Course Syllabus

 

Sustainable Energy Resources Management

SER-201

MWF 10:00-10:55

Spring 2008

 

Iowa Lakes Community College

300 South 18th Street

Estherville, IA 51334

 

Instructor Name: Gary Phillips                                    

            Office No:  107A         

            Phone: (712)362-7364  

            Fax: (712) 362 8392

            Email: gphillips@iowalakes.edu

            Office Hours:  As posted on office door           

 

Catalog Description:   Sustainable Energy Resources Management is designed to introduce the concepts of natural resources management with an emphasis on sustainable energy resources.  Topics covered will include basic natural resources management practices; past, present, and future usage and demand of energy resources; the role of sustainable energy resources in current and future energy policies; and the management of sustainable energy resources.      

 

Prerequisites: None

 

Credits: Lecture (SER-201) – 3 credits

 

Text & Additional Materials: Energy – Its Use and the Environment, 4th edition by R. Hinrichs and M. Kleinbach.

 

Course Objectives:  The objectives of this course are to provide the student with knowledge of energy usage and demand and the role that sustainable energy resources will have in the national and global economy.  The student will become familiar with the economics of energy resources, energy policy, and the management of sustainable energy resources.

 

Course Competencies:  Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1.         Describe the concept of conservation.

2.         Define natural resources management.

3.         List the steps used in developing a management plan for a project.

4.         Describe the current state of technology used in managing natural resources.

5.         Outline the steps involved in the GIS process.

6.         List and define the various types of natural resources.

7.         Describe the basic management techniques  utilized in managing human populations

8.         Describe the relationship between geologic and ecologic concepts and natural resources management.

9.         Describe the global distribution of energy resources.

10.       Describe the concept of supply and demand as it applies to energy consumption.

11.       Describe the relationship between energy consumption. and economic development.

12.       List the primary nonrenewable energy resources and describe the point of depletion for each type.

13.       Define sustainability and describe its role in the development of future resource policies.

14.       Describe the relationship between sustainability and natural resources management.

15.       Describe the current and future roles that each of the following proven sustainable energy resources will have in providing usable energy; solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass.

16.       List and describe the major unproven energy resources that are currently being researched.

17.       Define energy conservation and describe its impact on energy usage.

18.       Describe the economic and environmental considerations of current energy policy.

19.       Outline the various future energy policy scenarios.

20.       Describe the strategies and policies used to manage energy demand.

21.       Outline the steps in conducting an energy audit.

22.       Describe the ethical implications of biomass as a component of future energy policy.

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Units of Instruction:  During the semester the following units will be covered:

1.           Basic natural resources management practices

2.           Past, present, and future usage and demand of energy resources

3.           Role of sustainable resources in current and future energy policies

4.           Management of sustainable energy resources

 

Methods of Instruction:  There are three hours of lecture, demonstrations, discussions, and Internet research assignments each week.  Guest speakers and field trips will also be included as part of the course instruction.

 

Attendance Policies:  Students are expected to attend class.  Attendance will be taken and used in the determination of the final course grade.  Each student will begin the semester with three sick leave/personal days which may be used as needed by the student for any illnesses or personal matters which may arise during the semester.  Course work or exams missed on those days may be made up if done so within three class days after the absence.  If more than three days are missed during the semester, make-up of course work or exams missed on those days will not be allowed.  In the case of an extended illness or personal emergency, the above policies may be modified if the circumstances warrant special consideration.  Days missed as a result of a school related activities (i.e. participation in course field trips, athletic events, etc.) will be considered as an excused absence only if a memo from the faculty member sponsoring the event is received by the instructor  prior to the absence.  If such a memo is not received, the absence will be considered as a missed class period.

 

Grading Policies:  Grading is determined by a percentage of total points for the semester.

 

            Scale:     A  =  90 to 100%

                           B  =  80 to 89%

                           C  =  70 to 79%

                           D  =  60 to 69%

                           F  =  Less than 60%

 

Four 1-hour tests of 100 points each will be given during the semester.  These tests will include multiple choice and essay questions.  Four quizzes of 10 points each will also be given during the semester.  These quizzes will consist of 10 multiple choice questions.  Class reports and projects will be assigned during the semester and will be graded on accuracy, completeness, proper format, neatness, and scientific knowledge.  A 100 point research paper is also required for this course.

