All course information is listed within this syllabus.
AGBIO 520: Agricultural Biosecurity: Protecting a Key Infrastructure (3 credits). This course will explore intentional and unintentional threats to the agriculture-food system, history, and current approaches for safeguarding this key infrastructure.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
Instructor
Dr. Gretchen Kuldau
Associate Professor
Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology
308 Buckhout Lab
University Park, PA 16802
E-mail: Use Canvas Inbox
Background
Dr. Gretchen Kuldau earned her B.S. in Biology from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in Molecular and Physiological Plant Biology from the University of California Berkeley. Of her program interests, she writes, "Research in my lab focuses on mycotoxigenic fungi and their interactions with plants. Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that are toxic to humans and animals. These naturally occurring toxins are of concern for both human and animal health since some are human carcinogens and others can cause fatal diseases in farm animals. In most cases, the biological motivation for mycotoxin production is unknown. While we have a relatively clear understanding of the nature of many of the commonly found mycotoxins we often do not know why they are made. One of the primary goals of my program is to understand why fungi produce mycotoxins. Such knowledge should provide the basis for new strategies for prevention of accumulation of mycotoxins in food and feed."
Course Overview
Agricultural Biosecurity covers a wide range of topics related to protecting the agriculture food system from intentional and unintentional threats. The course is introduced with an overview of the scope and nature of the agriculture food system including identification of professionals operating within this arena. This is followed by appropriate historical context and several modules on specific threats to plant and animal agriculture, and the food system, and a discussion of the social impacts of agro-terrorism. The threat of accidental introduction of exotic species and their potential to become invasive is also discussed. The course concludes with a series of modules focused around the central concept of prevent, detect, respond, and recover. We end with a discussion on looking to the future which will summarize the course by identifying areas that are still in need of improvement and areas for future research.
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to provide a structure for students with little or no background in agriculture to learn about agricultural biosecurity.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Outline historical and contemporary events that are relevant to agricultural biosecurity.
- Describe the threats, both intentional and accidental, to plant and animal production and food systems.
- Explain the roles of different levels of government and which agencies are responsible for safeguarding agricultural biosecurity.
- Outline the four basic steps in agricultural biosecurity and describe specific actions that are used in each step.
- Explain current limitations and unmet needs in agricultural biosecurity and be able to suggest possible solutions.
- Discuss agricultural biosecurity and explain it to those unfamiliar with it.
- Appreciate the importance of the agriculture-food system as a key infrastructure.
Expectations
What Is Expected of Members of Our Learning Community
- Shared responsibility — While your purposes for taking this course may vary, our learning activities will draw upon peer insight and feedback and involve us in various combinations of individual and collaborative learning activities. Each of us should contribute to our web of learning, as well as benefit from it. You are part of a community, learning together.
- Keep on top of things — Please establish a routine that allows you to regularly pace yourself and remain actively involved with course activities. While you can choose which time of the day and which days of the module you log on and contribute, please do not disadvantage yourself and the rest of us by falling behind. The pace of this course is intense. Log on often (several times a week) to keep abreast of new postings, current emails, updated discussion, and overall course progress.
- Prepare for absences — I encourage you to plan ahead. I understand many graduate students work and have families. As adult learners, you must pace yourself according to your schedule. Don't wait until the last minute! Others are depending on you and you don't want to get overwhelmed. If you need to be away from the course due to personal or family needs, please communicate with me and your team members via course email If unexpected or extenuating circumstances arise that will keep you from being an active contributor, please communicate with me and I will do the same with you.
- Issues of confidentiality, privacy, and ethics — As professionals, we face ethical issues frequently. Having the academic freedom to express ourselves in class demands that we protect each others' confidentiality outside of class. I expect that what is "said" on our course site will stay here.
What You Can Expect of Your Instructor
- Contact and presence — My goal is to acknowledge or respond to personal and group questions, suggestions, dilemmas, or other course-related issues within 48 hours. However, the grading of course assignments usually takes longer.
- Flexibility — As noted above, instructors are prepared to accommodate vacations, illnesses, and job emergencies, provided that there is a reasonable prospect or plan for making up the work. If you need to be late with an assignment or prefer to do something else suitable to that topic, please discuss it with your instructor ahead of time.
- Sense of community — This course has been designed to operate within a learning community: having a shared purpose (course goals), a distinctive place to gather, promoting effective work products from within our group (module assignments), establishing accepted norms (netiquette and mutual expectations), and allowing for a range of member roles and participation (team projects and responses to postings).
