Please read over the course syllabus.  It lists everything you can expect from us, everything we expect from you, and important course policies.

During this time of COVID-19, we must extend a measure of grace to each other.  Things change week to week, and we know this can be stressful to students.  All of you have loved ones who may be impacted by COVID-19 in ways we cannot imagine.  Please be kind to one another.

For policies specific to COVID-19 prevention, please see the COVID-19 Toolkit for Veterinary Technology Students.

Course Information

Course title:	Physiology and Anatomy for Veterinary Technicians
Course number and semester:	VETT 2, Veterinary Technology, Spring 2021
Course discipline and units:	Veterinary Technology (3 units)
Course Location:	Tuesdays, live via Zoom, 9:00 am - 11:50 am.  Lectures will be recorded and made available via Canvas for 1-2 weeks (or longer, if possible).
Course description:	Gross anatomy and physiology of domestic animals. Includes the study of body systems such as skeletal, muscular, integumentary, special sense organs, circulatory and digestive. Also includes physiologic principles of certain pathological problems and surgical conditions. Application of normal physiology as it pertains to animal health and disease is emphasized.
Textbook Requirements:	Required textbooks: Clinical Anatomy and Physiology for Veterinary Technicians, 3rd edition, by Bassert and Colville. ISBN 9780323227933 Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 6th Edition, by Sirois. ISBN 978-0323169301
Lab/Equipment Fees:	No lab fees are currently anticipated.
Prerequisite(s):	VETT 4.   College level math and language recommended.
Final Exam	Online during the week of May 24, 2021

 Instructor Information:

Name:	Dr. Kyle Mathis
Email:	Communicate with instructor via Canvas email.
Office location:	Office located in 1700 building.
Open Office Hours	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 4 - 5 pm, Thursdays, noon to 1 pm.  You can stop by in person or virtually via Zoom.   Here is the Zoom link for my office hours: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/91888619312?pwd=aUJpWGNoSG5zVTJEN1QyUU1rR3Bidz09  Password: 690676 Please let me know if any of the above hours do not work for you.  My door is generally always open and I will try to make time for you unless I am under deadline.
Phone:	530-740-1740 (my office), 209-764-0203 (my cell), 530-741-6962 (classroom),

 

Course Objectives:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of veterinary physiology and anatomy within multiple species.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the practical aspects of physiological based disease found within veterinary medicine.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of veterinary reproduction.
4. List normal vital signs for the cat, dog, horse, cow, goat, sheep and pig.
5. Describe the principles of pharmacology as it relates to physiologic variations.
6. Recognize common physiologic health issues associated with specific species.
7. Describe appropriate veterinary disease diagnostic tools related to physiology and anatomy.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of cardiovascular disease.
9. Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of cell biology as it relates to pathology and disease.

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon completion of the course, the learner should be able to:

1. Correctly describe the mammalian circulatory system to include the route and structures involved in the passage of blood throughout the body. 

The Veterinary Technology Program goals:

The Veterinary Technology Program seeks to develop graduates who will: 1) Understand the basic principles of Veterinary Technology and its disciplines. 2) Instill in students technical competence and occupational skills, as well as academic knowledge. 3) Graduates will function in entry-level Certified Veterinary Technician positions. 4) Promote the application of principles of biomedical sciences to help in disease control in both human and animal fields. 5) Provide hands-on experience with various problems encountered in veterinary technology. 6) Recognize the importance of the human-animal bond in the provision of veterinary health care. 7) Exceed the expectations of both employers and the public with regards to the level of care provided to their patients. 8) Stress the importance of paraprofessional positions in veterinary medicine, and instill a sense of pride in students. 9) Train students to be competent in the area of business involving a veterinary practice. 10) Measure key student learning outcomes continuously and identify and implement opportunities for improvement. 11) Recognize the need for continued learning in order to adapt to changes and challenges within the profession of Veterinary Technology. 12) Achieve a passing score on the state and Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

Course Type: Credit - Degree/Certificate Applicable

Units: 3.0

Total  class hours: 162

Total contact hours in class: 54.0

Lecture hours: 54.0

Hours outside of class: 108.0

Repeatable: No

Grading Method: Letter Grade Only

 

Course Structure:

This course is normally a face-to-face course and will emphasize active learning through discussions, problem-solving, hands-on skills, and case studies.  During unusual circumstances (for example, the COVID pandemic), we will have to find other ways to incorporate these aspects into our remote classes.

