Student Resources

Welcome to the next step of your biology journey. Whether you’re a major, minor, or joint-major, we are so happy to have you here. There are so many resources and people available to support you in your education and career pursuits. 

Student Advisory Council (BIO-SAC)

Check out our BIO-SAC page for more information.

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 student participation is essential for achieving Middlebury’s educational expectations. The Biology Department has determined that absences totaling 25% or more of the introductory courses substantially limits a student’s ability to achieve course learning objectives.

This policy does not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences for purposes of calculating attendance thresholds. Instead, the purpose of this policy is to identify when absences interfere with a student’s ability to meet course requirements and fulfill the learning goals of the course.  Note that individual professors may have additional policies for day-to-day attendance, which will apply prior to the thresholds described below.  The departmental policy governs once the thresholds below are reached.

If you have questions, you are encouraged to discuss this with your professor.

Policy Details

Lecture and Lab Attendance: Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes as a core component of meeting course learning objectives. Attendance will be recorded for both lecture and lab sessions. Students are responsible for monitoring their attendance and may request a record of their attendance from the instructor.

The following consequences apply when absences reach specified thresholds:

• Early Alert Threshold: When a student reaches approximately 15% absence from scheduled class meetings, the instructor will make a reasonable effort to notify the student of attendance concerns.
• Significant Absence Threshold: A deduction of 25% will be applied to the final lecture or lab grade if any of the following criteria are met:
• Absence for a total of 25% (i.e. 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
• Additional absences beyond the 25% threshold will result in further grade deductions of 10% per additional week-equivalent of missed instruction or may trigger a review by the instructor or department regarding the student’s ability to successfully complete the course.
• Students experiencing significant or unavoidable circumstances that affect attendance are strongly encouraged to communicate with their instructor as early as possible. In appropriate cases, students may be referred to relevant College offices for support.

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 allows instructors to help support your success in the course.

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)