NSU - BIO -150 - Food Security - L00 - Syllabus

First lecture in NSU BIO-150 Food Security covering the syllabus.

1. Course Overview CLASS MEETINGS : Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 AM -11:30 AM in WSB 313 INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Stephen Via OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM , and by appointment INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION: Office – Woods Science Building RM 315 E-mail – [email protected] Phone – 757-823-0006

2. Course Overview This is the first semester the course is on offer. Hybrid Course - Combined Lecture and Lab (4 cr.) Start Class with Lecture Material and Finish with Activity. Each week we will cover a different topic but schedule will change as needed based on weather and class pace.

3. Course Overview COURSE DESCRIPTION (WHAT TO EXPECT): The University catalog describes this course as follows - Introduction to food security and environmental sustainability, how it affects us, and what we can do as individuals to address related issues. PREREQUISITES/CO-REQUISITES: None Textbook: Penniman, L. (2018). Farming while black: Soul fire farm's practical guide to liberation on the land . Chelsea Green Publishing. Crum, A. (2022). Food Security Handbook . Murphy & Moore Publishing.

4. Course Overview COURSE RATIONALE: Food security is a pressing global issue that affects millions of people around the world, and understanding it can provide insight into global economic, social, and political dynamics. As a multi-faceted issue, it incorporates elements of economics, agriculture, politics, environmental science, and public health encouraging you to think critically about the complex, interconnected systems that provide food globally and what steps you as an individual to can take to ensure food stability for yourself, your family, and your community. COURSE GOALS AND MEASURABLE INTENDED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Through this course we will investigate food security in the United State of America and learn what you can do to ensure food security for yourself on a small scale. This will include: What is food security and how does it affect you? How to propagate plants via sexual and asexual methods Sustainable urban agriculture practices Seed security and the importance of heirloom plant varieties Best practices to safely preserve and store foodstuffs How you can educate others in your community to perpetuate the spread of these skills

5. Syllabus Required Devices & Apps: You will need access to a tablet or laptop. Smartphones are helpful, but a computer or tablet is best. If you do not have one, please let me know immediately so I can connect you with resources from the university. Required apps are listed below: MS Office: https://www.office.com/ (Free to all NSU students) One Drive: https://www.office.com/ (Free to all NSU students) You will need to access NSU’s Blackboard site to communicate with the instructor and to retrieve class material. The site may be accessed via My NSU or by clicking the blackboard link found in the upper left-hand corner of the NSU web page. If you have questions, please contact the Help Desk at 823-8678 or send an email to [email protected] .

6. Syllabus PRIMARY METHOD(S) OF INSTRUCTION/METHODS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS Material will be delivered via hands on interactive activities. Modality will be in person unless a change is required by Federal, State, or University mandates. This class will utilize a variety of instructional methods. Students will be expected to read course material prior to coming to class and complete assignments on the material. In class we will work in groups and discuss topics together. Classroom discussion and interaction with your peers are a critical part of your learning process. During class you can expect me to ask questions of you directly and I strongly encourage you to ask questions of me. It is my goal for you to feel comfortable participating as an active learner. RELATED UNIVERSITY-WIDE AND COURSE-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS This course incorporates the following student competencies that are recognized by the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV): Critical thinking (required core competency) Information literacy (selected core competency) Scientific literacy (selected core competency)

7. Syllabus EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT METHODS   Class Participation/Attendance: Attendance in class is an integral part of your success and a percentage of your grade. Lecture material and activities will be the sole source of information from which assignments are derived and missing lecture will mean missing information you will be required to know. Homework/Assignments: There will be regularly occurring assignments in each module intended to help you practice the skills and knowledge gained in the lecture classroom. Every module will have two quizzes (a review and a retention quiz) and a discussion board. Other assignments may be included across various modules. The quizzes account for 40% of your overall grade and the other assignments an additional 50%. Completing work in each module accounts for 90% of your grade. Final Exam: There is only a single exam in this course a cumulative Final Exam. This is a accuracy based exam covering all of the material we will cover in the course and is worth 10% of the overall grade.

