CPSG100: Science & Global Change First Year Colloquium I
"Awful Changes": The Reality of Environmental Crises & the Nature of Science
Fall 2022
CCC 1205 Tues 3:30-4:50
SGC Website
Lecture Schedule Website
ELMS Canvas Website: http://elms.umd.edu/
Download an pdf file of this syllabus.

INSTRUCTORS:

Dr. Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Office: Centreville 1216
Phone: (301) 405-4084
E-mail: ELMS (preferred) or tholtz@umd.edu
Office Hours: Tue 11:30 am-1 pm or by appointment 		Dr. John W. Merck, Jr.
Office: Geology 1119
Phone: (301) 405-4379
E-mail: ELMS or jmerck@umd.edu
Office Hours: Th 12-2 pm or by appointment

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS:

Ka'Liyah Burnett
Office: Centreville 1215
E-mail: ELMS or kburnet3@umd.edu
[Title your email "CPSG 100"]
Office Hours: Fri 10-11 am

 Christian Sun
Office: by Zoom (see ELMS)
E-mail: ELMS or csun1235@terpmail.umd.edu
[Title your email "CPSG 100"]
Office Hours: Wed. 4-5 pm

 Maiya Yen
Office: TBA
E-mail: ELMS or myen@terpmail.umd.edu
[Title your email "CPSG 100"]
Office Hours: Centreville 1215 Mon 11:30 am-1:30 pm

NOTE: It is your responsibility as a student to completely read through and understand this syllabus. If you have questions about it, please contact Dr. Holtz or Dr. Merck. You will be held responsible for following all requirements of this syllabus.

COURSE ORGANIZATION: One Colloquium meeting per week, some asynchronous recorded lectures on assorted weeks, one Service Day (required), one Metro Scavenger Hunt (required), one Excursion (required).

REQUIRED READINGS: This semester there are three required books:

Additional online required readings and videos are indicated on and available via ELMS. Reading/viewing assignments must be done by the class time listed.

Copyright: © 2022 Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. and John W. Merck, Jr. as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from copying and selling course materials, from selling lecture notes, and from being paid to take lecture notes without the express written permission of the faculty teaching this course.

COURSE THEMES:

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of the semester, every student should be able to:

GRADE:
Item Percentage
Pre-Course Knowledge Survey 5%
Service Day 5%
Metro Scavenger Hunt 5%
Discussion Questions 25%
General Quizzes 10%
Discussion Participation 10%
Academic Portfolio 20%
Excursion Report 10%
Final Quiz 5%
"Expectations vs. Reality" Reflection Essay 5%

Grade Scale: The numbers given represent the thresholds that must be passed in order to reach that grade (for example, A+ is 97.000... and any number greater). There is no rounding for letter grades; the thresholds must be passed. F is any grade below D-. Thresholds: 97, A+; 93, A; 90, A-; 87, B+; 83, B; 80, B-; 77, C+; 73, C; 70, C-; 67, D+; 63, D; 60, D-; < 60, F.

The Final Grade is the algebraic sum based on the numerical grades.

Some assignments are given either full points (for completion of the assigned project) or none (for non-completion or disruptive activity). Each general quiz is graded on an 8 point scale; the final quiz is on a 20 point scale.

  1. Pre-Course Knowledge Survey (5%): In order to assess the effectiveness of the Science & Global Change program in teaching concepts related to our key themes, we survey the incoming cohort to see their pre-existing knowledge about climate change issues. This will be done online on ELMS during the first week of classes. Our goal is to see what you already know; thus, there is every expectation you will score poorly on it. DO NOT PANIC! Your grade for this is based on participation, not on your answers.

  2. Service Day (5%): All Scholars freshmen are required to participate in Service Day (August 26). If you missed Service Day (and were not in a pre-approved excused alternative), you MUST see the instructors and work out some arrangement for a make-up task or you will receive a 0 for this portion of your grade.

  3. Metro Scavenger Hunt (5%): This project is to help orient students to the Washington, D.C. area and the Metro System, as well as help you get to know other people in the class. You will be given randomly generated groups (see on ELMS) and a list of items to find and document on the first day of colloquium. You must upload your photos and post your answers on ELMS by class time on September 21. The planned date for the Metro Scavenger Hunt this year is September 11 (Sunday).

  4. Discussion Questions (25% total): Every week we will ask you to answer a question related either to the previous week's material or the readings due the forthcoming week. These will be due by the start of Colloquium (3:30 pm). The details of the questions will be provided the week before they are due.

  5. General Quizzes (10% total): Six quizzes will be taken, of which the lowest grade will automatically be dropped. Quizzes are open sourced but timed and will be delivered on ELMS.

