Course Syllabus

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Southern Utah University

Fall Semester 2026

Introductory Microbiology Lab (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 2065-03

Course:	BIOL 2065-03
Credits:	1
Term:	Fall Semester 2026
Department:	Biology
CRN:	30560

Course Description

Lab to accompany BIOL 2060. Practical skills for working with microorganism and lab exercises to support lectures on biology of microorganism and their effect on human activities. 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)] Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2060 Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1610 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Learning Outcomes

Microbiology is relevant to all our lives. Everything in life can in some way be traced back to microbes. Since most students taking this course are interested in microbial impacts on human health, we have included case studies and investigations to link the science to everyday experiences. The labs are designed to teach important microbiology techniques and to apply those techniques to procedures performed in clinical and commercial laboratories. Enjoy exploring the world of microbes and watch the lecture concepts come alive!

Gain factual knowledge of microbiology.
- View and identify characteristics of eukaryotic microorganisms.
- Grow bacteria and analyze colony morphology.
- Assess the efficacy of antibiotics and disinfectants using a zone of inhibition.
Learn to apply course material to improve thinking, problem solving, and thinking.
- Conduct experiments and examine the results to identify an unknown sample.
- Inoculate and isolate a bacterial species on media.
Develop specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed in related fields.
- Learn proper use of the compound microscope.
- Cultivate microbes using proper aseptic techniques.
- Perform a Gram stain to detect the type of cell wall and to view bacterial shapes.

Required Texts

No required textbook; Lab Manual will be freely accessed through Canvas.
Required supplies & attire:
- Bring a gallon ziploc bag to store lab coat. Lab coats will be provided.
- Bring a black permanent fine point marker.
- Wear long pants/skirts and close-toed shoes.
- Avoid wearing loose jewelry/clothing.
- Tie back long hair.
- Wear gloves while handling all lab equipment and materials. Gloves will be provided.
- Wear safety goggles when instructed to do so. Goggles will be provided.

Course Requirements

Pre-Requisites: BIOL 1610 (min. grade "C")
Co-Requisites: BIOL 2060

Requirement & Due Date

Lab safety guidelines & quiz: 10 pts due 15-Sep 11:59pm
Syllabus discussion: 4 pts due 15-Sep 11:59pm
Lab quizzes: 8 @ 30 pts each due every Tuesday 11:59pm (some exceptions – see schedule below)
Clinical unknown: 75 pts due 17-Nov 11:59pm
Group presentation: 100 pts due 9-Dec in class
Participation: 10 @ 4 pts each. No submission; must attend designated in-person lab sessions, follow safety rules, bring required materials, label tubes/plates, clean up, follow instructions, etc. for full credit

Description of Course Requirements
Lab safety guidelines & quiz: Legitimate safety risks exist in the microbiology lab, such as risk of fire and risk of infection. Proper adherence to lab safety guidelines helps reduce risk in the microbiology lab. All students will be required to adhere to the lab safety guidelines. Failure to follow the rules, including clean-up, labeling and equipment usage, will result in point deductions commensurate with the violation. In cases where negligence and/or insubordination place others at risk, violations may lead to a failing grade on both the Lab Quiz and Participation points, possible expulsion from the lab, and/or a failing grade in the course. When completing lab work as a group, safety and clean-up violations will result in point deductions commensurate with the violation and applicable to the entire group.

Complete this assignment by opening the “Lab safety guidelines & quiz” on Canvas, reading the lab safety guidelines provided within the quiz, and answering the questions within the quiz. You may reference the lab safety guidelines as you answer the quiz questions, but please avoid using any other outside resources, including your peers.

Syllabus discussion: Because Labor Day will prevent us from meeting in-person until 1.5 weeks into the semester, I'm asking that you become familiar with how this course works before our first in-person lab meeting. This syllabus discussion is designed to help familiarize you with the course, including its expectations, policies, assignments, and procedures. By the time we meet for the first lab, you should know where to find important course information and be able to explain key expectations. Complete the discussion on Canvas. You may reference the syllabus as you complete this discussion, but please avoid using any other outside resources, and complete this discussion individually.

Lab quizzes: For most labs, you will find Lab Quizzes on Canvas. These Lab Quizzes contain questions about the lab. The questions should be completed after lab based on concepts you practiced in lab, data you collected during lab, and background information about the lab provided in the Lab Manual. You may use any portion of the Lab Manual while you take the quiz, but please avoid using any other outside resources, including your peers. You may ask me for help on specific concepts, but I will not simply provide the correct answer. Because the Lab Quiz is based on work completed during the laboratory period, if you are absent from lab, the Lab Quiz will still be accepted, but a 50% penalty will be applied for missing lab, and the Late Policy in this syllabus will apply; see the “Instructor’s policies on late assignments and/or makeup work” section of this syllabus for absence resolution options.

