A member of the First Year Chemistry team will be available to answer questions in The Concept Room in the Chemistry Resource Centre.  If you have any questions, please come see us, we would be more than happy to assist you.

If you have an urgent matter that must be dealt with immediately, please contact the First-Year Chemistry Coordinator.

Lectures:

Lecture times are shown in the following table:

Laboratory Schedule:
The laboratory schedule can be accessed on the Bblearn site for the laboratory.

Your Lab Instructor will give further information concerning the running of the laboratories. The Lab Instructors are responsible for making all decisions concerning the running and grading of the laboratories. Queries concerning the laboratories should be directed to them.

We have made every effort to ensure that the laboratories occur after you have met the relevant material in class. Nevertheless, it is simply not possible to arrange every laboratory in such a manner. In those instances where the laboratories precede the classroom material, we have attempted to make the laboratory serve as an introduction to those particular classes. Hence, the lab manual contains detailed background sections designed to give you enough information to comprehend the aim of the experiment. These sections should all be read carefully, since many offer a different perspective on the material.

Missed Labs
If you miss a lab, you must email your lab instructor within 24 hours of the missed lab to schedule a make-up experiment. Your lab instructor will then email you a letter of permission to do a make-up lab at an agreed-upon time. Make-up experiments are to be done within 2 weeks of your missed lab. You must bring a copy of the letter of permission with you when you go to do the make-up lab. Students who do not bring the letter of permission with them will not be allowed to do the make-up lab. No student will be allowed to do a make-up after the last day of scheduled labs.

Lab Exemptions
Lab exemptions will be granted to those who have already completed the course and have a laboratory grade of 10/15 or better on the lab component of the course. Labs grades for lab exemption requests can only carry forward for one academic year. You must contact the first year lab coordinator in order to apply for a lab exemption. Labs exemptions will not automatically be granted.

Lab Manual/Notebook
You are required to purchase a laboratory manual. These are available from the Dalhousie University Bookstore for $22.00.  You also require a hardcover lab notebook.  These are available from the Dalhousie University Bookstore for $6.95.

Safety Glasses
Safety glasses with the standards numbers of: CSA-Z94-3 or ANSI Z87 are mandatory in all laboratories. They can be purchased from the Dalhousie University Bookstore for $4.95.

Lab Coats
Lab coats (100% cotton) are mandatory in all laboratories.  They can be purchased from the Dalhousie University Bookstore for $19.95.

Student Safety in the Undergraduate Laboratories
Chemicals and laboratory equipment can pose serious hazards if they are not treated with an appropriate amount of caution. As a chemistry student, part of your training involves understanding the hazards that are present within a chemistry laboratory and learning the measures that must be taken in order to maximize your safety and the safety of your peers.

As part of your chemistry laboratory class requirement, all students who did not take Chem 1011 in the Fall of 2014 must complete the chemistry safety module. This must be completed by 11:30 pm January 18, 2015. Students who do not successfully complete this requirement will not be allowed to perform experiments in any Dalhousie undergraduate chemistry laboratory. Successful completion of the Safety Module includes reading the General Safety Statement in your lab manual, obtaining a perfect mark (e.g., 10/10 or 12/12) on five online quizzes, and completing the lab map portion during your first lab time. After completion of these requirements you should feel comfortable working in a chemistry laboratory and have the tools you need to promote a safe laboratory environment. The Safety Module can be found on the Bblearn site: CHEM - Laboratory Safety Module - 2015 Winter

Prelab Exercises
A series of online prelab exercises have been developed on CAPA to help you prepare for the lab. The prelabs must be completed before coming to the lab. Prelabs are due 11:30 pm the evening before your scheduled laboratory session.

You must first register for CAPA before you can access these prelab exercises.  Please refer to Section 7 of this document for instructions on how to register for CAPA.

We have done our best to ensure that the prelab questions are free from errors.  However, if you do not agree with an answer or feel that you have not received the grade that you deserve, you can apply (in writing) for a grade adjustment to a prelab exercise.

To apply for a grade adjustment for a prelab question, select "Send Message" at the bottom of the page for the specific CAPA pre-lab question and explain why you feel your grade should be adjusted. Make sure the "Question about resource content" option is selected before sending your message.

Lab Protocol
Lab protocol is explained on pages 1-2 of the lab manual. This should be read before coming to your first laboratory.

We encourage you to come to The Concept Room for help to further your understanding of the material covered during class as well as help with the assignments.

Additional tutorials will be scheduled prior to the term tests and final exam.

Notices will be posted on Bblearn before the tutorial.

