Costa > Courses > CS 1645/2045 > Campuswire

Policies »

[COVID-19 Operation] [General Policies] [Grading] [Recording/Copyright]

If you have any questions on the policies below, please contact the instructor.


COVID-19 Operation


Class Material & Web Page
All handouts and class notes will be accessible from Canvas and published on the class web page.

http://db.cs.pitt.edu/courses/cs1645/current.term

You are expected to check this page frequently (at least twice a week).

Platforms and Mode of Instruction
Both the lectures and recitations will be taught primarily via remote synchronous instruction. Zoom meetings will be our primary platforms of interaction. Zoom links and passwords will be made available on Canvas and shared by email and on Campuswire. For maximum engagement during the lectures and recitations, we encourage everyone to keep their video on during Zoom sessions. Furthermore, for additional asynchronous engagement, both lectures and recitations will be recorded.

If you need help navigating Canvas, please consult this list of Student Resources for using Canvas You must connect via a personal electronic device over a reliable and fast internet connection. The larger the screen on your device, the easier it will be for you to see and participate, so computers are generally preferable to phones, for example. If you are not equipped with a computer or do not have access to a stable internet connection, the university is offering services to provide you with support (Chromebook and internet hot spots). Please contact the Technology Help Desk for further information. Recommended browsers: Chrome / Firefox / Edge.

Operational Posture
The University of Pittsburgh will be operating with a system of Operational Postures. Use the link operational postures to see the current posture and details about what each posture means generally here. For this course, all aspects of the course will operate the same way regardless of the university's operational posture.

COVID-19 University Statement
In the midst of this pandemic, it is extremely important that you abide by public health regulations and University of Pittsburgh Health Standards and Guidelines. While in class, at a minimum, this means you must wear a face covering and comply with physical distancing requirements; other requirements may be added by the University during the semester. These rules have been developed to protect the health and safety of all community members. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you not being permitted to attend class in person and could result in a Student Conduct violation. For the most up-to-date information and guidance, please visit coronavirus.pitt.edu and check your Pitt email for updates before each class.

Pitt Community Compact
A pledge created by a dozen undergraduate, graduate and professional students to,"uphold the health and safety of our community," amid the pandemic by promoting responsible behaviors. Let us all take the pledge


General Policies


Academic Honesty
Unless explicitly noted otherwise, the work in this course is to be done independently. Discussions with other students on the assignments should be limited to understanding the statement of the problems. Cheating in any way, including giving your work to someone else will result in an F for the course and a report to the appropriate University authority. Submissions that are alike in a substantive way will be considered to be cheating by ALL involved parties. Please protect yourselves by only storing your files in private directories, and by retrieving all printouts promptly.

Also, please make sure you read, understand and abide by the Academic Integrity Code for the School of Computing and Information.


Communication
Public/Shared
You should use the Campuswire system (which is essentially a web-based bulletin board) for all questions and clarifications to lectures, recitations and assignments. Campuswire should not be used for private/confidenential communication.

Private/Confidential
You should use email only for confidential matters. For a confidential email to the instructor and the TA, you should send email to . Note that this email address works only within the pitt.edu domain.

If you have a confidential matter for the instructor only, then please email the instructor, Dr. Costa and/or directly, but make sure to include the keyword CS 1645/2045 or cs2045 in the subject line of your email message. We will make every effort to respond to all email requests within one business day at the latest.

Mailing List
Please note that you are expected to read e-mail sent to your pitt account on a regular basis. If you are forwarding your e-mail to another email address and email is lost as a result of this, you are still responsible for all communications sent to University e-mail address. For the official University Policy, please, visit: www.cfo.pitt.edu/policies/policy/09/09-10-01.html.

Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 140 William Pitt Union, 412-648-7890 or 412-383-7355 (TTY) as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course. More info at: www.drs.pitt.edu.

Religious Observances
In order to accommodate the observance of religious holidays, students should inform the instructor (by email, within the first two weeks of the term) of any such days which conflict with scheduled class activities.


Grading


Grades & Scaling
Homeworks: 20%
Project: 15%
Midterm: 30%
Final: 30%
Lecture & Recitation Participation: 5%
      The grade scaling will be computed based on the performance of the undergraduate students only. Graduate students will then be graded on this undergraduate scale.

Attendance and participation in lectures and recitations may be used to decide borderline grades.


Class Attendance & Participation
Because of the remote synchronous teaching, your attendance in our Zoom meetings and your class/recitation discussion participation is essential. It is therefore important that you do not miss class and recitation and participate actively while there. You must come to class willing to actively volunteer and participate. In addition to attendance and in-class participation points, additional points will be given for contributions and good answers to the discussions on Campuswire.

Assignments
All written assignments must be submitted electronically. Instructions will be given together with each assignment.

Late Submissions
There are no late submissions. An assignment which is late will be accepted only under special circumstances with the instructor's permission prior to its deadline. In such a case, the instructor will determine any penalty in a fair manner.

Make-up Policy
Students are expected to take both midterm and final exams. Make-up exams will only be given in the event of a medical situation or an emergency, and only if this is documented and the instructor is informed immediately if in advance is not possible. Missing an exam will result in a zero for the exam.

Grade Appeals
Grades can be appealed up to two weeks after they have been posted; no appeals will be considered after that time.