  6. Discussion Participation (10%): As this is a Scholars Colloquium, all students are expected to attend every Colloquium and be an active participant when appropriate. In some classes, there may be directed interactive activities or discussions. A default grade of 5 will be given for every meeting a student attends. They may be awarded up to 2 more points as extra credit for particularly helpful or effective participation in the meeting. Students who are present for a discussion section but are non-participants or are disruptive may be docked up to 2 and 4 points (respectively) at the instructor's discretion.

    While the expectation is that students attend EVERY Colloquium meeting, it is recognized that occasionally conditions (accident, illness, power failure, etc.) arise that prevent such. To recognize that, every student is allowed two (2) absences from these meetings without penalty, so long as they inform the instructors and TAs by email (beforehand if at all possible), or certainly by the end of that same day that they will be/were absent and the reason for that absence. Should you not inform instructors and TAs in a timely fashion, the students will receive a 0 for the grade for the discussion/participation for that day. Additionally, if there are more than two absences the student will receive a 0 for the grade each additional class time missed. (If there is a medical condition or other extraordinary circumstance that does require missing more than 2 class meetings-or missing the date of an individual in-class presentation of some form-the student must provide documentation from the appropriate sort of official (health professional; court official; etc.) explaining the absence.)

  7. Academic ePortfolio (20%): Over the semester we will have short lectures teaching the basics of HTML coding and website design. You will be responsible for creating a website to be mounted on a terpconnect.umd.edu server; successful completion of this project is worth 20% of the total course grade. For this project, you will be a member of a small Peer-Review trouble-shooting group. You will be expected to maintain your website throughout your four semesters in SGC, and you will be adding new webpages to it over time. An html template for the Professional Academic Website is downloadable from the SGC website. The assignment itself can be found here, and a guide to more detailed html can be found here.
    This portfolio has several subcomponents:
    1. Phase 1 (3%): Uploading an image (ideally, one of you) to be used on the portfolio to your web space. Due online October 4
    2. Phase 2 (8%):Basic html version of the portfolio uploaded. Due online October 21
    3. Phase 3 (3%): CSS-enhanced final version of the portfolio upload. Due online November 1
    4. Phase 4 (4%): Assessment and trouble-shooting suggestions for members of your peer-review group. Review due November 18 and Final ePortfolio version, incorporating peer-review comments due November 22

  8. Excursion Report (10%): Each student is responsible for attending and reporting on one (1) of several options of extracurricular events. These reports are due as file uploads on ELMS online. The question sheet relevant to specific field trips will be provided in advanced; there are service project forms, as well as an even more generic report form: all will be made available on ELMS. Here are some options of types (and examples) of excursions available this semester; more will be announced in class and on ELMS as the semester progresses:
    1. SGC FIELD TRIPS: The SGC faculty will lead a series of field trips during the semester. More details to come.
      • Please note that as these field trips cost the program money, if you have signed up for a trip in advance and fail to show up for them (without timely notification), you will be regarded as having an unexcused absence and your total course grade will be penalized appropriately.
    2. VIRTUAL EXCURSIONS: For those who prefer an online rather than in-person activity, a variety of virtual excursion options are provided: see details on ELMS. NOTE: you must complete two (2) virtual excursions in order to fulfill the Excursion Report requirement.
    3. SERVICE PROJECT: There are various opportunities for service on or near the College Park campus throughout the year. Some will be organized by the group "Scholars in Action", others by various Scholars programs, still others by other organizations. Participation in one of these will count as an excursion, with the submission of the report form. Dates and opportunities will be announced during the semester.
    4. ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: Other possibilities include: Scholars-wide presentations (or some specific events opened to members of other Scholars programs); presentations (other than class lectures) on or off campus concerning science, critical thinking, the environment, or related issues; open houses of labs or other facilities; and more. When the faculty become aware of them, we will advertise the time and place of these. However, we encourage you to discover options yourself: if you find a possibility, please send Holtz & Merck the particulars for their approval.

  9. Final Quiz (5%): A longer quiz, due by Dec. 9. This will cover all the material of the semester.

  10. "Expectations vs. Reality" Reflection Essay (5%): Due on the last day of colloquium (Dec. 12), this is a brief reflection essay comparing your expectations about what University life and the Science & Global Change program in particular prior to arriving here with your experience at the end of your first semester. A template is available at http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/resources/expectations.html.

LATE ITEMS: Graded items must be uploaded/posted by the date listed. If there are important extenuating circumstances, discuss this with the faculty & TA as early as possible so that we can make allowances, if we deem it appropriate.

IMPORTANTLY: Any item not turned in by the end of final exam period will be graded as "0", unless special arrangements are made in advance of this date between the student and both faculty. "I forgot to turn it in" or "I was busy with other courses" do not represent "special arrangements"; you must be responsible for your own grade and graded items.