Course Schedule
For due dates, refer to the Course Summary on the Syllabus page in Canvas.
Grading Policy
The following table is the grading criteria for the course.
| Requirement | Cumulative Point Value | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Team Project Report | 135 | 25% |
| Individual Research Paper | 120 | 20% |
| Reports | 60 | 15% |
| Reflections | 150 | 15% |
| Midterm Exam | 100 | 15% |
| Other Assignments | 137 | 10% |
| TOTAL: | 702 | 100% |
The following table is the grading scheme for the course.
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 100% – 93% |
| A- | < 93% – 90% |
| B+ | < 90% – 87% |
| B | < 87% – 83% |
| B- | < 83% – 80% |
| C+ | < 80% – 77% |
| C | < 77% – 73% |
| C- | < 73% – 70% |
| D | < 70% – 60% |
| F | < 60% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" under World Campus Student Resources.
Online Students Use of the Library
As Penn State students, you have access to many of the materials that the library offers to students. The library website has a lot to offer but can be overwhelming. A guide has been created to serve as your introduction to important library resources, services, and important pages within the library. The Online Student Library Guide is updated regularly by the online librarian. It is intended to provide a level of comfort through an introduction to help you feel comfortable navigating the library website to find valuable information for your coursework.
Technical Requirements
This course is offered online and it is assumed you possess the minimum system requirements and computing skills to participate effectively. A list of technical requirements is listed on World Campus' Penn State Technical Requirements page.
Minimum Skills
- You should have an understanding of basic computer usage (creating folders/directories, switching between programs, formatting and backing up media, accessing the internet).
- You must be able to conduct word processing tasks such as creating, editing, saving, and retrieving documents.
- You must be able to use a web browser to open web pages, download files, and search the internet.
- You must be able to use an e-mail program to send and receive messages and to attach and download documents/files.
- You must be able to download and install programs or plug-ins from the internet.
Getting Help With Canvas Courses
Canvas support is available 24/7 via chat or phone.
It is in your own best interest to be as specific as you possibly can. Try to include information such as the specific course page, quiz question, etc. you were on; what you attempted to do when that failed; the exact language of any error message displayed on your screen; the date and time when your problem occurred; and any other pertinent information (does the problem happen consistently and always in the same way, etc.).
Support Services
As a student, you have access to a variety of services and resources, including advising, tutoring, library services, career services, and more. Please visit the following resources for more information:
- World Campus Student Services
- Penn State Student Support Resources for University Park and Commonwealth campuses
Accessibility Information
Netiquette
The term "Netiquette" refers to the etiquette guidelines for electronic communications, such as e-mail and discussion postings. Netiquette covers not only rules to maintain civility in discussions but also special guidelines unique to the electronic nature of messages. Please review Virginia Shea's "The Core Rules of Netiquette" for general guidelines that should be followed when communicating in this course.
Penn State Policies
Login Policy
Students are expected to log in regularly to keep up to date with announcements, discussions, etc. The class will progress at a regular pace throughout the semester and there are specific due dates and times for assignments, etc.
Course Availability
Your course will be available to you beginning the first day of class and will remain open for one year. After one year the course will close.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle.
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is "an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically." Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean's List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
You can learn more at The College of Agricultural Sciences Academic Integrity Information for Students.
Educational Equity Statement
Penn State takes great pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity on the Bias Response page.
Privacy Policies
For information about Penn State's privacy statement and what it encompasses, please read their Web Privacy Statement. Visit Penn State's FERPA Guidelines for Faculty and Staff page for information regarding its rules governing the privacy of student educational records.
Copyright Notice
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor's express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD40, Recording of Classroom Activities and Note-Taking Services, addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University's Code of Conduct, and/or liable under federal and state laws.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional well-being. The University offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients' cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
- Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
- Counseling and Psychological Services at Commonwealth Campuses
- Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 1-877-229-6400
- Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
Accommodations for Persons With Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources page.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Accommodations for Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Use of Trade Names
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by World Campus, Outreach and Cooperative Extension, the College of Agricultural Sciences, or The Pennsylvania State University is implied.
Subject to Change Statement
Please note that this Course Syllabus is subject to change. Students are responsible for abiding by such changes.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search to start planning ahead.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search to start planning ahead.
