Course Syllabus

Review Session Information

Special Review of 320M/328M material (recorded) - Wednesday, January 11th, 6-8 PM, WEL 2.224. I will be leading this. We have found it helpful to hold a two-hour review at the beginning of the course to review first semester material, with an emphasis on exactly which first semester material is the most important as we begin second semester OChem.

Review Sessions - I will be leading these review sessions that are designed to help you as much as possible prepare for the exams.

Tuesday, February 7 Room: WCH 1.120 (recorded) 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Tuesday, March 7 Room: WCH 1.120 (recorded) 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Tuesday, April 11 Room: WCH 1.120 (recorded) 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Monday, April 24 Room: WCH 1.120 (recorded) 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Required Text Brown, Iverson, Anslyn and Foote, Organic Chemistry, 9th Edition, Cengage, the hardbound or the much cheaper eBook edition. This text is part of the Longhorn Textbook Access program, so you should already have access to it.

We will also be using a new Aktiv Learning homework system that will give you more opportunities to receive important feedback to help prepare you for the exams. Click on this link and follow the directions.

Course Prerequisites:

For CH320N: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Chemistry 320M, or 328M.

Recommended Materials:

Molecular Models. These often make the difference between an A or B and C or lower. No kidding, buy them if you don't already have them, even though they are overpriced.

Important additional Sources:

Selected old exams are posted on the web page.

Exam keys will also be posted on the course web page following the exams.

Homework: READ THIS

There will be Daily Quizzes following each lecture, due at 10 PM the day after the lecture. Your Daily Quizzes average will be 3% of your final course grade.

There will also be homework problem sets each week (except exam weeks). These will be a combination of electronic and written. Your homework average will be 10% of your final course grade. These homework problem sets will be assigned on Tuesday of each week, and will be due at 10 PM on Monday the following week. There will be an electronic component to some of the homeworks, and we will be using the Aktiv Learning system. You must sign up and pay for this system. We believe this will be WELL worth it to you because these electronic homeworks use the best structure drawing algorithm out there and will provide you with accurate and constant feedback that will improve your learning. Seriously, I would not ask you to use this system if I was not convinced it will help all of you a great deal. Click here to sign up for the Aktiv Learning homework system. The written portion of the homework problem sets will be uploaded using Gradescope (Gradescope is free to you) so you do not have to turn in a paper copy. Click here for how to use Gradescope.

The answers to the Gradescope Homework Problem Sets will be posted here each week so it is essential that you look these over. They will prepare you well for the exams. The Aktiv Learning homework provides multiple attempts and provides feedback. It is intended to help you prepare for the Gradescope Questions so we recommend you do the Aktiv Learning questions first.

At the beginning of the semester, we will grade many of the homework problems as if they were on an exam. We want you to become familiar with what is expected on exams. After the first three homeworks, we will only be grading based on effort. For these homeworks it will be up to you to check the accuracy of your answers against the answers we will post.

The second type of homework will involve book problems and reading that are assigned, but not collected. These will be listed at the bottom of the Rules of the Day for each lecture. Complete the assigned reading and problems before the next lecture to gain maximum benefit. These are extremely important, as the only way to master organic chemistry is to work many, many problems over the course of the semester.

E-mail Access: electron@cm.utexas.edu

There will be E-mail access (under "E-mail Us" on the web page) to us if you want to ask a question electronically. Be advised that during peak periods we may not be able to answer every question.

We will also be using the discussion function in Canvas to provide an opportunity for electronic forums. We will have more information about that soon.

Section Changes, Adds, and Drops:

All such business (involving either lecture or laboratory) will be handled during the first and second weeks of class by the undergraduate office personnel in Welch 2.212.

Exams:

Three mid-term exams will be given during the course of the semester. They will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 PM on the following days:

Thursday, February 9, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Rooms: WEL 1.308, WEL 1.316, WEL 3.502 Those of you with last names starting with the letters A-J report to WEL 1.308, those with last names starting with K-O report to WEL 1.316, those with last names starting with P-Z report to WEL 3.502.

