A syllabus is a contract. By enrolling in this course, you agree to read this syllabus so that you will know what I expect of you, and what you can expect of me.
3.1) What Are Students Expected to Do?
- Meet deadlines. In order to help you stay on track, the smaller exercises are designed to help you develop skills you will need for the larger assignments.
- Keep up with the readings. Reflect meaningfully, in writing, on the readings before coming to class, and help sustain an active, positive learning environment.
- Attend in person and interact on line. In this hybrid course, both in-person and online engagement are crucial components of the course. Neither component will fully replace the other.
- Be flexible and patient. In the 21st century, information always involves technology, and technology can cause stress. Patience and a positive attitude — and not waiting until the last minute — will help you make the most of your learning environment.
- Our technology probably won’t work 100% of the time.
- The people you contact for interviews may need time to work you into their schedule.
- I will need about a week to return each major assignment. Students who turn in assignments late, or who aren’t present when I provide in-class feedback, should make an appointment in order to stay on track.
- Keep the big picture in mind.
- The most successful students put in as much time as is necessary in order to complete the assignments.
- Remember to think in terms of meeting the learning goals, rather than punching a clock, and pace yourself accordingly.
- You may find it takes you longer than the average student to read a chapter, or you may already be proficient at a skill I’m trying to teach; you’ll get regular assessment to help you adjust your pace, if necessary.
- Inform yourself of due dates, assignment instructions, and the policies this syllabus lays out for illness, absence, extensions, etc.
- Show good manners and common courtesy in interactions with me and with the others you’ll be interacting with.
- Contribute actively to a positive learning environment, which means
- prepare adequately for and participating respectfully in class activities
- work sequentially through each of the preparatory assignments that lead to the final submission (if you submit work that has skipped a step, I reserve the right to record a zero for both the skipped step and the submitted step).
- seek help when necessary (this means consulting any of the many resources available to help you succeed, such as this syllabus, the textbooks, Google, SHU’s librarians, and tutoring & counseling services; this also means showing maturity and professionalism by seeking guidance before you miss the deadline)
- Read and comply with this syllabus
3.2) What does Dr. Jerz Promise in Return?
I promise my students that, as their instructor, I, too, will stick to the policies described in this syllabus. See below for details.
3.2.1) My Promises to Students about Assignments
- On the first day of classes, due dates for all major assignments will be posted on the course website; details will be added as the due dates approach. (If you are working ahead, and you see blank assignments, let me know and I’ll put them higher on my to-do list.)
- I will be thorough, helpful, and fair when I evaluate your work.
- Balancing thoroughness with timeliness, I aim to evaluate all submissions within two class sessions.
- Longer assignments may require a bit longer. (In rare cases, I might post scores quickly, and follow up with detailed comments as time permits. See above.)
- You are always welcome to make a telephone or other real-time appointment if you’d like more detailed feedback, or faster feedback.
- Late submissions are evaluated last. If your assignment is just an hour or so late, I will probably be able to evaluate and return it with everyone else’s; however, if I finish evaluating the stack before your submission arrives, I make no promises about returning it with everyone else’s.
- While respecting the official course outline for all published due dates, I reserve the right to make small changes. For instance, if Seton Hill suddenly finds itself in the national news, or something important happens in the world of publishing, I might adjust the syllabus to make use of the opportunity. In the event I make such an adjustment,
- I will clearly describe my expectations for the new learning opportunity
- I will clearly explain how the assignment is intended to help you meet a specific learning goal
3.2.2) My Promises to Students about Common Courtesy
- When you have the floor (in the classroom, via the email or forum post on my screen, the phone call in my hand, or a face-to-face appointment in my office)
- I will honor you with my full attention
- I will expect your peers give you the same honor
- I will not multitask when I should be focusing my full attention on a learning activity.
- I will not email or call you when I am angry; nor will I permit any other kind of inappropriate behavior (face-to-face, in our virtual classroom, elsewhere on the internet, or in real life) interfere with our academic relationship.
- If I have to cancel a class or appointment, I will notify you as soon as possible, and I will take the initiative in proposing an alternate arrangement.
- If you tell me you would prefer to handle a matter in person, rather than by email or phone, I will continue our discussion during an office visit; likewise, if an office visit ceases to be productive, I will recommend a party to whom you can turn for further insight.
- I expect all members of a learning community to practice ethical behavior, and to work out their differences respectfully (following policies stated in this syllabus, as well as behavior determined by good manners and common sense).
