AGA 105 Crop and Soil Science

Office Hours
Mondays 11:00 – 3:00, Tuesdays 3:00 - 3:30, Also by appointment

Course Hours
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10:00 – 10:50 a.m., Karls Hall 101

Required Text

Waldren, Richard P. 2004. Introductory Crop Science. 5^th ed. Pearson Custom Publishing, Boston, MA.

Lecture notes, online resources and additional information will be available for download from the course website. I recommend you print off the resources on 8 ½ x 11 paper and organize them in a 3-ring binder.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will have a working knowledge of the principles and practices of crop and soil science.

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Attendance and Student Commitment Expected

You are expected to attend each lecture. Although attendance is not a part of your course grade, you should be aware that students who consistently miss classes tend to score one or two grade points lower than students who attend classes regularly.
If you miss a lecture, you are responsible for getting any material or information you missed.
In addition to regular attendance, you are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and activities.
When supplemental reading is assigned, be prepared to discuss the material on the specified dates.
You should seek clarification from me on unclear course material.
Students are prohibited by the university from using tobacco of any kind in class. Cell phones or pagers must be turned off and not answered or used during class.
You should be respectful of others in the class. If talking, noise or other problems disrupt class activities, those involved may be asked to leave class and will be required to visit with me before returning to the next class period.

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Assignments and Activities

Labs, worksheets or other activities may be assigned on a regular basis. All are due by the start of class on their announced due date. Emailed assignments will be accepted if I receive them by the due date and if you put AGA 105 ASSIGNMENT in the subject line of the message.
Any assignment turned in late loses ½ of its point value per day late.
No points will be awarded for any assignments turned in later than 1 week after the due date.
Assignments due during any “university-sanctioned excused absence” should be turned in before the absence, unless advance arrangements are made with me.
Assignments are graded and then returned as soon as possible, except for emailed assignments—I usually do not print off a copy of an emailed assignment to grade it; instead, I read the answers from the computer monitor and record a grade in the grade book. If you wish to know the score you earned on such an assignment, please contact me.

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This email assignment is due by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. You will earn 10 points by sending me an email message containing the following information:
- your name
- the email address you use regularly (I typically send information and announcements about the course via email on a regular basis)
- a statement that you have visited and looked through our course website
- your goals for taking the course
- Place the following in the subject line of the message: AGA 105 QUIZ

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Quizzes

We will have a short 10-point quiz at the start of most lecture periods. The quizzes could cover any information presented before that date.
The quizzes will be given during the first 5 minutes of the class period. If you arrive late for class and miss the quiz, you may not take the quiz.
Your lowest four quiz scores will be dropped at the end of the semester.
If you are absent when a quiz is given, you will receive a zero for that quiz and it will count as one of your dropped quiz scores. Please do not ask if you may make up the quiz.
I also reserve the right to give pop quizzes.

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Exams

Four regular exams and a comprehensive final exam are scheduled.
The fourth exam will be given on the same date as the comprehensive final.
Each lecture exam is worth 100 points. Exams will consist of a variety of questions, including multiple choice, true/false and matching. Exams usually have 100 questions, worth 1 point each.
Tentative dates for the exams are on the course schedule but are subject to change by a majority vote of members of the class.
If you miss one exam for any reason including illness or university-sanctioned events, your score for that exam will be the average of the scores you earn on the other three exams.
You will receive a 0 (zero) for any additional missed exam(s).

Grading

Grading will be based on the total points earned from the following requirements:

Exams, 100 points each	400
Final Exam, 100 points	100
Quizzes, ~ 250 points	~250
Assignments, 5 to 20 points each	?
Total Points	~750

Grading Scale: A = 90 %, B = 80%, C = 70%, D = 60%, F = < 60

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Prolonged Absence from Class

It is very important that you contact your instructors and the Dean of Students’ office if illness or other life circumstances make it difficult for you to attend class for a prolonged period.
Sometimes there are things that can be done to allow you to catch up and complete the course work, or take an incomplete grade to finish the course after the end of the semester (only if your absence occurs at the end of the course).
Other times, it may be very difficult to receive a passing grade due to prolonged absence, so it may be in your best interest to drop the course to avoid receiving an F.

Dropping the Class

It is your responsibility to understand the university’s procedure for dropping a class.
If you stop attending this class, but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will be financially obligated to pay for the class.
To drop a class any time after the first week of classes, you must complete and turn in a drop slip at an authorized registration center. You do not need to obtain any signatures on the drop slip. It does not need to be signed by your instructor, your advisor or department head.
If you wish to withdraw from the university (drop all your classes), contact the Registration Center in Carrington 320.
It is important to note that dropping a course or courses may affect your financial aid eligibility, so you should contact Student Financial Services for information on financial aid status.

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Academic Integrity

You are encouraged to study and interact with fellow classmates; however, all assignments, quizzes and exams must be your own, independent work.
Taking and giving assistance both constitute academic dishonesty and will result in a zero for the assignment, quiz or exam and notification of university authorities as required by university policy.
A second offense will result in a failing grade for the course.
In addition, in accordance with university policy, any student detected participating in any form of academic dishonesty in this course will be subject to sanctions as described in the Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library, in abbreviated form in the MSU Undergraduate Catalog, and at the following website: www.missouristate.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html. It is your responsibility to read and fully understand MSU’s Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures.

University Policy—Students with Disabilities

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 (voice); (417) 836-6792 (TTY) http://www.missouristate.edu/disability.
Students are required to provide documentation of disability to DS prior to receiving accommodations.
DS refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic (LDC).
The LDC also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. A fee is charged for testing.
For information, contact the LDC (417) 836-4787, http://www.missouristate.edu/contrib/ldc/.

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My Non-Discrimination Statement

I do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.

MSU Non-Discrimination Statement

MSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to Jana Long, Equal Opportunity Officer, Office of Human Resources, Carrington 128, (417) 836-4252. Concerns about discrimination can also be brought directly to your instructor’s attention or to the attention of your instructor’s department head.

MSU Academic Calendar

http://calendar.missouristate.edu/academic.asp

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