Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
Contact Information
N/A
Students will gain experience in:
Original scientific research methods.
Scientific literature research.
Research decision-making and problem solving.
Instrumental methods of data collection and analysis.
Oral and/or poster presentations and scientific writing.
This course addresses the following objectives in the chemistry major: (a) have an understanding of the principles of chemistry in relation to chemical and physical properties, chemical nomenclature, and chemical reactions; (b) be able to make calculations and solve problems (using computer technology when appropriate) in relation to items in (a); (c) be able to properly collect and record scientific data; (d) be able to setup and operate appropriate equipment and instrumentation relating to the chemistry discipline; (e) be able to appropriately analyze and interpret instrumental/experimental data; (f) be able to report findings in proper written and oral formats, using computer technology where appropriate; (g) retain and apply knowledge of chemistry throughout courses and the entire chemistry program at Wilmington College and after graduation.
.
Course Grades:
Grades for Research Participation will NOT be determined by the actual scientific outcome(s) of the research the students performed. Rather they will be determined mainly from the student’s effort put forth toward her/his research project, including the quality of the required assignments listed below. Students may determine their own research schedule (pending the instructor’s approval) and are expected to devote approximately 1 session (typically 1 hour) per week (per credit hour carried) to working on their project, as well as approximately 2 hours per week in work outside the classroom. Time is generally spent actively doing laboratory research; related activities such as library/literature research and the preparation of presentations may qualify as time spent working on the project outside the classroom. Also, the student should meet periodically with her/his research advisor to discuss any issues in the project or the course. The required assignments are as follows:
Work performed on project / Laboratory Notebook (70% of course grade).
Each student will keep a laboratory notebook, which will serve as the primary evidence / indicator for the amount of work, effort, and time devoted to the project/course. The laboratory notebook must detail of ALL laboratory work performed by the researcher, including items such as detailed experimental procedures, data, original or copied printouts of any instrumental data, as well as file names of electronically saved data. The style of the laboratory notebook is not specified but should follow accepted conventions. Notebooks that (1) are messy, (2) are missing varying amounts of experimental details/ data, or (3) show little evidence of proper work on the project (as described above) will result in a reduction of the students grade for the course. Notebooks which (1) are sufficiently neat and organized, (2) contain the proper amount of experimental details/data, and (3) show that the student has performed the appropriate amount of work for the course should receive full credit for this portion of the grade. Students should make sure that the pages of the notebook are appropriately dated to reflect when the work was done.
Unless otherwise directed, students must present their research notebook to their research instructor after each experimental session in the lab. In the absence of the instructor, another chemistry faculty member may sign. A signed notebook is proof of research activity (but not the only criterion) that will be used in determining a student’s grade. It is the student’s responsibility to get his/her research notebook signed in a timely manner.
In addition, the instructor will maintain a time-card or log, which will log the number/date/time of a student’s research sessions. To receive full credit for this portion of the grade, the student must complete at least 9 “sessions” of at least one hour (per credit hour) in the laboratory; sessions shorter than one hour may be combined. 10% of the course grade will be deducted for each session below 9 (e.g., 7 sessions = -20%).
Presentations (30% of course grade):
Each student will present the end-of-Semester results of her/his research by giving a final research presentation. Presentation grades will generally NOT be based on the actual outcomes of the experimental research, but rather the quality of the presentation (quality of visuals, quality of discussion, answers to questions, evidence that the student knows and has worked on the project). These final oral presentations will be given by research students near the end of the semester (at a date and time to be determined, usually during the last week of regular classes or Final Exam week). Students will prepare slides (using PowerPoint, presented electronically) of their research results and give an approximately 10-minute talk (including a Q&A session by the Chemistry faculty). Students will receive feedback on their final presentation. Students must submit a copy of this presentation to the instructor. SPECIAL NOTE: YOU MUST DO THE PRESENTATION TO PASS THE COURSE. Failure to do the presentation will result in an “F” for the course grade. (This does not mean that only doing the presentation will earn a passing grade.)
Dates/times/locations of the presentations are TBD.
Grade Scale:
A grade scale of A, B, C, D, or F will be used for the course (no +/- grades). Satisfactory completion of all the expected assignments and activities, with a demonstration of good quality work, is necessary to receive a grade of “A”. Failure to complete the presentation assignments satisfactorily may result in the deduction of up to 30% of the grade. Failure to work on the project for the requisite number of sessions and keep a laboratory notebook detailing the work done in those sessions may result in a deduction in the course grade proportional to the amount of work not completed.
A = 90% or higher; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = less than 60%
Instructor Course Policies
Students will conduct research at least one day per week for a minimum of 9 weeks during the semester. Specific dates and times shall be decided with the professor
Laboratory Safety
Students will abide be all standard laboratory safety rules, which include, but are not limited to the following:
- Protective eyewear (goggles or laboratory safety glasses with side shielding) must be worn in the laboratory at all times.
- Other protective gear, such as gloves, shields, and lab coats, are to be worn or used when the situation warrants. No open shoes may be worn in the laboratory.
- No food or drink should enter the lab or be consumed in the lab.
- Chemicals should be stored properly, with proper labeling.
- No unknown procedures are to be performed without consultation with the instructor. Students shall consult the instructor before leaving any experiment in the student’s absence (i.e. overnight, etc.).
- No laboratory work is to be performed without another person in the lab, and no work is to be performed without the knowledge and presence of a Chemistry faculty member (Mike, Dore, or Al) who is physically present on the 2nd floor of the CSA building.
- Any chemical spills must be immediately reported to the instructor or another qualified faculty member.
- Chemical spills on the body of a student are to be washed immediately (using appropriate safety equipment) and then reported to the instructor or another qualified faculty member as soon as possible.
- Any injury, including physical injuries and chemical burns, are to be immediately reported to the instructor or another qualified faculty member.
- Students must be familiar with the location and operation of the laboratory safety equipment (i.e. eyewash, safety shower, fire extinguisher, first aid kits, exits, etc.), and students MUST USE the proper laboratory safety equipment as the situation warrants, without need for any prior approval for use.
- All spills, broken glassware, etc. must be cleaned up immediately, following notification of and consultation with the instructor or another qualified faculty member. Broken glass is to be placed in the designated container, not the regular trash bin.
- Any damage to or malfunction of laboratory equipment shall be reported to the instructor or another Chemistry faculty member.
- Laboratory balances shall be maintained clean of chemical spills and contamination. Students must clean up any chemical spills on or near the balances (and must consult a faculty member if the hazards of the chemical are in question) .
- Students must maintain their work spaces and common work spaces in a proper, clean, and organized manner
- Students will abide by all directives from the Chemistry Faculty. Students will safely evacuate the laboratory space promptly in case of emergency (fire alarm, weather-related warning, etc.)
- Violations of these safety rules, including maintaining work spaces in a proper, clean, and organized manner, may result in grade deductions at the instructor’s discretion, based on the severity of the offence
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: SP26 Final Exam Schedule
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery Definition of Courses |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. Academic Integrity Policy |
Class Attendance Policy Institutional Class Attendance Policy |