Below are standard policies from all my courses. It is your responsibility to read over them and ask me any questions you have about them.
Class Expectations I expect full participation in all classes. Students are not only expected, but are required to read the assigned readings BEFORE class. Student participation is crucial to the development of a healthy class environment and I have high expectations for the discussion environment in this class. I expect all students to be active participants in the class. Classes are like communities—they work better when individual members care about, and are actively engaged in their functioning. This does not necessarily mean that you always have to speak during class discussions (although you should at some point), but it does mean that I expect a commitment to the class that is demonstrated by making the effort to read the assignments and actively listen while in class.
Computers and Devices Policies Researchers have shown that taking notes on paper is better (cognitively) for most students. Moreover, studies have also shown that students on a laptop during lectures hinder classroom learning for themselves and their peers. However, laptops, smartphones, and other devices are very important in today’s world (and workforce) and that cannot be ignored. Therefore, the policy in my classroom is simple: You should bring your laptop/device whenever possible (as we will have some assignments that require Internet access), BUT whenever I am lecturing or we are having a discussion, laptops and other devices must be closed/turned off. There will be many instances in class where I will ask someone to look something up on Google, so you can have your smartphone at hand, but do not check it during class. It goes without saying that all devices must be muted before the class starts. Assignment Policy When there is a due date on assignments, late assignments will receive the following penalty schedule: 1 second-24 hours 10%, 24-48 hours 20%, 48-72 hours 30%, 72-96 hours 50%. No assignment will be accepted after it is over four days late. An assignment is considered late one second after the due time set on the syllabus or Katie.
For these assignments there is also an incentive to deliver assignment early (when appropriate). Students who upload their papers/assignments before the deadline will receive 1% extra credit per day (for up to 5% extra credit).
Assignments connected to class dynamics for the day (discussion questions, forum posts, etc.) are never accepted late.
Academic Misconduct When a student turns in an assignment, paper or exam, s/he is bound to the Luther Honor Code. If I suspect a student of plagiarism, whether it comes from another student or the Internet, I will immediately turn that paper in to Luther’s Honor Council. The student will have to defend the paper’s integrity to that council. If the Honor Council finds a plagiarism violation, the typical recommendation is to give a 0 on that assignment and a letter grade drop for the entire course. Typically, this results in an overall failing grade for the student. Given the severity of plagiarism, if you have any questions on correct citations, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Disrupting class and/or threatening fellow students are forms of misconduct (academic or non-academic). Depending on the circumstances, cases of misconduct may also be prosecuted at the college-level and could result in a failing grade for the course or suspension for a second occurrence. If you have any questions regarding what constitutes academic misconduct, please talk with me.
Services for Students with Disabilities and/or Medical Conditions Any student needing classroom or exam accommodations due to the impact of a disability or medical condition must register for services with the Disability Services office in the Student Academic Support Center (SASC). The office will verify the need for accommodations and develop a plan to be distributed to appropriate instructors. Students who use accommodations should also contact the instructor privately and in a timely manner to discuss the most effective methods to implement the approved accommodations. The SASC office is located in Room 108, Preus Library, and can be reached at (563) 387-1270.