Clinical unknown: To assess your skills developed in previous labs and apply them as a practicing microbiologist may use them, you will identify a bacterium from a provided sample. This will serve as a lab practical and must be done individually. You may use any portion of the Lab Manual for this assignment, but please avoid using any other outside resources, including your peers. Each Clinical Unknown lab session builds upon the previous session; therefore, if you are absent from any of the 3 Clinical Unknown labs, then you will not be able to complete the Clinical Unknown as a whole. After the Clinical Unknown lab sessions are complete, you will submit a report of results gathered during all 3 Clinical Unknown lab sessions worth 75 points; absences from any of the 3 Clinical Unknown lab sessions will lead to an incomplete report; see the “Instructor’s policies on late assignments and/or makeup work” section of this syllabus for absence resolution options.

Group presentation: To practice scientific communication and collaboration skills, students will work in groups to prepare and deliver a presentation on a beneficial area of microbiology (specific topics will be assigned). You may use any portion of the Lab Manual to help you complete this assignment. You may not use artificial intelligence for any part of this assignment; as a group, you must collaborate to find reliable sources, understand the topic, create your own summaries of key information, and create your own presentation materials. Detailed guidelines and grading criteria are available on Canvas, but overall you will be graded on clarity, depth of research/explanation, and overall quality. You must attend your scheduled lab to give your presentation; see the "Emergencies Policy" section of this syllabus for emergency resolution options.

Participation: Laboratory activities are designed to provide hands-on experiences that cannot be fully replicated outside of class. Because each lab builds practical skills through participation, in-person attendance, timely arrival to the laboratory period, and genuine participation are required components of this course.

If you are absent from lab, you will score 0 participation points for that lab; see the “Instructor’s policies on late assignments and/or makeup work” section of this syllabus for absence resolution options.

Students who arrive late or leave early will receive a participation score reduction proportional to the amount of laboratory time missed. For example, arriving 30 minutes late to a 110-minute lab results in approximately a 27% deduction from that day's participation score.

Students who attend lab but exhibit a lack of genuine participation will lose participation points commensurate with the lacking participation. Genuine participation will be demonstrated in a variety of ways, such as arriving having reviewed the Lab Manual and other Canvas materials, bringing the required supplies to lab, following safety and clean-up instructions, and performing assigned laboratory procedures.

Course Outline

Attendance Policy

Laboratory activities are designed to provide hands-on experiences that cannot be fully replicated outside of class. Because each lab builds practical skills through participation, in-person attendance, timely arrival to the laboratory period, and genuine participation are required components of this course.

If you are absent from lab, you will score 0 participation points for that lab; see the “Instructor’s policies on late assignments and/or makeup work” section of this syllabus for absence resolution options.

Because the Lab Quiz is based on work completed during the laboratory period, if you are absent from lab, the Lab Quiz will still be accepted, but a 50% penalty will be applied for missing lab, and the Late Policy in this syllabus will apply; see the “Instructor’s policies on late assignments and/or makeup work” section of this syllabus for absence resolution options.

Students who arrive late or leave early will receive a reduction proportional to the amount of laboratory time missed. For example, arriving 30 minutes late to a 110-minute lab results in approximately a 27% deduction from that day's participation points.

Students who attend lab but exhibit a lack of genuine participation will lose participation points commensurate with the lacking participation. Genuine participation will be demonstrated in a variety of ways, such as arriving having reviewed the Lab Manual and other Canvas materials, bringing the required supplies to lab, following safety and clean-up instructions, and performing assigned laboratory procedures.

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

Late Work Policy

I accept late work with a 10% deduction per 24 hours late, starting immediately after the due date.
Exceptions to this policy will be determined according to the Emergencies Policy in this syllabus.

Making Up Anticipated Absences (also known as "Section Swaps")
I understand that you balance many demands on your time alongside this course. Because laboratory experiences cannot easily be recreated outside of class, attendance is still expected. To provide flexibility when scheduling conflicts arise, this course includes a Section Swap option that generally allows students to attend another laboratory section when arrangements are made in advance, per the following policy:

I define an "anticipated absence" as an absence resulting from a schedule conflict for which you had reasonable advance notice, such as work, athletics, family obligations, or planned travel. In other words, the schedule conflict is not a last-minute surprise. The exact amount of time that constitutes "reasonable advance notice" will vary depending on the circumstances; for example, most work schedules are posted at least 2 weeks in advance, so you would be aware of a schedule conflict with work and this class at least 2 weeks before the absence.
This class is taught in several sections on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Various instructors teach the different sections of this class, but we generally follow the same schedule of activities/topics. Therefore, if you anticipate an absence from your scheduled lab section for any reason, then you can generally make up the absence by attending a different section. I will call this process "Section Swaps".
- Important: Each lab activity is completed within a single week and does not extend beyond that week. Therefore, a Section Swap will only allow you to make up a missed lab activity if the section you attend occurs during the same week as your scheduled lab. For example, if you miss your scheduled lab on Wednesday of Week 3, then you must attend a different Wednesday or Monday section during Week 3.
In general, each student may only conduct up to 2 Section Swaps in the semester. This limit helps ensure that all laboratory sections remain manageable while still providing flexibility for occasional scheduling conflicts. Additional requests may be approved at my discretion if space permits. If you anticipate regular absences due to work, travel, weddings, or other currently planned commitments, I encourage you to consider enrolling in a different section that better aligns with your schedule.
Section Swaps require approval from the instructor of the section you wish to attend and are subject to available space, compatibility of laboratory activities, and other instructor-specific considerations.
A Section Swap will generally not change your Lab Quiz due date.
"Section Swaps" are the only way to make up anticipated absences. See the Emergencies Policy in this syllabus for instructions on making up unanticipated absences.

