Standard Course Policies

The following course policies are for the course sections taught by Dr. Gerald Kruse.

This policy page was updated  08/18/2008 .
 

Course Withdrawal:

The Juniata College policy on course withdrawals is that you must have instructor permission and be assigned a WP (withdraw - passing) or WF (withdraw - failing) grade if you want to drop a class after the end of the drop/add period. Your grade will depend on your course average (see Standard Grading Scale below) at the time you withdraw.
 

Attendance:

Attendance will be taken regularly during the semester, and it will help determine the student's final grade.  Obviously, missing classes will negatively impact class participation.  Students are responsible for material covered during their absences. Every class is important.
 

Absences:

The responsibility for making up missed work, scheduling missed exams/quizes, and covering missed material due to an excused absence lies with the student.  Students who miss class due to illness must provide documentation from the Health and Wellness Center or their health care provider.  An excused absence, including illness, does NOT automatically provide an excuse for late assignments.
 

In Class Conduct:

Students are expected to be attentive in class and act in a professional manner. In particular, they are expected to be alert, pleasant, and to participate in the lecture/discussion, and NOT use any applications (such as email, web-browsers, IM, or computer games) or personal electronic devices (such as cellphones or MP3 players). A general rule of thumb to follow is that the student should not be using a keyboard, mouse, or personal electronic device during lecture, and that I will track any instance of students using these.

During lab time, students are expected to be cordial. The negativity from being "short," "cross," or "upset" while asking for help should be avoided, and an atmosphere of mutual respect will be cultivated. In addition, labs are meant as vehicles of discovery, so students should not expect to be handed the answers.

Class participation and in class conduct will be a component in determining the student's final grade.

 

"How can I improve my grade?":

This is a common question, and it has some common sense answers:
    1. Attend and participate in class (see In Class Conduct and Absences above)
    2. Do the suggested homework problems and ask questions if you are having trouble with them
    3. Turn in all the assignments (on time) and ask questions if you are having trouble with them
    4. Read the pertinent chapters and review your class notes

I want to give the benefit of the doubt to students who are working hard, but I can only judge effort by tangible evidence like office visits, class attendance, solving the suggested homework problems, and prompt submittal of assignments.

Students are welcome to demonstrate their effort in the class by writing up and turning in the suggested homework problems which are typically just discussed in class.  If the student turns in this optional work (before it is discussed in class), it will not be graded, but reviewed to ensure a sincere attempt was made to solve each problem.

Opportunities for extra-credit will never be offered solely to individual students, and will very rarely be offered to the entire class.

 

Standard Grading Scale:

I  GENERALLY  assign grades according to the following table.  For students on the border between grades, I might give them the "benefit of the doubt" after considering their class participation and effort.
91% <= Course Average <= 100%  A 
90% <= Course Average <    91%  A- 
88% <= Course Average <    90% B+ 
81% <= Course Average <    88%  B 
80% <= Course Average <    81%  B- 
78% <= Course Average <    80% C+ 
71% <= Course Average <    78%  C 
70% <= Course Average <    71%  C- 
68% <= Course Average <    70%  D+ 
61% <= Course Average <    68%  D 
60% <= Course Average <    61%  D- 
         Course Average <    60%  F 

 

Late Assignments:

Students should save any written work, especially computer labs or programs, on an appropriate network drive (typically U: or W:), so it can be accessed throughout campus.  "I saved it on my C: drive" or "my printer was out of toner" are NOT acceptible excuses for late assignments. Exams are scheduled early enough in the semester so students can avoid scheduling conflicts.

Late assignments are accepted at the instructors discretion. If accepted, late homework will be penalized.  Extensions without penalty are more likely to be granted if the instructor is contacted with a reasonable request prior to the due date.  All requests for extensions will be logged (as well as any other "exceptional" requests), and this information will be used in determining the student's final grade.

Late work will not be accepted if the assignment has already been graded and returned.

Turn in any work for partial credit.  These courses are fast-paced and cumulative.  It is imperative for the student not to fall behind.
 

Academic Integrity:

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The work you (and your partner, if applicable) turn in, should be your own work.

Discussing ideas and working on concepts with other students (or groups, if applicable) for an assignment is encouraged.

Sharing solutions or code with other students (or groups) is strictly forbidden.  Using solutions from previous semesters is also forbidden.
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If you are struggling with an assignment, it is much better to ask for help (at the risk of turning in a late assignment), than turning in work that is not your own.
Students are expected to follow the official College policy on Academic Honesty, as described in the Pathfinder.
Offenses include, but are not limited to:
    - receiving an inappropriate amount of help from someone else
    - turning in work by someone else as your own
    - working in groups larger than allowed
    - using solutions from other or previous sections of the course
    - cheating on an exam

Penalties:
1st offense    -  0 on the assignment or test (with a strong recommendation to drop the course)
2nd offense   -  F grade for the course
 

Accommodations:

If a student has an accommodation, the student is responsible for initiating the process to set up the accommodation. For example, if a student has an accommodation allowing them extra time to complete an exam, it is the responsibility of the student to approach the instructor to make arrangements for a time and place to take the exam.

 

Students with Disabilities:

The Americans With Disabilities Act mandates accessibility in all aspects of the learning environment.  If you have an identified disability and are in need of specific accommodations, please notify me at the start of the course. However, students are responsible for initiating the process to set up their accomodations. For example, if a student has an accomodation allowing them extra time to complete an exam, the student must approach the instructor to make arrangements for a time and place to take the exam.