Student will learn various sampling protocol, procedures, quality control, preservation and field study of surface and ground water. The emphasis is on analysis commonly performed by the field technician, especially on natural waters. Laboratory exercises will involve monitoring and sampling water wells and nearby lakes and creeks. Field trips will be required

Students will demonstrate how to select monitoring equipment; calibrate instruments for sampling and field analysis; identify preservation procedures; demonstrate representative sampling methods; and prepare and evaluate documentation associated with sampling and field analysis.

All reading materials are either available online or will be provided to students.

GRADING POLICY

Grades for the course will be based on the following:

Course Grade 

This is how your course grade will be determined:

Monitor your progress.

You can check your grades throughout the course by selecting the My Grades link in the menu.

Three exams will be given during the semester,

The course will be graded on a standard grade scale (70- 79% = “C”; 80-89%= “B”, etc.). There will be no large curve at the end of the course to drastically alter averages and “save the day”.  Regardless of how convincing the arguments or how much you feel you deserve it, I do not “give” grades not earned. I simply do the math at the end of the semester and what you earned is your final grade.

Exam Structure: Each exam is 25 questions.  The exams require solving quantitative and qualitative problems and may contain multiple-choice and matching type questions. The tests are timed and generally you will be given 40 minutes to complete exams.  Each exam is designed to measure of how well you have learned the material covered in the designated chapters. When appropriate, and related to the material covered, questions from previous exams may be included in subsequent exams.   The final exam is not comprehensive, but the material does build on itself, so do not clear your memory after each exam!

Final Exam: The final exam must be taken to pass the course.   

No Makeup Exams: There are no makeup exams – If you miss an exam, your grade will be calculated using the two exams you take (three exams are the minimum number required to pass the class). 

Withdrawals: Any student who withdraws from a class has the responsibility to ensure that their name is removed from the roll. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to withdraw a student should he or she feel it is necessary. A student who decides to withdraw must verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course. State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit.  Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC Catalog at http://www.austincc.edu/catalog/.

Incomplete: An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student is unable to take the final examination or complete an end-of-the-semester assignment because of extenuating circumstances, such as death of a loved one or illness. A student must request an incomplete in writing with documentation of the circumstances justifying it. The student must complete the examination or assignment by a date set by the instructor. This date shall not be later than the course withdrawal deadline in the subsequent semester.

Wise Advice: If you are having trouble (more than one exam is below the grade level you are happy with) or have any questions, seek help from me immediately. Don't wait until the last weeks of the semester, or the last test, to become "concerned" - it will do no good.

Keep up with the reading. Read the chapters before the test is posted.

Studying for exams: 1). Reread the chapter. 2). Review the bold terms in the chapters as well as all figures: 3). Answer the review questions at the end of each chapter. (Repeat as needed.)