How to arrange a "Section Swap" for an Anticipated Absence:

It is your responsibility to monitor your schedule and begin the Section Swap process as soon as you become aware of a schedule conflict.
- If a Section Swap request is submitted shortly before the scheduled lab for an absence that appears to have been foreseeable, I may request documentation showing when you became aware of the schedule conflict.
Find a section that fits your schedule by viewing the schedule of all BIOL 2065 sections posted near the top of our Canvas homepage.
- In the event that no section fits your schedule, reach out to me as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, I may be able to arrange an alternative.
Use the email template below to compose an email to the instructor of the section you want to attend.
- Paste the following into the email's Subject Line: Request to attend your BIOL 2065 section
- Instructor's email addresses are listed on the “Attendance Policy” page on Canvas
- CC me on the email so I know what's going on - if you don't CC me, I will not accept your section swap as a legitimate make up of your absence. This video shows you how to CC.
If the instructor declines your request, repeat steps 1-3 with a different section that fits your schedule until you receive approval from the instructor of the alternate section.

"Section Swap" Email Template:
Dear Professor <insert their last name>,

My name is <insert your name>. I am enrolled in Professor Craft's BIOL 2065 class. I will not be able to attend our scheduled lab on <insert date and time of the lab you will miss>. May I attend your lab on <insert date and time of the lab you want to attend>?

Thank you,

<Insert your first and last name>

Emergencies Policy

I understand that not all circumstances can be anticipated. I am willing to consider reasonable accommodations for you, at my discretion, if an emergency arises, per the following policy:

It is your responsibility to contact me about an emergency as soon as possible or as soon as you are reasonably able. Delays in notifying me may limit the accommodations that are available.
Upon contacting me, please provide documentation of your emergency. For example:
- If you are physically or mentally ill, please provide documentation from an appropriate healthcare provider.
- In the unfortunate event of the death of a family member or loved one, please provide a death certificate, obituary, memorial service, or other form of documentation.
The following list includes, but is not limited to, examples of non-emergencies: family trips (whether planned or spontaneous), inclement weather where campus remains open, technical difficulties prior to a deadline, roommate disagreements, weddings, your job, etc.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The laboratory, writing, and group activities are designed to provide hands-on experiences that are only effective through your genuine participation. Therefore, AI tools may not be used to complete activities and assignments in this course. Instead, please utilize the Lab Manual and your instructor for help completing work.

Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence will be treated as Academic Misconduct according to SUU Policy 6.33.

Contacting Me Policy

Office Hours

I encourage you to attend office hours! I want to help you with specific questions, steer you in the right direction if you don't know where to start, and get to know you.
Office hours dates, times, and location are listed at the top of the Canvas homepage.
You may attend office hours any time without notifying me in advance.
Office hours are subject to change, and I will use Canvas announcements to notify you of changes to office hours.

Email/Canvas Messages

I respond to emails and Canvas messages within 1-2 business days.
I cannot guarantee a response in less than 1 business day, so be proactive and begin assignments with plenty of time to ask me questions.
Please do not send the same message to both my email and my Canvas inbox - choose one or the other, as I monitor both.
Please include your full name, course number, and section number in your messages.
Before contacting me, please check the syllabus and Canvas, as many common questions are answered there. Emails requesting information that is clearly available in those resources may receive a lower priority than other messages.

Grading Policy

The following grade scale will be used to assign letter grades to your work:
A: >= 94%
A-: 90-93.9%
B+: 87-89.9%
B: 84-86.9%
B-: 80-83.9%
C+: 77-79.9%
C: 74-76.9%
C-: 70-73.9%
D+: 67-69.9%
D: 64-66.9%
D-: 60-63.9%
F: < 60%

If you identify an error in your grade, please inform me within 7 days of the grade being posted. After 7 days from the initial posting of the grade, the grade becomes final.
Resubmissions with regrades will not be allowed on assignments for any reason after the due date has passed.
Your final course percentage is calculated by dividing the total points you earn by 469 possible points.

Statement of Safety / Risk Assumption

We will be working with BSL-1 (not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults) and BSL-2 (pose moderate hazards to laboratorians and the environment) bacteria. One of the key skills you will acquire is using proper aseptic technique to safely grow and test bacteria.
There is inherent risk associated with any laboratory course, and this Introductory Microbiology Lab course is no exception. Risk in this laboratory includes, but is not limited to, thermal burns, cuts, eye damage, chemical burns, infection, & poisoning. Following stated safety guidelines; heeding verbal warnings; and wearing closed-toe shoes, long pants, gloves, and safety goggles will help minimize risk and help keep you and your classmates safe.

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.

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