For the online component, you will participate in the course using Yuba College’s learning management system called Canvas.

It is recommended that you complete the online Canvas Student Orientation prior to beginning the course.   This can be found under Student Info at http://de.yccd.edu.

Canvas provides students with course materials including lecture PowerPoint presentations, study guides, and assignments.

Students are required to check this site frequently for materials. The course also contains a technological support page that may help you in navigating common issues in Canvas.  My role as an instructor is to guide you through the navigation process of the course, as well as the course material.  Unfortunately, I am not a technical support person, and it is possible that unforeseen circumstances may require you to seek additional technical support. 

Many things can occur which might prevent a student from submitting an assignment, quiz, or posting to a discussion forum. The prepared student, performing at the college level, will work well ahead of deadlines and manage the workload to minimize unforeseen problems.

Course Requirements:

You must ensure that you have access to a reliable computer with internet access in order to be successful in this course. 

If you do not have access to a computer off campus, there are many computer labs on campus you can use to participate in the course.

Most public libraries also have computers with internet access that you can use for free.

You will need to have an up-to-date browser and operating system.

Some of the documents in this course may be available to you in PDF form. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer, you can download it by going to http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Course Communication:

Announcements.  Announcements will be made in class or via the Announcements section in Canvas.

If announcements are made in Canvas, they will appear on your Canvas dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred method of notification from Canvas. Please make certain to check them regularly, as they will contain any important information about upcoming projects or class concerns.

Email. In this course we will use the Inbox feature of Canvas, located on the far left column of this page.  Use this email to send private messages. You can either check your messages in the Canvas system or set your notifications to your preferred method of contact. 

• When writing an email, please do the following:
  • Put a subject in the subject box that describes the email content,
  • Start with a greeting of the recipient ("Dear Dr. Mathis,"),
  • On the next line, begin the body of your message,
  • At the end, sign off ("Sincerely, Jane Jacobs")
• Do not send messages to my personal email account.
• Do not submit your assignments by message.
• Check your own inbox at least once per day.

Turnaround/Feedback.  During the week (M-F) I will check my Inbox once per day.  If you have a concern and send me a message, you can expect a response within 24 hours.  After 5 pm on Fridays, I will still try to respond within 24 hours, but depending on the weekend, you may not receive a response until Monday. Please remember that if you have an urgent question, call my office number at 530-740-1740 or my cell phone at 209-764-0203.

Etiquette and Netiquette. I strive to develop an atmosphere of mutual respect in the classroom and online.  In accordance with this goal I ask that you respect my right to teach as well as your fellow students rights to obtain their education.  Subjects may be discussed that are often portrayed as controversial in the media. Each student is entitled to his or her own opinion and/or belief system regarding these topics.  Please be respectful of others opinions when we discuss these matters in online. 

You can read more about the rules of netiquette at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html  (Links to an external site.)

Canvas Student Application ("App").  Canvas Student is available for Android and iPhones and possibly other devices.  I believe the application is free.  The application is useful for checking Inbox and due dates.  I do not know if quizzes or assignments can be submitted through Canvas Student.

Course Participation Policy:

Participation is essential to your success in this class. In order to be successful, you must show up, be prepared, and complete your assignments and quizzes on a timely basis.

Course Assignments:

You will want to visit Canvas daily to make sure you have not missed any announcements or emails.  You also want to be aware of upcoming assignments.  In particular, you will want to check the "Start Here" page for each week on Canvas well ahead of class (at least 5-6 days).  

You will find three things on the "Start Here" page:

1. The assigned reading for each week.  To succeed, you must read ahead and be prepared.
2. Reminders of assignments (if any), quizzes, and upcoming exams.
3. A list of questions for the "Ready?" quiz.  The "Ready?" quiz checks your readiness for each week's lesson.

By the Monday night before class, you must complete the "Ready?" quiz.  The questions will come word-for-word from the list of questions you find on the "Start Here" page.

Please note: Late work will not be accepted. Assignments and quizzes will not be available after the deadline. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please contact me well before the assignment is due to make alternate arrangements.

