Policies Concerning Laboratory Waivers

 in Physics 111, 112, 221 and 222

 

Students enrolled in Physics 111, 112, 221 or 222 who have successfully completed the laboratory component of the same course (in a previous semester at Iowa State) may request an (optional) waiver of the laboratory portion of the course.

A waiver of the laboratory requirement will be granted under the following conditions:

     1.     the student completed the course previously at Iowa State, either for credit or on an audit basis, or with "formal permission" from the department to complete the course (after executing a drop with the registrar);

     2.     the student made a good faith effort to complete the course, as evidenced by good class attendance in recitation and lab, and the submission of good‑faith attempts to complete the assignments for recitation and laboratory;

     3.     the student (and not simply the student's lab partner) successfully completed the laboratory work;

     4.     there is written evidence for all of the above.

     5.     students who complete the laboratory while auditing the course or with "formal permission" to complete the course (after a drop) must provide special documentation that the conditions described above have been satisfied. (For further information, refer to the information sheet titled, “Earning a Laboratory Waiver While Auditing Physics 111, 112, 221 or 222 or while having "formal permission" to complete the course (after a formal "drop")

 

Procedures:

     1.     All lab waivers must be requested in writing (they are not automatic). This is done by completing the “Request Form for a Laboratory Waiver” and submitting it to the course-work secretary in the Main Office (Physics Room 12).

     2.     Waivers should be requested on the day of the first lecture class of the course. Waivers requested after that date may be denied unless there is good reason for the lateness of the request.

     3.     Students who completed the laboratory while auditing the course or with "formal permission" to complete the course (after a drop) must also submit an additional form titled, “Certification of Completion of the Course” (along with the “Request Form for a Laboratory Waiver”).

 

Intent of the lab waiver policy: This policy is designed to insure that students who receive lab waivers understood enough physics to do the laboratory experiments, that they were reasonably well prepared for their laboratory classes, and that they completed the laboratory work with a significant degree of independence.

 

 

                                                                                                file:  policyV2.DOC   revised:  10/24/01   printed:  10/24/01   10:55 AM