Immunobiology

Course Information

BIOS 423 Rice University Fall 2007 Novotny, Ph. D.

Prerequisites: BIOS 202 - 202 or permission

Text: Kuby Immunology, by Richard Goldsby, Thomas Kindt, Barbara Osbourne, 6^th edition, copyright 2007, W. H. Freeman, ISBN 0-7167-8590-0. Either bring your text to class or bring photocopies of the illustrations listed in the lecture outlines. A list of illustrations appears on the text web site, so you could also download those, print them in color, add them to your outlines, and write on them.

Course web site: www.owlnet.rice.edu/~bios423

Lecture outlines: The first lecture and course information will be available on paper copies. After that, all lecture outlines will be posted on the course web site, see above. As I will be rewriting these during the semester, the lecture for any one given day may not appear until the night before class, so check the site frequently. You should print out a copy (or bring the file in on your lap top) to cut down on your writer’s cramp during note-taking.

Course Objectives: Students will develop and demonstrate an understanding of the cellular, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms of immunity in mammals.

Methodology: This is a traditional lecture class. My job is to present the material as clearly and logically as possible and your job is to pay attention and ask questions if what I say doesn't make sense. You'd better ask questions, because that's the only way I can figure out what your prior interests include and can tailor the material accordingly.

Testing: Tests strictly cover material presented in lecture. There will be three hourly exams, each worth 100 points, and a comprehensive final, worth 150 points. Since you drop your lowest exam grade, your average is based on a total of 350 points. All exams are closed book by individual effort and have both multiple- choice questions and an extended essay. The ability to write coherent prose is a core requirement of this course.

Attendance: You are required to take two hourly exams and the final. If you ace

them, you ace the course, even if I wouldn't recognize you if I tripped over you in the quad. However, you are responsible for what goes on in class, whether or not it is included in the lecture outline. In my experience, most people who miss classes have problems. In particular, the first 20 minutes of class is the most important. That's when I give bonus quizzes (see below) and explain how to make sense of the coming lecture.

Last Day to Drop – Friday, November 2

Grading: The following point totals will guarantee the following solid letter grades.

A 90 - 100% 315 or more total points

B 80 - 89% 314 - 280 points

C 70 - 79% 279 - 245 points

D 60 - 69% 244 - 210 points

Manipulating the System: This course is not graded on a curve, although the cutoff points may be lowered slightly. Basically I don't believe in penalizing students for being surrounded by other good students or rewarding them for a semester spent with dunderheads. You can help your grade significantly, however, by acquiring bonus points. Friday classes will begin with a short quiz, composed of four or six multiple choice questions. If you get more than half the questions right, you get a point added on to your final total.

Occasionally I may also offer you a bonus point for attending an outside lecture, such as the Scientia series or the President’s Distinguished Lecturer. The is a link to these opportunities on the home page of the web site, another reason for pulling it up from time to time. Newly scheduled events and other important information will appear on the home page in red, so you won’t have to go clicking through everything to find changes and additions.

If you know of an outside lecture that you think would have some bearing on immunology or health and public policy, please let me know. These need to be on-campus, except in VERY unusual circumstances. You can only get credit for lecture everyone has a chance to attend and that means I have to approve it first and post the notice at least 48 hours in advance.

Exam Make-ups: Make-up exams are the bane of my existence. I intended the “drop your lowest grade” option to obviate the perpetual requests for make-ups and early exams that life’s complications seem to generate. Of course, you may use this option to get rid of a disappointing exam, but don’t count on it.

If illness or travel should force you to miss TWO exams, we can discuss whether it would be better for you to drop the course or to make up such a large amount of missing work. You will need to document that need have medical or required travel emergency. Doctors’ receipts and emails from your college master qualify as documentation. Possible make-up options include written and oral exams.

There are no make-ups for quizzes, except under unusual medical circumstances.

Stuff: Check the web site for back quizzes, information handouts and old exams. Because of copyright restrictions, I may not be able to post figures appearing on quizzes or exams.

Office Hours: I will hang around after each class for as long as you need me (but I’ll leave if no one is after me) and Mondays, 1:15 PM to 3:30 PM. You may also schedule personal appointments. My email addresses are novotnya@swbell.net and novotnya@bioc.rice.edu. I now have an office! I'm in George R. Brown W200E. This is in the second floor administrative suite in the back left-hand corner. I have a phone! ex. 3497. I will reserve a classroom for formal belp sessions prior to scheduled exams.

Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations needs to discuss his or her needs with during 
the first two weeks of class.  All discussions will remain confidential.  Students with disabilities will also need to contact Disability Support Services in the 
Lye Student Center. If, heaven forbid, as the semester wears on, you should be injured or have some other problem will impact your work in this class, 
please contact me at once to document the problem and let me know what you need.  In fairness to others in the Rice community, I can’t make special arrangements 
for any individuals without documented justification.

Letters of Recommendation: If you would like me to write you a letter of recommendation, submit your request (and prepare for a brief chat) at least 10 days before the letter must be mailed. I'll need a transcript, resume, stamped envelopes (or address labels and stamps, which looks cool on the Rice stationary) and your email address.

Typos in the text: Here's the link to the publishers corrections for chapter 2.

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