Class Policies

General Course Requirements

The following guidelines should help you structure your learning and plan your time:

  • As a rule-of-thumb, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 2-3 hours of preparation and study for each credit hour. This means that you should be spending approximately 6-9 hours per week reading the course material and working on course-related assignments.
  • Read all assigned class materials prior to class and before completing the assignments and interacting on the discussion boards.
  • BE REFLEXIVE! You should always be asking yourself: “How does this apply to me and my life?” and “How can this make me a better person?”

 

Course Attendance Guidelines

By taking this class you are agreeing to attend, on time. So, attend class regularly, accept the consequences of not attending, or take another class instead of this one.

All students are allowed one unexcused absence; after that, 3% (4% T,Th and Summer courses) is deducted from your overall grade for each unexcused absence. Absences are only excused for either medical reasons or official university activities; you must provide appropriate, dated documentation upon returning to class. If you’re too sick to come to class, go to the doctor and bring me the receipt. If your grandmother dies, bring me the dated obituary. If you miss a class, you are responsible for knowing before the next class what you missed and what work is due the day you return. Please ask another student what you have missed, and not your instructor. I will help you where and when I can, but your absences are your responsibility.

I take roll at the beginning of each class. If you are not present when I take roll, you are marked absent. If you wish to have your absence changed to a “tardy”, it is your responsibility to ask me to do so after class. Excessive tardies will lower your grade.

These policies will not change, so if you are not interested in agreeing to them, please do not remain in this class.

Late Assignment Policy

Normally, all late assignments are penalized 10% for each day late (20% for any paper due on a Friday and turned in on the following Monday). After three days late assignments will receive a grade of no higher than "C". Assignments will not be accepted more than one week late, and a grade of 0 will be recorded for that assignment.

Grading Scale and Grading Policies

Your final grade will be based upon the percentage of total points earned by you over the semester:

  • A = 90% - 100%
  • B = 80% - 89%
  • C = 70% - 79%
  • D = 60% - 69%
  • F = Less than 60%

I do give A's, and I do give F's. Both require work and are earned; neither should be a surprise. If you're concerned about the quality of your work, or don’t understand a grade please come and talk to me. Here’s what grades in my class mean:

  • A = Exceptional work that goes beyond the expectations of the course.
  • B = Very good work that meets all expectations.
  • C = Good work that just demonstrates a basic understanding of course material.
  • D = Less than satisfactory work that demonstrates little understanding or effort. D’s are also earned by a failure to attend regularly
  • F = Failure. Students most regularly fail courses in three ways: failing to complete assignments, failing to complete assignments on time, and failing to attend class is also a good way to earn an F.

The final grade students receive is based entirely on points earned and lost through assignments, homework, attendance, and contribution to discussions. Unless I have made a mathematical error, final grades are non-negotiable. Also, I won’t grade you down because I don’t like you, and I won’t grade you up because I do like you.

Laptop Computer and Electronic Devices Policy

Frequent, constant, on-going abuse of laptop computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices have forced me to initiate the following policy, which applies to all electronic devices:

  1. Do not use laptops or any other type of electronic device in this class during lectures without my specific permission.
  2. Laptops may only be used for work directly related to the class, when you have been given permission to use them.
  3. Laptops are to remain closed during all tests and quizzes. Open them only after all tests and quizzes have been collected.
  4. Anyone unwilling to agree to and/or follow this policy must either not use a laptop in class or must accept that the instructor will confiscate the laptop, and require that the student gain the laptop’s release through the CDHD front office.

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in my banning all laptop and electronic devices from the classroom.

ADA Policy

If you have specific special needs to participate in this course, please let me know so that I may make the appropriate accommodations. If I cannot make the requisite accommodations I will work with you to get the necessary support from Disabilities Support Services (DSS).

The provision of equal opportunities for students who experience disabilities is a campus-wide responsibility and commitment. Disabilities Support Services (DSS) is the designated University of Idaho department responsible for coordinating academic support services for students who experience disabilities. To access support services, students must contact DSS and provide current disability documentation that supports the requested services. Disability support services are mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

The mission of DSS is to facilitate inclusion by reducing/eliminating barriers, whether they are attitudinal, structural, programmatic or otherwise. In doing so, students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to become successful through their own efforts and not held back by artificial barriers. We strive to create partnerships between DSS, students, faculty, staff, and other university and community offices by creating awareness and training on disability-related issues as well as providing information and referral services.

Students are asked to notify DSS as soon as possible to discuss disability-related concerns and needs. Services include, but are not limited to: alternate text, assistive technology information, readers, notetakers, sign language interpreters, real-time captioning, campus housing arrangements, campus accessibility and disability parking information, priority registration assistance, new student orientation, testing accommodations, advocacy, or assistance with any other campus disability-related needs.

Academic Honesty Policy

In general, those caught cheating and/or plagiarizing in my class will be failed. If you don't know what cheating and plagiarizing are, it is worth your time and it is your responsibility to find out. For information on plagiarism see the Plagiarism Policy of the UI English Department. This policy also applies to this class.

The following is more specific information on Academic Honesty from Article II of the UI Student Code of Conduct:

  1. Cheating on classroom or outside assignments, examinations, or tests is a violation of this code. Plagiarism, falsification of academic records, and the acquisition or use of test materials without faculty authorization are considered forms of academic dishonesty and, as such, are violations of this code. Because academic honesty and integrity are core values at a university, the faculty finds that even one incident of academic dishonesty seriously and critically endangers the essential operation of the university and may merit expulsion. [rev. 7-98]
  2. The operation of UI requires the accuracy and protection of its records and documents. To use, make, forge, print, reproduce, copy, alter, remove, or destroy any record, document, or identification used or maintained by UI violates this code when done with intent to defraud or misinform. All data acquired through participation in UI research programs is the property of the university and must be provided to the principal investigator. In addition, collaboration with the University Research Office for the assignment of rights, title, and interest in patentable inventions resulting from the research is also required [see 5400 A through E]. Entrance without proper authority into any private office or space of a member of the faculty, staff, or student body is a violation of this code. It is also a violation to hack or make unauthorized use of any computer or information system maintained by the university or a member of the faculty, staff, or student body. [rev.7-05]
  3. Instructors and students are responsible for maintaining academic standards and integrity in their classes. Consequences for academic dishonesty may be imposed by the course instructor. Such consequences may include but cannot exceed a grade of “F” in the course. The instructor should attempt to notify the student of the suspected academic dishonesty and give the student an opportunity to respond. The notice and the opportunity may be informal and need not be in writing. Penalties for any disciplinary infraction must be judicially imposed. [See 1640.02 C-5] [rev. 7-98]
  4. Instructors may report incidents of academic dishonesty to the dean of students. Upon receiving such a report, the dean of students shall provide the student with written notice that a report has been made and an opportunity to meet with the dean to discuss the report. The dean of students shall maintain the report and any record of the meeting for a period of time deemed appropriate by the dean. The dean of students may file a complaint against the student after the meeting has taken place or the student has elected, either affirmatively or through inaction, not to meet with the dean. [add. 7-98]