 

Tests  =  400 points

Quizzes  =  40 points

Class Reports  =  180 points

Research Paper  =  100 points

Attendance = 80 points

TOTAL POINTS  =  800 points

 

Other Expectations:  Students are expected to arrive on time and have the necessary course materials and supplies required for the days activities. The usage of cell phones by students during class is prohibited.  Failure to abide with this policy may result in the ejection of the student from the classroom.  Students ejected from the classroom will also forfeit one of their sick leave/personal days as a result of violation of this policy.

 

 

Students must abide by all policies as stated in the

Iowa Lakes Community College Student Handbook


STUDENT ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

 

 Iowa Lakes Community College believes that personal integrity and academic honesty are fundamental to scholarship.  Iowa Lakes strives to create an environment where the dignity of each person is recognized and an atmosphere of mutual trust exists between instructors and students.  The faculty have confidence in the integrity of the students and encourage students to exercise good judgment in fulfilling this responsibility.

 

Actions contrary to academic integrity will not be tolerated.  Activities that have the effect or intention of interfering with learning or fair evaluation of a student’s work or performance are considered a breach of academic integrity.  Examples of such unacceptable activities include, but are not limited to:

·          Cheating (intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized material, assistance or study aids in my academic work).  For example, using a cheat sheet for a test, looking at another student’s paper during an exam, stealing or buying all or parts of an exam or paper, altering and resubmitting work for a better grade without prior approval to do so, etc.

·          Plagiarism (representing another’s ideas, words, expressions or data in writing or presentation without giving proper credit, failing to cite a reference or failing to use proper documentation, using works of another gained over the Internet and submitted as one’s own work).

·          Falsification and/or misrepresentation of data (submitting contrived or made-up information in any academic exercise).  For example, making up data, citing non-existent sources, etc.

·          Facilitating Academic Dishonesty (knowingly helping or attempting to help another violate any provision of the academic honesty policy).  For example, working together on a take-home exam or other assignment when the option has not been made available, giving a paper/assignment to another student for his/her use, etc.

·          Multiple Submissions (submitting, without prior approval from the instructor involved, any work submitted to fulfill academic requirements in another class).  For example, submitting the same paper for two different classes, etc.

·          Unfair Advantage (trying to gain unauthorized advantage over fellow students).  For example, gaining or facilitating unauthorized access to exam materials (past or present); interfering with another student’s efforts in an academic exercise; lying about the need for an extension on a paper or assignment; destroying, hiding, removing or keeping library materials, etc.

 

Disciplinary Action

Any violation of this policy will be treated as a serious matter.  The instructor has primary responsibility over classroom behavior and maintaining academic integrity.  Depending on the nature and severity of the offense, Iowa Lakes Community College reserves the right to exercise disciplinary action as outlined in the Disciplinary Action Section of the Student Handbook.

 

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Americans with Disabilities Act – Policy of Nondiscrimination

 

 It is Iowa Lakes Community College policy to not discriminate against qualified individuals with  disabilities and to provide reasonable accommodation(s), as required by law, to otherwise qualified applicants for admission or to students with disabilities in all education programs, activities, services and practices, including application procedures, admissions, course selection, the awarding of degrees, discipline and dismissal.  Educational opportunities will not be denied to an otherwise qualified application or student because of the need to make reasonable accommodation(s) or modification(s) for the physical and mental impairment(s) of any such individual.

 

Iowa Lakes Community College students needing reasonable accommodation(s) and/or modification(s) should contact Linda Helmers by phone at (712) 852-5216 or (712) 362-8364 or via email at lhelmers@iowlakes.edu.  To assure that accommodation(s) and/or modification(s) will be ready when classes start, students must make the request as soon as possible, before a semester begins.

 

It is the policy of Iowa Lakes Community College not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status or disability in its education programs, activities, or employment policies, as required by Titles VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

 

Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, or Section 504 may be directed to Kathy Muller, Human Resources, Iowa Lakes Community College, 19 S. Seventh Street, Estherville, IA 51334, telephone (712)362-0433; to the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Des Moines; or to the Director of the Region VII Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education, Kansas City, Missouri.