Alternate Time (for excused changes only*): 300 - 6:00 PM, Room: POB 2.302 (POB is the Peter O'Donnell Building across Speedway from Welch Hall)

Students with Accommodations Room: Open from 4:00-10:00 PM, UTC 3.122

Thursday, March 9, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Rooms: WEL 1.308, WEL 1.316, WEL 3.502 Those of you with last names starting with the letters A-J report to WEL 1.308, those with last names starting with K-O report to WEL 1.316, those with last names starting with P-Z report to WEL 3.502.

Alternate Time (for excused changes only*): 300 - 6:00 PM, Room: POB 2.302 (POB is the Peter O'Donnell Building across Speedway from Welch Hall)

Students with Accommodations Room: Open from 4:00-10:00 PM, UTC 3.122

Thursday, April 13, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Rooms: WEL 1.308, WEL 1.316, WEL 3.502 Those of you with last names starting with the letters A-J report to WEL 1.308, those with last names starting with K-O report to WEL 1.316, those with last names starting with P-Z report to WEL 3.502.

Alternate Time (for excused changes only*): 3:00 - 6:00 PM, ROOM: BUR 228(NOTE THIS IS A DIFFERENT ROOM THAN THE LAST TWO MIDTERMS!)

Students with Accommodations Room: Open from 4:00-10:00 PM, UTC 3.122

*An excused change is one caused by a regularly scheduled (in the course schedule) class or lab class. NOT an organization meeting, music practice or a job. If you have any unexcused conflicts, it is up to you to arrange to be present at the mid term exams from 6-9 PM

Final Exam: Below are the times and locations for the final exam.

Uniform Exam Rooms, 3:30 - 6:30 PM, Monday May 1: WEL 1.308, WEL 1.316, WEL 2.224 Those of you with last names starting with the letters A-J report to WEL 1.308, those with last names starting with K-O report to WEL 1.316, those with last names starting with P-Z report to WEL 2.224.

Make-up Exam Room: 7:00 - 10:00 PM, Monday May 1: WEL 2.224

Students with Accommodations, the Final Exam room is: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Monday May 1: WAG 101

We will provide any necessary and reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities, including accommodations for all of the exams. If you qualify for testing accommodations, please get the required documentation from the Disability and Access office. Bring me the documentation after class or during my in-person office hours and I will give you all the information you need to schedule your exams through the Chemistry department office.

For students with accommodations registered with the Disability and Access office, on the day of the exam you can take the exam in the Chemistry department testing center anytime between 9 AM and 5 PM if that timing works for you. Click here to schedule those exams. If that timeframe does not work for you, then please come to the accommodation room listed above under each exam, which will be available starting at 4 PM on the night of the exam. That room will be distraction free and will be available until 10 PM with a proctor present. Please come see me after class if you have any questions.

Policy on Exam Coverage:

You will be responsible for all material covered up to the Tuesday lecture the week of each midterm unless I say otherwise in class. Also, the pace of the class can vary, so do not be concerned if we are not on the same schedule as descibed below under "proposed exam topics". The bottom line is that you are only responsible for the material covered in the Tuesday lecture the week of each midterm, NO MATTER WHAT THE SCHEDULE IN THE SYLLABUS SAYS ABOUT "UNITS" COVERED ON EACH MIDTERM.

Course Outline

The following schedule is only approximate, and subject to change during the semester. In other words, if we don't cover material before a test, it will not be on the test no matter what this schedule says.

Unit 1: MRI and Introduction to Organometallic Compounds.

Chapter 13 (only the MRI section)

Chapter 15

Unit 2: Introduction to Carbonyl Chemistry: Aldehydes and Ketones.

Chapter 16

Unit 3: Carbonyl Chemistry Continued: Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives.

Chapters 17,18

Unit 4:Formation of Carbon-Carbon Bonds with Carbonyl Compounds: Enolates

Chapter 19

Unit 5: Aromatic Compounds and Their Reactions

Chapters 20, 21, 22

Unit 6: Amines

Chapter 23

Unit 7: Carbon-carbon Bond Forming Reactions and Synthesis

Chapter 24, Selected sections

Unit 8: Biological Molecules: Lipids, Carbohydrates, Amino Acids and Nucleic Acids

Chapters 25-28, Various Sections

Proposed Exam Topics (Subject to Revision)

Mid-term Exam I: Units 1-2

Mid-term Exam II: Units 3-5

Mid-term Exam III: Units 6-8

Final Exam: All of the above.

