As expected in a professional setting, assignments deadlines will be strictly observed. To be safe, submit your work prior to the time specified. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your assignment. An equipment failure is not an excuse for turning in an assignment late. Please do not request an exception unless you have the necessary documentation for an excused absence.
Attendance is important for success in this class. As per the catalog, students will be excused if they have a documented emergency or illness, or are representing Vassar College on university-sanctioned travel. If you must miss a class, please let the me know prior to class, and submit your assignments on time.
It is expected that all homework, lab work, and tests are your own work. Feel free to research assignments online, but the implementation should be uniquely yours. Please cite those who inspired your design in the assignment's initial comment. If an assignment is appears to be plagiarized, according to Going to the Source, I must prepare a written statement of complaint to the Academic Panel. Please don't put either of us in that position. Communication with anyone other than the instructor is not allowed during exams. Probably obvious, but to clarify, calculators, cell phones, smart watches and any other electronic or communication devices may not be used during exams.
VETERANS and active duty military personnel with special circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill requirements, disabilities) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructors.
ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Vassar College values the diversity of our student body as a strength and a critical component of our dynamic community. Students with disabilities or temporary injuries/conditions may require accommodations due to barriers in the structure of facilities, course design, technology used for curricular purposes, or other campus resources. Students who experience a barrier to full access to this class should let me know and make an appointment to meet with the Office of Accessibility and Educational Opportunity as soon as possible. You can make an appointment by calling 845.437.7584; by emailing aeo@vassar.edu; or by dropping by the AEO Office, room 125 in the Old Laundry Building. You can access further information here: https://accessibilityandeducationalopportunity.vassar.edu. Students who receive an AEO accommodation letter are strongly encouraged to discuss it with me as early in the semester as possible so that accommodations can be made in a timely manner. It is the student’s responsibility to follow this process each semester.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities, and student-to-student sexual harassment. Vassar’s policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the University but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please talk to any Responsible Employee —which includes most faculty (yes, me) and staff—who will report the incident; contact Rachel Pereira, Vassar’s Title IX Administrator, at 845.437.7924; or report anonymously at https://savp.vassar.edu/reporting/form/. For more information regarding Title IX and resources concerning sexual harassment and its prevention please visit https://eoaa.vassar.edu/title-ix/. While as a Responsible Employee, I must share your disclosure with the Title IX Coordinator; they will only reach out to you by email. You will control how your case will be handled — you don’t have to read or respond to the email, and it is totally up to you whether to pursue a formal complaint. The goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources you need.
If you wish to speak to someone privately, you can contact any of the following on-campus resources:
The SAVP website (https://savp.vassar.edu) and the Title IX section of the EOAA website (https://eoaa.vassar.edu/title-ix/) have more information, as well as links to both on- and off-campus resources.
ABSENTEE POLICY As a community of learners, our class benefits from participation by all. Please don't hesitate to ask questions in class. In many cases, a question you ask is a question someone else has and its answer will help others understand the course material. Missing class deprives the class of your insights. So, please email me before any classes or labs you know you will miss. I will be concerned when you're absent. More practically, part of your grade (5%) is based on participation, and you must be present to participate—to get the full 5%, you must visit my office hours at least once.
ADVICE: This course is designated as a Quantitative Course, satisfying one of Vassar's three requirements for graduation, along with the Freshmen Writing Seminar and the foreign language proficiency requirement. This course will challenge you to think abstractly, analytically, and logically—as would any other designated Quantitative Course.
Keep up with the reading and assignments. As with a math or language class, topics build on one another. Missing one lecture may impact your understanding the next, which may prevent you from completing a lab or assignment. Do your best to attend every lecture. Make arrangements with a classmate to copy material you miss when you can't attend, and don't hesitate to ask me questions whenever they arise.
GRADING
% Description
5% Class Participation
35% Weekly Assignments (including labs)
40% Two Midterms
20% Exam
100% Total
Based on the weighted average of your graded coursework, your letter grade will be determined according to the standard 90, 80, 70, 60 cutoffs. For example, 90% or above is an A; 80% or above, but below 90%, is a B; etc. Pluses or minuses may be added at the instructor's discretion. Note: you must have both a passing exam average and an overall passing average to pass the course.