3.2.3) My Promises to Students about Communication
- I will make myself available for appointments during my posted office hours; if those times fill up, or the slots are not convenient for you, I will set up an appointment for another time.
- I will generally keep my office door open for walk-in visits, except when I am unavailable (which typically means I’ve already committed my time to somebody else, or I’m doing time-sensitive work like marking papers; when I’m busy, my door will be closed)
- Depending on the nature of the contact — let’s say you have a quick yes/no question, or you’re sharing a viral URL – I might fire off a quick response right away.
- Email is the best way to reach me.
- However, you should feel free to post a comment on the course blog, or leave a voicemail message, or post to my Facebook wall; as it happens, all those actions will trigger an email, so they’re all equally convenient for me.
- In general I will aim to respond by the end of the next working day. (If you haven’t heard from me by then, please resend your message.)
- If you contact me on a weekday morning, I may get your message before class, but may not be able to act on it until that afternoon or early the next day.
- If you email or call me late in the afternoon or during the evening, I will probably get the message before I go to bed, but I will save any nontrivial response for the next working day.
- If an email arrives late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, I will probably read it while I’m getting ready for work or walking up from the parking lot; however, I may not be able to reply until after I’m finished with the day’s teaching.
- Like most people, I will respond most quickly to short, specific emails that don’t depend on attachments.
- Thus, instead of attaching a full draft and asking me “What do you think?” I’d prefer that you paste a brief writing sample directly into the body of your email, asking a specific question such as, “Dr. Jerz, I’ve pasted below two versions of my research question. I think the second version does a better job narrowing the topic. Am I on the right track?”
- That’s the sort of message I can answer while walking in from the parking lot; in fact — and I hope this isn’t revealing too much about myself — I get a little jolt of professional joy when I get such a message from a student. It’s something like how I feel when I get a “Like” from a Facebook friend, so please don’t be shy about reaching out in this manner.
- If you email me an attachment, I am more likely to wait and read it during the next block of time I’ve set aside for prepping my classes.
- When I send an email, I will be clear and thorough.
- Messages that I initiate will have a meaningful subject line that helps you to determine the importance of the message.
- I will use your SHU-registered address, which you can set to forward wherever you prefer.
- If reading and writing email is not your thing, I would be happy to have a telephone conference, or email you a voice memo from my iPad, or use Skype or Twitter, or whatever.
3.3) What Are the Assignment Submission Policies?
Required Formats: The course syllabus clearly tags each assignment with a label that indicates whether the assignment is simply an optional reference for you to consult if you wish to; background material that will help you understand some other text; a reading that comes with comprehension questions, a reading that prompts you to respond and engage with your peers, or a writing assignment that asks you to accomplish specific interpretive or informational tasks. Some assignments will require you get above a certain score on a computer-graded multiple-choice test in order to unlock a discussion question for you to answer in a forum.
Note: An assignment is not complete until it is submitted in the requested format.
Alternate Formats: If you have problems submitting it in the requested format, you may “stop the late clock” by submitting it to me in an alternate form (that is, you may hand me a printout of something I asked to be uploaded, or you may email something I asked to be printed), but your work remains incomplete until it arrives in the requested format.
Late Submissions: Once the deadline for an individual assignment has passed (9am the morning after the due date), there is no opportunity to earn credit for the late assignment, but you may still have to complete that assignment anyway — for no credit — in order to unlock the next assignment; if you find yourself in this situation, please contact me so that we can keep you on track.)
3.4) What Is the Attendance/Absence Policy?
Seton Hill University recognizes that extra-curricular activities of all sorts are important components of a liberal arts education. At the same time, your instructors expect you to take an active role in reducing the impact of unavoidable absences.
- Students are expected to attend every class. (See SHU Catalog.)
- Students are responsible for all material collected, covered, and/or assigned during an absence — whether excused or unexcused.
- Students are permitted one unexcused absence for “free,” with no penalty to the participation grade (though late penalties will apply for all assignments due on that day).
- For virtual class days, receiving a failing grade for the scheduled online activity will count as an “absence” (except in extenuating circumstances).
- After the “free” absence, each additional unexcused absence lowers your final grade by 5 points. This absence penalty is applied after all grades are calculated — including the grade for class participation.
- After three consecutive absences, I will presume the student has withdrawn from the course, and report a final grade based on work completed. (You may submit a written request for reinstatement, along with a plan for catching up and staying on track.)