What You Will Learn in Chem 320N

This course is designed around a simple idea. By the time a student has finished he or she should be able to look at a molecule and then predict how it will react under various conditions. In order to do this, you will learn about molecular three-dimensional structure and bonding, as well as the answer to the most important question in chemistry; where are the electrons? If you understand where electrons are located in three-dimensional space around a molecule, then you will be able to predict how that molecule will react under various conditions. Predicting reactions, based on a few fundamental principles, is vastly easier than trying to memorize all of the different reactions. Strive to understand and predict, not memorize and forget. A major difference between CH320M/CH328M and CH320N is that CH320N introduces many more ways to make carbon-carbon bonds, so the synthesis possibilities are a great deal more interesting!

In addition, you will be referred to the Golden Rules of Chemistry that explain almost everything you will learn about molecules in Organic Chemistry. Understanding the seven golden rules of chemistry will allow you to correctly predict the mechanism of a new reaction based on the relative energies of different possible reaction intermediates. You will also be able to predict which of the possible products will predominate. Finally, you will be able to make good guesses at the physical properties of new molecules, such as their solubities, stabilities, reactivites, relative boiling points or melting points, etc.

THE FIRST *POINT* OF THIS CLASS IS ORGANIC SYNTHESIS, NAMELY MAKING MOLECULES. Think Of Reactions As "Tools"

You will be presented with chemical "tools" that are nothing more than the reactants needed to turn one type of molecule into another. By the time you have finished, you will have a relatively large "tool" kit, and you will be able to devise rather complex schemes for making a desired product out of a given starting material. The best way to study for this part of the course is to construct a road map that shows all of the different types of molecules we will be discussing (alkenes, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, etc.), and how the different "tools" are used to interconvert them. This "Big Picture" type of analysis will help you better understand what is going on. The key to success in this course will be the quality of your roadmap. Remember, the "tools" are not to be simply memorized, you must also understand how they work. Otherwise, you will be devastated by too much to memorize, and you will not be able to apply these "tools" to important new situations! In other words, mechanisms are important and must be learned and understood because they provide the detailed understanding that allows you to predict regiochemistry, stereochemistry, and when the reaction might not work (rearrangement, etc.). The mechanisms are very similar to each other so they are not that hard.

Do not memorize mechanisms, understand them by always asking yourself "why" each step occurs the way it does. Hint: almost all the steps in the organic mechanisms from 320N can be viewed as a SIMPLE MULTIPLE CHOICE SITUATION in which you only have to choose from four different mechanistic elements: 1. Make a bond (between a nucleophile and an electrophile); 2. Break a bond (to make stable molecules or ions); 3. Add a proton; 4. Take away a proton. Understanding the answer to the most important question in chemistry, namely where the electrons are located in a molecule, will allow you to predict accurately which groups on molecules will act as an electron-rich nucleophile and which groups will act as an electron-poor electrophile in a reaction. You will then be able to predict reaction mechanisms and thus reactions. You will understand organic chemistry and how to use it to build molecules!

THE SECOND *POINT* OF THIS CLASS IS PREPARING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN SUBSEQUENT CLASSES THAT EXPLORE THE MOLECULES OF LIFE.

Many of you will pursue the medical sciences and you will be learning about the various different molecules of living cells, organisms and ultimately people. It is essential that you understand molecules, their properties and reactions well enough so that when you learn about the molecules of life they will already be familiar to you.

Attendance:

Organic Chemistry is a very hard subject and can only be mastered through very disciplined study. This means attendance at every class is among the minimum requirements for success. It will be virtually impossible to do well in this class if you do not attend the lectures faithfully. Successful students rely more on their lecture notes than the text, since the person giving the lectures is writing the exams. Okay, so I helped write the book as well, but you get the point.

How Can You Master Organic Chemistry?