Registering for the online CAPA assignments :

You must register for the CAPA assignments at www.conceptsinchemistry.com. To register, select the red “LOGIN” button at the top of the page and then select the "Register for CAPA" option.

You will be prompted to provide your Dalhousie email address (e.g., XY123456@dal.ca) and your student id. Next, you will be asked to enter your net ID and password. This confirms your identity as a Dalhousie student. Next, you must select the chemistry course that you are registered in. To ensure that you receive credit for the assignments that you complete, be sure to register for General Chemistry (Chem 1011). Once your registration has been successfully processed, you will be taken to a confirmation screen, where you will be given a confirmation number for your registration. We recommend that you print this page for your records.

When you have been successfully enrolled in CAPA, your username for the CAPA assignments, along with instructions for accessing CAPA will be emailed to your Dalhousie email address.

Important Notes:

- The registration process will not work unless you use your Dalhousie email address.

- Do not leave the CAPA registration process to the last minute as you will not be granted extensions on assignments.

- If you experience any difficulties with the registration process, please email help@conceptsinchemistry.ca.

Accessing the online CAPA assignments :

The link for the CAPA assignments is located at www.conceptsinchemistry.com. To access the CAPA site, select the red "Login" button at the top of the page and then select "Dal Login".

Logging into CAPA for the First Time

Select the "forgot password" option on the CAPA login page. This will allow you to set your CAPA password.

You will be prompted to enter your CAPA username and email address. Enter the username that you were assigned in your confirmation email and your Dalhousie email address. Be sure to use the email address that was listed in your CAPA registration email. Once you have entered this information, you will be emailed a link to change your password.

Once your password is set, enter your username and password into the CAPA login page. You will be taken directly to the First Year Chemistry Assignments – 2014 Winter site. We encourage you to review the materials on this site. In particular, you will see the "CAPA Assignment Guide" folder, an "Online video tutorials catalogue" folder, and an "Assignments" folder.

Important Notes

- It is strongly recommended that you read the "CAPA Assignment Guide" before beginning the assignments.

- If you experience any difficulties with logging into CAPA, please email help@conceptsinchemistry.ca

Assignments

Throughout the term you will be required to complete 10 on-line assignments. You will be assigned a term-mark based on your best 9 results.

Practice Assignments:
Practice assignments are comprised of a representative set of questions from each assignment. They are available throughout the term and can be accessed an unlimited number of times. We encourage you to review the practice assignment before beginning the actual assignment.

Graded Assignments:
Each graded assignment is comprised of 10 questions. You will be given three tries at each question to obtain your desired grade. Note: You will only be given one try for True/False type questions.

We encourage you to refer to the Assignment Guide for tips on inputting your answers to the assignment questions.

The deadline for each assignment will be strictly adhered to, no exceptions. Consequently, make sure that you start early enough to enable you to get help with the questions that cause you difficulty. All assignments are available now.

The due dates for the assignments are summarized in the following table:

Applications for Grade Adjustments:
We have done our best to ensure that the assignment questions are free from errors.  However, if you do not agree with an answer or feel that you have not received the grade that you deserve, you can apply online for a grade adjustment to assignment questions.

To apply for a grade adjustment for an assignment question, select "Send Message" at the bottom of the page for the specific CAPA question and explain why you feel your grade should be adjusted.

Assignment DO’s and DON’Ts:

DO start your assignment early.

DO go to The Concept Room and The Resource Centre for help with assignment questions and class material.

DO discuss your assignments with your colleagues.  We encourage you to help each other further your understanding of the material.

DO use your textbook to help answer the questions.

DON’T do someone’s assignment for them or let them do it for you (this don’t is also regulated by the rules for Academic Honesty!).  The only way to develop your understanding of Chemistry is to work through the material yourself.

There will be TWO tests given during the term.

Missed Tests

If you miss the test, you MUST contact Patricia Laws within 24 hours of the missed test for further instructions . If appropriate documents (such as a medical certificate) are submitted to the First Year Chemistry Coordinator (Patricia Laws) in a timely manner, the missing term test will be replaced by the final exam mark.

1. In order to obtain a passing grade in Chem 1012, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• obtain at least a grade of 35/70 on the testing component of the course (i.e. on the combined test and final exam grades)
• obtain at least a grade of 7.5/15 on the lab component of the course
• obtain at least a total combined grade of 50/100 (other points will be acrued from the assignments).

Students who do not meet these criteria will not receive a passing grade in Chem 1012.