EXPECTATIONS & POLICIES

Expectations & Attendance

Attendance in the Colloquium meetings is required. The Scholars Colloquia require you to do more than simply master the information; you must be able to intelligently communicate and discuss the ideas and concepts of the course with your instructor and fellow students.

You should bring the following to every single colloquium meeting:

During class time:

Given the nature of the course and program, participation in colloquium meetings is MANDATORY. It is up to you to make certain that your presence has been recorded for every class.

Mask Policy: The University's policy is that masks will no longer be required while indoors in most situations, including classrooms. However, the University also reminds us that masks are a significant defense against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses (including the cold and flu). Therefore, they recommend wearing a KN95 mask while indoors for added protection. So please feel free to mask up if you feel safer, and we STRONGLY encourage masking if the cold or flu is spreading on campus.

Recording Your Presence: In general, your presence will be recorded based on your picking up of your name stand. It is your responsibility to make certain that you have signed the quiz, project report, or picked up your name stand.

Students observed leaving the colloquium before 4:50 or before it is formally dismissed will be counted absent.

NOTE: We expect students to adhere to proper academic decorum during colloquia. This means focusing your attention on presentations, refraining from conversations or activities that are not relevant (e.g., reading newspapers, doing homework for other classes, etc.), and showing proper respect for student, faculty, and guest presenters. We reserve the right to count you absent from colloquium if you fail to uphold this standard!

Excused Absences: If you have a legitimate reason for being absent, such as a family emergency, unavoidable academic conflict, or other excuse according the University's guidelines, we will usually excuse your absence. However, you must notify us in a timely fashion. Requests for the excusing of an absence will not be considered after two workdays from the absence: please contact us by email! Please use the Excused Absence Report form from https://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/docs/absence.pdf

If the absence was for a colloquium for which there was no graded activity other than participation (i.e., no quiz, etc.) AND for which this was your first or second absence from colloquium this semester, you may simply complete the Excused Absence form and turn it in. If instead there were a graded activity, AND/OR this was not your first or second absence from colloquium this semester, you will need to provide some form of documentation from an independent source supporting your absence. These include, but are not limited to:

Barring the above, a signed statement by an independent party (for example, your RA if you were ill and the RA is willing to verify that they observed this: feel free to use the back of the Excused Absence form for this)

NOTE WELL: Failure to provide the Excused Absence Form will result in the absence being unexcused, and you will face the appropriate penalties.

Grades and Excused Absences: Even if you miss a class from an excused absence, you are still held responsible for material during that class, included graded assignments such as small group projects. See the faculty about arrangements for a make-up. If the small group project is such that it cannot be done alone, it will not be factored into your grade if you have an excused absence that you informed the faculty about within two workdays from the absence.

Unexcused Absences: All other absences are considered unexcused absence. You may have two unexcused absences that do not directly affect your grade (except for missed small group projects: see below). Each subsequent unexcused absence lowers your final course grade by 10 percentage points.

If you miss a quiz or small group project because of an unexcused absence, you will not be allowed to make it up.

Missing Field Trips: If you are signed up for a field trip but are unable to make it, please email Drs. Holtz & Merck as soon as possible (before the trip, if at all possible). If it is a field trip is one that SGC has to pay for (i.e., the program pays for tickets or transportation) and you miss it without informing us in advance, this will count as an unexcused absence.

General Policies

The University has provided a page on Academic policies here. Each student is responsible for reviewing this page with regards to issues of Academic Integrity; the Code of Student Conduct; Sexual Misconduct; Discrimination; Accessibility; Attendance, Absences, or Missed Assignments; Student Rights Regarding Undergraduate Courses; Official UMD Communication; Mid-Term Grades; Complaints About Course Final Grades; Copyright and Intellectual Property; Final Exams and Course Evaluations; and Campus Resources.

Laptop/Smartphone/Tablet Use:

You will need to upload documents to ELMS and to your terpconnect.umd.edu webspace, take online quizzes, and occasionally watch online lectures this semester, so please make certain that you have access to appropriate hardware, software, and Internet connections. If you are concerned about your ability to connect remotely for this course, please consult the following information about solutions provided by the Division of Information Technology:

During the Colloquium, please refrain from email, social media, online shopping, streaming videos, and other such communication outside the scope of the colloquium. In other words, please restrict your computer use to the activities of the class.

Communication:

The primary means of communication for this course will be the ELMS Inbox (email) function. In cases of inclement weather or other unexpected emergencies, the University may close. Please consult the University main webpage (http://www.umd.edu) or call 301-405-7669 (SNOW) to confirm such cancellations. Drs. Holtz & Merck will contact students via ELMS in order to inform them concerning delays of due dates for projects to be handed in or for exams: typically, these will be shifted until the next available class date.