Policies
Listed here is a description of course policies.
Grading Policies
The final grade for this course will depend upon the grades and scores earned on course components weighted as follows:
| 32% | Seven equally weighted homework assignments |
| 5% | Tickets out the door |
| 3% | Reading summaries |
| 45% | Three equally weighted midterm exams |
| 15% | Final exam |
Grades will be computed by rounding numerical percentages to the nearest integer and applying the following table:
| A | 93-100 | B- | 80-82 | D+ | 67-69 |
| A- | 90-92 | C+ | 77-79 | D | 60-66 |
| B+ | 87-89 | C | 73-76 | F | 0-59 |
| B | 83-86 | C- | 70-72 |
Grades for each assignment, quiz, and exam will be recorded in Brightspace. Students may compute their current average by using these scores with the weights listed above.
Attendance and Participation Policy
Attendance is expected of every student at every lecture. Students are responsible for all content covered in class as well as assigned book chapters. Students should come to class with their text books, having read the material to be covered that day. Students who have not prepared for class may be asked to leave. Due to their nature, pop quizzes cannot be made up.
Students are expected to come to class with a three-sentence summary of the reading for that day. Roughly three times a semester without advance warning, each student will be expected to recite their summary in front of the class. Summaries are not expected to be perfect. These summaries are intended to ensure adequate preparation.
Students are expected to attend in-person class sessions as indicated on the schedule. However, if a student is not feeling well, that student should not come to the in-person class session that day. To catch up on work, students should visit the instructor during office hours or another scheduled meeting time.
Except in the case of documented emergencies, exams cannot be made up afterwards. For excused absences, students must arrange to take the exam before the normally scheduled time. Arrangements must be made with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the scheduled time.
Students are expected to maintain an attitude of respect at all times toward their colleagues, the equipment, and the instructor. Students are expected to refrain from using technology for non-course related purposes during class time and will be penalized 1% of the final grade for each occurrence. Students who use offensive language or are otherwise disruptive of the classroom will be asked to leave.
Academic Honesty
Academic Integrity is our commitment to be honest, fair, and ethical in our scholarly work. Professors follow these principles in their research and teaching, and students must do the same in their learning and their work after graduation.
Assignments and exams are given in classes so that the professor can accurately assess your learning and give you helpful feedback to improve your learning. Academic misconduct misrepresents your knowledge and skills and thus harms your learning.
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, complicity, falsification, multiple submission, and plagiarism. To understand better what each of these kinds of dishonesty entails, see the full statement on Academic Dishonesty in Section 8 of the Campus Life Handbook.
All cases of suspected Academic Dishonesty will be forwarded to Academic Affairs. To learn more about the process, see the above cited section of the Campus Life Handbook. Academic Dishonesty may result in failure of the assignment or the course itself, or even suspension or expulsion proceedings. If you are uncertain about what is allowable in completing assignment and exams, please speak with your professor.
All assignments must be completed individually, without assistance from anyone other than the instructor. Students can discuss the course material with each other in general terms, but all work must be done individually. For exams, assignments, and all other activities in the course, students are expected to act according to the official policy on academic dishonesty and the highest standards of personal integrity.
For the first infraction of academic honesty in this course, the instructor will seek a penalty of a 0 for the assignment or exam in question and a reduction of a full letter grade in the final grade. If a second infraction occurs, the instructor will seek the maximum penalty possible under the University’s regulations.
Generative AI Policy
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is any computer system designed to perform a cognitive or behavioral task historically believed to be one only humans can perform. Generative AI is a term used for recent AI systems that generate significant quantities of content such as text, images, audio, or video from a short input prompt, usually text.
Although generative AI tools are impressive, they must not be used to do any mathematics or analysis that a student is expected to turn in for this class. Generative AI tools may be used to explain existing analysis or to suggest improvements for answers but only after the assignment in question has been turned in. Students who do not work through the mathematics themselves have missed the opportunity to gain the skills of logical problem solving and mathematical analysis that are essential for computer scientists. Submitting work that includes or is derived from AI-generated materials shall be considered an act of academic dishonesty.
