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Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
- Albert Einstein
Class times: Mondays from noon to 1:20pm in our Zoom room
Study session times: 5pm Mon/Wed, 9am Thursday, 5pm Sunday
Instructor: David L. Van Slyke, vanslyked@lanecc.edu, cell phone (541) 357-7551
Office hours by appointment: in Zoom during remote terms, otherwise at building 16 and room 261
Tutoring available at the Lane Support Hub and TRiO.
The achievement page is our online gradebook.
(Please communicate with me using the above cell phone or LCC email. Please do not use my LCC office phone or moodle's messages.)
Course Description
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Math 52 (CRN 20002) Math for Health and Physical Sciences is a pre-algebra level course in professional-technical mathematics used in chemistry, dosage computation, and other science-related courses. Topics include unit conversions, metrics, scientific notation, significant figures, rates, proportions, percent applications, graphs, algebra of units, and logarithms for pH.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Practice decimal and fraction operations and apply to solve applications.
- Demonstrate the correct use of English, metric and apothecary units of measurement.
- Solve problems using unit (dimensional) analysis.
- Apply concepts of approximate numbers for rounding measurements.
- Demonstrate the correct use of labels for measurements, applications, and graphs.
- Use basic geometric formulas for area and perimeter of quadrilaterals.
- Compute with signed numbers.
- Solve equations and formulas for one variable.
- Interpret and create line graphs.
- Calculate and label slope of line graphs.
- Solve problems involving percents.
- Solve problems involving proportions for solutions and variation.
- Use and compare Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin temperature scales.
- Find the volume and density of objects.
- Calculate pH quantities involving logarithms.
- Calculate dosages for oral and injected medications including reconstituted liquids.
- Use and compute with exponential and scientific notation.
- Calculate both by hand and using a scientific calculator when appropriate.
Which degrees and programs require Math 52?
- dental assisting and dental hygene
- medical office assistant
- health records
- exercise and movement science
- physics level 100
- chemistry level 100
- biobonds
- energy management (sometimes)
You may call me David. I have taught Math 20 and Math 25 at LCC for over a decade. I more recently began teaching Math 52 and 105, and ABSE Level C Math.
My teaching philosophy is summarized by the motto celebrating eating an elephant together.
I let the pace of class be guided by student questions and discussion instead of planning out a weekly schedule before the term begins. The website's topics are carefully designed so we move forward with fundamental skills in the most clear and sensible order, and also have opportunities to take side trips that explore all kinds of interesting applications.
My personal interests include gluten-free baking (my wife is extremely Celiac), hiking, reading, computer and board games, and much more.
I have lots of silly and inspiring stories from my years of teaching almost every grade level from Head Start through college. Here are a few to ask me about:
Our class has a lot of homework. Students with an an average math foundation who want to be prepared for the final exam should expect to spend 4 to 8 hours each week doing homework.
Because we meet in Zoom you will need a reliable internet connection and a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Please bring to class paper, a pencil, a highlighter, and a notebook.
You will need a scientific calculator that can do exponents and has a π key. A model with parenthesis keys and a fraction key is highly recommended. The online Desmos Calculator that is always linked at the top of our website works great. This Sharp is most popular for handheld calculators. Your smartphone might also work.
An optional resource is Basic College Mathematics by Charles McKeague. It has nice videos for every example problem. It is available as a physical book or an e-book. (If you buy the physical book, you also get the e-book for free.)
A very optional item is an inexpensive computer stylus and drawing tablet. Students who want to contribute to our online whiteboard during class and have kids attending school remotely might possibly find this purchase worthwhile.
Together our class times, study sessions, this class website, the textbook if used, and the videos and OER textbooks linked from the class website provide many different ways of understanding each math topic. Find the resources that work best for you!
One of your key tasks is to condense your class notes, thoughts, homework, and favorite example problems into an improved set of notes that you are allowed to use on the final exam. Preparing these notes carefully is invaluable!
For the sake of simplicity we will try to follow the official textbook one chapter per week. This textbook has lots of clearly explained example problems and good homework problems.
We will use this website to fill in what the textbook lacks: group activities, interesting readings, extension topics, and help with how to picture and think about most of the math topics.
This week, in addition to getting introduced to each other and to the course, we discuss the first textbook chapter, Review of Fractions.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 1, Monday | website tour | ![]() |
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Week 1, Monday | order of topics | ![]() |
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Week 1, Monday | rounding, divisibility rules | ![]() |
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Week 1, Wednesday | fraction × and ÷ | ![]() |
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Week 1, Thursday | fraction + and − | ![]() |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §1.1 (page 24) # 1 to 65 every other odd
Textbook §1.2 (page 33) # 67 to 105 odd
Textbook §1.3 (page 42) # 107 to 141 odd
4. Reflect. Read the first section of the study skills page about time management.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §1.1 # 31, 41, 51, §1.2 # 69, 75, 79, 105, and §1.3 # 133, 135, 141. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Write a start of term reflection.
Share in class what you learned from Dr. Chu's videos about studying.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
Instructor's notes to himself: the textbook never teaches reducing, and its example of least common denominator in 1.25 needs explanation. The website could use pictures for representational fluency of fractions and mixed numbers.
