Student Handbook

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

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.

Academic Dishonesty

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.  Consequences for academic dishonesty are detailed in the Student Handbook.

Policies and Pertinent Information

Other Policies and  Pertinent Information, Continued

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

There are no make-up exams, quizzes, reports, assignments, etc. in this course.  If a student misses any assignment, the student will receive an automatic zero.

Disruptive Behavior

A student who engages in any behavior or language in the 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.

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.

Cell Phones, Texting, and Outside Communication

Please silence all cell phones before class.  In cases of emergencies, you may answer your phone or a text, but please leave the classroom/lab environment to do so.  Texting and outside communication in the classroom and lab environments is prohibited.

Missing Classes

Each class is assigned participation points that students earn as a reward while attending.  Regardless of excuse, if a student misses a class, participation rewards for that lab cannot be earned, as the opportunity to earn them is during the scheduled class.  There are NO MAKE-UP classes.

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted for any reason. Computer problems are not an excuse for late work.  All assignments not turned in by the due date will be given a zero in the grade book.

Tobacco Products

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 with soap 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

It is the student’s responsibility to take notes during class, lab, and fieldtrips.  Bring a notebook that you can carry around and be able to access quickly.  The instructor will not remind students to take notes.

Web Browser

Take note that it is best to use FireFox or Chrome as your web browser when using CANVAS.

Extra Credit

Students are allowed to earn up to 20 extra credit points by attending seminars; each seminar counts for 10 points, so if you attend two seminars, you will earn the full amount of extra credit.  Please note that this assignment displays as "0" point in the gradebook; so when I enter 10 points for the grade, the 10 points are added with your other grades as extra credit. This is due by the end of Week 14 - late submissions will not be credited.

Curving Exams and Final Grades

Exams, assignments, and final grades are not curved in this course.

Lab Attire, Physical Nature of Activities, and Weather Factors

Be prepared to work in the heat, cold, and wet weather, if labs are scheduled for outdoors.  If the weather warrants a change in lab schedule, students will be notified by the instructor via an announcement or a note posted on the classroom door.  Check announcements before coming to class. 

Be sure to dress according to the expected weather and appropriately for the scheduled lab activities.  Wear sturdy shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.  Be aware that you will be on your knees, bending, digging, etc.  You may also need sunscreen, bug spray, and a hat.  Also, be sure to come prepared with water to drink.  There are no vending machines or water fountains near the gardens.

This class is more physically demanding than other college classes.  Some of the lab activities are strenuous in nature.  Please come prepared to carry heavy loads, to dig, to walk lengthy distances on occasion, to kneel, to use hand saws, etc.  This is not a lab where we consistently sit in a classroom.

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.

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:

• Three instances of tardiness (entering class late) will constitute one absence.
• Students who come late and leave early on the same class day will be counted absent. 
• Students arriving more than 15 minutes late for class will be counted as absent.

Note:  Students who come to class late need to make sure that they are counted as present on the roster; see instructor after class to have the roster updated.  If the student fails to have the roster updated, and there is no record of attendance, the student will be counted as absent.

The professor will not provide class notes to those who are absent.  Students are responsible for obtaining the missed materials and notes from a classmate, not from the professor.

Name of Chair:

Dr. Lisa Bellows, Department Chair, Science Division

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville – Science Building

Telephone Number:

(940) 668-7731x4346

E-mail Address:

lbellows@nctc.edu

Name of Dean:

Sara Flushe, Dean of Instruction

Campus/Office Location:

Gainesville – Instruction Building

Telephone Number:

(940) 668-3351

E-mail Address:

sflusche@nctc.edu

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 which cumulates 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.

Evaluation of Class and Instructor

I am open to receiving your comments, either positive or negative.  These help me to enrich this course and improve as a teacher.  Please feel free to see me, email me at ahartman@nctc.edu, or send me a note in the mail to the following address:  NCTC, ATTN: Ashley Hartman, 1525 West California Street, Gainesville, TX 76240.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan (one-celled) parasite known as 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. 

Facebook & Email Lists

I oftentimes take photographs during class and will post them to Facebook.  Please Like us at NCTC Agriculture to see posted pictures.

If you would like to join email lists to be notified about information regarding the Horticulture Certifications, Job Opportunities, or the NCTC Horticulture Club, please send me an email expressing interest. 

 Tentative Calendar

 Date

Topic

Week 1

Aug. 26

• Semester Set-up:  Introductions, Syllabus, Canvas Overview
• Semester Goals:  What do you want to learn from this course?
• Lecture: BASIC ORGANIC PRINCIPLES vs. CHEMICAL AGRICULTURE
• Helpful Reading Assignments: 
  • Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease: Pages 2-22
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pages 1-28 (Green Gardening), 300-302 (Heirloom Plants), 400-405 (Organic Gardening), 530-541 (Seed Starting & Seed Saving), 660-662 (Xeriscaping)
• Video Assignment:  Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Green-Ovating:  Sustainable Landscaping (topics: rainwater, native plants, green roofs, etc.) (SB472.45 S878 2010 DVD)
• Other:  Assign  Naturalistic Philosophies Report

