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.

Your Instructor

Professor Michelle Driessen is the final authority on any policy questions, curriculum decisions, extensions, disability-related accommodations, and final course grades.  She is assisted by support staff, including the head TA.  A member of the team will respond to your email questions and periodically check in on your laboratory meeting.

Required Course Materials

• Internet capable laptop or tablet*

• Course content provided through the class Canvas site and LabArchives (~$20 automatically charged to your account and special email link sent - no manual to purchase at the bookstore)

• Approved splashproof goggles are required**

*You should protect your device from spills/contamination by purchasing a protective envelope (for tablets) or a keyboard cover for your laptop. These protective items should be removed when you leave lab so that you do not contaminate any of your other belongings. An alternative is to use disposable plastic wrap that is available in lab to wrap your device.

**The bookstore has several options available.  If you purchase them somewhere else, they must be marked with this code:  ANSI Z87.1-1968.

Student learning outcomes addressed in this course include:

• Can identify, define, and solve problems

• Can locate and critically evaluate information

• Has mastered a body of knowledge and mode of inquiry

• Can communicate effectively

Dress Code

You must be wearing approved safety goggles and have all skin covered from the chest down in order to participate in the laboratory. In addition, you must wear closed toe shoes (no sandals or toes peeking out).  If you do not come to lab dressed appropriately, with goggles, you will be asked to leave and will not have the opportunity to make-up the experiment. Please see the full dress code and safety goggle information posted on the lab website.

Safety

Each student is expected to read and follow all safety protocols/information found in the class site. In addition, each student must sign the safety contract in the Canvas site before they will be allowed to participate in any experiment.

Any student found performing unauthorized experiments or behaving in an unsafe manner in the laboratory may be removed from the laboratory at any time. Whether or not behavior is unsafe is at the discretion of the instructors, and this includes failure to properly respond to instructions in a timely manner. Removal from the laboratory may be for a period of time as short as the remainder of the current lab period or as long as the remainder of the course itself, depending on the circumstances.

Safety Commitment

The University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry is committed to the safety for all of our students, faculty, staff, and post-doctorates, both inside and outside of our laboratories. TA’s are encouraged to discuss a safety related issue during the every lab and alway ask if anyone has any concerns. If for some reason you are uncomfortable talking with the TA your instructor is another great source. The Department is considered a national safety leader and the student led Joint Safety Team (jst.umn.edu) and the department safety committee are both very interested in addressing safety concerns. Contact information is available at https://chem.umn.edu/safety. 

Canvas Site

There are multiple methods for finding the laboratory Canvas site. You may use the myU portal or login directly at https://canvas.umn.edu. Login and select the link for your lab course. You will find many useful links here AND your posted scores for each experiment.

To Prepare for Each Lab

• Read the project description before lab.

• Look over any techniques or concepts that you are unfamiliar with prior to lab.

• Attend your TA's office hour or a tutor hour if you have questions on any techniques, concepts or the project.

• Bring your U Card to lab each week. You will need it to check out lab equipment or for any extra charges you incur during the term.

• Listen carefully to your TA's instructions.

• IF you are more than 15 minutes late to your lab meeting, it will be considered an absence, though you are encouraged to participate as much as you are able.

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.

Students with Disabilities

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 (612.626.1333, https://disability.umn.edu/) 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 (not your TA) as early in the semester to review how the accommodations will be applied in the course. 

Scholastic Dishonesty

While you are encouraged to work, collect data, and study with your lab team members, all work that is turned in MUST be your own, individual work. Otherwise, identical papers are always assumed to indicate copying, and each identical paper will receive a grade of zero for all or part of the work. See detailed information in the class Canvas site.

Problems

Your TA will be happy to discuss questions and concerns with you. However, if there is an issue that you do not feel you can discuss with your TA, please contact the General Chemistry Team (genchem@umn.edu) and they will help resolve the issue.

Miscellaneous

Refer to your registration information for the location of your laboratory. Look for your name on the blackboards in the lab to find your TA section on the first day of lab. 

You must attend the first lab meeting AND be on time to guarantee your place in lab. If you do not attend the first day, your spot may be forfeited and given to someone waiting to get into the course.  If you are waiting to get into the course, see the staff in Smith 115 (624-0026) for more details.

Overlapping & Back-to-Back Courses

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:

http://policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/OVERLAPPINGCLASSES.html

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. (Student Conduct Code:

http://regents.umn.edu/sites/default/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf) 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 [remove bullets as necessary]:

• 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.

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/

Teaching & 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

https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Sexual_Harassment_Sexual_Assault_Stalking_Relationship_Violence.pdf

Equity, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity

We welcome to this course individuals of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, gender expressions, national origins, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, ability, and other visible and invisible differences. Instructors, teaching assistants, and students are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for every other member of the class. This is in agreement with university policy:

http://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Equity_Diversity_EO_AA.pdf

For information on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee in the Chemistry Department, see:

https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/chemintranet/diversity-inclusion

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 the Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life, see:

https://gsc.umn.edu/

For gender-neutral restrooms in Smith and Kolthoff Halls and elsewhere on campus, see:

https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/chemintranet/accessible-gender-neutral-restrooms

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 (612.626.1333, https://disability.umn.edu/) 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 (not your TA) as early in the semester to review how the accommodations will be applied in the course.