Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Plant Anatomy and Diversity Lab (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 3515-01

Course: BIOL 3515-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: BIOL
CRN: 31020

Course Description

Lab to accompany BIOL 3510. One three-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 - Odd Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): BIOL 3510

Required Texts

Lab activities will be based on handouts each week. There is no required text.

Learning Outcomes

Plant Anatomy lab is a chance to apply concepts and skills we learn about in the corresponding lecture. In lab we will examine the structure and development of vascular plants. We will look at: internal (anatomy) and external (morphology) aspects of plant structure, the development and growth of plants at all stages, contrasting plant and animal development, and functional aspects of plant structure and development.

Course learning objectives:
Understanding basic anatomical and developmental features of major groups.
Understanding plant morphological diversity through the perspective of homology.
Become proficient at directly observing plant anatomy through preparation of hand-sectioned specimens.
Practice in microscopy and sectioning techniques.

Course Requirements

Lab will mostly consist of work with compound and dissecting microscopes to observe details of plant structure in different taxa. You will need an unlined notebook and a set of colored pencils in which to make observations that you will turn in to me at the end of every lab. Lab handouts will be available on Canvas prior to lab; please print them out or better yet bring an electronic copy. 

Assessment:
Lab and lecture grades are separate.

Your lab grade is based on completion of weekly lab handouts/notebook (10 pts each x 10), including all application and reflection questions on the handouts.

Course Outline

Planned weekly schedule:

Week | Date | Day  | Topic
1 | Sep 1 | M | Labor Day; no class
2 | Sep 8 | M | Land plant morphology overview
3 | Sep 15 | M | Meristems and the primary/secondary plant body
4 | Sep 22 | M | Shoot apex and primary xylem
5 | Sep 29 | M | Secondary xylem and phloem
6 | Oct 6 | M | Meetings for independent projects
7 | Oct 13 | M | Fall Break; no class
8 | Oct 20 | M | Epidermis
9 | Oct 27 | M | Root anatomy and morphology
10 | Nov 3 | M | Leaf anatomy and morphology
11 | Nov 10 | M | Vascular cambium
12 | Nov 17 | M | Periderm
13 | Nov 24 | M | Thanksgiving Break; no class
14 | Dec 1 | M | Reproductive anatomy and morphology

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

Late work is reduced by 10% of the total points possible for that assignment per day. Lab activities are due by the end of lab each week unless we both agree otherwise.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required for each lab and the activity for each week contributes to your lab grade. Labs require a large amount of time for me to set up and take down. If you have a valid reason to miss a lab (e.g., a university-sponsored event), let me know with as much lead time as possible. I'm generally willing to work with you for many non-university sponsored events (e.g., family weddings), especially when you let me know ahead of time. If you simply do not show up for lab without contacting me ahead of time, there will be no chance to make up that lab unless the absence was due to a serious emergency (which may require documentation such as a doctor’s note).

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.