Policies

Course Requirements

 

Academic Integrity

While you are a student at this college, you will be treated as an adult.  You are expected to know and abide by the rules of the institution as described in the Scot’s Key.  Particular attention should be directed to the appropriate use of materials available on-line through the Internet.  It is important that you read and understand the ethical use of information.  Whether intentional or not, improper use of materials can be considered a violation of academic honesty.

Cheating in any of your academic work is a serious breach of the Wooster Ethic and the Code of Academic Integrity and is grounds for an F for the entire course.  In addition, I am required to forward a record of the incident to the Dean for Curriculum and Academic Engagement.  You will be held responsible for your actions.  If you are unsure as to what is permissible, always consult me first.

You should be aware of the following guidelines regarding plagiarism:

  1. Any idea or argument taken from a work that is not your own – whether it is from a printed source, the internet, or another student – must be properly cited.  You must incorporate an acknowledgment of the source of the idea in a footnote.  If not, your work will be considered plagiarism.
  2. All quotations must be clearly marked with quotation marks in the text and the source identified in a footnote.  If not, your work will be considered plagiarism.
  3. Any group of three or more words taken directly from a work that is not your own must appear in quotation marks and the source identified in a footnote.  If not, your work will be considered plagiarism.
  4. The borrowing of any complete sentence, sentence fragment, or sequence of three words or more from a work that is not your own (whether taken from printed works, the internet, or the work of another student) without quotation marks and without proper citation is considered plagiarism.  This includes words taken from reference works, online book reviews, or student essay posting sites.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center provides professional tutors who work with you to help clarify your thinking and improve the communication of your ideas.  They can help at all stages of writing, from planning to drafting to revision.  I encourage you all to take advantage of this wonderful, free resource for any of your writing assignments.
Location: Andrews Library Level 1.
Hours:         Sunday 6-9     Monday – Thursday 9-5 & 6-9    Friday 9-4    Saturday: closed
Appointments: Walk-in consultations are accepted, but you are encouraged to schedule an appointment online or by calling extension 2205.

THE ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER

The Academic Resource Center offers a variety of academic support services and programming for all all students. They offer popular programs in time management, class prep, and test taking. They also have peer tutors, disability support services and English Language Learning support and programming.

The Academic Resource Center coordinates accommodations for students with diagnosed disabilities. Students should contact the Academic Resource Center to make arrangements for securing appropriate accommodations.

All students are recommended to provide documentation to the Academic Resource Center and make arrangements for accommodation through that office. They are also encouraged to speak with me during the first couple of weeks of class about any accommodation, even if not registered at the ARC.

LAPTOP POLICY

Bring your laptop for workshops. But bring paper and pen for discussion and lecture.

PHONE POLICY

Put it away. It is incredibly unprofessional and disrespectful to pull your phone out in class. I will ask you once, but have no intention of constantly reminding you of how ill-mannered this sort of behavior is. Assume that I can see you. Because I can. And every time I do, your professionalism grade drops.

RECORDING CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

No student may record or tape or photograph any classroom activity without my express written consent.  If a student believes that they needs to record or tape classroom activities, they should contact the Office of the Secretary to request an appropriate accommodation.

ABSENCES

You are expected to faithfully attend this class. After three absences (excused or not), I will subtract 1/2 a letter grade from your final grade for each absence over three. Moreover, you are further expected to be on time and not disrupt the class by getting up to go the bathroom in the middle of class. Showing up late or getting up to leave in the middle of class is a sign of disrespect to your classmates and to me. Each time you are late or leave in the middle of class will be counted as 1/3 an absence.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

This class is your job. Be a professional. Be prepared. Turn off cell phones and other personal electronics before entering the classroom. Use appropriate language. Treat everyone in class with respect. Failure to act in a professional manner (being disruptive, being rude, not being prepared) will result in severe grade penalties.

LATE WORK

Penalties of a letter grade will accrue every 24 hours past the due date for 72 hours. At that time, the grade will automatically convert to a 0.

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS

All work will be submitted electronically and according to the following guidelines:

  • All work will be submitted as a .pdf file. I will not accept any other format. Submitting your work in an incorrect format will result in a 1/2 letter grade penalty on the first instance and a full letter grade every time thereafter.
  • All work will be submitted to my email: jroche@wooster.edu. Failure to attach your document or sending it in an unreadable format will be considered a late paper and will accrue the same letter grade penalties described above.
  • All work will be named according to the following format: yourlastname  and something to indicate the title of your work. For example, roche sandoz paper.pdf. An incorrectly formatted title will result in a 1/2 letter grade penalty on the first instance and a full letter grade every time thereafter.

FALLING BEHIND

For students in trouble, I follow an absolute “open-door” policy. Everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes. It only gets worse when you don’t reach out to your professors. If you have any questions, any questions, or find yourself falling behind in this course (or in your other classes), contact me immediately. I can meet with students any day of the week at any reasonable hour of the day. Do not dig yourself into a hole that could impact your entire collegiate career.

MOODLE:

I don’t use it

BUT HOW WILL I KNOW MY GRADE?:

Algebra

ADVICE:

Write in word. Google docs is for high school.

Check your email twice a day minimum.

Save to Dropbox.

Read books on paper.

Print documents and keep a folder.

Make regular use of the writing center and my office hours.