Study the material every night, do all of the assigned problems and always try to relate new concepts and ideas to what you have already learned. Do not simply try to memorize the answers, in the hundred year history of Organic Chemistry classes, the memorization route has never, ever succeeded at the end of the semester, only the beginning when there is not that much to know. In the end, there are far too many things to memorize. You have to learn how things relate to each other, because then the whole picture is easy to remember. What is more, it becomes easy to figure out things you may have forgotten. Get behind at any time and you can kiss it good-bye....

How Should You Study Organic Chemistry? Click here to learn how best to study Organic Chemistry, and how to build the all-important roadmap for yourself. Learning how to study efficiently is perhaps the most important thing you could learn from this class.

*********TOP*SECRET***********

To get a good grade you must do well on the tests. Duh. Since I try to emphasize important material on the test, you should focus your study on the important material. What is the important material you ask ? That is easy. The "Rules of the Day" highlight the important material discussed each lecture. Make sure you thoroughly understand the rules of the day, and why they are important. Second, I will say when something is important by playing my trumpet or drawing a little key next to a 'key' concept. Always write down these cues and use them as a study guide so you can focus your study time on the important stuff, not the less important details. We are not in the business of trying to trick people; if we say it is important, chances are it will be on the test. IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE. (Of course this doesn't mean we can’t throw in a few mind benders to see how well you can apply what you know to new situations.)

How to Succeed in Chem. 320N

If you were happy with your grade in CH320M/CH328M: Keep up the good work!

If you were not satisfied with your grade in CH320M/CH328M: You will have to change something! Find someone in the class who received the grade you wanted last semester, and ask them what they did differently than you. If you do not approach this class differently, then the result will probably be the same. The following is a top twelve list of things you could change:

1. Never get behind, never get behind, never get behind

2. Strive to understand, not memorize the material

3. Come to class everyday and take great notes. Nothing can replace the human experience of lecture. We have analyzed attendance in previous semesters and those students coming to class averaged an entire course grade higher than those choosing to miss lecture. Your notes will be a primary study aid.

4. Do all of the homework. It is OK to work together in groups, but make sure you understand all the homework, every problem, every week. The entire course is built around you doing the homework so you are very comfortable with the material going into the exams!

5. Keep up with outlining your lecture notes and the book.

6. Keep up with updating your roadmap for each new reaction.

7. Understand, do not memorize mechanisms.

8. Practice predicting new reaction mechanisms, before you are told the mechanism.

9. Use the videotaped lectures to work through any parts of your lecture notes that are not clear.

10. Work through the old exams.

11. Never get behind, never get behind, never get behind.

12. Strive to understand, not memorize the material.

I wasn't kidding with the 12 tips above. For more detailed tips on how previous students have succeeded in my class please click here.

Grading:

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

3% is the Daily Quizzes total for the semester

10% is your Homework Grade (20% Akitiv Learning Grade / 80% Gradescope Grade) for the semester

52% is your highest two midterm scores (the higher of the raw percentage or T score). Each midterm is worth 26% of your final grade, we automatically drop the lowest of the three including cases in which you miss one.

35% is your score on the final (the higher of the raw percentage or T score).

Score .............................Letter Grade

93.0000 < T ...............................A

90.0000 < T < 93.0000 ..............A-

87.0000 < T < 90.0000 ..............B+

83.0000 < T < 87.0000 ..............B

80.0000 < T < 83.0000 ..............B-

77.0000 < T < 80.0000 ..............C+

73.0000 < T < 77.0000 ..............C

70.0000 < T < 73.0000 ..............C-

67.0000 < T < 70.0000 ..............D+

63.0000 < T < 67.0000 ..............D

60.0000 < T < 63.0000 ..............D-

T < 60.0000 ...............................F

NOTE: WE DO NOT ROUND SCORES. AN 89.92 IS ENTERED AS 89.92, N0T 90.00.

