Course Name & Number

Plant Diseases

HALT 1307-401

Semester & Year

Fall 2020

Semester Credit Hours

3

Lecture Hours

32

Lab Hours

32

Class Times

Asynchronous:  No required meeting times; 

Thursdays 2:00-4:00 suggested for WebEx meetings; subject to negotiation

Class Location 

Online only for Fall 2020

Course Description (NCTC Catalog)

HALT 1307 Plant Diseases: 3 credit hours

32 Lecture hours + 32 Laboratory hours

An overview of the factors causing plant diseases. Topics include physiological disorders, fungi, bacteria, viruses, mollicutes, nematodes, parasitic plants, nonpathogenic factors, and control methods. 

Course Prerequisites

None

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual /NCTC Catalog) At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to: 

1. Differentiate between pathogenic and non-pathogenic diseases 

2. Identify common plant disease symptoms

3. Recommend disease control measures

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Stephen Nystrand

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth--or online

Telephone Number:

(608) 772-2392 (texts welcome)

Email Address:

snystrand@nctc.edu

Course Type

Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core) 

Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

WECM Course 

INSTRUCTOR OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

12:00-2:00 PM, WebEx or by phone during quarantine

I am available by appointment outside Thursday afternoons.  Please call, text, or email me to find a time that works for your schedule. 

Last day to Withdraw with a “W”

November 2, 2020

Required or Recommended Class Materials

Textbook: 

What’s Wrong with My Plant (And How Do I Fix It)? by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth, 2009 edition

NCTC Bookstore: https://www.bkstr.com/nocentraltxcorinthstore/course-materials-results?shopBy=course&divisionDisplayName=&departmentDisplayName=HALT&courseDisplayName=1307§ionDisplayName=0401&programId=3051&termId=100065438

Other readings and videos will be posted on Canvas under Modules.  Sites that we will frequently use are Texas A&M University’s Texas Plant Disease Handbook, at https://plantdiseasehandbook.tamu.edu, and the American Phytopathological Society’s site at https://www.apsnet.org/Pages/default.aspx. 

Grading Policy and Procedures

Assignment Point Values

150 points

Participation—As this is an online class, participation is based on your online presence and contributions.  See the individual assignment descriptions below for more information. 

200 points

Weekly Disease Journal

150 points

Weekly Quizzes

300 points 

Exams (3 @ 100 points each)

200 points

Disease Report

=1000 points total

Grading scale:

895-1000 points = A 795-895 points = B 695-795 points = C 595-695 points = D 

<595 points = F

Grade Breakdown: Move the decimal place one space to the left on the grading scale above to calculate percentages.  Grades will NOT be curved.  

Disability Services (Office for Students with Disabilities) 

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc. Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self- advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify. If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321. Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville. 

Name of Chair:

Dr. Lisa Bellows, Department Chair, Science Division

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville—Science Building

Telephone Number:

(940) 668-7731 x4346

Email Address:

lbellows@nctc.edu

Name of Dean:

Sara Flusche, Dean of Instruction

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville—Instruction Building

Telephone Number:

(940) 668-3351

Email Address:

sflusche@nctc.edu

Attendance and Tardiness Policy

General NCTC Attendance Policy: 

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL) 

Course-Specific Attendance Policy:

This is an asynchronous online class. Attendance will be calculated based on online participation on discussion forums.  This is an important part of your grade.  Late posts will receive zero points (though you are welcome to make later contributions to discussions!)  If you do not make any posts for a week, you will be recorded as absent for that week.  For every three absences, the student’s final grade will drop by one letter. 

If you do not participate in online activities for a consecutive three weeks, you might be dropped from the CANVAS roster (blocked in CANVAS) and might be dropped from the class.

If you are having difficulties with Internet access that are affecting your ability to attend, please contact me to discuss the problem.  

Because the class is asynchronous, in-person tardiness is not an issue. 

Other Policies and Pertinent Information

Emailing the Instructor 

After the first week of class, all correspondence with the instructor should be done through the Canvas course mail system rather than through the NCTC email system. 

Missing Assignments

Make-up assignments may be allowed for reduced points on a case-by-case basis, with instructor consent.  Please contact the instructor with questions.  

Disruptive Behavior 

A student who engages in any behavior or language in the classroom—in this case, the online classroom--that intentionally or unintentionally disrupts the learning process will be asked to leave the class and may be reported to the Vice President of Instruction for disciplinary action. No garden trolls, please!

Grade and Attendance Records 

All grades and attendance/tardy records will be posted in Canvas and can be accessed at any time during the semester. If you see a problem or have a question, please contact me as soon as you can. 

Missing Classes

Each class—in this case, each weekly module and set of lessons-- is assigned participation points. If a student misses a class, participation cannot be earned. There are NO MAKE-UP participation points, though the materials will still be accessible on Canvas for your reference. 

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted. All assignments not turned in by the due date will be given a zero in the grade book. If you are having problems accessing the online class, please contact me as soon as you can to discuss a solution.  Computer problems are not generally an acceptable reason for late work.  

Tobacco Products 

This is an online class, and you can do whatever you want in the privacy of your home.  However, because this is Plant Diseases class, please review the following statement from NCTC Horticulture and consider its relevance for our course: 

Please do not bring tobacco products or any containers that might have tobacco byproducts in them into the classroom, the gardens, or the Gainesville Greenhouse. See Tobacco Free Campus Information Policy. If you do use tobacco products, always wash your hands withsoap and water before entering the greenhouse (Gainesville) or touching any plants.

Study and Preparation Time

This is a 3-hour credit class. In general, students should expect to spend 2-3 hours studying for each credit hour of a course. 

Notes

In general, it is the student’s responsibility to take notes during class, lab, and fieldtrips. In this online course you may take notes, or not, according to your study preferences.  You will have access at all times to the course online, but you may wish to make additional notes.  This is your choice and responsibility. 

Web Browser

Take note that it is best to use Firefox or Chrome as your browser when accessing Canvas. 

Extra Credit

There may be extra credit opportunities in this course, but none are currently determined.  Stay tuned for updates. 

Curving Exams and Final Grades

No grades whatsoever will be “curved” in this course.  You will earn your grades based on merit, not by comparison to your classmates. 

Lab Attire, Physical Nature of Activities, and Weather Factors

You may wear whatever you want while accessing this course online.  However, as a horticulture class with a lab element, you will have assignments requiring outdoor activity (your Disease Journals and Disease Report).  Be prepared to complete these assignments regardless of heat, cold, wet weather, insects, etc.  If you need to use any tools to collect or dissect specimens, use all appropriate caution. 

Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only poor choices of clothing.  

Receiving Communication from your Instructor

Students can receive instructor announcements via texts and/or to their personal email accounts. To activate this setting, go to your Canvas profile, and enter in how you would like to receive communications. 

Tobacco-free Campus Information

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, accumulates unsightly tobacco litter, and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second-hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at (940) 668- 4240. 

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan (one-celled parasite) Toxoplasma gondii. Dangers to an unborn child from toxoplasmosis include birth defects and fetal death. The disease can be passed to people through contact with cat feces, and exposure is possible through contact with contaminated soil. Pregnant women should wear gloves when gardening or working in soil or sand, as it may have been used by neighborhood cats and contain cat feces. Any foodstuffs from the garden (fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.) should be washed thoroughly before ingestion.