This week, in addition to making decisions about syllabus and grading, we discuss the second textbook chapter, Decimal Review.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 2, Monday | about homework and grading | ![]() |
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Week 2, Monday | more decimals, then ratio and rate | ![]() |
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Study Session, Wednesday | reducing a fraction that has decimals | ![]() |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §2.1 (page 49) # 1 to 29 odd
Textbook §2.2 (page 52) # 31 to 51 odd
Textbook §2.3 (page 56) # 53 to 61 odd
Textbook §2.4 (page 67) # 63 to 145 odd
4. Reflect. Read the first section of the study skills page about doings.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §2.1 # 19, 29, §2.2 # 51, §2.3 # 59, 61, and §2.4 # 71, 75, 87, 111, 129. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting rounding and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting fraction format and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting ratio format and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
Instructor's notes: the textbook does not use decimal point scoots until section 6.4 with metric unit conversions, and the website lacks writing ratios that include a variable amount.
This week we work from two textbook chapters.
The textbook's third chapter is Operations with Integers. The two key subtopics are order of operations, and negative numbers.
The textbook's fourth chapter is a mish-mash of stuff named Formulas and Equations. This week we will talk about plugging numbers into equations, and also solving one-step equations. The rest of chapter four we do next week.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 2, Monday | announcements | ![]() |
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Week 2, Monday | PEMDAS, terms, negatives, temperature, one-step equations | ![]() |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §3.1 (page 77) # 1 to 15 odd
Textbook §3.2 (page 86) # 17 to 39 odd
Textbook §3.3 (page 98) # 41 to 91 odd
Textbook §3.4 (page 107) # 93 to 139 odd
Textbook §3.5 (page 111) # 141 to 151 odd
Textbook §4.1 (page 118) # 1 to 11 odd
Textbook §4.2 (page 122) # 13 to 33 odd
4. Reflect. Read the first section of the study skills page about mindset.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §3.1 # 7, §3.2 # 37, §3.3 # 75, 77, §3.4 # 131, 139, §3.5 # 141, §4.1 # 1, and §4.2 # 13, 29. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Justice fractions and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Health metabolism and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
Instructor's notes: the website has little with integers aside from flushing out common background knowledge and avoiding common algebraic mistakes from assuming variables are positive— it should be in Mad Science more thoroughly; the book does no arithmetic with negative numbers after Chapter 3 but uses negative numbers in 4.7 for the coordinate plane, in 8.1/8.4 for exponents of scientific notation, and in 8.4 for the pH formula
This week we finish the textbook's fourth chapter. It is a mish-mash of stuff named Formulas and Equations. Last week we went over plugging numbers into equations, and also solving one-step equations. Now we finish up with proportions, variation, and some graphing.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 4, Monday | proportions | ![]() |
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Study Session, Wednesday |
homework questions | ![]() |
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §4.4 (page 131) # 45 to 63 odd
Textbook §4.5 (page 136) # 65 to 91 odd
Textbook §4.6 (page 141) # 93 to 99 odd
Textbook §4.7 (page 147) # 101 and 103
4. Reflect. Read the being a mather page about the "big picture" of mathematics.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §4.4 # 47, 63, §4.5 # 67, 73, 89, 91, §4.6 # 93, 95, 99, and §4.7 # 101. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Justice ratios and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
This week we cover the textbook's fifth chapter, Percents.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 5, Monday | percentages | ![]() |
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Study Session, Wednesday |
Chapter 5 # 83, 88, and 125 | ![]() |
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Study Session, Thursday |
Chapter 5 # 129 | ![]() |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §5.1 (page 155) # 1 to 45 odd
Textbook §5.2 (page 167) # 47 to 95 odd
Textbook §5.3 (page 174) # 97 to 123 odd
Textbook §5.4 (page 180) # 125 and 129
4. Reflect. Read the class library page books, and decide which book interests you most. (No need to actually obtain or read the book.)
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §5.1 # 9, 21, §5.2 # 59, 69, 75, 83, 91, §5.3 # 121, and §5.4 # 125, 129. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting percent format and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Mad Science percentages and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Justice percentages and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Only if you wish, do the website's ten exercises about calories and food and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
In week 6 our actual midterm tested your notes. More practice midterms are here. Check our Google Drive for your classmates' shared work.
This week we discuss the textbook's sixth chapter, Units of Measurement. The most important subtopic is a process named unit analysis.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 7, Monday | unit analysis, SI measurement scoots |
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Study Session, Wednesday |
Three methods for Mad Science ratios #1 |
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Study Session, Friday |
Mad Science ratios #3, 5, 8, 9, 10 |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §6.1 (page 185) # 1 to 8 all
Textbook §6.2 (page 190) # 9 to 13 odd
Textbook §6.3 (page 193) # 15 to 24 all
Textbook §6.4 (page 198) # 25 to 41 odd
Textbook §6.5 (page 201) # 43 to 53 odd
Textbook §6.6 (page 205) # 55 to 61 all, 63 to 73 odd
4. Reflect. Read the playgrounds page and pick which playground would interest you most if one was required. Because this is a remote term, no playgrounds are actually required.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §6.2 # 9, 11, 13, §6.4 # 27, 29, 41, and §6.5 # 43, 45, 47, 51. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Mad Science ratios and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting measurement and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
This week we discuss the textbook's seventh chapter, More Applications of Dimensional Analysis. We continue using that process.