The scores earned on each of the exams in this course will be recorded as raw percentages and also converted to Standard T-Scores. The Standard T-Score is computed as follows:

T = [(x-X/s) •10] + 80

where:

x = your raw test score

X = the class mean score =Sigma x/N

N = number of test scores

s = standard deviation = [Sigma (x-X)²/(N-1)]^1/2

Using Standard T-Scores allows an effective averaging of grades without introducing a bias in favor of tests with the greatest standard deviations. Since it is based on a normal (Gaussian) distribution, it generally represents the fairest way of grading. (Nearly all national exams such as the SAT, MCAT, and GRE use a similar form of Standard T-Scores)

*****Important Notice****** In general, using T-scores increases everyone's grades compared to using absolute percentages. Nevertheless, we will keep track of your percentage scores on every test. If the percentage scores are ever higher than your T-score, we will use the percentage score for your course grade calculation. Thus, if everyone does extremely well in this course, no grade will be lowered by using a curving system!

Taken together, the mid-term examinations will count for 52% of the final course grade. Plan NOW to be present for these exams! During the semester, however, one exam may be missed for any reason whatsoever without penalty. If you take all three exams, we will automatically drop your lowest grade. Failure to take two mid-term exams will result in an automatic F (or, in the case of justifiable excuse, an X) being assigned in 320N. It is particularly important that students avoid any potential conflicts between these scheduled evening exams and any other activities such as laboratory classes. If unavoidable conflicts exist, please come see me immediately. Please note, I am sorry for any inconvenience these out of class three hour exams might cause, but we do things this way for your own protection because:

1) We can use rooms large enough to ensure no cheating is taking place during the exam.

2) The three hour format means we can administer tests that are comprehensive, yet do not have unreasonable time limits. Thus, you will have a chance to show what you know, not just how fast you can write.

Note that for the midterm exam grade that is dropped, the homework points for the weeks leading up to that exam do not count for any other exams. Also, for any exam for which you arrive after the official start time, you will only be allowed to enter the exam room is not a single student has already finished and left. BE ON TIME!!

The final exam, accounting for 35% of the course grade, will be comprehensive in its coverage of the material presented in Chemistry 320N. There will be no make-up exam for the final and it may not be taken at an alternative time for any reason. Specifically, failure to take the final exam at the scheduled time and place without an approved, documented excuse will automatically result in a failing grade being assigned for 320N. A documented, excused absence at the final will result in an Incomplete being assigned for the course. An example of a documented, excused absense is a note from a doctor that states you are physically UNABLE to attend the final. Simply not feeling your best is NOT considered to be an excused absence, as we all have days in which we are not feeling well but must take care of our responsibilities anyway. If you are up and walking around campus on the day of the final, you must take it. NO EXCEPTIONS.

LATE BREAKING NEWS: Because the most important thing to me is that you learn the material, not WHEN you learn the material, if you score higher on the final than two of your midterms, we will replace your second highest midterm grade with your grade on the final for your course grade calculation. Just to be clear, no matter what everyone needs to take the final and the grade you get on the final will count. However, there is no jeopardy here, if your grade on the final is lower than your two highest midterm grades then we will determine your course grade as stated in the syllabus using both midterm grades. In other words, this can only help you.

Academic Dishonesty:

Honor Code

"As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University and uphold academic integrity."

University Code of Conduct

"The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community."

Any violation of the above Honor Code that occurs during an exam or in the regrading process will result in a 0 being assigned for that exam and the student involved will be formally reported to the Dean of Students, where they will be subject to additional penalties or actions. The exam with the 0 will be automatically counted in the final grade calculation at the end of the semester.

To guard against altered exams being submitted for a regrade, we routinely copy a large number of exams following grading but prior to handing them back.

Regrades:

Exams can be turned in for regrades. Regrades must be submitted within 7 days after the exam is handed back. They can be handed the to myself or one of the TA's. You must indicate what problems need to be regraded, and provide a brief explanation for your concern. The entire exam will be regraded.

Exam rules:

The midterms and final are in-person only. You will not be allowed to have any reference materials or any other aids during the exams. Because of recent incidents, you will not be allowed to interact with your cell phone in any way during exams. No exceptions. Turn them off, or leave them at home. ***Interacting with a cell phone during an exam will be considered a violation of the Honor Code and will result in a 0 being recorded for your grade on the exam, no matter what you were actually doing with the phone.***

Incompletes:

A student is expected to complete a course, including a self-paced course, in a single semester, summer term, or summer session. If the course is not completed as expected, the student normally will not be given additional time to complete it, or allowed to do additional work to achieve a better grade. In rare instances, for nonacademic reasons and at the discretion of the instructor, a temporary delay of the final course grade, symbol X, may be recorded.