8. Grading

9. Syllabus Evaluation Criteria: Final grades will be determined by this percentage distribution & scale above. At the end of the course, I will look at overall effort & improving trends to determine whether any students with very borderline grades (within 1% of a grade change) deserve to have them raised. You can expect me to be as fair as possible. Incomplete grades: Incomplete grades are exceptionally rare an require us to follow strict university policy requirement. For more information, please read the university policy here: Administrative Policy #31-10 (2014) Incomplete Grade Removal Policy )]

10. Syllabus In-Person Courses The University expects students to attend all classes. While absences are discouraged, the University recognizes that, on occasion, students may have legitimate reasons for being absent. Thus, a student will be permitted one unexcused absence per semester credit hour or the number of times a given class meets per week. Once a student exceeds the number of allowed unexcused absences, an instructor may require an official University excuse. Not more than 20% of class meetings (excused and/or unexcused) may be missed by a student during a given semester. At the discretion of the instructor, a student whose absences exceed 20 percent of scheduled class meetings for the semester may receive a grade of "F" for the course. Students have the responsibility to confer with instructors regarding all absences or intended absences. If a sudden departure from the campus (for an emergency or extraordinary reason) prevents a student from communicating with each of his or her instructors, the student is expected to notify the Dean of Students Office within 48 hours. Class excuses are issued for legitimate reasons as deemed appropriate by the Dean of Students Office. Such reasons may include but are not limited to medical reasons, funerals for immediate family, and official University business/activity. Official written documentation may be required. Notes from relatives, friends, etc., are not accepted as “official” documentation for absences. The Dean of Students Office will determine if an absence is legitimate and if an excuse will be issued. Students who become ill are encouraged to report to the Student Health Center, located in Spartan Station, for “minor” medical treatment. A current NSU ID card must be presented prior to treatment. Written verification of illness issued by the Health Center should be carried to the Dean of Students Office, and an official University excuse should be obtained. Students residing in on-campus housing facilities are governed by the same policies and procedures as non-residential students insofar as class attendance and class excuses are concerned. Absence from Final Examinations If a student misses a final examination because of an emergency, he or she should notify the instructor within 48 hours after the examination was scheduled. Excuses for missing a final examination are issued by the Office of Student Services/Judicial Affairs only with the consent of the instructor. Such excuses are given only in extreme emergencies, and official, written documentation must be presented before an excuse is issued. Failure to follow the procedure outlined for absence from final examinations will result in a grade of "F" for the examination, and a final grade will be computed and given for the course.

11. Syllabus In keeping with its mission, the University seeks to prepare its students to be knowledgeable, forthright, and honest. It expects and requires academic honesty from all members of the University community. Academic honesty includes adherence to guidelines established by the University for the use of its libraries, computers, and other facilities. “Academic or academically related misconduct” includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized collaboration or use of external information during examinations, plagiarizing or representing another’s ideas as one’s own, furnishing false academic information to the University, falsely obtaining, distributing, using, or receiving test materials, obtaining or gaining unauthorized access to examinations or academic research materials, soliciting or offering unauthorized academic information or materials, improperly altering or inducing another to alter improperly any academic record, or engaging in any conduct which is intended or reasonably likely to confer upon one’s self or another an unfair advantage or unfair benefit respecting an academic matter. Additional information regarding academic or academically related misconduct, and disciplinary procedures and sanctions regarding such misconduct, may be obtained by consulting the Dean of Students website for the latest policies on student conduct at https://www.nsu.edu/Campus-Life/Services-Resources/Dean-of-Students/Student-Conduct .]

