This welcome letter is designed to ensure that you enter the course prepared to begin learning, and to provide preview of some course policies.  Full course policies will be available in the course syllabus which will be available to you when the course is opened no later than the first day of courses. This welcome letter is subject to change before classes; last updated 11/11/21.

Instructor Information

Dr. Alexandra Kahane   

If you have any questions about the course before the semester starts, feel free to contact me via email: akahane@cuesta.edu  

Office Hours during the semester for helping students: TBD and by appointment

Welcome!

Welcome to Chem 212B Organic Chemistry II! I can’t wait to share my favorite part of chemistry with you.

Chemistry 212B is the second semester of a one-year course in the fundamental principles of organic chemistry.  You will be expanding your knowledge of reactions and mechanisms by examining ethers, epoxides, carboxylic acid derivatives, carbonyl compounds, and aromatic compounds, and learn how to use your knowledge to build molecules using multiple reactions. Nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy will be added to your spectroscopy tool kit and you'll learn how to deduce the structure of unknown molecules using only spectroscopy.  Some biochemical applications of organic chemistry (carbohydrates, proteins) will also be studied. 

Official Course Description: Chemistry 212B is the second semester of a one-year course in the fundamental principles of organic chemistry.  Includes the study of mechanisms and reactions of carbonyl compounds, acid derivatives, and aromatic compounds. Structure elucidation using spectroscopy, multi-step synthesis, and some biochemical applications of organic chemistry will be studied. 

Prerequisite: CHEM 212A Organic Chemistry I

Required Student Availability

This course requires students to be online on Wednesdays 2:30 - 3:50 pm, and attending in-person labs Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30-3:20 pm.  Do not register for this class if you cannot be available during these mandatory class times.

You are required to be available, electronically, for proctored quizzes and tests Wednesdays 2:30 - 3:50 pm. 

The lab portion of this class will be entirely in person.

About In-Person Labs...

If the County of San Luis Obispo's COVID situation worsens, I do reserve the right to convert some in-person labs to virtual labs in order to maintain a safe learning environment for everyone.

During the Fall 2021 semester, Chem 212A students had a hybrid lab experience.  I am excited to have you back in the lab full time this semester! However, we must do so safely.  It is important that you are aware of and understand the campus requirements for COVID safety outlined below.  I know that everyone wants to do the right thing, so this guidance will help us do just that. I don't expect there to be any issues, however, it's always good to know what to expect if needed. (I have also included the expectations of faculty so you know what you should expect from me.)

COVID Guidance and Expectations

All students and campus visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear proper face coverings indoors. This includes all public areas and shared spaces, classrooms, lounges, student spaces, computer labs, offices, conference rooms, library, labs and hallways. Face coverings must cover nose and mouth. Students not wearing a proper face covering will be asked to leave campus and may be subject to violation of Board Policy 5500 Standards of Conduct COVID-19 Temporary Addendum and Administrative Procedure 5520. Faculty have the authority to exclude a student from class and the following class meeting.

1. Expectations of students:
1. Students are expected to follow current health and safety protocols as directed by faculty, staff, and college officials.
2. Students that do not follow protocols may be required to leave public and instructional spaces.
3. Students who violate COVID-19 protocols may be disciplined through the Student Conduct Process.
4. For more information about expectations of students, refer to BP 5500, Standards of Conduct and the COVID-19 Temporary Addendum.
5. Everyone on campus must be Cleared4 Cuesta and be prepared to show their Cleared4 pass on campus at any time. The Cleared4 Cuesta pass is obtained by uploading proof of vaccination, or a weekly negative test result.

2. Expectations of faculty with in-person class meetings:
1. Faculty will inform students of the current health and safety protocols (i.e. by providing information or link to the college policies in a syllabus) and announcing updates during the term.
2. During instructional activities, faculty will make reasonable attempts to monitor student compliance with health protocols.
3. Students observed to be out of compliance with health protocols will be reminded to comply with such rules or warned that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.
4. Students with repeated or serious violations of health protocols should be reported via the COVID-19 Compliance Referral form (via Maxient). Faculty submitting COVID-19 referrals are encouraged to discuss the incident with their division chair.
5. Under the Educational Code and District policies, faculty can dismiss a student from the classroom if they are causing a disruption (like not following health and safety directions). Students may be dismissed for the subsequent class period as well. Faculty should submit a COVID-19 Compliance Referral or a Student Incident and Well-Being Concern Report form for any student dismissed from class.
6. COVID-19 Referral or Student Incident forms should be submitted within 3 business days of the incident.
7. Everyone on campus must be Cleared4 Cuesta and be prepared to show their Cleared4 pass on campus at any time. The Cleared4 Cuesta pass is obtained by uploading proof of vaccination, or a weekly negative test result. (See, this includes faculty too!)

