Course Information:

Course Prefix and Number: EVR 1001

Course Title: Environmental Sustainability

CRN: 10588                         

Credit Hours: 3

Semester: Fall 2021

Class Days, Location, Time: Online

Course Description: This course covers basic ecological principles and applies them to environmental problems facing humans and other species living on the Earth. Varying definitions and approaches to sustainability will be addressed. Case studies will be presented that demonstrate the complexity of environmental problems on a local, national and global level. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of multidisciplinary approach to environmental problem-solving.

Instructor Information:

Name: Dr. Whitley Webb

E-Mail: webbw@lssc.edu

Office Location: Virtual

Phone: 407-494-5762

Office Hours: By Appointment or Wednesday from 12:00-3:00pm

Vital Communication Information:

For e-mail, please note that all students are required to use Lakehawk Mail for official college e-mail communications.  See the college webpage for instructions on activating Lakehawk Mail.

Sending a private message using the INBOX in Canvas is always the most secure method of contacting your instructor.

Please remember that any contact with your Instructor should be of a professional nature. If you leave a voice mail message be clear, concise, and include your contact and class information. Follow up verbal conversations with a written account via INBOX in Canvas or e-mail.

Prerequisites/Co-requisites:

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all developmental writing and reading courses indicated through placement testing.

Textbook & Other Course Materials:

Environmental Science & Sustainability (w/access code to InQuizitive)

Link to InQuizitive access code only: https://digital.wwnorton.com/environsci

$90.00 to $151.25

1. ISBN:9780393422108
2. Author:Sherman
3. Publisher: W. Norton & Company, Inc (Links to an external site.)

Technology Requirements:

Canvas is a required component of this course. Students unfamiliar with Canvas are expected to complete the Student Orientation course located in Canvas within the first week of classes.

See the LSSC Student Technology Help Desk web page (Links to an external site.) for more information on how to obtain Microsoft Office 365 as an LSSC student.

Students will be using InQuizitive to complete weekly homework. Students will need to purchase an access code to complete this homework.

Major writing assignments need to be created and saved in a file format that is compatible with Microsoft Word.  If using a word processing program other than Word, it is the student’s responsibility to adhere to all formatting and submission requirements. Please ask for help if you are unsure how to save a file in a Word-compatible format.

Course Student Learning Outcomes:

The following outcomes will be assessed in this course.  An “outcome” is defined as something students take with them beyond this course. After successful completion of this course, the student will…

Describe and identify components, assess and discuss results, as well as design (and/or implement) scientific experiments.

Critically evaluate qualitative and quantitative data, applying inductive reasoning to arrive at scientifically rational conclusions.

Demonstrate competency with the principles of the scientific method, as well as an appreciation for its purpose in obtaining results from a collection of carefully recorded objectively based observations representing the current level of knowledge as accepted by the scientific community.

Integrate basic concepts of chemical, physical, and biological processes into a cohesive awareness of the interrelationships that exist between them.

 

Course Objectives:

Objectives are defined as what the course will do and/or what the students will do as part of the course.

 Students will be asked to learn and demonstrate a knowledge of:

The ways in which organisms are dependent on each other and on their physical environment.

The importance of energy and biological diversity.

 Specific examples of current population and carrying capacity concerns.

 The economical, sociological, and ecological factors that combine to cause environmental problems.

Definitions and assessments of sustainability. Multidisciplinary approaches to environmental problem-solving.

Institutional Policies & Procedures:

Academic Integrity:

The successful functioning of the academic community demands honesty, which is the basis of respect for both ideas and persons. In the academic community, there is an ongoing assumption of academic integrity at all levels. There is the expectation that work will be independently thoughtful and responsible as to its sources of information and inspiration. Honesty is an appropriate consideration in other ways as well, including but not limited to the responsible use of library resources, responsible conduct in examinations, and the responsible use of the Internet. See the college catalog (Links to an external site.) for complete statement.

Important Information for Students with Disabilities:

Any student with a documented disability who requires assistance or academic accommodations should contact the Student Accessibility Services immediately to discuss eligibility. The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is located on the Leesburg Campus, but arrangements can be made to meet with a student on any campus. An appointment can be made by calling 352-365-3589 and specific information about SAS and potential services can be found at Student Accessibility Services (Links to an external site.).

Privacy Policy (FERPA):

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s education records.  In order for your information to be released, a form must be signed and, in your records, located in the Admissions/Registrar’s Office.

Zero-Tolerance for Violence Statement:

Lake-Sumter State College has a policy of zero tolerance for violence as stated in College Board Rule 2.17.  Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with Board Rule 2.17.

LSSC Safety Statement:

Lake-Sumter State College values the safety of all campus community members. If you have an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, to report a concern, suspicious activity, or to request a courtesy escort, call Campus Safety:

(352) 516-3795 Leesburg

(352) 536-2143 South Lake

(352) 303-7296 Sumter

 

LSSC also has a free safety app, Lake-Sumter Safe that is available for download. You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via LSSC Alert. You are opted into this system when you become an LSSC student. For more information regarding safety and to view available resources, visit Campus Safety (Links to an external site.) web page.

