Class policy

I was somewhat overwhelmed by the number of excuses, late assignments, and even “collaborative” work I encountered when I first began teaching. To avoid any misunderstandings and confusion, I wrote down some rules and policies I’ll follow this semester. I hope that they make sense and you can abide by them.

attendance

Attendance is mandatory and expected for lectures and highly encouraged for recitations. On-time arrival is also expected. Arriving late is often disruptive.

I will try my best to make all the lectures and expect you to do so as well. Don’t worry about missing one or two lectures – that will not hurt your grade. Chronic absenteeism, however, will.

Please do not submit absence reports. I do not need to know that you were absent from class or the reasons for the absence. If you have a medical or other valid reason for missing a series of classes, please contact me well before the end of the semester so we can discuss whether it will make sense for you to get an incomplete grade for the course.

While I attempt to put most of the material on the web for your convenience, you are responsible for all material presented in class. In case you might miss a lecture, make a friend now! While I will endeavor to keep the canvas modules and my web site up to date, the lecture is your primary source of updates and information. I may give quizzes throughout the semester that will largely serve to check attendance and minimal wakefulness. Missing a couple of classes will have no detrimental effect on your grade, but missing several may. Please see the Rutgers policy on Attendance and Cancellation of Classes.

absenteeism or missed work

Bad luck happens and circumstances may occur that prevent you from completing some coursework. Should this occur, you must inform me as soon as possible. We can then discuss options, such as taking an incomplete grade in the class pending completion of the missed coursework. You will not be excused from missing any coursework. Do not wait until the end of the semester, as you will get no sympathy from me if you wait until final grades are assigned before approaching me.

exams

There will be four exams in this course: three in-semester exams and a cumulative final. The exam with the lowest normalized grade will be dropped (see the grading page for a description of grade normalization). All remaining exams will be weighted equally.

I will post grades before the final exam that factor in your grades from three exams. This will be your final grade if you choose not to take the final (the final is effectively a grade of 0 and is dropped). If you take the final exam, it will serve only to displace an existing exam grade that is lower than your score on the final. I will not reward you for the act of taking the final exam. I will generally not give make-up exams or make-up assignments except under extraordinary circumstances such as documented cases of serious injury or illness if time permits. If you miss an exam, then your grade for that exam is a 0. You will then have to take the final exam and the 0 grade will be dropped as the lowest of the four exam grades.

assignments

Assignments in this course will include both written questions as well as programming projects. Both of them count in your final grade, although programming projects will have a heavier weight. All assignments are due on their due date (that’s the definition of a due date), prior to the posted deadline. Late assignments will not be accepted. Try to hand in your work early to avoid unforseen disasters. Assignments must be submitted via canvas. If there is a need to attach written content (e.g., design or testing documentation to accompany a program), the only formats accepted will be plain text or pdf. I will not accept any submissions that require me to open Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Adobe InDesign, or any other format that requires me to open an application beyond a pdf reader or text editor.

collaboration

Except for group projects (if assigned), all homework is intended to be done without consulting others. Since discussion of work with fellow students can be a valuable learning experience, you certainly may discuss the topics related to the problems with others. This brings us to the next item…

cheating

Cheating will not be tolerated. All homework assignments, programming projects, and exams are to be done individually. Third-party code cannot be used unless you explicitly cite the use of a library. If you have problems in understanding the material or doing an assignment, please schedule an appointment to see me or a TA. If you chance cheating and get caught, you will be reported to the office of student conduct and to the dean. At that point, the office will decide on any penalties and inform me how to proceed. The violation will go on your record and your punishment will, at the least, be a reduced grade but may include failing the course or suspension from the university. The risk is not worth it. Be sure you read the Rutgers policy on academic integrity. It is your responsibility to ensure that your passwords are well-guarded, all files and directories protected, and any printouts or removable storage devices do not fall into other hands.

office hours

I’m here to help you learn. If you have any questions or problems with the course material, assignments, or other matters in which I may be able to help you, feel free to contact the TAs or me. You can send me mail (I’ll usually respond within a day) or schedule an appointment. I am out of state on most weekdays, so I will unlikely be able to meet with you at any time other than Monday evening, but I can be available most days via email or phone/video with some advance notice.

phones and noise makers

Ringing, beeping, or buzzing phones, laptops, games, and watches are disruptive. Please mute any noise-generating devices at the start of class.

document retention

I will have exams results available by the lecture following the exam (i.e., one week) and will return the papers to you then. If you were not in class and were unable to pick up your exam, you will have to ask me via email to bring it in at least a day before the next lecture. I will generally not carry old exams to each lecture hoping you will show up to claim them. You cannot pick up an exam for a friend.

Final exams will not be returned and I will retain either originals or scanned copies for at least a year after the end of the semester. I will not keep any other old exams beyond two weeks past the end of the semester. I will keep all your grades on record indefinitely so I can have them available in case you need letters of reference, job recommendations, or placement interviews.

grade adjustment

I make mistakes. We will go over the exam when I return exams (the lecture following the exam). If you feel there has been a grading mistake, you can discuss it with me that week or the following week, unless we both agree to other arrangements. After that, the grade is final and will not be changed. Homework, project, and quiz correction requests can be made no later than one week after the grades have been posted. Any correction requests for exams or assignments that were due close to the end of the semester must be made before the end of reading days.