2. Under emergency circumstances that have a serious impact on the delivery of this class, there may be a need to alter the syllabus. It is each student's responsibility to notify the first year coordinators (Patricia Laws, Patricia.Laws@dal.ca; Jennifer MacDonald, jennifer.l.macdonald@dal.ca) regarding absences due to illness. For missed tests Patricia Laws must be contacted within 24 hours of the missed test or exam. For missed labs, please refer to the policy in the lab manual and contact Jennifer MacDonald.

The following sections on University Regulations are extracted from the undergraduate Calendar. http://ug.cal.dal.ca/UREG.htm#12

A university should be a model of intellectual honesty.  Failure to meet the University’s standards in this regard can result in an academic offence.  The length of time a student has attended university, the presence of a dishonest intent and other circumstances may all be relevant to the seriousness with which the matter is viewed.  Violations of intellectual honesty are offensive to the entire academic community, not just to the individual faculty member and students in whose class an offence occurs.  Instructors are responsible for setting examinations and assignments as part of the learning process and for evaluating those examinations and assignments, including ensuring that any rules stated for the procedures used in an examination or assignment are followed.  Any violation of such stated rules which could result in a student gaining advantage may be considered to be an academic offence.

Examples of Academic Offences

There are many possible forms of academic dishonesty.  Since it is not possible to list all instances of academic dishonesty, the following list of examples should be considered only as a guide.  The omission of a dishonest action from this list does not prevent the University from prosecuting an alleged instance of that action.

Plagiarism

Dalhousie University defines plagiarism as the submission or presentation of the work of another as if it were one’s own.  Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offence which may lead to the assignment of a failing grade, suspension or expulsion from the University.  If a penalty results in a student no longer meeting the requirements of a degree that has been awarded, the University may rescind that degree.
Some examples of plagiarism are: 

• Failure to attribute authorship when using a broad spectrum of sources such as written or oral work, computer codes/programs, artistic or architectural works, scientific projects,   performances, web page designs, graphical representations, diagrams, videos, and images;
  
  
• Downloading all or part of the work of another from the Internet and submitting as one’s own; and
  
  
• The use of a paper prepared by any person other than the individual claiming to be the author.

The University attaches great importance to the contribution of original thought to learning and scholarship.  It attaches equal importance to the appropriate acknowledgement of sources from which facts and opinions have been obtained.  The proper use of footnotes and other methods of acknowledgement vary from one field of study to another.  Failure to cite sources as required in the particular field of study in the preparation of essays, term papers and dissertations or theses may, in some cases, be considered to be plagiarism.  Students who are in any doubt about how to acknowledge sources should discuss the matter in advance with the faculty members for whom they are preparing assignments.  In many academic departments, written statements on matters of this kind are made available as a matter of routine or can be obtained on request.  Students may also take advantage of resources available through the Writing Centre at writingcentre.dal.ca or the Dalhousie Libraries at infolit.library.dal.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/.

Irregularities in the Presentation of Data from the Experiments, Field Studies, etc.

Academic research is based on the presentation of accurate information and data that are obtained honestly.  The falsification of data in reports, theses, dissertations and other presentations is a serious academic offence, equivalent in degree to plagiarism, for which the penalties may include the assignment of a failing grade, suspension or expulsion from the University or the withdrawal of a degree previously awarded.

Other Irregularities

A member of the University who attempts, or who assists any other person in an attempt, to fulfill, by irregular procedures, any requirements for a class, commits an academic offence and is subject to a penalty.  In the absence of specific approval from the instructor of a class, all students should assume that all assignments are to be completed independently, without any form of collaboration.  Students should take reasonable precautions to prevent other students from having access, without permission, to their tests, assignments, essays or term papers.  Thje following are some examples of irregular procedures.  The list should be used only as a guide since it is not possible to cover all situations that may be considered by the Senate Discipline Committee to be irregular.

• Writing an examination or test for someone else;
  
  
• Attempting to obtain or accepting assistance from any other person during an examination or test;
  
  
• During the time one is writing an examination or test, using or having in one’s possession, material that is not specifically approved by the Instructor,
  
  
• Without authorization, obtaining a copy of an examination or test, topic for an essay or paper, or other work;
  
  
• Without authorization from the faculty member in charge of that class, submitting any work for academic credit when one is not the sole author or creator;
  
  
• Without authorization submitting any work that has been previously accepted for academic credit in any other class in any degree, diploma or certificate program, or has been completed as part of employment within the University, for example, as research activity.  A repeated class is considered to be a separate class.

Aiding in the Commission of an Academic Offence

No student may encourage or aid another student in the commission of an academic offence, for example,

• By lending another student an assignment knowing that he or she may copy it for submission;
  
  
• By allowing another student to copy answers during an examination.

Misrepresentation

Any person who provides false or misleading information during an investigation of a suspected academic offence is guilty of an offence.