HO 250 – WOODY PLANTS: TREES

 

Fall 2006 – 3 Credits (2,3)

 

Instructors:    Dr. Peter R. Schaefer, SNP 201A, 688-4732

            Peter.Schaefer@sdstate.edu

            Office Hours: MW 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.; TTHF 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

 

            Ms. Kimberly Hilgers, SNP 254D, 688-5553

            Kimberly.Hilgers@sdstate.edu

                        Office Hours: MTW 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

 

Primary Texts:   Manual of Woody Plants – Michael A. Dirr

     New Pronouncing Dictionary of Plant Names - American Nurseryman

                             Trees for South Dakota - Ball and Graper

 

            Other Useful References:

            Course Webpage: http://hflp.sdstate.edu/HO%20250/index.htm

Textbook of Dendrology – Harlow, Harrar and White

            Trees of the Northern United States and Canada – Farrar

            Woody Plants in North America - a multimedia tutorial (CD) - Seiler, Peterson and Jensen

            HORTICOPIA (CD) - Horticopia Inc.

            Michael A. Dirr’s Photo Library of Woody Landscape Plants (CD)

            The Interactive Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, M.A. Dirr (CD)

           

Course Objectives:  

1)                  To learn nomenclature, identification and classification of major North American tree species, with particular emphasis on both native and exotic species hardy for the Northern Plains.

2)                  To learn general characteristics and geographic distribution of the above species.

3)                  To learn landscape and resource management use of the above species relative to inherent qualities, environmental factors and pests.

4)                  To learn identification methods appropriate to tree study elsewhere, and to become proficient in the identification and classification of tree species and selected varieties/cultivars present in the Brookings area.

 

Course Organization:  Two lectures, one lab per week.

Laboratories will be held outside at the McCrory Gardens, various locations on campus and in the city of Brookings for the first 9 weeks. Be prepared for rain or cold weather (Lab will not be cancelled). The remaining indoor labs will be devoted to the identification of twigs.

 

Study Hints:

This course requires at least 10 hours per week of your time (1 hour of study for every hour in lecture or lab).  This is the minimal commitment. Few students will have difficulty if they keep up. However, students who let things slide will encounter difficulty. Letting things slide is getting behind more than one lecture or lab in study. It is an excellent idea to study each assignment before lecture or lab. It is also a very good idea to team up with someone from another lab section to compare lab notes. This way you will be sure to get a complete set of notes.

 

Requirements

Required assignments for the course include three lecture exams, a comprehensive final exam, 11 lab quizzes and a twig ID exam.

 

Spelling

The correct spelling of botanical and common names is expected. 1/4 point will be deducted for each "minor" misspelling of a botanical or common name on all graded assignments. No credit will be given for "major" misspellings.

 

Grading: 

            Lecture            3 Exams (100 pts each)           = 300 points

                                    Final Exam                              = 200 points

           

            Lab                  11 Quizzes                              = 400 points

                                    Twig I.D. Exam                      = 100 points

           

            Total                                                                = 1000 points

 

Final grades will be based on the attainment of the following percentages:

              90 - A (900 Points)

              80 - B (800 Points)

              70 - C (700 Points)

              60 - D (600 Points)

<60 - F  (<600 Points)

 

Class Attendance:

Students are strongly encouraged to attend class. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES OR EXAMS, with the exception of documented cases of serious personal emergency/illness, and authorized absences resulting from participation in class trips or intercollegiate athletic competition. All planned absences must be excused in advance (contact the instructor!).

 

Freedom in learning.

Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should first contact the instructor of the course. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may contact the department head and/or dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

 

Accommodation for persons with a disability:

If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please inform the instructor of this course and make the appropriate arrangements with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). The Office of Disability Services is located in 110 West Hall. To schedule an appointment call (605) 688-4504.
Academic Dishonesty Policy:

 

It is unethical and unprofessional to present the work done by others in a manner that indicates that the student is presenting the material as his/her original ideas or work. The penalty for academic dishonesty may be one or more of the following, at the discretion of the instructor, and based on the seriousness of the situation.

 

Cheating, assisting others, or plagiarizing on tests, quizzes, problems, research papers, or other assignments will result in written notification to the student involved and the HFLP Department Head, and one or more of the following:

 

                1. a grade of zero on the test , quiz, homework, problem, or other assignment for the student(s) involved;

                2. a grade of F for the course;

                3. referral of the matter to the Student Conduct Committee for disciplinary action.

                    (The minimum sanction is disciplinary probation.)

 

Students have the right to appeal an academic dishonesty charge as outlined in the procedures below. No final course grades will be given until all avenues of appeal have been completed or the case resolved.

 

If repeated offenses occur, the matter will be automatically referred to the Student Conduct Committee.

 

Appeal and Notification Procedures

 

Notification:

 

1. When a student is determined to have broken the Academic Dishonesty Policy, that student will be

    notified in writing by the faculty member involved as to the problem and sanction that was selected. A

    copy of the written notification will be sent to the HFLP Department Head so a record to protect the

    student and the faculty member is established.

2. No written notification to others listed in this policy will occur until all avenues of appeals have been

    exhausted or the case resolved.

 

Appeals:

 

1. The student has the right to appeal the faculty member's decision. the informal appeal should be made

    directly (both orally and in writing) to the faculty member involved within 5 class days of notification or

    within 7 calendar days of notification if the incident is at the end of the semester. A copy of the written

    appeal will be sent to the Department Head so the record to protect the student and the faculty member is

    complete. A written summary of the results of the informal appeal will be sent to the Department Head

    by both the student and the faculty member.

2. The student may appeal to the Department Head if the appeal to the faculty member does not resolve the

    issue. this informal appeal should be made both orally and in writing within 7 calendar days after

    completion of the appeal to the faculty member. The Department Head will reach a decision and provide

    written notification of that decision to the individuals involved.

3. If the faculty member chooses to use the Student Conduct System as a sanction for the academic

    dishonesty incident, then the event will be sent directly to the Student Conduct System for a decision

    after the Department Head's review.

4. If the faculty member chooses a grade of zero on an assignment or a course grade of F, the student may

    appeal through the established SDSU Academic Dishonesty and Grade Appeal Process (contact Student

    Affairs or Vice-President for Academic Affairs Office to obtain proper procedures).

5. After all official appeal processes and/or conduct hearings have occurred and the student is still found to

    be in violation of this Policy, written notification will be sent by the Department Head to the academic

    advisor, the College or Administrative Dean and the parent or guardian if appropriate. The sanction

    identified by the instructor at the time of the incident will also be enacted.