Student Resources
Student Advisory Council (BIO-SAC)
Current Members
- Lily Buren ’26 (Biology & International and Global Studies/Global Environmental Change)
- Sarah Case ’26 (MBBC)
- Anna Cerveny ’26 (Biology)
- Olivia Maloney ’26 (Environmental Studies-Biology)
- Sophia Goerck de Carvalho Macedo ’27 (MBBC) (in Spring 2026 only)
- John Masiello ’27 (Biology)
- Mia Gilham ’28 (MBBC) (in Fall 2025 only)
Primary Functions
- Serve as a resource for current and prospective majors.
- Advise the biology chair and faculty regarding new faculty appointments.
- Advise the biology chair and faculty regarding external reviews of the department.
- Give biology majors a voice in their department regarding any student concerns that arise.
- Help make the department a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community.
Minimum Attendance Policy for Introductory Biology Courses
This attendance policy applies to all students enrolled in BIO 140: Ecology and Evolution and BIO 145: Cell Biology and Genetics. At a residential liberal arts college attendance is critical for success. Lectures and labs are designed to be interactive, and your participation is essential for achieving Middlebury’s educational expectations. The Biology Department has determined that it is unreasonable for students to miss 25% or more of the introductory courses for any reason as this fundamentally alters essential elements of your Middlebury education. It is not our place to arbitrate between “excused” and “unexcused” absences, but rather to recognize when these absences hinder your ability to fulfill the learning goals of the course. Note that individual professors may have additional policies for day-to-day attendance and this departmental policy will apply only if absence reaches the 25% threshold. If you have questions, you are encouraged to discuss this with your professor.
Policy Details
- Lecture and Lab Attendance: Attendance will be recorded for both lecture and lab sessions.
- Penalty for Missed Session: A 25% deduction from your final lecture or lab grade if you meet any of the following criteria for any reason:
- Absence for a total of 25% (the equivalent of 3 weeks) of lecture across the semester
- Nine, 50-minute lecture sessions
- Six, 75-minute lecture sessions
- Absence for a total of 25% (i.e. 3 weeks) of labs across the semester
- Three, weekly lab sessions
- Absence for a total of 25% (the equivalent of 3 weeks) of lecture across the semester
- An additional 10% deduction will be applied for every subsequent week equivalency of absence beyond the three week threshold.
Your commitment to regular attendance and participation is a key component of your academic experience in introductory biology courses. If you anticipate attendance issues, please connect with your instructor immediately. Proactive communication is always better than reactive explanations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Biology Department accept AP credit?
Because the Biology Department does not offer any introductory course that is the equivalent of an AP biology course, pre-college test scores do not exempt a student from any of the published requirements for the major, minor, or joint majors, nor can it satisfy the College’s distribution requirement.
Does the Biology Department offer placement exams?
Effective fall 2018, the Department of Biology no longer offers placement exams. Except for transfer students who have already taken equivalent courses, it is not possible to bypass BIOL 0140 or BIOL 0145.
What order should I take the introductory courses in?
You can take the introductory courses in either order. Even though BIOL 0145 Cells & Genetics has a higher number, it is fine to take it before BIOL 0140 Ecology & Evolution.
Should I email a professor before registration to be added to a waitlist in case the class fills?
Thanks for your interest in a Biology course, but please do not. It is Biology Department policy to start waitlists only after a class fills. Do not email a Biology professor to be added to the waitlist until you have been unable to register for the class (or the section of the class) that you need. For BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145 waitlists sign up from the link on the Biology homepage.
Forms
- Biology Major Worksheet (ESBI majors see Environmental Studies)
- Animal Order Form
- Purchase Request Form
- Student Reimbursement Form (mileage and/or supplies)
- Thesis Declaration Form (signature lines appear when downloaded)
- Research Funding Request Form with Itemized Budget
Gas for Van and Car Rentals
If you fill up at the College (pump is at the Service Building by the auto shop), you are not charged for gas. If you use an outside vendor vehicle (e.g., Enterprise) you will need to pay for gas. If you use a College vehicle and fill up somewhere else, or are on a long trip, you can sign out a gas card from Vehicle Rentals, so you aren’t charged for gas.
Laboratory Stores Stockroom
Stockroom personnel oversee operation of our Laboratory Stores, which includes maintaining inventory of chemicals and consumable lab supplies for purchase, shipping, receiving, and delivery of packages, and also managing materials within the building.
Students who have budgeted for supplies available through the stockroom should fill out a purchase request form (above) and indicate “Stockroom” under vendor. List the items as appropriate, referring to the stockroom catalog (available on their site) if necessary.
Please visit the stockroom for the following information in more detail:
- Hours
- Lab supplies
- Safety-related issues
- Hazardous waste pickup and disposal
- Chemical spill cleanup
- Safety training
- Cylinder gas
- Stockroom catalog (regularly updated by STSS)