Course Policy
This page is organized as follows:
Assignments
There will be two kinds of assignments: individual assignments and group assignments. All assignments will be announced or handed out in class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. A majority of assignment will require programming in Java.
For non-programming assignments, no late submissions will be accepted unless arrangements have been made in advance or unless unusual circumstances warrant an exception.
For programming assignments, late submissions will be accepted, but programs turned in late will be penalized 10% for each day or partial day of lateness for up to five days. After five days, no submission will be accepted unless other arrangements have been made in advance or unless unusual circumstances warrant an exception.
All individual assignments, whether programming or not, are to be done individually. While you may discuss the assignment in general terms with others, your solutions should be composed, designed, written and tested by you alone. If you need help, consult the TA or the instructor.
Exams
There will be one mid-term exam and one final exam. The final exam will be comprehensive. The mid-term exam will take place during the regular class session and will be 90 minutes in length, and the final exam will take place on the date specified by the university. Refer to Important Dates for the tentative exam schedule.
Make-up exams will be given only when you have unusual circumstances, such as incapacitating illness or presenting a research paper at a conference. If you believe that you have an unusual circumstance that warrants a make-up exam, notify us as soon as possible. If you will be attending a conference or other event, you must make arrangements for a make-up exam in advance. Under any circumstances, you may be required to provide official documentation before a make-up will be administered.
Grading
Your semester grade will be based on a combination of individual assignments, group assignments, and exams. The approximate percentages are as follows:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Individual assignments | 35% |
| Group assignments | 35% |
| Exams | 30% |
In addition, a bonus of up to 5% is available for lecture attendance and participation. To earn this bonus, you must arrive at lecture on time and participate in class discussion in a constructive and prepared manner, e.g., by asking or answering questions that demonstrate that you have read and attempted to understand the material.
Your grade is independent of anyone else's grade in this class; that is, we do not grade on a curve. Everyone can get an A in this class. Our purpose in grading is to uphold a standard of quality and to give you feedback, it is not to rank students.
Although we will not always make fine distinctions in points, the nominal minimum standards are given by the following table.
| Percentage | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90% | A |
| 80% | B |
| 70% | C |
| 60% | D |
| less | F |
The instructor reserves the right to adjust these criteria downward, e.g., so that 88% or higher represents an A, based on overall class performance. The criteria will not be adjusted upward, however.
Attendance
Lecture attendance is not mandatory but is recommended. You should understand that your success in the course will improve greatly by attending class regularly. It is your responsibility to keep up to date with notes, assignments and exam.
Standards of Conduct
You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner, as prescribed by the UTEP Standards of Conduct. Graded work (homework, projects, exams) is to be completed independently and should be unmistakably your own work, although you may discuss your work with others in a general way. You may not represent as your own work material that is transcribed or copied from another source, including persons, books, or Web pages. Instructors are required to-and will-report academic dishonesty and any other violation of the Standards of Conduct to the Dean of Students.
Disabilities
If you feel that you may have a disability that requires accommodation, contact the Disabled Student Services Office at 747-5184, go to Room 106E Union, or email dss@utep.edu.
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