Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

General Biology Lab I (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 1615-17

Course: BIOL 1615-17
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: BIOL
CRN: 31036

Course Description

Lab to accompany BIOL 1610. One two-hour meeting per week. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a biological science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other biology course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

All required materials for lab will be supplied for you via Canvas 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate understanding of science as a way of knowing about the natural world
  2. Demonstrate basic understanding of how organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce
  3. Discuss the organization and flow of matter and energy through biological systems
  4. Explain from evidence patterns of inheritance, structural unity, adaptation, and diversity of life on Earth

Course Requirements

Lab Quizzes: (10 @ 15 pts. ea.): 150 pts. - Read handout and complete on Canvas. Due at start of lab period

Lab Participation: (10 @ 10 pts. ea.): 100 pts. - Attending lab and contributing to activity ensures participation

Lab Handouts: (10 @ 25, 1 @15 pts. ea.): 265 pts. - Turn in by the end of lab day on Canvas 

Lab Final: 75 pts - Complete in person during lab

Media Report rough draft:  45 pts.- Submit on Canvas (includes "How to read a..." pdf. - 10 pts)

Media Report final draft: 100 pts. - Submit on Canvas

All grades will be posted on Canvas. Please feel free to bring any questions about grading to your ProfessorI will be happy to review your answers with you and discuss ways to improve your scores during office hours. Grades are never discussed via email. Grades may also be discussed with the lab Instructional Assistant (IA). 

Course Outline


Lab format and responsibilities:

  • Read the over handouts before coming to lab each week and complete any supplemental exercises posted.
  • After reading the handout, you will need to complete a pre-lab quiz. This must be completed before coming to lab each week. You may use your lab handout and any notes you'd like to complete the pre-lab quiz.
  • On the day of lab, you will attend and complete the activity. You should always have access to the handouts either on paper or online. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Policies on Late Assignments and Lab Absences:
  • Late policy: All quizzes and other assignments are due by the due date indicated on the assignment. I will not accept assignments past the due date (except for extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization or other documented reasons evaluated by me on a case-by-case basis). 
  • If you absolutely must miss lab, you are responsible for contacting me ASAP and before the missed lab. You may only make up a missed lab activity by attending another BIOL 1625 lab section during the week. If you do not contact me and make up the lab by attending another section, you will not receive participation points or points for the lab handout for that lab, though you will still receive points for completing the pre-lab quiz by the deadline. Accommodations for extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization or other valid, documented reasons, will be evaluated by me on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance Policy

Laboratory Safety and Responsibilities: 
You are required to read and agree to a safety contract in the beginning of the semester and adhere to safety policies throughout the semester. This contract will be available on Canvas.

Attendance is required for all labs. 

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.