Statement on Credit Hour Definition/Expectation for Student Work
For each credit hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction, students are expected to engage in two hours of out-of-class course-related work (readings, homework, studying, project preparation, etc.). A four-credit hour course requires eight hours per week of out-of-class work. These expectations are the same for blended and online courses, with some or all of the direct faculty instruction occurring online instead of in a classroom.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Otterbein University is committed to providing a welcoming environment free from unlawful discrimination. To this end, the University prohibits any form of discrimination against any erson on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, pregnancy, religion, creed, marital status, partnership status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, military status, or any other legally protected status in its programs and activities. All Otterbein faculty and staff share in the responsibility to create a safe learning environment for all students and for the campus as a whole. Students who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the Office of Human Resources at 614-823-1805 or hr@otterbein.edu.
Any person may report sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking by contacting Julie Saker, Deputy Title IX Coordinator at 614-823-1154 or jsaker@otterbein.edu. If a student would prefer to share information about sexual harassment, sexual violence or discrimination to a confidential employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, the can contact the University Counseling Center (614-823-1250 or counseling@otterbein.edu) or the WGSRC Peer Advocates (wgsrc@otterbein.edu).
More information about these policies can be found here.
Disability Support Services
The University has a continuing commitment to disability inclusion (e.g., learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and chronic or temporary medical conditions). Disability Services (DS) helps to facilitate reasonable accommodations, provides referrals to students interested in exploring a potential diagnosis, and assists students and faculty to minimize barriers for an accessible educational experience. If you need accommodations or guidance, please contact Disability Services (DS) at DisabilityServices@otterbein.edu as soon as possible or visit here for more information. While we strive to meet your needs within the parameters of our course requirements and learning objectives, accommodations are not typically retroactive and late requests may not be guaranteed. Please let us know how we can best support you. Your instructor is happy to discuss accommodations privately with you as well.
Academic Support Center
The Academic Support Center (ASC) helps students develop and strengthen the skills necessary to attain their academic goals. They support student learning and success through: tutoring, teaching, disability services, and academic coaching. All services are free for Otterbein students. Their purpose is to help students be academically successful. Please contact them to request a tutor or learn more about the ASC by calling (614) 823-1610 or visiting the ASC website.
Counseling Services
College can be a time of wonderful experiences and growth. It can also be a time of transition and uncertainty. Add on top of that, family, financial, social and environmental stressors and it's no wonder all of us feel overwhelmed at times! If you would like extra support – in the way of just being able to verbalize your feelings to an interested outsider, gaining some reassurance and validation of your feelings, making plans to move forward optimistically and safely – reach out to any of us staff. People here at Otterbein care about you and want to provide not only respect but also verbal and emotional support and encouragement. You can call the Counseling Center at 614-823-1333 or contact counseling@otterbein.edu to learn more about support services on campus or make an appointment. You can also call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline of Ohio, for 24/7 access to a mental health professional.
Library Services
The Courtright Memorial Library provides a broad range of services and resources, from color printing and a game collection to 24/7 access to more than 220 scholarly databases and e-books here. On-campus students can access in-person help, quiet study spaces, and open computer labs during the library's open hours.
Students can also access the many e-textbooks on reserve by clicking the Course Reserves tab on the library web page or find help for a specific subject area by searching LibGuides.
Need more help? Whether you are on-campus or off, you don’t have to do it alone with library research! Chat with us virtually via the library website or e-mail the library at library@otterbein.edu. For in-depth research help, make an appointment for a virtual research consultation with your personal librarian.
Promise House
Any student who faces challenges securing food, housing, school supplies, personal care items, clothing, or other basic needs and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact The Promise House for support. The Promise House provides a free campus market, a café with kitchen appliances for student use, vouchers to shop for free at The Otterbein Thrift Shop, and connections to other campus and community resources. Emergency mini-grants are also available for students experiencing a financial burden that disrupts their educational journey. The Promise House is located on the first floor of the Home Street Commons (90 W. Home St.). To connect with a Promise House Navigator, email: promisehouse@otterbein.edu.
