K. R. Sturgeon' Course Policy or Rules of Engagement!

Success in this class will require the student's self-discipline and the instructor's continually high expectations.  In order for the student to mature in character and successfully pass this class, both the student and instructor must diligently live up to the following standards.

1. Plan ahead! Late assignments will not be accepted!  If you cannot attend class, then assignments should be turned in the day before or emailed to ksturgeon@dacc.edu by the deadline. Regardless of reason or prior notification, laboratories cannot be made up, completed ahead, or repeated. Quizzes and daily activities cannot be made up if you fail to be in class for any reason; however, quizzes may be taken prior to the absence.  As a cushion, two of your lowest citizenship scores will be dropped at the end of the semester. For ONLINE students, attendance means signing into the course to check emails, discussion boards, and schedules at least three times a week. 

2. Plan ahead! No make-up exams/tests will be allowed regardless of the excuse.  However, exams may be taken prior to the absence if your instructor is in agreement.  If you have missed a testing date, you may request that the final exam score be used to substitute for one missing test grade.  The request must be made in writing and submitted on the last day of the semester prior to finals.  For ONLINE students, absence means failure to sign in for the course at least three times a week. 

3. No pretenders allowed!  Your attitude affects the attitude of those around you. If you are registered for this course you are expected to live up to the expectations and to complete all assignments.  Assignments must be your original work; plagiarism will result in an F. In addition, any student who has failed to complete three assignments will be dropped from the course before or at midterm.  After midterm students missing 3 assignments will be dropped at the discretion of the instructor.  Failure to complete any group activity will result, at the instructor's discretion, in withdrawal at anytime in the course.

4. You are expected to be prepared for class.  All writing assignments must be typed and multiple paged assignments should be stapled prior to class.  Failure to do either will result in loss of points. For ONLINE students, stapled means all photos, text, attachments, scanned documents are imported within one file.  

5. Any behavior that interferes with student learning (yours or others) must be minimized and will result in loss of individual, team or class point at the instructor's discretion.  Removal from the course is subject to instructor discretion as well. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, disrespect toward instructor or fellow students, children in class, frequent tardiness, leaving class, sleeping in class, talking, doing other work in class, inappropriate use of laptops, mp3 players, use of cell phone in any capacity, or disruption from watch alarms and beepers.  Laptops may be used during lecture only, unless prior authorization is given, but students may be required to show the instructor their lecture notes. 

6. It is your responsibility to withdraw yourself from the class if you feel the need to do so.  Please refer to withdrawal procedures in the student handbook.  Be warned, that students with 2 or more absences within the 1st ten days will be dropped from the course.  Students with more than 3 absences will be dropped at midterm.

7. Excessive absences may result in the reduction of your grade, failure, or being summarily dropped from the class roster.

8. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated and will be dealt with according to the Student Conduct Codes of DACC.  The Student Handbook is available in the Information Office in Vermilion Hall.

9. Course announcements and grades can be found at http://www.dacc.edu/~kjenkins/welcome2.html under course related links. You are expected to check your course announcements daily, and you are responsible for any assignments or deadlines posted.

10. Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs.  Please contact the Office of Student Support Services at 443-8708 in Cannon Hall to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

11. Electronic Devices: Cell phones should not be in use during class for purposes such as texting, calling, receiving calls, browsing the web, or as calculators.  IPods and similar devices are not to be in use doing class time.