12. Syllabus STATEMENT ON THE USE OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TECHNOLOGY When used appropriately, generative AI can be an effective training tool to enhance learning. Generative AI produces new content from patterns learned from training data; it does not check for the veracity or accuracy of the input or output data. Although generative AI can be used as an effective learning tool, it should not replace students’ original work, critical thinking, or creativity. Generative AI platforms may be used as learning tools within defined contexts, but they cannot replace students' individual contributions. If you use generative AI tools, you must inform your instructor of this use and cite the contribution properly; otherwise, your actions will be considered academically dishonest and in violation of the NSU Code of Student Conduct.

13. Syllabus ACADEMIC & STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES A list of academic services and University services can be found on the Assist tab in the global navigation. Additionally, as an enrolled student at NSU, you have access to student software and services . Counseling Center: (Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.), 312 Student Services Center, Phone: [phone], http://www.nsu.edu/counselingcenter . Suicide Prevention Lifeline: [phone] NSU Campus Police: [phone] (emergency), [phone] (non-emergency) Spartan Health Center: Hours: 8am 5p.m., Monday – Friday, (Emergency “on-call services by phone), Walk-In Hours- 8am – 10am, Phone: [phone], https://nsuhealthcenter.com/ Spartan Food Pantry: Student Services Center, Suite 307 AND Residential Complex-North, First Floor, https://www.nsu.edu/Campus-Life/Services-and-Resources/Campus-Life-and-Diversity/Spartan-Food-Pantry-Program . Dr. Patricia Lynch Stith Student Success Center: Nursing and General Education Building, Suite 100, Phone: [phone], [email protected] , http://www.nsu.edu/Academics/Academic-Resources/PLSSSC . Student Support Services – Trio: Bowser Building, Rm 112. This federally funded program is for first generation, low-income and disabled students providing academic support to promote persistence, retention & graduation from NSU. http://www.nsu.edu/ssstrio , [phone]. Transfer Center: Student Services Ctr, Rm 109, Email: [email protected] , Phone: [phone]. Office of Accessibility Services and International Student Services (OASIS): (formerly Office of Disability Services), James A. Bowser Building, Suite 121, Office: [phone], https://www.nsu.edu/Campus-Life/Services-Resources/Disability-Services . Military Services and Veterans Affairs: New Student Services Center, Suite 109, Phone: [phone], [email protected] . Writing Center: Located on the first floor of the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library, the New Writing Center will provide individualized writing assistance to students across all disciplines. Phone: [phone], [email protected] ,

14. Syllabus SUCCESS TIPS How Can You Best Succeed in This Course? Scientific discoveries and the concepts that govern our understanding of how animals are structured and how they function are the result of the work of the community of scientists. This course is your invitation to join that community! You will achieve the greatest understanding of this material and the greatest enjoyment of it by participating actively in the process: work with your classmates to test your understanding of the material, engage in discussions, take advantage of my office hours and participate actively during the lab class. The most efficient way to study for this (or any course) is to set aside time EVERY WEEK to work with the material. It is best to set aside the same time every day (e.g, 7-9 PM every night). Doing this can entrain your brain to process the information you take in from specific courses. Every person is different, but I have learned that the top students in this course devote at least one hour per day to studying for this course (and more time prior to exams). What is the point of memorizing? Learning about a new subject is in many ways like learning a new language. It involves learning new words that describe unfamiliar processes, organisms, and structures. As with learning a new language, only when you have a basic vocabulary will you be able to appreciate the underlying structure and conceptual organization of a field of study. Once you have a basic vocabulary, you will be able to read the exciting literature in this field and discuss the implications of new findings with others. The basic vocabulary for this course will be the names of evolutionary processes, the structural components that make up animals and the organisms that are used to discover these processes. The best way to practice your new vocabulary is by using it! This means discussing concepts and their meanings with your colleagues during class, office/virtual chat hours and outside of class. You can't become proficient with a new language, scientific or otherwise, all by yourself!

