Historical Geology Lab Policies

Laboratory Class Policies

GOL 106 is an introductory course that focuses on the physical, chemical and biological materials and processes that have continuously transformed the surface of our home planet. After completing the course, students should be familiar with the cycles of energy and material that occur on Earth and with the evolution of Earth's surface and the life that dwells there. There are no prerequisites for enrollment.


lab meetings	9:00 to 11:50 am, Tuesdays, 391 Bisdorf.
cancellation	If inclement weather, or other emergency, causes cancellation of a lecture meeting, I will post an alternative assignment on my home page as quickly as possible. Official college closures are announced on the NOVA home page and at 703-323-3770 (or at 703-330-3770 in Prince William County).
attendance	All lab meetings are mandatory. The penalty for missing a lab meeting is the subtraction of one point (out of 100) from your final course grade. I will waive this rule only if you send me an email that provides a satisfactory reason for the absence.
electronic devices	You must obtain my prior permission before using any electronic device during lab meetings.
lab reports	A written report is due at the end of each lab meeting.
lab tests	There are two in-class lab tests, given at approximately equal intervals during the semester. If you miss a lab test, you must arrange with me to take a makeup test within one week.
field trip	A self-guided field trip to the Smithsonian Institution replaces one of the lab meetings. Following the trip, you must submit a written report listing your answers to a set of questions. In place of the Smithsonian trip, you may participate in one of my GOL 135 Sunday field trips.
cheating	The lab tests and the field trip report are *not* group activities. Each must by completed by the individual student working alone. I reserve the right to penalize anyone that I catch cheating. The minimum penalty is a zero grade for the test or report. The maximum is a zero for the lab portion of your GOL 106 grade.
late reports	I will penalize you for unexcused lateness in submitting lab or field trip reports. You will receive a grade of zero for any unsubmitted report.
lab grade	There are fourteen components of the lab grade. Each of the eleven lab reports represents 5% of the grade. The field trip report and the two tests represents 15% each. The lab grade is 40% of the whole grade for GOL 106. (The remaining 60% is the lecture grade.)
disability	If you require special accommodations because of a disability, you must submit appropriate documentation to the NOVA Counselor for Students With Disabilities. As soon as possible, give me a copy of the Accommodation Memorandum.