COURSE POLICIES

Fall 2010

Attendance: Class-time is a valuable resource. Students and instructors alike should strive for wise, optimal use of this resource. PLease let me know if there are obstacles preventing you from using this resource.

Good Academic Citizenship: When entering the university, participants agree to behave in ways that support core values that include honesty, integrity, personal responsibility, empowerment, dedication to the advancement of knowledge, helping fellow learners, and more. Good academic citizens direct their behavior in support of these values and strive to develop positive civic virtues not only in the academy but in society as well. In the U.S., students are free to reject the values of the academy, but doing so will place their participation status as well as their personal image in jeopardy (e.g., choosing to not support the core value of honesty by intentionally failing to properly credit another author's work in a paper-- a rejection of an important shared value-is also a rejection of a condition of participation in the academy that leads to negative consequences that can include failing an assignment, failing a course, removal from the university, etc.). Always strive to be good citizens and help others to do the same.

Meeting Deadlines: In order to achieve the many goals in this course (and all courses) within a 15 week time frame, setting deadlines is a useful practice. Those who meet deadlines are rewarded with full attention and consideration for their submission as well as receive social capital (e.g., they are perceived as cooperative people). In this course, there can be flexibility with some deadlines, but flexibility is earned only by means of demonstrating socially responsible behaviors (e.g., offering advanced notice that meeting a deadline will be difficult) and providing the instructor a convincing argument (i.e., well reasoned and supported with evidence) that demonstrates obstacles were impossible to overcome to meet the deadline. In the absence of socially responsible behaviors and a convincing argument to move a deadline, there are costs entailed for missing deadlines: 1/2 letter grade deduction for each 24-hour period late. It is a positive practice to seek to use the resources of the instructor to assist in overcoming any obstacles that may prevent you from meeting deadlines and to let him know of curcumstances that prevent you from meeting our deadlines.

Grade of Incomplete: This grade is given only in extreme circumstances and only when at least 80% of a course has been completed. See instructor for details.

Honors Credit.: COMM 302 can be contracted for Honors Credit for those pursuing Honors Degrees in Communication. See the instructor for details.