COURSE SCHEDULE and SYLLABUS
~~~ 2016 COURSE SCHEDULE ~~~~
Week 1 ♦-♦-♦ Jan 13 ♦-♦-♦ Range Science and Range Management
Week 2-5 ♦-♦-♦ Jan 20–Feb 10 ♦-♦-♦ The Basics: Plant-Animal Interactions
» Effects of grazing and fire on plants
» Nutritional ecology of grazing animals
Test 1- Wednesday, February 10
Week 6-9 ♦-♦-♦ Feb 17–March 09 ♦-♦-♦ Managing Disturbances
» Setting an appropriate stocking rate
» Selecting season and system of grazing
» Animal behavior and habitat selection
Test 2 – Wednesday, March 09
March 13-19 Spring Break
Week 10-13 ♦-♦-♦ Mar. 21–April 11 ♦-♦-♦ Integrating and Managing Rangeland Uses & Values
» Wildlife-Livestock Interactions
» Managing Wildlife Habitat
» Managing Riparian Areas
» Wildland Fire & Grazing Interactions
» Grazing Effects on Watershed
» Invasive Exotics… Integrated Weed Management
» Forest & Orchard Grazing
» Recreation Impacts and Management
» Effects of Removing Livestock
Test 3- Monday, April 11
Field trip ~~~Choose 1 Field Trip of two options:
– Wednesday (April 13) through Saturday (April 16)
— or —
–Wednesday (April 20) through Saturday (April 23)
Week 15 -16 ♦-♦-♦ April 25–May 11 ♦-♦-♦ Putting It All Together
» Integrating Resource Plans
» Including “The Public”
» Economic consideration
Oral Project Report in class on May 4
Final Written Project due Friday, May 13
~~~ 2016 SYLLABUS~~~~
(Click here for a Printable Copy of Syllabus)
CLASS ABSENCE: If you are unable to attend class and do not want to miss pop quizzes or assignment, let me know by clicking here and completing form before your absence, and I will provide an appropriate alternative or waive the requirement. If you don’t let me know in advance that you are going to miss class,Youtub you will get a 0 for any quiz or assignment on that day.
TEXTBOOK and READINGS: No textbook is required. However, I could suggest several if you would like a reference text. The course will have required readings that will be available on-line or e-mailed to you.
TESTS: Three tests will be given during the semester. Each test covers a specific section of the semester, though information from previous sections will be necessary to understand and address questions in subsequent tests. Test questions will be short answer, essay, and problems. Test 1 (Feb 10) will be closed book individual, Test 2 (March 09) will be closed book with a partner, and Test 3 (April 11) will be open book individually. Please take the tests when they are scheduled. If you cannot take the test when scheduled, you must submit a written request before the test.
RANGELAND APPLICATIONS: During the semester, you will be asked to complete in-class assignments that will focus on applying principles discussed in class to real world challenges, controversies, and contemporary issues. These assignments may be individual or group assignments and they may be written or oral. One Rangeland Application assignment will be given in class every week except weeks when there is a test to total 8 assignments for 5 points each.
FIELD TRIP: A field trip fee was paid as part of this class, and the field trip is required. We will conduct two field trips in the semester: Trips are planned for Wednesday through Saturday April 13-16 and April 20-23. You will be able to attend a trip of your choice, must attend one trip, and should attend only one trip. The first trip will be to Burns, OR and the second will be to Arco, ID.
ESD (Ecological Site Description) STOCKING RATE PROJECT: You will do a spatial analysis of an area using the USDA Web Soil Survey. The project will include using GIS data and site description data to set an initial stocking rate for an area. Due Friday, February 26th.
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) PROJECT: Each student will complete the online “NEPA Concepts” modules 1 & 2 presented on-line at DOI learn. An investigation report of individual NEPA projects will due on Friday, March 25 Monday, April 4th (revised date). Click here to view assignment.
INTEGRATED PLANNING PROJECT: Teams of students will summarize specific challenges related to livestock grazing, wildlife, fire, weed, water quality, and recreation that were observed on the field trip. The project occurs in 3 phases: 1) problem identification (10 points – due on April 29), 2) Oral Report of Project (10 points – due on May 4), and 3) Problem with Solution (80 points – due on May 13). The key element will be to determine how management plans directed to one resource/issue affect other resources/issues.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS OR TESTS: Unless otherwise specified, I will accept late assignments or tests with a late penalty: Minus 25% for up to 1 week late; Minus 50% after 1 week following schedule date for submission.
EVALUATION SCHEDULE: (Total Points for Semester = 520)
Assignment Date
Test 1 February 10 100 pts
Test 2 March 9 100 pts
Test 3 April 11 100 pts
ESD Problem Feb 26 40 pts
NEPA Evaluation March 25 April 4th 40 pts
Planning Project April 29 (Problem) & May 13 (Final) 100 pts
Rangeland Applications – Dates Vary (8 worth 5 pts each) 40 pts
GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
90-100% of total points=A; 80-89% of total points=B; 70-79% of total points=C; 60-69% of total points = D; <60% of total points=F
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Become informed and be able to clearly describe the challenges of rangeland management by listening to rangeland stakeholders and exploring newspapers, popular magazines, and social media.
- Assessment = Problem statement assignment of Integrated Planning Project
- Gain understanding of the biophysical and social science principles that set the direction and limitations of change in rangeland communities.
- Assessment = Responses on test 3 that will include assessment of both biophysical and social science principles.
- Create management approaches that will effectively address challenges of rangeland management.
- Assessment = Final Integrated Planning Assignment.
- Clearly describe potential management options to land managers and stakeholders.
- Assessment = Written and orals presentations in Final Integrated Planning Assignment.
Academic Dishonesty Policy: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class! Any form of cheating, copying, or plagiarism will result in 0 points for the assignment and a possible failing grade in the course. The severity of the punishment is at my discretion and may include pursuing dismissal from the University. I will follow guidelines for Academic Honesty (Article II) in the U of I Student Code of Conduct.