Since the seventh chapter introduces molarity, we also do the last two parts of textbook's eigth chapter, Scientific Notation, Logarithms, and pH because those topics flow together.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 8, Monday | announcements, survey | ![]() |
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Week 8, Monday | textbook chapters 7 and 8 | ![]() |
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Quick Video, Tuesday |
overview of textbook homework | ![]() |
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Quick Video, Wednesday |
Mad Science measurement #4 | ![]() |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §7.1 (page 216) # 1 to 31 odd
Textbook §7.2 (page 222) # 33 to 49 odd
Textbook §7.3 (page 226) # 51 to 63 odd
Textbook §7.4 (page 229) # 65 to 71 odd
Textbook §8.3 (page 247) # 43 to 55 odd
Textbook §8.4 (page 250) # 57 to 61 odd
4. Reflect. Look carefully at the achievements and plan how to finish the term with the grade you want.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Read the angry chemist and be ready to talk about his "test yourself" questions.
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §7.1 # 9, 21, §7.2 # 35, §7.3 # 51, 53, 57, 63, §7.4 # 65, §8.3 # 47, and §8.4 # 61. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's middle of the term survey.
Consider meeting briefly with your instructor to get your achievements checked off.
If you wish, do the website's ten exercises for Mad Science measurement and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page. (Only the first four problems really fit our class.)
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Woo hoo!
This week we finish the textbook. We have only two sectinos left in the last chapter Scientific Notation, Logarithms, and pH.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
Week 9, Monday | announcements, gathering data | ![]() |
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Week 9, Monday | accuracy and reliability, measurements vs. results |
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Textbook Section 8.2 | homework problems | ![]() |
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How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §8.1 (page 237) # 1 to 31 odd
Textbook §8.2 (page 244) # 33 to 41 odd
Start using practice finals.
4. Reflect. Reread the advice about using practice tests.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §8.1 # 3, 5, 9, 11, 25 §8.2 # 33, 35, 37, 39, 41. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Use the Race to a Trillion game and the error propagation playground. Send a note with at least one thing you learned from them.
Ponder if your upcoming holiday conversations include our topics: math skills, group dynamics, curiosity, data reliability, error propagation.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
The practice final page creates a new version each time you reload the page.
The specific version of the practice final we used during our last class is here, with a jamboard and video for requested problems.
By LCC policy, missing all classes and assignments during the first week causes you to be dropped from the class.
The Fall term holidays are Veterans' Day (Thursday, November 11th) and Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday, November 25th and 26th). Neither is one of our class days.
You can add this calendar to your own calendar app using this ICAL address.
Please note that LCC policy allows students with three or more finals on the same day to reschedule one of them. Sometimes final exams may be taken early because of medical or other concerns.
LCC provides dumploads of resources to help students succeed. You can click on the image to the right to see my own compilation of student resources.
During remote terms the Math Resource Center, Tutor Central, other LCC tutoring centers, the college computer support, and many other student support offices all work together offering online Zoom help using the Lane Support Hub, which uses this Zoom room.
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Fall term has KickStart Grants for up to $1,500 of financial assistance, with a deadline of October 4th but first come first served. Most students are eligible.
The link to start TRiO tutoring is http://lanecc.edu/meettrio.
Jennifer Sacklin (e-mail, appointment)works with STEP at Lane to offer advising, job search assistance, and help purchasing class books and equipment (requires receiving SNAP but not TANF, and a bit more).
It is often valuable to visit an Early Outreach Specialist who is trained to connect students to whatever resources can help. The one who normally works most closely with math students is Katherine Kaylegian (e-mail). Alternatively, Norma Scovell (e-mail is their Spanish speaker.)
Lane Community College is dedicated to providing inclusive learning environments. The Center for Accessible Resources coordinates all academic accomodations for students. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers due to a disability, to request assistance or accommodations, contact CAR at 541-463-5150 or accessibleresources@lanecc.edu.
All LCC classes adhere to the college's student rights and responsibilities and code of conduct.
You didn't click on my link to a big page of resources, did you? Then please at least click here to read about the many different workshops and other nice things offered by the college's advisors and counselors.
Distance learning is more immune to weather issues, but we should still know the routines...
Sign up for LaneAlert to receive e-mails or texts about weather closures! Log into mylane. In the Home tab, locate the box labeled Personal Information. Select the Lane Alert Emergency Notification link. Select which notifications you would like to receive. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click Save Changes.
You can also listen to KLCC (FM 89.7) or KUGN (AM 590 or FM 97.9) for campus closure information. You can also check the websites of LCC and FlashAlert.
If class is canceled or you are absent, please read ahead using the class website to familiarize yourself with the upcoming topics and assignments. Then we can more quickly cover the missed material.
LCC's website has more about its weather closure policies.