General Course Policies

Diversity & Inclusion

The Brown computer science department has made it its mission to create and sustain a diverse and inclusive environment in which all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. In this course, that responsibility falls on us all, students and teaching staff alike. In particular, Brown's Discrimination and Harassment Policy applies to all participants. If you feel you have not been treated in an inclusive manner by any of the course members, please contact either the instructors (Eugene and Chen) or the department chair (Prof. Cetintemel). Laura Dobler is also available as a resource for members of underrepresented groups. Additional resources are listed on the department's website. We, the computer science department, take all complaints about discrimination, harassment, and other unprofessional behavior seriously. Prof. Krishnamurthi has good notes on this area.

In addition, Brown welcomes students from all around the country and the world, and their unique perspectives enrich our learning community. To empower students whose first language is not English, an array of support is available on campus, including language and culture workshops and individual appointments. For more information, contact the English Language Learning Specialists at ellwriting@brown.edu.

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. This includes cheating, lying about course matters, plagiarism, or helping others commit a violation. Plagiarism includes reproducing the words of others without both the use of quotation marks and citation. Students are reminded of the obligations and expectations associated with the Brown Academic and Student Conduct Codes. For project work, feel free to build on third-party software, datasets, or other resources, as long as you credit them in your report(s) and clearly state what work is solely your own. As a general policy (for this course and for the rest of your academic career): if you use any idea, text, code, or data that you did not create, then cite it.

Accommodations

Brown University is committed to full inclusion of all students. Please inform me if you have a disability or other condition that might require accommodations or modification of any of these course procedures. You may email me, come to office hours, or speak with me after class, and your confidentiality is respected. I will do whatever I can to support accommodations recommended by SEAS. For more information contact Student and Employee Accessibility Services (SEAS) at 401-863-9588 or SEAS@brown.edu.

Mental Health

Being a student can be very stressful. If you feel you are under too much pressure or there are psychological issues that are keeping you from performing well at Brown, I encourage you to contact Brown’s Counseling and Psychological Services CAPS. They provide confidential counseling and can provide notes supporting accommodations for health reasons.

Incomplete Policy

We expect everyone to complete the course on time. However, I understand that there may be factors beyond your control, such as health problems and family crises, that prevent you from finishing the course on time. If you feel you cannot complete the course on time, please discuss with us the possibility of being given a grade of Incomplete for the course and setting a schedule for completing the course in the upcoming year.

Thanks to Tom Doeppner, Laura Dobler, Stephen Bach, and Daniel Ritchie for borrowed text.