Clinical Skills (including Animal Care). This will be based on the program veterinarian and registered veterinary technician (RVT) for an assessment of a student’s technical skills in the rotations in surgery and other labs.  This also includes such skills as professionalism, maturity, patience, and being responsive to feedback, as well as taking responsibility of animals in our care.  This is an overall assessment.  

For all responsibilities including animal care, if you find you cannot attend a shift, it is your responsibility to find a replacement.  In addition, you must alert me.  Depending on circumstances, we can arrange for makeup task(s) in the clinic or the farm: this will be the form of assisting another team on two shifts, or helping with a special project.  Anticipate spending 60-90 minutes on the task(s).

It is your responsibility to inform me if you missed a shift. Makeup is not an option otherwise. 

Semester Project: Case Study 

In your first semester, you read a case study.  This semester, you will write your own.  Details can be found in the Case Study Guidelines in Canvas.

Rubrics. In order to understand what is expected of you for each assignment, please check out the rubric -- a table that details the requirements of each assignment and the benchmarks for success -- attached to an assignment for the grading criteria.

Extra Credit.  In some cases, extra credit may be made available.  Extra credit is applied at the end of the semester, and only to final grades of 75% or greater.  In other words, extra credit can help turn a C into a B.  It cannot turn a D into a C.

Course/Instructor Evaluation and Self Evaluation

As your instructor, I need to hear what you think.  I welcome constructive criticism.  I want to know what is working for you and what is not.  I want to know if you need something you are not getting.

I also want to help you in the process of learning, to help you find how you learn best.

You will be asked to complete two separate surveys: one on your course/instructor, and yourself.

Submissions about the course and instructor are anonymous.  We take your feedback seriously.  It is among the most useful feedback any instructor can receive.  The date(s) for these evaluations can be found in Canvas.

Expectations:

 You can expect me to do the following:

• Do my best to prepare an engaging, relevant course for you and to facilitate learning. Your time is valuable, and your education is my first priority.
• Assign homework and quizzes that align with the learning objectives of the course while adhering to the time expectations for a four-unit course.
• I will grade assignments, quizzes, and exams and provide feedback within 7 days.
• I will do everything in my power not to make changes to this syllabus. At times, I may need to change readings, assignments, site visits, timelines and other aspects of this course if this will improve the quality of your education. However, I recognize this can be disruptive, and will do my best to adhere to the assignments and timelines presented today. 

 I expect you to do the following:

• Be prepared.
• Ask the instructor any questions they might have about course requirements.

• If you do not feel confident in a particular skill, please speak up.  

• Complete your readings, assignments, and quizzes on time.
• Treat classmates and instructors with courtesy and respect (see Netiquette link above), and display a willingness to consider opinions or viewpoints other than your own.
• Adhere to the honesty policy and Student Code of Conduct at all times. 
• Study with classmates, including on assignments. However, each assignment must reflect your own work.
• Treat our farm animals and clinical patients as you would want to be treated. Students will be required to spend 2 - 6 hours every 7-10 days during assigned dates and times in the care of the Yuba College Veterinary Technology farm and clinical patients. Time will include weekends and holidays as well as winter break.

Grading Criteria:

Letter Grade

Letter Grade	Percentage
A	90-100
B	80-89
C	75-79
D	60-74
F	< 60

Important Note: A passing grade in all Yuba College Veterinary Technology Program courses is 75%.  Seventy five percent is the minimum passing grade for the national licensing exam for veterinary nurses.  Since passing this exam is necessary to be a practicing veterinary nurse, we have adopted the same standard.  

Grades. You can view your grades using the Grades button in the course navigation links. Please check your grades regularly to make certain that I have received all your assignments. If you have a question about a grade, email me through Canvas email. Please do not post your personal concerns in a discussion forum.

Points Possible.

• Readiness ("Ready?") quizzes 5 pts/quiz x 13 quizzes= 65 points
• Quizzes 1.5-2 pts/quiz x 13 quizzes= approximately 20 points
• Assessment (Instructor, Course, Self)  = 5 points
• Clinical Skills (including Animal Care) = 20 points
• Exams: (3 midterms and 1 final): 4 x 100 points  = 400 points
• Case Study = 50 points
• Case Study Discussion = 10 points

Total: 570 points

Important: The above point values may not be reflected yet in Canvas.  For example, the final exam (in Canvas) is mistakenly listed as 200 points.