Week 2

Sept. 2

• Sept. 2:  Labor Day Holiday – College closed and classes dismissed

Take Note

• Sept. 9:  Official Date of Record

Week 3

Sept. 9

• Lecture: THE LIVING SOIL
• Helpful Reading Assignments:
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pgs. 175-179 (Cover Crops), 180-182 (Crop Rotation), 381-385 (Mulch), 405-406 (Organic Matter), 462-464 (pH), 550-562 (Soil)
  • Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web. 2006. Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis. ISBN: 978-0-88192-777-1
• Lab: Soil Amending techniques (garden preparation styles: control, lasagna garden, etc.) & Mulch experiment
• Due Roundtable Research & Discussion:  Research Due Online Sept. 8.  Research what living soils are and how to create a living soil within the organic gardening system.  Find two credible sources on the subject, summarize the articles, and present the research during a class discussion.  See Canvas for Assignment

Week 4

Sept. 16

• Lecture: COMPOST, VERMICOMPOST & COMPOST MICROBIOLOGY
• Helpful Reading Assignments:
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening : Pgs. 154-163(Compost),  204-206 (Earthworms), 229-237 (Fertilizers), 371-372 (Manure)
  • Handout on Carbon sequestering on Canvas
• Lab:  Make vermicompost (to bring 1 qt. sized zip-bag of worm food, 1 newspaper, & cardboard), take and send off soil sample
• Video Assignment: Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Production Systems for a Backyard or Small Farm

Week 5

Sept. 23

• Fieldtrip #1
• Fieldtrip Report: Report due Sept. 29, 11:59 p.m. – submit in Canvas

Week 6

Sept. 30

• Lecture: WILDSCAPING & BIODIVERSITY
• Helpful Reading Assignments: 
  • Wasowski. Native Texas Plants: Pages xv-xxiv, 1-6, 33-40, 116-121
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pages 71-72 (Bats), 386-389 (Native Plants), 583-584 (Toads), 657-659 (Wildlife Gardening)
• Lab: Make compost tea and biochar, Inoculate cover crop seeds, & plant them, Certification for Wildscape
• Video Assignment:  Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm (DVD S 451 .V8 P659 2001)
• Other:  Exam Review

Week 7

Oct. 7

• Exam I
• Lecture: PERMACULTURE
• Helpful Reading Assignments:
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pgs. 442-444 (Permaculture)
• Lab: Examine soils under microscopes, Assign guild planting
• Video Assignment:  Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture: Farming with Nature (S494.5 .P47 S46 2008 DVD)

Week 8

Oct. 14

• Lecture: NATURAL WEED CONTROL
• Helpful Reading Assignments:
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pgs: 650-655 (Weeds)
• Lab:  Butterfly Tour and Asexual Propagation
• Video Assignment:  Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Ruth Stout’s Garden
• Other:  Review Exam Results, Last week to visit with Ashley about Hands-on portion of report, Naturalistic Philosophies Report Questions, Guild Planting Due & Presentations

Week 9

Oct. 21

• Fieldtrip #2
• Fieldtrip Report: Report due Oct. 27, 11:59 p.m. – submit in Canvas

Week 10

Oct. 28

• Naturalistic Philosophies Report Due
• Lecture: Naturalistic Philosophies Reports
• Lab: Hands-on component of Naturalistic Philosophies Reports

Take Note

• Nov. 1: Last day to drop a class with a “W”

Week 11

Nov. 4

• Lecture: Finish Naturalistic Philosophies Reports
• Lab: Hands-on component of Naturalistic Philosophies Reports
• Video Assignment:  Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Farmscaping: Advanced Tactics for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture DVD
• Other:  Exam Review

Week 12

Nov. 11

• Exam II
• Lecture: NATURAL PEST CONTROL
• Helpful Reading Assignments:
  • Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease: Pages 345-392
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pages 35-41 (Animal Pests), 80-84 (Beneficial Insects), 445-461 (Pests), 468-482 (Plant Diseases & Disorders)
• Lab: TBD based on Naturalistic Philosophy Reports
• Video Assignment:  Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Sustainable Green Farming & Living: Eco-farming/Organic Farming & Green Buildings for Green Living (S589.75 .S87 2010 DVD)

Week 13

Nov. 18

• Lecture: TBD based on if we need to catch up or GUEST SPEAKER
• Helpful Reading Assignments:
  • Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: Pgs:  206-215 (Edible Landscaping)
• Video Assignment: Watch the following video at the Library, and be prepared to discuss in class: Starting a Produce Farm (HD 57.7 .S737 2012 DVD)
• Lab: TBD
• Other:  Review Exam Results

Week 14

Nov. 25

• Fieldtrip #3
• Fieldtrip Report: Report due Dec. 1, 11:59 p.m. – submit in Canvas
• Extra Credit: Report due Dec. 1, 11:59 p.m. - submit in Canvas

Take Note

• Nov. 27-30: Thanksgiving Holiday – College Closed

Week 15

Dec. 2

• Lecture: TBD (Possible Guest Speaker)
• Lab: TBD
• Other:  Exam Review

Week 16

Dec. 9

• Exam III

Take Note

• December 13: Commencement Ceremonies