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Dr. Gardner's Policies

Last revised: 28/Aug/14

Note: These policies are intentionally written in generic terms, so as to apply to as many courses as possible. You may find that some issues are not applicable to your course (for example, if there are no written assignments).

Some of the policies below cite section numbers in the Undergraduate Calendar (available on line).

Electronic devices banned

It is obvious that laptops and smartphones in the classroom, while possessing undeniable potential as educational tools, have also become a powerful source of distraction. The problem is not so much the devices and their software; it is their Internet connectivity that threatens to undermine student engagement during lectures. This is more of an issue for larger classes in early years. Since there is no Internet "cutoff switch" behind the podium that the instructor could use selectively, and because a condition of not going on the Internet is unenforceable, only a crude outright ban can disable the distraction. The ban is worded loosely--"electronic devices"--to enhance enforceability. The instructor will announce how individuals can obtain an exception in special circumstances.

Attendance and e-mail

Attendance at all classes and seminars is strongly encouraged, but is left up to student discretion according to University policy. (Exception: Auditors must attend at least 75% of the classes in order to have the course entered on their transcripts.) No attendance log will be kept by the Instructor, nor will attendance figure into the calculation of the final grade. Nonetheless, students are responsible for and may be tested on the content of all classes and seminars. If there is a participation component in the grade, it will require more than mere attendance.

Note that according to University policy (Section VIII, Email Address), your @uoguelph.ca e-mail address is considered official. You are responsible for monitoring this account for course-related communications. You may wish to set up mail forwarding to make this more convenient. If there is an online learning facility--CourseLink or Moodle forum, wiki, etc.--you are also responsible to check it for announcements.

Grading system

  • 1. Each component of the final grade--assignments, projects, exams, etc.--will be given a percentage weight as announced in the course outline. This will result in an overall numerical grade for the course.
  • 2. Note that in many courses additional requirements for obtaining a passing grade may be imposed, as announced in the course outline. Most commonly, the student must pass (normally 50% or higher) the final exam in order to pass the course. The purpose of this policy is to insure that the other components do not result in a passing grade which the final exam shows to be clearly unwarranted.
  • 3. Mistakes made in marking will be cheerfully corrected when pointed out. Regrading other than to correct mistakes is not without risk: If errors are spotted on a regrade that were not detected before, it is possible for the grade to go down.
  • 4. A student missing an assignment, quiz, or exam should expect to earn 0%. He or she should not presume to unilaterally change the course grading policy, for example, by avoiding a midterm so that the final exam would be weighted more heavily. Makeups or waivers for missed work will not be given under any circumstances, except for sound, suitably documented medical, psychological, or compassionate grounds (Section VIII, Grounds for Academic Consideration).
  • 5. If you disagree with your final course grade, see Section VIII, Academic Consideration, Appeals and Petitions. You have a right to get your grade reconsidered by someone other than the Instructor, but you must start the appeals process within a time limit. If you delay, an appeal may not be considered.

    • Due dates

  • 1. In general, late assignments will not be accepted. The purpose of this policy is to impose fair and uniform conditions on all the students, and to speed the return of marked assignments. If you cannot finish on time, it is normally better to hand in a partially completed assignment for partial credit. Do not wait until the last hour, especially for submitting and printing, because things often go wrong (home Internet down, printer broken, out of paper/toner). Such excuses will not be accepted.
  • 2. Programs must be submitted electronically by the announced deadline, and there may be a deadline for a separate paper submission as well. The computer's time stamp on the electronic submission will be taken as final. In the unlikely event that technical problems arise which the Instructor considers warrant an extension, the due date for the assignment will be extended for the entire class. The submission date for end-of-term projects is final and cannot be extended.
  • 3. In unusual circumstances, including sickness , it may be possible to negotiate an extension or a penalty. If an emergency arises which you realize will interfere with meeting the due date, you must negotiate with the Instructor before the due date to get an extension, and be prepared to document the emergency. Problems occurring on the last days of a long lead-time assignment will not be viewed sympathetically, since the assignment should be done by then. Emergencies disclosed after missing the due date will not receive an extension, but may receive a penalty if properly documented.

    • Problems

    We want to help you succeed! If serious problems are impacting your studies--trouble at home, recurring illness, a death in the family, and so on--your Instructors, your Program Advisor, and the Learning Commons all have a variety of ways to help rescue your academic program. But you must seek help when the problems are underway! Similarly, students with disabilities must contact the CSD early. It is a mistake to wait until after receiving bad grades, just before the final exam, etc., to bring up your problems and ask for a break. By that time, the academic regulations of the University, which are meant to protect the integrity of your degree, may make it impossible to help you.

    Academic misconduct

    Sometimes, computing students have difficulty understanding when it is "OK" to work together on non-group assignments and when it is not. Just remember that the Instructor is looking for proof that you have learned how to do the material in the course. Any homework that looks like you have relied on someone else's work rather than your own, or worse, intentionally copied someone's homework and presented it under your name (even with a few modifications), will be treated with suspicion. Don't be surprised when the Instructor objects! Such practices invalidate the marking process, are unfair to the other students who take the trouble to do their own work, and may be considered "theft" of marks that you don't deserve. Keep the following points in mind:

  • 1. We encourage students to study together and to ask one another for help. This "peer assistance" may take the form of figuring out together how to tackle a problem. However, once the consultation phase is over, students should separate and do the work (or write the program) individually from beginning to end. It is never proper for students to do an assignment or program together and then make copies for each one to hand in, even if cosmetic changes to variable names or comments have been made.
  • 2. Do not ask another student if you can borrow their homework, and do not lend out your homework to friends! Students are responsible for protecting their intellectual property, including computer files. You never know what will finally happen to the source code you e-mail a classmate! We employ special software tools to analyze submissions, and markers have been told to be alert for instances of fraud. They will be brought to the Instructor's attention and dealt with according to University policy (Section VIII, Academic Misconduct). In most cases of plagiarism (intentional copying), all involved students will receive 0% for the assignment, both the one(s) who did the work as well as the one(s) who copied it. Serious or repeated cases can result in a failing grade for the course, or in stronger disciplinary action.
  • 3. Remember that the Instructor and TAs have office hours--use them! It is not shameful to go and ask for help with an assignment. If there is a TA for the course, he or she is being paid to help you. If the office hours are at bad times or you cannot contact the TA, e-mail or phone the Instructor for an appointment. Help will never be refused unless you have obviously neglected the assignment until immediately before it is due.

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