Welcome to Data Science!

When are where are my office hours? My office hours will be Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 3. I enjoy talking to my students, and I hope you will each meet with me multiple times throughout the semester. If you cannot come during the office hour time slot please use this Appointment Maker to arrange another time to talk (if you just email me I will forget) .

What is the purpose of office hours? Office hours are for you! These are times when you should come by to get help, chat about the class, games, computer science, any issues or concerns you are having, or just to say "Hi".

I would like to acknowledge that we are all individuals with multiple sociocultural identities that intersect and shape our worldview through the lens of privilege and oppression. My commitment to you as your instructor is to minimize systemic forces of oppression within the classroom such as ableism, classism, racism, sexism, transphobia, and heterosexism in efforts to create a safe learning environment for all of us. I ask that you also join me in this commitment to foster respect for one another, enhance solidarity, and build community.

Official Overview

This course serves as an advanced exploration into the programming and data visualization techniques required for data science. Topics include: advanced inference and predictive modelling, data mining, data visualization, and ethics in data science. 

Prerequisite: COSC 360 or permission of the instructor. 

On the main class website you can see a tentative schedule for the course. 

Q: Why will there be changes?

A: Yes. Every class is different and learns at a different pace. The activities I have planned might take a day for one group of students and a couple weeks for another group. There is no way for me to know exactly how long an activity will take with this class so dates might have to be moved around to accommodate different schedules. 

Q: Will due dates change?

A: Due dates will only ever move back (unless the class as a whole votes otherwise). 

Late Homework: For each 24 hours after the due date that the assignment or project submission is turned in late 10% will be subtracted from the final grade of the assignment. 

Late Project: The project may not be turned in late as it is due on the final day of the semester. 

Late Readings: Readings are due by the start of class time. Late readings will receive no more than 10% credit as the point of readings is so that you can participate in class with your classmates. 

Classroom Protocol

• • • • • ASK QUESTIONS: You are encouraged to ask appropriate relevant questions and introduce your own views that contribute to everyone’s learning. Every person in the classroom has a different level of experience with the material we are reviewing. With this in mind, I want you to be respectful of where your fellow classmates are in their learning and with your words inside and outside the classroom. 

        • BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS: It is expected that all students be attentive, polite, and not a source of distraction to me or any other student. Your behavior at all times must be respectful -- of your classmates, yourself, and me. Language that is disrespectful based on race / ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender or gender expression, religion, ability, social class, or size will not be tolerated. 

To help us accomplish this:

1. If you would like us to use a name and/or set of pronouns that differ from those that appear in your official SMCM records, please let me know.

2. If you feel like your performance in the class is being impacted by your experiences outside of class, please talk to me. I would like to be a resource for you.

3. As a participant in class discussions, you should honor and respect the diversity of your classmates.

• • • • • AVOID DISTRACTING OTHERS: I understand that it is difficult to pay attention for long periods of time and I aim to break up the lecture material with activities and frequent breaks. Please avoid distracting behaviors such as private conversations, irrelevant reading, coming to class late, leaving early, checking email, using social media, texting, or listening to headphones, are disruptive to meaningful learning. These disruptions are inconsiderate to others and undermine your own learning experience. 

        • ATTENDANCE: You are required to attend class meetings. If you miss class it is your responsibility to contact the professor with a plan to make up what you missed. There are two automatically excused absences, if you use these absences  it is your responsibility to contact the professor with a plan to make up what you missed so you can make up the participation points for those classes. After the two excused absences your participation grade will be negatively impacted by further absences.   This policy includes absences because of sports, after the first two absences your grade will be negatively affected.  Similarly if you are on social media or doing work for other classes in class, you are not participating and therefore will get no points for the day. Your presence in the class matters both to your own learning and for that of your classmates.

        • RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: If you are celebrating a religious holiday that conflicts with the course, please let me know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangements for you or so I can shift the course schedule. I have tried to ensure that no due dates fall on major religious holidays but it is very possible that I have missed some, so please let me know. Additionally, if there is anything in the course that might violate your religious traditions and beliefs, please meet with me so I can create slightly different requirements for you.

        • ACCOMMODATIONS: My class intends to be a disability-friendly space. Please let me know if there are things that I can do to achieve a more accommodating setting. Students with documented arrangements in this course should speak to me as soon as possible so we can discuss what you need to succeed in this course.

What if academic dishonesty does occur?

According to the Judicial Procedures for Academic Misconduct in To the Point “plagiarism is the act of appropriating and using the words, ideas, symbols, images, or other works of original expression of others as one’s own without giving credit to the person who created the work.”

Any violation of academic integrity will result in an automatic zero for that assignment and will be reported to Academic Services. Severe violations of academic integrity or a second offense will result in a more severe penalty up to, and including, an automatic F in the course, as allowed by the Judicial Procedures for Academic Misconduct.

Mental Health Resources

The Wellness Center (240-895-4289) provides numerous confidential health and counseling services including a 24/7 Counseling Helpline and same day/next day connections to counseling by calling 240-895-4289 or emailing the Director at lkscherer@smcm.edu. To learn more about Wellness Center Services please go to their webpage at https://www.smcm.edu/wellness/

Sometimes students feel they need additional resources beyond those available on campus for a variety of reasons. As such, below I’ve included information, websites, and phone numbers for a variety of other mental health related organizations that are available/accessible nationwide. Each of these organizations also has an online chat system which can be found by going to their website and selecting the chat option.