Since most tests are scheduled well in advance and scores may be dropped or substituted with higher scores when computing final course averages, make-up tests are NOT given. Missed tests will usually be graded as a zero. For numerous reasons it may be desirable or necessary for students to miss class. Whatever the reason may be, certain facts should be kept in mind:

1. Exams and other activities requiring your presence may be scheduled just before, in between, or immediately after official breaks. Don't even think of making plans to leave campus early or return late after breaks with the expectation that you can make up missed work another time.
   
2. There is no such thing as an excused absence! If you are not there, you are absent regardless of the reason! Generally, missing class for any reason does NOT excuse you from responsibility for material covered or assignments given or collected, or tests administered. It is up to you to find out what happened in class. It is not possible for your instructor to provide private tutoring to students who miss class. It is not possible to make up an absence. Most activities cannot be reproduced outside the classroom environment. Note to athletes: when attendance is used to determine a portion of the course grade, options are available for extra credit in other components of the grade to compensate for absences caused by events sanctioned by the Athletic Council. This option is available to all students with absences.
   
3. An assignment is due on the designated date whether you are present or not. Failure to hand in your work at the appointed time due to absence does not excuse you from the late policies as specified above.
   
4. Material covered in class may not appear in your textbook, especially lecture demonstrations.
5. Our accrediting body requires that some type of final exam be given during final exam week. Early final exams will not be offered for any reason.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE/CELL PHONES:

While class is in session, you should participate in the class activities, avoid private conversations or making unnecessary and distracting noise. Cell phones must be turned off while class is in session. Pagers with message windows and text messages should NOT be consulted or even visible during class time. Please be considerate of your instructor and your peers at all times!

COMMUNICATION:

Electronic mail and, where appropriate, Web pages will be used extensively for communication purposes. Plan to check your electronic mailbox at least once daily! My email address is: kopec at stedwards.edu

GRADING:

Grades will not be curved. Grades are determined by the following scale:
A: 90 - 100 B: 80 - 89.9 C: 70 - 79.9 D: 60 - 69.9 F: 0 - 59.9

At his option, the instructor may change the grade determination methods in a UNIFORM manner to raise the course letter grade corresponding to certain numerical grades, or the weight of one or more grade categories. If desirable, this will be done ONLY in a manner BENEFICIAL to the class. Individual exceptions will not be considered. Keep in mind that a "C" means you are doing acceptable, passing, COLLEGE-LEVEL work. It is NOT a failing grade. Grades will be posted at the BlackBoard web site. Please monitor your grades and inform your instructor of recording errors.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students who violate the St. Edward's University Academic Integrity Policy will be subject to the full range of penalties as described in the Undergraduate Bulletin and in the Student Handbook. Withdrawal from a course is not allowed when an F for academic dishonesty has been imposed.

It is tempting to copy another's work rather than creating an involved web page or researching and writing a report from scratch, especially considering how easily electronically recorded media can be duplicated. DON'T DO IT!!! When creating web pages, it is permitted to adapt segments found in published texts or web sources for your programs, as long as the adapted segments are identified as such (including the reference) in the source code as a comment. When writing papers, avoid use of quoted passages. Always keep quoted sections to 10% or less of the total word count and identify the source. This policy applies to ALL course work.

INCOMPLETE GRADE POLICY:

CATASTROPHIC EVENTS MUST OCCUR TO GET A GRADE OF "I", AND ONLY IF

1. MORE THAN 80% OF THE SEMESTER HAS ELAPSED.
2. YOU ARE UP-TO-DATE ON ALL YOUR WORK AND EXAMS,
3. YOU ARE MAINTAINING AT LEAST A "C" AVERAGE, AND
4. YOU HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE ATTENDANCE RECORD UP TO THAT POINT.

KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL GRADES ARE BASED ON ACHIEVEMENT, NOT EFFORT!