These policies apply to all of my courses unless the individual course pages (see menu at left) say something different (I am referring to grading policies mainly; sometimes I will do something different in individual classes). The material on the fist-day handouts is always the final word on course policy. (Distance Learning courses are usually significantly different from this information here, however.)
General grading policies:
You may earn bonus points on each test, except for the final test, by correcting all errors and submitting them to me within one week of receiving the graded test back. If you take any test late for any reason, there will be a penalty of 10 points off your test grade. However, no late tests will be allowed after I hand the graded tests back in class.
If you miss a test, you must try to take it during this late period. If you miss this deadline as well, I may consider allowing you to hand in corrections on all tests and replace all or part of the missed test with your grade on the final, but only in the case of serious illness or emergency. This is solely at my discretion. Otherwise, you will receive a 0 on the test. All tests and assignments must be turned in on or before the last class meeting.
Grades will be assigned as follows:
| A : | 90% or better and an acceptable grade on the final* | D : | 60% - 69% | |
| B : | 80% - 89% and an acceptable grade on the final* | F : | below 60% | |
| C : | 70% - 79% and an acceptable grade on the final* | I : | Incomplete (only given in extenuating circumstances) | |
| W : | Withdrawn by student or instructor prior to last withdrawal date on school calendar | |||
| * This grade may vary from one course to the next, but generally you will need to make no less than one or two letter grade lower on the final than your average in the course to receive a grade (i.e., to make an A in the course you will need to make a 75 on the final or better). This is to encourage you to really take the final seriously. | ||||
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Withdrawal: |
It is the student's responsibility to initiate all withdrawals in this course. The instructor may withdraw students for excessive absences (4) but makes no commitment to do this for the student. (If you decide to stop coming, you had best make sure that you drop the course. While I MIGHT do this, it is YOUR responsibility. If you fail to do so, you could receive an F on your permanent record.) After the withdrawal deadline, neither the student nor the instructor may initiate a withdrawal. If you are withdrawn by mistake, I will only consider reinstating you if you have taken all necessary tests, are current in your homework, and have not missed an excessive number of classes. |
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Attendance: |
Attendance is required in this course. It is extremely important for you to attend class regularly. Although I may not take regular attendance, I MAY drop you from the course for excessive absences, although I make no commitment to do so. | |||||
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Classroom behavior: |
Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found in the Student Handbook page 32 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook |
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Class participation: |
All students are expected to actively participate in this class. This can include asking relevant questions in class, participating in class discussions and other in-class activities, helping other students, coming to office hours with questions, and doing other things that contribute to the class. |
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Keeping up: |
Please, try to keep up with the homework and with the lecture in class. There just isn't much time to catch up. This means you have to be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to do the homework and to study. |
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Ask questions: |
Please, please, please, if you don't understand something, or you aren't clear about something, or if you think I (or the book) have made a mistake (it has been known to happen), or if you have any other questions, please ask. Don't let confusion accumulate. If you don't want to ask in class, come to my office hours (or call me) and ask. It is much easier to ask a question now than to miss it on the test. I expect all students to participate in class discussions and other activities. Trust me, you will get much more out of the class if you become actively involved in it. |
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Always show your work: |
It is much more important that you understand the processes involved in solving problems than that you just give me the right answer. If I see from your work that you understand what you are doing, I will usually give partial credit for a problem, even if you made a mistake somewhere along the line. If you don't show your work (unless I believe you could reasonably do it in your head), I may not give you full credit, even if the answer is right. If you can really do something in your head, that's great, but when in doubt, write it down. It is also very important that you write what you mean. I will correct your notation the first few times, but I will start counting it wrong if you continue to write things incorrectly. In addition, please write clearly and legibly. If I can't read it, I won't grade it. |
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Scholastic Dishonesty: |
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, work, research or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations; and homework. Students who violate the rules concerning scholastic dishonesty will be assessed an academic penalty which the instructor determines is in keeping with the seriousness of the offense. This academic penalty may range from a grade penalty on the particular assignment to an overall grade penalty in the course, including possibly an F in the course. ACC's policy can be found in the Student Handbook page 33 or on the web at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook. |
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TESTING CENTER POLICY: ACC Testing Center policies can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/. Deadlines for all tests will be announced in class. Any tests taken after the announced deadline are considered late.
STUDENT SERVICES: The web address for student services is: http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/rss/Default.htm. The ACC student handbook can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/handbook.
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES: The web address is: http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/newsemester/ , then click on Campus Based Student Support Overview.
Course-Specific Support Services
Sometimes lab sections of MATH and MATD courses are offered. These labs aredesigned for students currently registered in a particular course. They offer individualized and group setting to provide additional practice and explanation. These labs are not for college-level credit. Repeatable up to two credit hours. Students should check the course schedule for possible offerings of the lab classes.
ACC main campuses have Learning Labs which offer free first-come first-serve tutoring in mathematics courses, but not all tutors can help with this class. Check in advance . The locations, contact information and hours of availability of the Learning Labs are posted at: http://www2.austincc.edu/rvslab/labhours.htm
Statement on Students with DisabilitiesEach ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.
Students who are requesting accommodation must provide the instructor with a letter of accommodation from the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the letter of accommodation from OSD.
Statement on Academic Freedom: Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good. The common good depends upon a search for truth and upon free expression. In this course the professor and students shall strive to protect free inquiry and the open exchange of facts, ideas, and opinions. Students are free to take exception to views offered in this course and to reserve judgment about debatable issues. Grades will not be affected by personal views. With this freedom comes the responsibility of civility and a respect for a diversity of ideas and opinions. This means that students must take turns speaking, listen to others speak without interruption, and refrain from name-calling or other personal attacks.
Time required and outside help: To do homework and study requires
two or three times as much time outside of class as the time you spend
in class in order to succeed in this course. Free tutoring is available
in the Learning Labs (see above) and your instructor has office hours
and can give some extra help, of course.
Additional information about ACC's mathematics curriculum and faculty is available on the Internet at http://www.austincc.edu/math/