Lab Policies, CISC103, Fall 2007

Summary (with links to detail)

  1. Show up for lab and for class .
  2. Observe due dates
  3. Respect late penalties.
  4. Do honest work.
  5. Treat people with respect.

Details

  1. Show up for lab and for class

    Attendance is mandatory.


    Attendance will be recorded. Be sure to sign the attendance sheet and return it to the TA before leaving your lab session.

    Lab attendance and lecture attendance are reported on WebCT.

    Attending a lab other than the one to which you are assigned will not meet your lab attendance obligation, unless you have advance permission of the TA by email (this will be granted only in unusual circumstances, at the TAs discretion, and Prof. Conrad must be cc'd on the email.) In any event, attending a lab other than the one to which you are assigned is on a "space available" basis; you may do so only if there is room after all students attending their correct lab session have found a place to work.

     My usual policy for 100 level courses is that three unexcused lab or lecture absences will result in automatic failure of the course. Since this course is populated mostly with juniors and seniors, I am assuming that such a policy will not be necessary. However, I reserve the right to re-impose this, with one week's notice, if needed. I really would rather not, so please be faithful about lab and lecture attendance. Thanks!

  2. Due dates: Lab assignments will generally be due (unless otherwise noted, and pay careful attention to any exceptions!) one week after the lab is assigned. Late labs will have late penalties assessed as indicated below. No assignment will be accepted more than 6 days late.

    Note: all labs due on or before the lab immediately following the free drop/add deadline are exceptions because some students may add the class late. These labs will be accepted without penalty if completed and submitted by one week following the free/drop add deadline.

    Any labs near the end of the semester might also be an exception, since ALL work, late or otherwise, must be turned in on or before Reading Day, Dec 6, 2007, so that the TAs can complete their grading for the semester. There will be no extensions of any kind beyond that date except in extreme cases where there is a note from the Dean's office (e.g. death in family, illness requiring hospitalization, etc.)
  3. Late penalties accrue from the applicable due date, at the rate of 2 raised to the power of the number of days late. The clock ticks at 11:55pm each night. (This is adapted from a policy suggested by Dr. Bob Caviness.)

    Example: Student attends lab01 on 9/8. Lab is due by 11:55pm, 9/15. If the lab is turned in late, here are the penalties that apply:

    9/16

    2^1

    2 points

    9/17

    2^2

    4 points

    9/18

    2^3

    8 points

    9/19

    2^4

    16 points

    9/20

    2^5

    32points

    9/21

    2^6

    64 points

    9/22

    no credit

    since 2^7 > 100 points

    Note that even if you do not get any credit for the lab, you still need to complete it (if you hope to learn the material well enough to earn a decent grade on the exam.) Exam questions will often be based on lab material.

  4. Do honest work.
    5. Do your own work, and don't submit other's work as your own. Be familiar with the UD policies about academic honesty, as covered in the UD student handbook.
     
  5. Treat people with respect (especially your TA)

    As I recall it, at my new faculty orientation, UD President David Roselle mentioned that one of his top priorities as University President was to ensure that "everyone at UD has to be nice to everyone else at UD."

    This may seem like a small thing, or even a cliche, but I've spent time in places where this was not a priority, and I can assure you that setting this as a priority makes a real difference.

    I mention this especially in the context of lab, because I want to encourage you especially to treat your TAs with respect. Your TA is a qualified computing professional with a bachelors and/or a master's degree in Computer Science, and during your lab time, is your instructor, and serves as my representative.

    Your TA is usually someone closer to you than I am in age and experience, and shares with you the experience of being a UD student. (TAs are usually pursuing a graduate degree, either an MS or Ph.D.) Because of this, TAs sometimes are on a first name basis with their students, and the atmosphere may be a bit more informal.

    A certain degree of informality is acceptable as long as you don't forget that your TA is neverthless in a position of authority. In the context of lab and office hours, you should interact with your TA with the same level of respect that you would show to me during lecture and office hours.

    If you have a question regarding how your TA has graded an assignment, or any other matter, take it to your TA first.

    If you are not happy with the response of the TA, you may bring the issue to your instructor.

    However, do not engage the TA in a debate about policy; in particular, do not engage in any loud or disrespectful conversation that would tend to disrupt the lab or office environment where other students are trying to work. Section D.2.j of the University Code of Conduct prohibits "making, exhibiting or producing any inappropriate, loud or disruptive noise or behavior", and that certainly would apply to any mistreatment or disrespect shown towards TAs during lab or office hours.

Phillip T Conrad