Seminar Schedule

Spring 2021 seminar schedule

Welcome to the 21/22 academic year.

SYLLABUS

Course: CHEM 494/5940 (Chemistry Seminar)

Term: Spring 2021

Instructor: Prof. Shengqian Ma (shengqian.ma@unt.edu, 940-369-7137) and

Prof. Hong Wang (hong.wang@unt.edu, 940-369-8238)

As members of the UNT community, we have all made a commitment to be part of an institution that respects and values the identities of the students and employees with whom we interact. UNT does not tolerate identity-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Unless otherwise noted, seminars are held on

Fridays, 3:30-4:20 p.m. via Zoom

All seminars are free and open to the public

  • 1/15 Christian Bruckner, University of Connecticut
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 1/22 Dr. Uli B. Wiesner, Cornell University
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 1/29 Dr. Adrian T Keatinge-Clay, University of Texas Austin
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 2/5 Dr. Wendy Gu, Stanford University
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 2/12 Faculty Candidate
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 2/19 Faculty Candidate
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 2/25 2:30-3:30pm
    Erin Johnson, Dalhousie University, Canada
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 2/26 Erin Johnson, Dalhousie University, Canada
    Davidson Lecture: Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 3/5 Dr. Jeff Raker, University of South Florida
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 3/12 Dr. Douglas Stephan, University of Toronto
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 3/19 Dr. Matthew Jenner, University of Warwick
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 3/26 Dr. Jack Barbera, Portland State University
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 4/2 University Closed -- No Seminar
  • 4/9 Dr. Joseph Hupp, Northwestern University
    Title TBA
    Zoom: TBA
  • 4/16 Graduate Student Research Day - 3rd Year Talks
    Zoom: TBA
  • 4/23 Reading Day -- No Seminar
  • 4/30 Finals Week -- No Seminar

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  • There are no exams; students are expected to attend all seminars unless a significant compelling reason is given (TA conflict, speaking at an external conference, etc.).
  • Due to the online nature of the course, it is expected that all students will have reliable access to Zoom, either via computer or phone, for the duration of each seminar.
  • If the University cancels classes on the day of a scheduled seminar, then the seminar is canceled.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

  • More than 2 unexcused absences will result in failure.
  • Attendance has 2 parts: attendance during the Zoom meeting and submitting a question via email.
  • For Zoom attendance:
  • Zoom screen names MUST include first and last names, not nicknames or email addresses. This must be done to receive credit for attending.
  • If students call into the Zoom meeting instead of using the Zoom app, they MUST email Shawn Adams (shawn@unt.edu) to let him know, along with their phone number for verification purposes.
  • Students must attend a combined total of AT LEAST 30 minutes to be marked as "signed in" (even if you have to keep signing in multiple times) from the time that the seminar begins--3:30pm.
  • For submitting a question via email:
  • Students MUST submit a question via email to shawn@unt.edu within 30 minutes of the end of the seminar or 5pm, whichever is later. Consider this to be the same as turning in a question sheet.

COVID-19 IMPACT ON ATTENDANCE

While attendance is expected as outlined above, it is important for all of us to be mindful of the health and safety of everyone in our community, especially given concerns about COVID-19. Please contact me if you are unable to attend class because you are ill, or unable to attend class due to a related issue regarding COVID-19. It is important that you communicate with me prior to being absent so I may make a decision about accommodating your request to be excused from class.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html) please seek medical attention from the Student Health and Wellness Center (940-565-2333 or askSHWC@unt.edu) or your health care provider PRIOR to coming to campus. UNT also requires you to contact the UNT COVID Hotline at 844-366-5892 or COVID@unt.edu for guidance on actions to take due to symptoms, pending or positive test results, or potential exposure. While attendance is an important part of succeeding in this class, your own health, and those of others in the community, is more important.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Participants MAY ask questions during the Q&A portion of the seminar.

  • Click on MANAGE PARTICIPANTS either above or below the shared screen (seems to move around a little).
  • Click on "Raise Hand" at the bottom of the list of participants.
  • The seminar host will call on participants to ask their questions. You can either unmute your mic to ask your question verbally or you can ask it in the CHAT screen.

CLEAR has a webpage for students that provides Online Communication Tips (https://clear.unt.edu/online-communication-tips) that instructors can share with students and/or adapt for their own uses.

MINIMUM TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Part of working in the online environment involves dealing with the inconveniences and frustration that can arise when technology breaks down or does not perform as expected. Here at UNT we have a Student Help Desk that you can contact for help with Canvas or other technology issues.

  • UIT Help Desk: UIT Student Help Desk site (http://www.unt.edu/helpdesk/index.htm)
  • Email: helpdesk@unt.edu
  • Phone: 940-565-2324
  • In Person: Sage Hall, Room 130
  • Walk-In Availability: 8am-9pm
  • Telephone Availability:
    • Sunday: noon-midnight
    • Monday-Thursday: 8am-midnight
    • Friday: 8am-8pm
    • Saturday: 9am-5pm
  • Laptop Checkout: 8am-7pm

For additional support, visit Canvas Technical Help (https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10554-4212710328)

CLASS MATERIALS FOR REMOTE INSTRUCTION

Remote instruction may be necessary if community health conditions change or you need to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19. Students will need access to reliable internet access and speakers, possibly a microphone and webcam, to participate in fully remote portions of the class. Additional required classroom materials for remote learning include: Zoom software either on a desktop/laptop or cell phone. Information on how to be successful in a remote learning environment can be found at https://online.unt.edu/learn.

UNT POLICIES

ADA Policy

UNT makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide a student with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding one's specific course needs. Students may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the ODA website (https://disability.unt.edu/).

Emergency Notification & Procedures

UNT uses a system called Eagle Alert to quickly notify students with critical information in the event of an emergency (i.e., severe weather, campus closing, and health and public safety emergencies like chemical spills, fires, or violence). In the event of a university closure, please refer to Canvas for contingency plans for covering course materials.

Acceptable Student Behavior

Student behavior that interferes with an instructor's ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The University's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including University and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. Visit UNT's Code of Student Conduct (https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct) to learn more.

Student Evaluation Administration Dates

Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation in this course. The student evaluation of instruction is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. The survey will be made available during weeks 13, 14 and 15 [insert administration dates] of the long semesters to provide students with an opportunity to evaluate how this course is taught. Students will receive an email from "UNT SPOT Course Evaluations via IASystem Notification" (no-reply@iasystem.org) with the survey link. Students should look for the email in their UNT email inbox. Simply click on the link and complete the survey. Once students complete the survey they will receive a confirmation email that the survey has been submitted. For additional information, please visit the SPOT website (http://spot.unt.edu/) or email spot@unt.edu.

Prohibition of Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (Policy 16.004)

The University of North Texas (UNT) prohibits discrimination and harassment because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law in its application and admission processes; educational programs and activities; employment policies, procedures, and processes; and university facilities. The University takes active measures to prevent such conduct and investigates and takes remedial action when appropriate.

DISCLAIMER: The professor of this course reserves the right to alter at any time any of the information presented on this syllabus at his discretion.