In the event of an escalation of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, the University may need to authorize Academic Units to change elements of class schedules and/or evaluation plans as outlined in course syllabi. Any change is intended to support the primary goal of reducing the risk of spreading a pandemic influenza among students, faculty and staff.

Although it is difficult to predict the severity of the pandemic, the University is committed to minimizing the impact on student’s academic progress. Therefore, every effort will be made to provide students with options for continued learning and for continued fair evaluations.

Changes may include but are not limited to:

· Adjustments to course assignments;
· Changes to the dates of exams;
·Arrangements for alternative evaluations for students affected by H1N1 influenza virus;
· Adjustments to work terms;
· Modification of marks awarded for participation;
· Adjustments to attendance policies.

Any alternative plan made in individual courses may be superseded by University-wide or Go

vernment measures to reduce the spread of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.

10 Sept 2009:  Welcome to molecular evolution!

28 Sept 2009:  The dates of Exam 1 and Exam 2 have been pushed back one lecture day.  Exam 1 will now be held in class on Thursday October 08th, and Exam 2 will now be held in class on Tuesday November 3rd.  The change was discussed in class on Thursday September 24th, and there was overwhelming support for this change.  The class schedule page has been appropriately updated.

21 Oct 2009:  Flu contingency plan.  All courses must have a contingency plan for acedemic continuity in place bu Oct 30 2009.  The plan for BIOL 3046 has been filed with the main office for the Departent of Biology.  Some important points are provided below:

1.    100% of the lecture material (lecture slides, detailed course notes, and review questions) are available via the course website (www.biol3046.info) in the portable document format (PDF).

2.    In the case that Flu-related changes to the course are warranted, such changes will be communicated by using the following electronic methods: (1) this “course news” page; (2) bulk e-mail notices to all students in the course.

3.    In the event that the instructor becomes ill, the physical lectures will be cancelled and will resume when the instructor has recovered.  This information, as well as required readings for the duration of the cancelled lectures, will be communicated to the class by electronic methods (described above).

4.    A detailed schedule of lectures and topics is posted on the course web site as an HTML table.  This schedule will be adjusted in response to any changes precipitated by Flu illness among the academic community.  Students are advised to check it periodically.  

5.    Alternative exam dates can be provided for students who are unable to attend the regularly schedules exams due to Flu illness.

6.    NOTE: Exam dates can be changed as a response to illness of the instructor, or illness of a substantial fraction of the students enrolled in the course, without seeking approval from the class.

21 Oct 2009:  3D Human genome.  Very recent work has revealed the improtance of the spactial packing of the human genome within the nulceus.  This is a big deal, and could represnt the statrt of a new way of looking as human genes and human genomics.  Her are some links:

Report in the journal Science:  http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/326/5950/289

Podcast interview:  http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/326/5950/289/DC2

Science news item:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091008142957.htm

Cover:  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/vol326/issue5950/cover.dtl

04 Nov 2009:  Handy Links.  Links to website reletaed resources.

Here is a link to a free editor called Kompozer:   http://www.kompozer.net/

Here are some links to sites where you can get some templates for free (choose the most simple format so that editing them will be manageable):

-- http://www.oswd.org/

-- http://www.opensourcetemplates.org/

-- http://www.opendesigns.org/

-- http://www.myfreetemplates.com/

-- http://andreasviklund.com/templates/

you can google "free website templates" for many more choices.