Approved uses of the symbol X. The symbol X is not issued for student or faculty convenience; it may be issued for one of the following reasons only in the case of compelling, nonacademic circumstances beyond the student's control.

Missing the final examination. The student is unable to take a final examination because of illness or for another nonacademic reason. A physician's statement or other satisfactory verification is required.

Incomplete classroom assignment. The student has not been able to complete the required class or laboratory assignments for a reason other than lack of adequate effort. A request for temporary delay of the final course grade because of incomplete class or laboratory work can be made only if the student has a passing average on the classwork or laboratory work already completed and has taken and passed the final examination (unless a final examination is not given in the course or the student is unable to take the examination for reasons indicated in the previous paragraph).

Reexamination petition. Only a student who has a grade average of at least C- on all classwork and laboratory work submitted before the final examination may request a temporary delay of the final course grade because he or she failed the final examination, which is the examination given during the final examination period as defined in the official examination schedule. If the instructor denies the student's reexamination petition, the student's final course grade remains as originally determined. If the instructor grants the petition, and the student earns a grade of at least C- on the reexamination, then the instructor substitutes the reexamination grade for the original examination grade in determining the student's final course grade. If the instructor grants the petition, and the student earns a grade on the reexamination of less than C-, then a final course grade of F must be recorded.

An incomplete (X) is a temporary delay in reporting the final course grade. An X may properly be assigned for students who must miss the final due to illness or other imperative nonacademic reasons. An X may also be given when the student has not been able to complete all the required assignments for reasons other than lack of diligence but only if the student has a passing grade on the work completed. Documentation of non-medical excuses will be required. In general it is best for students to see a counselor in their Dean's Office regarding non-medical excuses for missing the final. Just to be clear, you will be required to have a written medical excuse stating you are physically unable to attend the final signed by the person who treated you if the reason for the request for a postponed final is illness. Simply not feeling your best is NOT considered to be an excused absence, as we all have days in which we are not feeling well but must take care of our responsibilities anyway. If you are up and walking around campus on the day of the final, you must take it. NO EXCEPTIONS. Students have one long semester to make up an X and extensions are rare. After one long semester, the X converts to an F if no other grade is reported.

An X will not be assigned to allow the student an opportunity to repeat the entire course; the only assignments or exams that should be completed to resolve the X are those that were missed for legitimate reasons during the semester. In addition, the X should be assigned only if the student has been informed and the exact procedures by which the student will make up the work are agreed upon. The assignment of an X constitutes a contract between the student and the instructor. It is often helpful to have the arrangement in writing, specifying what the student is expected to do to complete the course, including due dates.

Drop dates:

Through the twelfth class day. From the first through the twelfth class day in a long-session semester, and from the first through the fourth class day in a summer term, a student may drop a class through the registration system. If the dropped class must be taken in conjunction with another class, the student must drop the second class as well. Each student should meet with his or her advisor before dropping a class. A class dropped during this period is deleted from the student's academic record. It does not count toward the six-drop limit.

From the thirteenth class day through the deadline to drop a class for academic reasons. From the thirteenth class day through the deadline to drop a class for academic reasons in a long-session semester, and from the fifth through the last class day in a summer term, a student may drop a class only with the approval of his or her dean. In some colleges and schools, the approval of the student's advisor is also required. If the student is allowed to drop, the class remains on the student's academic record with the symbol Q, which identifies a drop without academic penalty. In addition, the student's dean determines whether the student is dropping the class for an academic or a nonacademic reason. If the dean determines that the reason is academic, the drop is counted toward the six-drop limit described above.

After the deadline to drop a class for academic reasons. After the deadline to drop a class for academic reasons has passed, there are only two possible ways for a student to drop a class. One way is in the case of urgent, substantiated, nonacademic reasons, which must be approved by his or her dean. Approved nonacademic drops that occur during this period are not counted toward the six-drop limit described above. The other way is for the student to seek approval to use the One-Time-Exception. Approved One-Time-Exception (OTE) drops that occur during this period are counted toward the six-drop limit described above. To seek either type of drop within this period a student must submit the completed OTE form to the student's dean's office by the last class day.

