Biology

The Department of Biology maintains teaching and undergraduate research laboratories that provide students hands-on experience with equipment and techniques that are of fundamental importance to the field of biology. We have state-of-the-art molecular biology capabilities, cell and bacterial culture equipment, and field work opportunities. To support our teaching and research efforts we have an indoor greenhouse, a Zebrafish housing unit, and other relevant equipment (compound fluorescent microscope, a transmission electron microscope, and dissecting and compound microscopes) that allow us to provide our students hands-on practical experience to achieve competence and confidence in a laboratory setting. Additionally, we have designated faculty and student research space and many of our students pursue independent research projects in areas of faculty expertise.

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry occupies the first floor of the Joseph S. Skalny Science Center and consists of six class-size laboratories for courses or research, two instrumentation laboratories, and a computer laboratory. The department’s modern, research-grade instrumentation includes: infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometers, a multinuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, an atomic absorption spectrometer, differential scanning calorimeters, and vapor-phase and high-performance liquid chromatographs.

Physics

The Department of Physics has four well-designed laboratories and a room with well-equipped benches, computers, and storage space for individual research. Among the modern instruments in these laboratories are: e/m apparatus, Franck Hertz apparatus, x-ray diffraction apparatus, precision optical bench, and portable six-inch reflecting telescopes.

The Math Center at St. John Fisher College assists students with the development of their mathematical understanding. It is a supportive learning environment that is committed to helping students become confident and independent learners of mathematics.

The Math Center offers tutors for mathematics and related courses as well as other resources. Resources include textbooks for all math courses, tutorial handbooks for many areas of mathematics, basic skills practice books, and handouts on math study skills. College networked computers provide access to the Internet, as well as to many software applications used in various current mathematics, science, and computer science courses.

Hours vary by semester. Math Center services are free of charge to all Fisher students. Students do not have to be taking a math course to use our facility. The Math Center is located on the third level of the Golisano Gateway. More information about the Math Center is available at www.sjfc.edu/services/math-center/.

St. John Fisher College is pleased to provide information regarding our institution’s graduation/completion rates. The information is provided in compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. A graduation rate is based on the percentage of students who enrolled during a fall semester and for whom 150 percent of the normal time to graduation has elapsed. At St. John Fisher College, the normal time to graduation is four years; 150 percent of this is six years. Thus, the graduation rate will reflect the percentage of students who were graduated within six years.

While graduation/completion information, please bear in mind:

• The graduation/completion rate is based on six years of attendance that equates to 150 percent of our longest program.
• We have elected not to report our transfer-out rate because our university’s mission does not include providing substantial preparation for students to enroll in other institutions.
• The calculation of the graduation/completion rate does not include students who left the school to serve in the armed forces, on official church missions, or in the foreign service of the federal government. Students who died or were totally and permanently disabled are also excluded from the calculation.

The graduation/completion information can be found at: https://www.sjfc.edu/services/institutional-research/trend-information/

Questions related to this report should be directed to the director of Institutional Research.

All research involving human subjects conducted at St. John Fisher College, or under its sponsorship at another location, must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects. Review is also required for research carried out under the sponsorship of an institution other than St. John Fisher College but which is to be performed on the premises of the College, even if the Institutional Research Board at the sponsoring institution or elsewhere has already approved the research. The application can be found at: https://www.sjfc.edu/services/institutional-review-board/.

Students wishing to make appeals or to bring forward complaints or concerns about instructional matters including final grades should first discuss the issue with the faculty member. If the issue is not satisfactorily resolved at that point, the student should then meet with the department chair. If further discussions are necessary, students should contact the appropriate school dean.

To ensure a fair and systematic review, students must follow the steps outlined below.

Process to Reconcile Academic Decisions

If a student wishes to appeal an academic decision of an instructor, he or she must follow the process described below.