Academic Honesty/Student Conduct:

As a student at Yuba College, you are expected to follow the College’s guidelines for Academic Honesty/Student Conduct found in the Yuba Community College District Student Code of Conduct.

https://www.boarddocs.com/ca/yccd/board.nsf/files/9L9JHG7F6598/$file/Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20%28Official%20Revision%202014-06-03%29.pdf

Briefly, this means that you should not: 

• Plagiarize, that is, use another person’s words or ideas as your own without proper documentation.
  • For proper documentation, please read this guide to avoiding plagiarism.
• Collaborate with others unless specifically requested in an assignment or discussion.
• Let another student login to your CANVAS account.
• Use unapproved resources (such as the internet) during online quizzes and exams.

Failure to follow this policy will result in disciplinary action which can affect your academic standing in this class, the program, and even the College.

Exam Makeup Policy

An unexcused absence from an exam will be recorded as a grade of zero (0). The following are the only acceptable excuses:

• If submitted more than 24 hours before the scheduled exam:
  • A written and signed explanation as to why the exam will missed. Illness, family emergency, or military travel are acceptable, while discretionary or personal travel are not.
  • Corroborating documentation (for example, a note from a physician or college dean or counselor in the case of a medical or family emergency, or proof of military service) must be provided.
  • The explanation should be accompanied by corroborating documentation, including names and contact information, and the explanation must be accepted by the instructor prior to missing the exam.
• If submitted less than 24 hours before the scheduled exam:
  • A note from a physician, college dean, spouse, or family member indicating an illness or other extraordinary circumstance that prevented you from taking the exam and could not be planned for in advance. 

Missed exams with acceptable excuse will be made up or assigned the average grade of all other exams, at the discretion of the course instructor.  The makeup exam may be different from the original exam.

Missed, and acceptably excused, final exams will result in the course grade of 'I' and must be made up in the first two weeks of the following semester.

All other missed exams will result in a score of zero.

Dropping:

Once the instructor has completed the add process at the beginning of the semester and the rosters are set, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course if they decide to stop attending.  Students who do not drop the course and are enrolled at the end of the semester will receive a grade based on their earned points, even if they have not attended in some time.  Most often it is more advantageous for a student to take a W on a transcript than a failing grade, so please drop if you decide to stop contributing/attending.

February 5, 2021 is the last date to drop without a W on your transcript.  April 30, 2021 is the last date to drop with a W on your transcript.

 Confidentiality:

You are encouraged to share your personal and professional experiences to help facilitate learning. It is expected that each person will respect the confidentiality of anything class members may share. Company, client, or co-workers are never to be named within the context of any public discussion or assignment in this course.

Student Services:

Yuba College offers many student services.  Services include research and tutoring, financial aid, counseling, veterans' resources, a food pantry, and disabled students' services, to name just a few.

Yuba College Library 

Yuba College Financial Aid Office 

Online Learning Resources 

Yuba College Counseling Department 

College Success Center

Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) (see below for more information)

Yuba College Student Services

Yuba College Academic Calendar 

Yuba College Veterinary Assistant Certificate Program 

   This page contains links to other student services including CalWorks, EOPS, Veteran's Services, Food Pantry, Health Clinic, etc.
https://yc.yccd.edu/student  

 Disabilities:

Online courses are required to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines. This means that all aspects of the online learning experience are accessible. Please let me know if you have adaptive software and hardware to assist you with taking this course or if you have any specific needs I should be aware of. 

If you have not already done so, please register with the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), which is responsible for coordinating accommodations and services for students. 

Disabled Students Programs and Services 

Building 1800
Phone:741-6795
Video Phone:866-274-7530 
email: dspsinfo@yccd.edu

 Counseling:

I recommend all students meet with a Yuba College counselor each semester.  This is especially important if you transferred from another school, another program, or an ROP program.

Policy on Electronic Devices:

Use of a cell phone in class is prohibited unless part of a lesson. The student may use his/her laptop or tablet device for the purpose of note taking, if desired. 

To log into YCCD WiFi, the username is your YCCD student ID # (first letter of last name + 7-digit number) and password is the same as your WebAdvisor password.  The first time you connect, you will be required to accept the YCCD Acceptable Use Policy.