The purpose of requiring masks is to keep you safe, not limit your access. If it is difficult for you to supply your own mask (unable to obtain disposable masks, limited access to launder cloth masks, or any reason at all), please email or message me via Canvas and I will make sure that you are supplied with a mask for lab when you need one.  

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

1. Predict the products and write the mechanisms of organic chemical reactions.
2. Propose multi-step syntheses using retrosynthetic analysis.
3. Deduce molecular structure and experimental product purity using spectroscopic techniques.
4. Safely perform organic chemistry lab experiments utilizing appropriate apparatus and glassware.

Distance Learning

Is Distance Learning Right for You?

Although taking chemistry via distance learning may seem intimidating, it doesn't have to be! This format requires self-motivation and some organization, but you absolutely CAN be successful taking this course online.  Before enrolling, I encourage you to make an honest assessment of your readiness by reviewing the checklist posted on the Is Online Education Right for You, and if needed, take the self-paced Cuesta College Canvas Tutorial and/or the Online Student Readiness Tutorials posted there.  You will be working on your own and teaching yourself with the help of computer software, internet forum discussion questions, and videos. You have to be proficient with and enjoy working with computers.  If you know or suspect that your unique learning style requires any individual accommodations, please contact Cuesta’s Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS) as soon as possible so that we can all work together to ensure that your learning needs are met without delays.  

What is the Expected Time Commitment for this Course?

This course includes three lecture units and two lab units.  Each week, this means that you will be spending approximately 15 hours on this course.  This time estimate includes working through three hours of lecture material, and six hours of doing lab activities.  In addition, six hours will be spent working on assignments, participating in discussions, working on practice problems, and preparing for quizzes/exams.  Some students may need additional time to achieve mastery.

Required Computer Equipment, Skills, and Course Materials

Computer Equipment Needed:

• Constant access to a reliable computer with a webcam, microphone, and modern software, and a reliable internet connection
  • Cuesta system requirements are listed on the Technical FAQs page
  • You may be required to use Honorlock (online proctoring system that requires Chrome browser) for quizzes/exams
  • You must have a backup plan in case your internet provider or computer goes down.  For issues related to accessing Cuesta's Canvas Site, email: support@my.cuesta.edu. 
• A phone will not be a sufficient device for you to access all course requirements
• Chromebooks Checkouts may be available for you to sign out for the semester from the Cuesta Library 
• You may need access to a scanner or scanner app (free phone apps include Genius Scan, Cam Scanner, etc).  
• Access to printer
  • The Open Innovation Lab has computers, scanners, copiers, printers, and more available for student use
• Headphones/ear buds will give you a better experience with Zoom meetings (office hours, tutoring, etc.)  Although they are not required, I do recommend using a pair.

Technology Skills Needed

• Using your my.cuesta.edu email account
• Using Canvas
• Downloading, printing, and uploading files
• Scanning a document as a pdf
• Taking a screenshot/"snip" on your computer
• Posting in discussions, watching videos
• The ability to participate in Zoom meetings
• Please note that assistance with basic computer skills is not provided as part of this course

Required Course Materials

Required: Safety Goggles for in-person lab meetings 

• • I recommend the UVEX Stealth, especially if you will be taking more chemistry courses after this course.  While these are available in the bookstore, they are overpriced! I recommend looking online for a better deal. 
  • If you want to purchase goggles that are not the UVEX Stealth before the semester begins from somewhere besides the bookstore, PLEASE contact me and check that they are acceptable. The goggles must be chemical splash goggles, indirect vent, with the appropriate certification (Z87+); do not purchase just any goggles.
  • Do not purchase safety glasses! They are not permitted.