Nonacademic Q-drop: After the last day for academic Q-drop students with substantiated nonacademic reasons (as determined by the Dean's Office) may be allowed to drop a course. Faculty will be asked to provide information on student performance up to the time of the nonacademic Q-drop request but are not responsible for making the decision about assigning a grade of Q. Please encourage students who experience significant nonacademic problems such as extended health-related problems or family emergencies to contact the Dean's Office.

One-time Exemption (OTE) Drop Policy: Students have the option once in their undergraduate degree to drop a class or drop out of all classes in a semester right up til the last class day. A student must submit the completed OTE form to the student's dean's office by the last class day. Any drop or withdrawal allowed under the OTE will be subject to the same academic and financial aid rules governing other drops or withdrawals taken during the semester. A student may not drop a class in which a final grade has been assigned. This will be verified by the student's dean's office. A student may not drop a class if there are any pending investigations of scholastic dishonesty for the class in question. Any drop assigned will not be considered final until any investigations of scholastic dishonesty for the class in question are resolved.
Drops allowed under the provisions of the OTE will be considered academic drops and will count toward the six-drop limit. Students who have reached the six-drop limit are not eligible to use the OTE to drop a course. Students who are requesting to use the OTE for a withdrawal will be allowed to withdraw regardless of current grades in classes. No instructors' signatures will be required on the form.
Pending scholastic dishonesty will be verified by the student's dean's office with the Dean of Students Office. Withdrawal will not be approved if there is a pending scholastic dishonesty case.

Courses Taken on a Pass/Fail Basis (CR/NC)

The University defines a D- as a passing grade for undergraduate students. The instructor is obliged to assign a grade of CR (Credit) for a student registered on a pass/fail basis who has a D- or better in the course. It is important that the roster indicate the student is registered for the course on a pass/fail basis. Otherwise, a letter grade must be assigned. There is a time limit for students to change courses from a grade basis to pass/fail basis and vice versa. During the long session, it is the same as the final deadline for drop/withdrawal for academic reasons. See the current academic calendar for the exact date. After that deadline, students should see a counselor in the Student Division of the Dean's Office of their college.

For majors within the College of Natural Sciences, the College has instituted a minimum C- standard of passing grades for courses in order to progress to subsequent courses. For example, a grade of C- in M408N (calculus-I) is required to progress to M408S (calculus-II). This minimum standard applies to graduation requirements as well (see +/- grading below).

Students with Disabilities:

The rights of students with disabilities are protected under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which are civil rights provisions aimed at ending discrimination against persons with disabilities. Section 504 specifically refers to post-secondary and vocational education services. The legislation reads: "No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." The University of Texas at Austin provides a wide variety of services to assist students with disabilities in becoming active members of the University community. These services vary according to the different types and severity of impairments.
The Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office of the Student Dean's Office is charged with assisting disabled students. They estimate that about 2000 students suffer from disabilities including mobility impairments, learning disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, ADD and ADHD, and others. By law, these students are guaranteed a learning environment with reasonable accommodation of their disability.

We will provide any necessary and reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities, including accommodations for all of the exams. In order to qualify for accommodations, you will need to contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/. They will supply the documentation and recomendations needed for us to provide appropriate exam accommodations. This documentation must be provided prior to the first midterm exam. Because we administer night midterm exams, students requiring extra time must be prepared to either come earlier or stay later than other students on exam nights.

Absences due to Athletics or other University Activities:

Any athlete competing for UT on an NCAA or club level team needs to notify me as soon as possible about any missed exams. Written documentation from the Athletic department will be required for accommodations to be given. An official team proctor must be provided to traveling team members by the athletic department, so that a copy of the exam can be administered outside of Austin at the same time as the students are taking the exam here. The sealed exam is then returned to me by the proctor, as soon as the team returns to Austin.

Religious Holy Days:

A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform me as far in advance of the absence as possible, so that arrangements can be made to complete an assignment or exam within a reasonable time after the absence. For reference, sections 51.911 and 51.925 of the Texas Education Code relate to absences by students and instructors for observance of religious holy days.