15. Syllabus Diversity and Inclusion Statement Together, I would like for us to create a learning environment that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and experiences, and honors your identities (including race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, ability, etc.) To help accomplish this: If you have a name or set of pronouns that differ from those in your official NSU records, please let me know! You can also include these in your profile in Blackboard. I will show you how. If you feel your performance in the class is being impacted by your experiences outside of class, please don't hesitate to talk with me. I can connect you with lots of great resources on campus. If you prefer to speak with someone outside of the course, Jocelyn Dean, Interim Dean of Students, is an excellent resource: [email protected] . I (like many people) am still in the process of learning about diverse perspectives and identities. If something was said in class/lab (by myself or anyone) that made you feel uncomfortable, please talk to me about it. (Again, anonymous feedback is always an option).   It is imperative that we develop an atmosphere of trust and safety. I will attempt to foster an environment in which each of you is able to hear and respect each other. Please be respectful of others' emotions and be mindful of your own. Please let me know if something said or done in the lab, by either myself or other students, is particularly troubling or causes discomfort or offense. While our intention may not be to cause discomfort or offense, the impact of what happens throughout the course is not to be ignored and is something that I consider to be very important and deserving of attention.

16. Syllabus Acknowledgement of Historic Scientific Bias In an ideal world, science would be objective. However, science does not exist in an ideal world. Historically many scientific discoveries were made or attributed to a small subset of Western European white men who had access to power, privilege and resources. Being human, they are inherently subjective and have a certain world view. I acknowledge that the textbook for our lecture course was written by all white authors, primarily men; colloquially referred to in the scientific community as “Old Dead White Guys”. Furthermore, the lecture course often focuses on historically important discoveries which were mostly attributed to white men. As such, I acknowledge that there may be both overt and covert biases in the material due to the lens with which it was written, even though the material is primarily of a scientific nature. Integrating a diverse set of experiences is important for a more comprehensive understanding of science. Please contact me (in person or electronically) or submit anonymous feedback if you have any suggestions to improve the quality of the course materials.

17. Week Week 0f… Lecture Topic/Weekly Activity Activity 1 20-Jan Syllabus and Course Overview What does it mean to be food secure? Tower Garden Planting 2 27-Jan Food Insecurity in America Fungi Propagation 3 03-Feb Common practices to improve food security Seed Starting 4 10-Feb Focus on Plants Plant Morphology and Identification Vegetative Propagation 5 17-Feb Gardening 101 Seed Saving and Storage 6 24-Feb Focus on Fungi Fungi Harvest 7 03-Mar Soilless Agriculture DIY-ponic system 8 10-Mar Urban Agriculture Greenhouse Tour 9 17-Mar No Class Spring Break 10 24-Mar Multiuse Practices Garden Plantings 11 31-Mar Preservation and Storage of Crops I Drying and Fermenting 12 07-Apr Preservation and Storage of Crops II The Science of Canning 13 14-Apr Reduce, Reuse, and Compost Upcycling and Composting 14 21-Apr Specialized Equipment Upscaling Production Garden Plantings 15 28-Apr The True Cost of Food Security  

18. Illness If you feel unwell – stay home I will stream lecture If you have a fever – definitely stay home because you are actively contagious with something I will stream lecture

19. Just to be clear You are not required to tell me ANYTHING to get an absence excused or an assignment modified for health, family, personal reasons. Go through the Dean of Students office. Your life is your business and you do not have to divulge any of it to your profs. That being said, you can talk to me about anything regarding attendance, conduct, or work should you feel comfortable doing so. While I may not be at my desk much I am always online and happy to talk through anything to help you.

20. With that said….be patient with me as well As much as I am understanding and flexible with you for your needs I request the same courtesy in return I can get sick My son/wife can get sick Our babysitter could get sick Any of the above could have to go into quarantine Be prepared to pivot at any time Work /lectures may be delayed or modified as needed Extensions will of course be given should this happen

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