There is a team of people, including your instructor, who administer your laboratory course. The team can be reached at genchem@umn.edu with any questions you may have about your lab course, or to report issues with your TA.
There is a team of people, including your instructor, who administer your laboratory course. The team can be reached at genchem@umn.edu with any questions you may have about your lab course, or to report issues with your TA. Dr. Houchlei genchem@umn.edu is the final authority on any policy questions, curriculum decisions, extensions, disability-related accommodations, and final course grades. I am assisted by support staff, including the head TA.
In my course, students will be given ample opportunity to practice what they know and are able to do by engaging with evidence-based assessments structured to elicit ideas in General Chemistry Laboratories. We know that knowledge cannot be directly transferred from instructor to the student rather, it is co-constructed over time in a collaborative effort. We are in this together as a team! From this perspective, my goal in teaching is not to replace students’ incorrect ideas but rather, create opportunities for you to be creative and use your knowledge in new and possibly unfamiliar areas of chemistry!
Liberal Arts Statement: This course Chemistry 1017 (1 credit) is experimental in nature and requires students to perform hands-on work using common laboratory glassware and equipment. Students will work in collaborative teams and employ the scientific method to design experiments intended to answer chemical questions. They will collect and analyze data sets in the laboratory, communicating the overall results in both oral and written forms.
You must either be currently enrolled in CHEM 1001 (the lecture course) or have passed it during a previous semester at the University of Minnesota. See your instructor with questions.
If you do not meet the criteria, you should report your situation to the staff at chemfaq@umn.edu immediately. They handle all registration issues pertaining to this course and can help you find the best course for your desired path.
An Atoms First Approach to the Introductory Chemistry Laboratory, Laboratory Manual for CHEM 1017, Fifth Edition. (you cannot use a different edition!)
Approved splashproof goggles are required. The bookstore has several options available. If you purchase them elsewhere, they must be marked with this code: ANSI Z87.1
This is the section I receive the most questions on please read this section carefully!
Late Registration: Please note that joining the course after the first lab meeting does not excuse you from attendance or any work collected and graded. Any lab period missed after the start of the semester due to late registration will be treated as an absence.
Being Late: Attendance and full participation in lab, for the entire lab period, is required. Missing more than 15 minutes of a lab period will be considered an absence.
First Absence: each student will be allowed one absence from one lab period with no questions asked, excluding the last day of lab. Students should be sure to properly document the absence events and save that documentation.
Second Absence: you need to email Dr. Houchlei at genchem@umn.edu the following:
Both your first and second absence must be considered legitimate absences per university policy (https://policy.umn.edu/education/makeupwork)
Students should be sure to properly document the absence events and save that documentation for BOTH their 1st and 2nd absence.
The request to excuse a second absence is not automatic and may be denied, depending on the situation. The missing points for the missed lab period will be replaced by completing a similar activity, as described under makeup work. It is highly recommended that you save this "one-time absence" and use it only if necessary for illness, university club activities, conference travel, job interviews, family travel, and the like. Your lab group is counting on you, and you should do your best not to miss any lab. It should be noted that missing lab does not excuse you from turning in a lab report, a draft, or a peer evaluation on time which are online.
3. Missing/Late for 3 labs: No one will be excused from more than two lab meetings, as it represents too large a portion of the course content. See the University absence policy here: http://policy.umn.edu/education/makeupwork.
Missing the Final Lab: you must request an excused absence. If a student misses the last day of lab without proper documentation/clearance from the course instructor, the final grade will be reduced by one full letter grade. For example, if the student had earned an A in lab, but skipped the last day, a final grade of B would be earned.