- Frequent late arrivals, early departures, inattentiveness or lack of preparedness may add up to count as absences. (I will warn you when you are about to accrue an absence under this part of the policy.)
3.4.1) What should I do if I have to miss class?
First, recognize that the course permits you one unexcused absence without penalty. (Note that you are still responsible for material due, covered, or assigned on that day; see the “Free Pass” section for my policy on due date extensions.)
Contact me directly, after you have done the following:
- Consulted the online syllabus to find out what is scheduled on the date(s) affected by your absence.
- Consulted a classmate for notes on what happened during class.
After you have informed yourself about what you missed, I will be happy to answer any specific questions, by e-mail or in person.
Note: It may not be possible to arrange make-up assignments for some due dates or time-sensitive in-class activities.
I welcome the chance to help you get caught up. Before you contact me, make sure you know exactly what work has been affected; consult the course syllabus and a classmate’s notes. After you’ve done that, we’ll both be ready to discuss the next step.
3.4.2) How should students prepare for a planned absence?
Those who miss class due to a scheduled activity must plan to complete all make-up assignments before the missed class. The planning process begins when you submit (by email) a completed “Absence Form” (available at http://jerz.setonhill.edu/teaching/Absence.doc“), a week before the missed class.
If there is insufficient time for us to agree upon an acceptable suggestion for making up missed work, or if an approved make-up assignment is late or unsatisfactory, then I may record the absence as unexcused.
3.4.3) How should students recover from an unplanned emergency absence?
In the event of extended absences due to prolonged illness, I am willing to be flexible. Submit a written explanation, with any documentation that you feel will help me decide in your favor. But see below: “Late Pass” Stress-relief Policy.
3.5) What is the policy for making up missed work?
Online assignments are due in the requested format, 20 minutes before class starts, on the given due date.
Printouts, when requested, are to be brought to class, and held until the end of class, at which time you are to submit them by placing them on the table in the front of the room as you leave. I may instead ask for them at some point during class.
Late work submitted before midnight on the due date receives a 1/3 letter grade penalty. (Thus, a B paper submitted at 10pm would drop to a B-).
Late work submitted after that loses a letter grade per day. (Thus, a B paper submitted at 1am the next day would drop to a C.)
No late work will earn a passing grade if submitted a week or more after the due date. (Note that an F can be as high as a 59, and earning a 59 on an assignment is much better than not turning it in at all and earning a zero.)
No late or make-up work will be accepted after the last day of classes, unless you are using a “Late Pass” (see below).
3.6) What is the “Late Pass” Homework Extension Policy?
For any reason, you may take a brief extension on any two assignments.
I’m offering “Late Passes” so that, if you fall ill or get swamped during a crunch time, you won’t have to jump through any hoops to get a doctor’s note, but you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can relieve the pressure a bit.
If you want to take a late pass for any reason at all, go ahead and use it.
There are, however, some important limits on this policy.
- For a single assignment you may click the following link before the deadline in order to claim a no-penalty, One-Day “Late Pass” for that assignment. (Clicking the link will generate an email. If the link does not work for you, you may also make the request via telephone call or via paper.)
- For a single assignment you may click the following link before the deadline in order to claim a no-penalty, Three-Day “Late Pass” for that assignment. (Clicking the link will generate an email. If the link does not work for you, you may also make the request via telephone call or via paper.)
- If you miss a deadline without requesting a late pass, or if you use up both of your passes, the regular late penalties will apply. (So think carefully before using a pass on an assignment worth just 2% or 5% of your grade.)
- You cannot change a one-day pass to a three-day pass, or combine them both to create a four-day pass.
- The “Late Pass” system is completely separate from the absence policy. I’ll still expect you in class on the day the assignment is due, even if you’ve given yourself a “Late Pass” extension.
- Late passes are for homework; they do not apply to in-class work of any kind (including oral presentations, group projects, guest speakers, etc.).
3.7) What is the policy for make-up work / extra credit?
Make-up Work: For some time-sensitive assignments, such as responding to readings before a class discussion, participating in peer-review workshops, or attending peer presentations, there are no possible replacement assignments. Otherwise, make-up assignments should be part of our discussion of your Absence Form (see above).
Extra Credit: I do not create or accept extra-credit assignments.
The best way to boost your grade is to complete a draft of a major paper a few days before the deadline, and schedule an office visit so that I can give you detailed, penalty-free feedback that will help you improve your work before I report your grade.