• The student is to initiate a discussion with the instructor responsible for the initial decision in question.
• The instructor is responsible for documenting the outcome of the discussion with the student. Copies of that document are to be provided to the student and to the department chair.
• If the student is not satisfied with the outcome and wishes to further pursue the matter, the student is responsible for notifying the instructor and the department chair within five business days of receipt of the instructor’s communication.
• When the student meets with the department chair, the role of the chair is to ascertain to the extent possible the facts surrounding the matter and to clarify applicable academic policies. The department chair has the option of scheduling a subsequent meeting to include the instructor. The department chair is responsible for documenting the discussion outcome(s). Copies of that document are to be provided to the student, the instructor, and the school dean.
• If the student is not satisfied with the outcome and wishes to further pursue the matter, the student is responsible for notifying the instructor, the department chair, and the school dean of his or her desire within five business days of receipt of the department chair’s communication.
• The school dean will forward all relevant information to the school’s Grade Appeal Committee or other comparable committee within the school. This committee will review all pertinent facts and make a recommendation to the school dean for final review. The school dean shall notify the student, the instructor, and the department chair in writing of the decision to maintain or modify the original academic decision. The school dean’s decision is final.

Process to Reconcile Policy and/or Grade Issues Related to Academic Deadlines

Appeals relating to academic policy, withdrawal and incomplete grade deadlines, or to a student’s academic status are considered by the Committee on Academic Standing, a standing committee of the Faculty Assembly. This committee meets monthly and considers written appeals from students only, with submission of further documentation, if necessary. For information, the student should contact the Center for Academic Advising and Support Services or the Registrar’s Office.

Note: Appeals related to a final grade must be made within one year from the end of the term in which the grade was received.

Annual Notification of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

St. John Fisher College complies fully with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under FERPA, students have, with certain limited exceptions, certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.

Students should submit to the appropriate official written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

Only records covered by FERPA will be made available. Students may have copies made of their records, except for an academic record for which a financial “hold” exists or a transcript of an original or source document. Copies will be made at the student’s expense at prevailing rates.

Type, Location, and Custodian of Education Records Maintained by the College

The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.

Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception is disclosure to parents of dependent students. Another exception is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests, on a “need-to-know” basis, as determined by the administrator responsible for the file. A “school official” includes: anyone employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); any person or company acting on behalf of the College (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); any member of the Board of Trustees or other governance/advisory body; and any student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility; to perform a task that is specified in his or her position description or contract; to perform a task related to a student’s education or to student discipline; to provide a service or benefit related to the student or student’s family (e.g., job placement, health insurance); or to maintain safety and security on campus. Upon request, the College may disclose education records without the consent of the student to officials of another school in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.

Other exceptions are described in the FERPA statute and regulations at 34 CFR Part 99.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

Directory Information

The College has designated the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name
• College email address
• Address
• Telephone number
• Date and place of birth
• Photo
• Hometown
• High school
• Field(s) of study
• Advisor name(s)
• Full-time/part-time status
• Class year
• Dates of attendance
• Date of graduation
• Degrees and awards received
• Most recent previous educational institution attended
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams

The College may publicize or respond to requests for such information at its discretion. However, the use of the records for commercial or political purposes is prohibited unless approved by the appropriate dean.

Currently enrolled students may request that directory information be withheld from disclosure by filing the appropriate form with the Registrar within two weeks after the first day of classes for the fall semester. Requests made after this date should still be forwarded since they will prevent directory information from being released in the future. The College assumes that failure on the part of the student to specifically request the withholding of any directory information indicates approval of disclosure.

Request for nondisclosure will be honored by the institution and remain in effect until withdrawn by the student in writing. Students are advised to exercise caution in requesting nondisclosure of directory information since the inability to verify attendance and/or graduation may adversely affect future employment. For nondisclosure, complete the St. John Fisher Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form available in the Registrar’s Office.

Note: Notification to students of their rights under FERPA is sent via College email each year at the start of the fall semester.

Release of Personal Information to Military Recruiters

At the request of military branches, the regulations under the Solomon Amendment, 32 CFR Part 215, require the College to release select information on currently enrolled students to military recruiters for the sole purpose of military recruiting. Before releasing the requested information, the College will ask if the intent is to use the requested information only for military recruiting purposes.

The military is entitled to receive information about students who are “currently enrolled,” which is defined as registered for at least one credit hour of academic credit during the most recent, current, or next term.

Under the Solomon Amendment, the military is entitled to receive the following student information:

• Name
• Age or year of birth
• Address
• Major
• Telephone number
• Level of education (i.e., freshman, sophomore, or degree awarded to a recent graduate)

If a student has requested that his or her directory information not be disclosed to third parties, as is permitted under FERPA, that student’s information will not be released to the military under the Solomon Amendment. In such instances, the school will remove the student’s information sent to the military and note “We have not provided information for X number of students because they have requested that their directory information not be disclosed as permitted by FERPA.”