Grading Philosophy: Your TA should post your grades one week after you turn in your lab report. If you do not see your grade posted, please discuss this with your TA immediately and notify the instructor if the situation is not rectified. Any grade disputes should be taken up directly with your TA and advanced to the instructor if not resolved. Grade disputes must be lodged with the instructor prior to the last week of lab in order to gain full consideration. Your laboratory grade will be based on the average percentage of your lab reports and assigned using the following breakdown:
A 94.0 - 100.0%
A- 92.0 - 93.9%
B+ 90.0 - 91.9%
B 88.0 - 89.9%
B- 86.0 - 87.9%
C+ 84.0 - 85.9%
C 82.0 - 83.9%
C- 80.0 - 81.9%
D 74.0 - 79.9%
F < 74.0%
An automatic F will be applied to any student who fails the course because they failed to complete the experiment and turn in the completed lab reports for 3 or more experiments (3 or more zeros or incomplete reports). In other words, if you fail to 1) attend lab, 2) attempt & complete the entire lab report (and hand it in on time), and/OR 3) attend & complete all parts of multi-day experiments, in any combination, three times or more, you will fail lab.
Learning Objectives:
Students will…
Demonstrate preparedness to learn by showing up on time and consistently participate with in person lab work
Demonstrate safe laboratory habits, students should be able to assess their surroundings to make safe choices in lab such as the proper use of personal protective equipment and waste handling
Manage lab time effectively with hands on group experiments to obtain and properly record experimental results in a laboratory manual.
Work in a group to complete tasks by effectively communicating, problem solving, dividing up tasks, situational awareness.
Demonstrate proper use of common laboratory glassware and instrument techniques
Can identify, define, and solve problems
Has mastered a body of knowledge and mode of inquiry
Last Lab: If a student misses the last day of lab without proper documentation/clearance from the course instructor, the final grade will be reduced by one full letter grade. For example, if the student had earned an A in lab, but skipped the last day, a final grade of B would be earned.
Your TA should post your grades by the lab meeting following the one when the work was submitted. If you do not see your score posted, please discuss this with your TA immediately and notify the General Chemistry Team (genchem@umn.edu) if the situation is not rectified. Any grade disputes should be taken up directly with your TA and advanced to the instructor if not resolved. Grade disputes must be lodged with the instructor within one week of the returned assignment in order to gain full consideration.
Late Registration
Please note that joining the course after the first lab meeting does not excuse you from attendance or any work collected and graded. Any lab period missed after the start of the semester due to late registration will be treated as an absence, outlined above.
Makeup Work
If a student has an excused absence (freebie, or proper documentation for two), they will have a chance to earn back the points missed in lab on the day(s) they were absent. Makeup work is communicated through your TA.
If you are a member of a varsity team at the University and will be traveling during the semester, or will have military duty that conflicts with more than 1 lab period, you are responsible for contacting the instructor or staff in Smith 115 during the first week of classes in order to be permanently moved to a lab section that minimizes scheduling conflicts.
Enrolling in overlapping or back-to-back courses that does not allow enough travel time to arrive at our class meetings on time is prohibited. For more information, please see: https://policy.umn.edu/education/overlappingclasses
Multilingual Students: SELS (Student English Language Support) is an on-campus service that offers free, 45-minute consultations to international undergraduate students to help develop their English skills. During a consultation, students can work with trained consultants on any English language skill, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, pronunciation, and cultural adaptation. SELS also offers walk-in hours twice a week, and online consultations on select evenings and weekends. For more information or to make an appointment, please visit the SELS website at: https://ccaps.umn.edu/eslhelp. You can also email SELS at: eslhelp@umn.edu
University Athletes and Military Personnel: If you are a member of a varsity team at the University and will be traveling during the semester, or will have military duty that conflicts with more than 1 lab period, you are responsible for contacting the instructor or staff in Smith 115 during the first week of classes in order to be permanently moved to a lab section that minimizes scheduling conflicts.
Student Mental Health and Stress Management: As a student, you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota Services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu/
Student Conduct Code
As a student at the University you are expected to adhere to Board of Regents Policy: Student Conduct Code. To review the Student Conduct Code, please see:
http://regents.umn.edu/sites/default/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf
Scholastic Dishonesty
You are expected to do your own academic work and cite sources as necessary. Failing to do so is scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering, forging, or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis. (See code of Conduct section) If it is determined that a student has cheated, they may be given an "F" or an "N" for the course, and may face additional sanctions from the University.
