Course Contract

Course: CSCI 311 – Spring 2009

By initialing each clause in this two page contract and signing and dating the contract, I acknowledge that I have read, understood and agree to the content.

· I understand that Dr. Stapleton views this course as being one of the most important courses I will take to gain employment in my field. I will conduct myself in all interactions in this course as though I were a valued, respected employee. I will maintain an attitude of respect and consideration for my fellow students, my teaching assistants and professor. I understand it is completely unacceptable to use foul language in my interactions. I will not behave disruptively in the classroom. Should I fail to adhere to this code of conduct I understand that I will be dropped from the class. ______ (initial)

· I understand attendance is mandatory – just as with employment. If I am ill or if there is some other emergency I will contact Dr. Stapleton via email prior to missing the class. I understand very few exceptions would merit failing to do so. I understand my course grade will be decremented should I have unexcused absences and that I may be dropped from the course.______ (initial)

· I will bring a clicker to each classroom session and actively participate when called on to do so. I will turn off all cell phones/PDAs prior to walking in the classroom. I will use my laptop computer only for the purpose of accessing or generating notes and other related course materials. I will not message or contact my fellow students during class. I understand any disruption to the class will result in my loss of the “laptop privilege”. ______ (initial)

· I understand that knowing what homework is assigned and when it is due is entirely my responsibility, just as would a work assignment by my employer. I understand that due dates are firm. I will photocopy or have a backup of each assignment prior to turning it in. I understand that the instructor will not grade each individual assignment with other than a “pass/fail” mark since the instructor will go over the solution to the homework in class. I understand that homework will not be accepted after it is discussed in class. I understand that the process of writing enhances my learning and I agree to take notes while the solutions to homework are being developed. ______ (initial)

· I understand that as a software developer it is my responsibility to anticipate all possible inputs to my programs and I need to engineer my software to correctly handle these cases. Although my teaching assistants will come up with test cases to run my programs against, it is not their responsibility to make sure that I have anticipated all cases, it is my responsibility to do so. If I fail to test a case, it is my failure and not that of my teaching assistant, just as if a user/customer of my software comes up with an input that reveals a bug in my code, it is not my customer’s fault that the bug exists, but mine. I realize that when my teaching assistant provides test cases for me, it is a service to me, and they are not obligated to do so. ______ (initial)

· I understand that programming assignments and homework assignments are to be an *individual* effort.  I will not to share any version of my code with my fellow students. I understand that if my professor or teaching assistant determines that I have copied any part of another student’s work that I will automatically receive a grade of "F" for the course.  I understand that if I am found to have cheated on an exam that I will receive a grade of "F" for the course.  I understand that if I alter an exam answer after receiving the exam back I will receive a grade of "F" for the course. I understand that should any of these situations related to cheating or plagiarism occur that Dr. Stapleton will also pursue my removal from the University. ______ (initial)

· I understand from time to time my teaching assistant and Dr. Stapleton may share partial solutions to programming problems with me or I may be asked to use pre-existing code in my text or on the web. I am allowed to use this code provided it has been approved by Dr. Stapleton and the teaching assistant. I may be asked to use some code as a base for modification and this is allowable. I am to cite the author and source in my program’s documentation whenever I use the code from another source. ______ (initial)

_________________________________________________

Signature Date

___________________________________________

Print name