA”. It is worth 3 extra points. However, each time you turn in a late assignment, I will take away one of those points. Remember, you are only allowed 3 late assignments. No other late assignments will be accepted. This does not apply to assessments (quizzes/exams).

Extra Credit

One (1) extra credit assignment will be offered this semester totaling 10 points. At the end of every week, I assign a set of optional questions to be completed using your textbook. These are called the “CYU+” questions and they will always be posted on Canvas. To be eligible for the extra credit, you need to submit your answers to these questions weekly, unless otherwise specified. This means you cannot wait until the last minute and submit them all at once. Should you miss one set of questions, you will no longer be eligible for the extra credit. However, upon successful completion of this assignment, 10 points will be added to your grade at the end of the semester.

Office Hours on Exam Days

Office hours are not held on exam days. I make myself available constantly to students before the exam and last minute questions (office hours, email or otherwise) will not be answered to hold students to accountable for time management and organization, so please plan accordingly.