Standard Syllabus

This syllabus covers classes listed at the bottom of this page. Each class has a link to additional syllabus information including Pr-requisites, Textbook(s), course purpose, goals/objectives, and resources. If you are viewing this link in printed form, see https://dra.cs.southern.edu/StandardSyllabus to access links.

Grading Policies

Late Material

You are in college, late material will not be accepted. Instead you will have a certain number of drops for appropriate categories. These drops are for emergencies only, so don't just skip assignments because you want to unless its the last one. See details in eClass for the number of skips and categories they apply to.

Emailed Material

Unless specifically requested, no work will be accepted via email. What is late work? Late work is defined by the late and cutoff date/times in eClass. Some work specifies the late date equal to the cutoff date. Others may have different values. In all cases, the cutoff date represents the last date/time that work will be accepted.

Weights and Scales

In general, weights for my classes follow the guide below. Some of my classes do not have one or more of these categories.

$$$Weight_x\% = \frac{Weight_x}{\sum_i Weight_i}$$$

Each class has a subset of the categories below. For example, let x=quiz, then the quiz category would worth $$\frac{10}{120}= 8.3\%$$, if we did not have a Lab category in eclass, then the the quiz category would be worth $$10\%$$.

I do not generally give +/- grades. If you want to hear a nice soap-box style speech on grade inflation, ask me about that. Hence, I use the standard grade scale below. Your grade will always be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Campus Closure Policy

When campus closure announcements are made, check your email to find out if class will take place on zoom.

Academic Honesty: Cheating

Cheating will not be tolerated. Verified incidents of dishonesty may receive a punishment as specified in the catalog (see: Procedures for Handling Academic Dishonesty. Unless specifically communicated in class verbally or in writing, collaboration on any work in this class is considered cheating. New to the academic honesty is the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Submitting academic work produced with unauthorized assistance or materials is expressly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism from other students, professional paper writers, and AI.

Artificial Intelligence Statement:

As an institution committed to Christian values and the highest educational standards, Southern Adventist University urges faculty and students to prayerfully and critically evaluate how and when we use generative AI and other emergent technologies. Using AI tools can short-circuit critical thinking and impede learning goals. Further, because these tools are based on the accumulated work of others, they can also pose ethical problems and violate standards of academic integrity. For that reason, it is the policy of Southern Adventist University that students use generative AI tools only after consultation with their instructor or when specifically invited to use them as part of an assignment. Inappropriate use may be treated and penalized as academic dishonesty.

Skipping the final exam

To skip the final exam, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must not come to class or office hours sick!
• All coursework must be completed and turned in on time.
• Your course grade before the final must remain the same if I were to give you your category test grade for your final.
• You must receive a grade offer via email prior to the end of the last regularly scheduled class.

The professor reserves the right to refuse to give a grade offer for any reason.

Corrections on Work

It is the responsibility of the student to review the homework and tests. Your teachers are not infallible and I personally am happy to correct any mistakes you find provided that you notify me in a reasonable time. What is reasonable? You have one week from the time I return your work (of any kind) to request that I review your work. For work on gradescope, please request the re-grade on gradescope, all other corrections must be emailed to me or brought to my office during office hours.

In addition, all grade changes/corrections must be made by the end of the last regularly scheduled class.

Extra Credit

There is only one way to get extra credit in this course. For those willing to maintain 35 hours of sleep between Sunday night and Thursday night (average 7 hours or more a night) and eat a healthy breakfast each morning (donuts do not count, at least cereal, and juice or some kind of fruit – dried fruit works if you are in a hurry), I will add 10 percent to your quizzes. There will be a question on the final exam about your participation in this opportunity. Extra credit does not factor into being able to skip the final exam.

Methods of Instruction

Quizzes cover reading assignments for each chapter as listed on eclass. You must complete the quiz for the day prior to coming to class. Dates and times are given on eclass.

Homework assignments will have a due date on the schedule.

Tests will cover chapters as shown in the schedule and online. Written chapter tests evaluate performance for each chapter covered and a final comprehensive test will cover all material.

Labs will provide practical exercises for student to complete in 3-hour laboratory setting.

Projects if required - see schedule.

There are three types of Projects allowed:

1. Individual projects – You may choose to do an individual programming project. You may complete a web or desktop application in .NET. No other platform will be accepted.
2. Group project – A small group may decide to work on a single project. For group projects it would be expected that the project would be more involved (or complex) than an individual project. The detailed project proposal must clearly outline the responsibilities of each of the participants so that I will be able to evaluate each participant’s part of the total project. Students must complete a presentation of their project including a demonstration.
3. Level II service project. These must be approved individually. Don't wait! See Dr. A at the beginning of the semester if you want to do a Level II service project.

Attendance Policy

Under no circumstances are you to come and see me or attend class sick. If you are well, you are expected to be physically in class. Whether attending online or in-class, you must sign-in and mark your seat or list yourself as attending online.

Email, call or message me letting me know you won’t be in class and why. You may attend via zoom for class if you feel up to it. Otherwise, you are expected to be in class. Work is turned in online and hence you do not need to be in class to turn in work. Late work is not allowed to be made up unless, you have a university excused absence. See: Absences. For university excused absences describe in the forgoing link, you may make up work according to the following rules:

1. Quizzes cannot be made up. All quizzes are online and you have ample opportunity to complete them before coming to class. If you have an university excused absence, I'll average it.
2. You will have one additional class period for every class period you are out for an university approved absence of illnesses or emergencies. E.g. if you are sick Monday and there is a homework assignment due on Monday, and you come back to class on Wednesday (fully well I might add), then you will have till Friday to turn in the work.
3. If you have a scheduled trip that allows you to miss class, you must make arrangements to turn in work on time.

Attendance grades are collected at midterm and final from the online attendance unless it is integrated into eClass.

Additional Linked Policies

• /ZoomEtiquette

• Disability Policy Statement

Fall Semester

This general syllabus covers all my classes. Additional links to classes can be found below.

Winter Semester