Optional but recommended: A scientific, non-graphing, non-programmable calculator capable of scientific notation (EXP or EE key) and logarithms (LOG and 10^x keys). Note: you may not use your phone's calculator during quizzes and exams

• • Examples include the Texas Instruments TI-30Xa or TI-30XIIS and the Casio fx-115ES Plus models or similar (approximate cost $10)
  • We use the calculator for only one chapter, so if you do not already have one, consider signing a calculator out from the Cuesta Library.
  • The proctoring software we use includes an on-screen scientific calculator that you can use on quizzes and exams if you do not wish to purchase or sign out a calculator

Accessing the Course and Early Participation

The course will become available in Canvas no later than the first day of classes.  An email with login instructions will be sent to you my.cuesta.edu email prior to the first day of classes.  If you are not yet familiar with Canvas, you may find the Canvas Quick Reference for Students guide useful.  You must activate/login to your Canvas account and complete assignments that are due during the first week of classes.  Failure to complete these first assignments due the first week of classes may result in you being dropped from the course.  Accommodations will be made for any students that add during the second week.  I accommodate students from the waitlist (in order) as space allows, and I follow all policies and deadlines as noted in Cuesta's add policy, drop policy, and waitlist procedures.

Course Participation

All students in this class must work through the material at approximately the same pace so that they can help each other and participate in class discussions.  Therefore, it is important to keep up with the material and submit all assignments on time.  Discussion posts must be completed on time because if you submit a post late, you aren't really part of the discussion with the rest of the class. In addition to assigned discussion posts in Canvas modules, students are required to make at least 8 substantial posts (questions or answers) in the Piazza forum (linked from Canvas)  during the semester. Discussion/Piazza posts and replies should contain thoughtful, substantial information that adds to the discussion.  Replies such as "I agree", "Same here", or other unsubstantial replies will not count as posts.   

Late assignments (excluding discussion posts) will be penalized 10% for each day late for up to five days, after which the assignment will no longer be accepted for credit.  All students are required to start quizzes and exams at the same time and complete them all aspects during their time window.  If you have an illness or other serious issue that keeps you from keeping up with the material, contact me as soon as possible so that I can work with you on any possible accommodations.  

Since participation is important in this course, students must continually participate in order to stay in the class. Excessive absences (missing 2 labs, 2 quizzes, or 2 exams) or neglect of coursework (below 50% in the 3^rd week, or missing 50% of assignments or participation) may result in a drop.  Missing 3 or more lab experiments will result in a non-passing grade.

Academic Integrity & Honesty

The purpose of this course is for you to achieve mastery of organic chemistry concepts.  If you copy work from other sources (other students, the internet, your friend, etc.) for assignments, labs, quizzes, or exams, this will be detrimental to your understanding of the material and will make it less likely for you to succeed in this course and future courses.  Therefore, cheating will hurt you more than it will help.

Any form of falsely claiming work to be your own when it was not (copying off another quiz or lab report etc.) or sharing your work with others is considered cheating.  Academic dishonesty in any form, including plagiarism, copying, using the internet (such as google, Chegg, or other sites), or allowing another student to copy off of you is prohibited and will not be tolerated.  Do not copy anyone else's work!  This is not learning, it is cheating.  If you aren't sure how to answer a question, ask for help from me, a tutor, or a classmate via Piazza, but do not copy someone else's answer, and do not resort to google or Youtube.  There are many chemistry videos on Youtube with incorrect information.  If you violate the academic honesty policy, you may receive a “0” for the assignment AND an equivalent assignment, or an F for the course.  Please review Cuesta’s academic honesty policy and student code of conduct.

Contact

I will provide discussion forums for your to discuss the course with your peers as well as with me.  I can be reached via Canvas messaging (Inbox), which I regularly monitor.  I respond to asynchronous student questions typically within 24 hours (often much faster!), but definitely within 48 hours (although I may not respond during weekends).  I also will provide virtual office hours via Zoom.  There will be a link within the Canvas page that will take you to virtual office hours, the times of which will be announced once the term begins.

How to Get Help with Course Material

If it were easy to simply read the textbook and immediately know chemistry, no one would need to take this course! I am here to help you, and I encourage you to ask questions early and often.  A section of the course orientation module I have prepared for contains detailed resources for help including myself, free online tutoring through Net Tutor and free tutoring delivered via Zoom by the Student Success Centers. 

Technical Issues? 

For issues related to accessing Cuesta's Canvas Site, email: support@my.cuesta.edu. 

I look forward to meeting you online and in the lab soon!