 

Attendance/Withdrawal Policies

Initial Attendance:

Initial attendance will be entered at the end of the second week of the semester/mini-mester.  A student who has not met initial attendance requirements will be marked as “not-attending” and administratively withdrawn from the class.  The withdrawn student is still financially responsible for the class. See the college catalog (Links to an external site.) for more details. 

Withdrawal:

Once the Add/Drop period passes, students deciding to discontinue class attendance and/or online participation have the responsibility for formal withdrawal by the withdrawal deadline.

Withdrawal Deadline:

11/01/2021

Instructor Policies:

This is an online course managed through Canvas. You must have access to the Internet to complete the course requirements. Your online attendance will be checked each week based on your participation in the course and submission of coursework. In the event of an extended absence, you should contact me via email or phone as soon as possible to indicate the reason. Students are expected to actively participate in online discussions and activities. This will affect your performance in this course (students who are actively involved in course material tend to be more successful). Be prepared to discuss all materials in each module: take notes while reading at home, complete all assigned tasks on the weekly schedule, and have at least one question or comment about assigned readings every module.

Late Work/Extensions:

A valid absence excuse is something that is unavoidable and makes it impossible to come to class such as serious illness, death of a loved one. If the excuse is foreseeable, arrangements should be made with the instructor before the date in question. Non-urgent appointments or vacation plans are not valid excuses. Students who have missed a lecture exam with a valid excuse (see above) and are requesting a make-up exam are required to provide documentation concerning absences. If a student misses a regular” class day, the student is responsible for the material covered or assignments made but does not need to explain their absence to the instructor.

Classroom Etiquette:

Students are expected to maintain proper decorum while online. Proper etiquette includes, but is not limited to, treating your fellow students with respect online, using appropriate language in all work submitted online, and acting the same way you would behave in a classroom – consider the digital classroom to be no different from the traditional classroom or professional workplace.

Grading Information:

Grading Scale: 

A 90-100%

B 80-89%

C 70-79%

D 60-69%

F 59% and below

 

Methods of Evaluation:

Students work will be evaluated on a points-based system. For discussions and certain assignments a rubric will be used.

Assignment Overview & Grade Breakdown:

Category	Description	Points or %
Lecture Test	Four lecture tests, 100 points each, and a metrics exam	500
Lecture Homework	Homework will be completed in InQuizitive	80
Discussions	Online discussions	80
Assignments	Infographic Assignment, Problem Set, Movie Worksheet, Water Activity and Air Quality Activity	340
Total points or %		1000

 

Course Calendar:

Week	Begins	Ends	Objectives & Reading Assignments	Items Due
1	08/23	08/28	Chapter 1: Environmental Science and Sustainability	Introduction Discussion
2	08/30	09/04	Chapter 2: Ethics, Economics, and Policy Chapter 3: Matter and Energy	Chapter 1 Homework
3	09/06	09/11	Chapter 4: Life Metrics	Chapters 2 and 3 Homework
4	09/13	09/18	Test Chapters 1-4 Chapter 5:Conservation Water Quality	Test 1 Chapter 4 Homework
5	09/20	09/25	Chapters 6: Human Population  Chapter 7: Water Metrics Exam	Chapter 5 Homework Metrics Exam
6	09/27	10/02	Chapter 8: Air	Chapters 6 and 7 Homework
7	10/04	10/09	Test 2 Chapters 5-8 Chapter 9: Land Water Quality Virtual Activity	Chapter 8 Homework Test 2
8	10/11	10/16	Chapters 11: Climate Chapter 13: Fossil Fuels Start Infographic assignment	Chapter 9 Homework
9	10/18	10/23	Chapter 14: Energy Alternatives Start Air Quality	Chapters 11 and 13 Homework Infographic Due
10	10/25	10/30	Catch Up Week	Lab Problem Set Due
11	11/01	11/06	Test 3 Chapters 9,11,13, and 14 Chapter 16: Urbanization	Chapter 14 Homework Test 3
12	11/08	11/13	Before the Flood Video	Video worksheet due Chapter 16 Homework
13	11/15	11/20	Chapter 18: Decision Making	None
14	11/22	11/27	Discussion	Chapter 18 Homework Discussion
15	11/29	12/04	Chapter 20: Government	None
16	12/06	12/08	Final Exam: Test 4 Chapters 16, 18, and 20	Test 4
Finals	12/06	12/08	Test 4	Test 4

 

Basic Needs Statement: 

Any student who faces challenges securing basic needs such as food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is encouraged to contact a campus dean at deanofstudents@lssc.edu. The deans will then be able to share any resources at their disposal.

 

Syllabus Disclaimer:

Information contained in this syllabus is, to the best knowledge of this instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed to students. The instructor reserves the right, acting within policies and procedures of Lake-Sumter State College, to make necessary changes in course content or instructional techniques with notification to students.