The Office for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity has compiled a useful list of Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to scholastic dishonesty:
http://www1.umn.edu/oscai/integrity/student/index.html
Artificial intelligence (AI) language models, such as ChatGPT, and online assignment help tools, such as Chegg®, are examples of online learning support platforms: they can not be used for course assignments except as explicitly authorized by the instructor. The following actions are prohibited in this course:
Submitting all or any part of an assignment statement to an online learning support platform;
Incorporating any part of an AI generated response in an assignment;
Using AI to brainstorm, formulate arguments, or template ideas for assignments;
Using AI to summarize or contextualize source materials;
Submitting your own work for this class to an online learning support platform for iteration or improvement.
If you are in doubt as to whether you are using an online learning support platform appropriately in this course, I encourage you to discuss your situation with your instructor. If you have additional questions, please clarify with the instructor for the course. Your instructor can respond to your specific questions regarding what would constitute scholastic dishonest in the context of a particular class-e.g., whether collaboration on assignments is permitted, requirements and methods for citing sources, if electronic aids are permitted or prohibited during an exam.
Teaching and Learning
The materials provided in this course are intended only for the students officially enrolled in this section and are to be used to learn and practice the course material. Disseminating class notes, videos, exams, etc... beyond the classroom community or accepting compensation (in the form of cash or trade, such as access to a study website) undermines instructor interests in their intellectual property while not substantially furthering instructor and student interests in effective learning. Such actions violated shared norms and standards of the academic community and are not allowed. For additional information, please see: http://policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/STUDENTRESP.html
Sexual Harassment
"Sexual harassment" means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment in any University activity or program. Such behavior is not acceptable in the University setting. For additional information, please consult Board of Regents Policy: https://policy.umn.edu/hr/sexharassassault
Department of Chemistry Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Collaboration among people of all cultures and backgrounds enhances our experiences and contributes to excellence in teaching, learning, and research. We strive for a climate that celebrates our differences and strengthens our department by embracing and working to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. For more information about our departmental efforts and upcoming activities: http://z.umn.edu/ChemDiversity. For a list of diversity related resources from the College of Science & Engineering: https://cse.umn.edu/college/diversity-and-inclusion-opportunities.
Equity, Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action
The University provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs and facilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. For more information, please consult Board of Regents Policy
FERPA: (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
In this class, use of technology may make students’ names and UMN internet IDs visible within the course website, but only to other students in the same class. Since we are using a secure, password-protected course website, this ought not increase the risk of identity theft or spamming for anyone in the class. If you have concerns about the visibility of your Internet ID, please contact us for further info.
Education & Student Life Policies: The University’s Education & Student life policies are available in the online Policy Library. https://policy.umn.edu/education?source=front
Disability Resource Center
The University of Minnesota views disability as an important aspect of diversity and is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.
If you have, or think you have, a disability in any area such as, mental health, attention, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical, please contact the DRC office on your campus (UM Twin Cities - 612.626.1333) to arrange a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations.
Students with short-term disabilities, such as a broken arm, can often work with instructors to minimize classroom barriers. In situations where additional assistance is needed, students should contact the DRC as noted above.
If you are registered with the DRC and have a disability accommodation letter dated for this semester or this year, please contact your instructor early in the semester to review how the accommodations will be applied in the course.
If you are registered with the DRC and have questions or concerns about your accommodations please contact your (access consultant/disability specialist).
Additional information is available on the DRC website: (UM Twin Cities - https://diversity.umn.edu/disability/) or e-mail (UM Twin Cities – drc@umn.edu) with questions.
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
Academic freedom is a cornerstone of the University. Within the scope and content of the course as defined by the instructor, it includes the freedom to discuss relevant matters in the classroom. Along with this freedom comes responsibility. Students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in a sustained and independent search for truth. Students are free to take reasoned exception to the views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled.*
Reports of concerns about academic freedom are taken seriously, and there are individuals and offices available for help. Contact the instructor, the Department Chair, your adviser, the associate dean of the college, or the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs in the Office of the Provost.
*Language adapted from the American Association of University Professors "Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students".