In case of illness 

If you find that you are unable to attend class as a result of feeling ill or displaying symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and contact the Office of Student Affairs (saffairs@eou.edu).  The Office of Students Affairs will provide assistance, such as notifying your instructors, checking in on you and providing other appropriate services. 

Attendance

Students must attend the Zoom portion of class in order to pass. No exceptions. I will forward students’ names to the registrar for removal from the class. This class is designated as remote, not online, and attendance over the weekend is required.

Academic integrity

The university’s official position: Eastern Oregon University places a high value upon the integrity of its student scholars. Any student found guilty of academic misconduct (including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or theft of an examination or supplies) may be subject to having his or her grade reduced in the course in question, being placed on probation or suspended from the university, or being expelled from the university–or a combination of these. (see section II of the 2002-03 Student Handbook, p. 32ff, and p. 41 ff; also this page for details, more guidance at Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab.

My interpretation: Plagiarism is taking credit for work, ideas, papers, which are not yours. Universities make lots of literature available for a nominal fee, the bargain being that if you use the ideas of others, you’ll credit them. So it isn’t just wholesale theft, but as the above says, deception, misrepresentation, etc. Be sure you’re familiar with what plagiarism is, and how to avoid it. If you’re caught plagiarizing, you’ll receive an ‘F’ on the assignment and possibly for the course. Doing your own work turns out to be more rewarding in the long term.

In addition, if I come to learn a student is letting someone else do his/her work, standard procedure is to report it to the offices of the Dean and Provost, the student will receive an ‘F’ for the class, and possibly be expelled from the University.

Writing Center

The Writing Center provides a place — physical or virtual — where every EOU writer can find an interested, responsive reader. Writing tutorials are free of charge for EOU’s undergraduate and graduate students who are writing for any course at any level, or who are writing resumes, job letters, graduate applications, and more. Go to eou.mywconline.com to schedule an (online) appointment in the Writing Center (Loso Hall 234).

Due dates and late assignments

Assignments are expected on the day they’re due. Check the calendar on the course website or in Canvas for due dates and deadlines. Late assignments will be assessed a penalty (one letter grade for each day, increasing with lateness). Leeway considered on a case-by-case basis. Please turn assignments in directly, accessible from the ‘assignments’ link in Canvas. File formats you can use include .rtf, .pdf, .doc, .docx, or .odt (if you’re using Open Source Office). Also, paste the file into the grade book field in Canvas to ensure I receive something, in case your file attachment doesn’t open. If you’re not sure how to do this, try it, and let me know. If you have extenuating circumstances for being late with an assignment, I’m always willing to listen, but in fairness to others who’ve managed to get them in on time, it will have to be compelling. If you are entitled to accommodations from the Disabilities Office, they will notify me.

Expectations

I will justify classroom (or online discussion) time, online lecture and reading material, assignments, etc., by showing their relevance to the overall course objectives. I will provide a friendly environment both in-person and online for discussion of ideas, try to make you think, impart personal experiences relevant to course material, and be generally accessible, approachable, and clear and precise about course expectations. With respect to coverage of content, I tend to emphasize depth over breadth—I would rather cover less points thoroughly, at a reasonable and engaging pace, than pledge strict allegiance to a course schedule.

In turn I expect students will do their own work, use or develop critical thinking skills and be able to express them online, let me know when unclear or in disagreement on a concept, either exhibit college-level writing skills or seek help to improve them. I’ll look for progress in developing abstract thinking skills and students’ abilities to focus on  the “big picture”—key  concepts delivered in class, their relevance to course material,  the real world, etc. In this class we focus on ideas—we can debate people’s ideas in a respectful way, but personal attacks on people will not be tolerated.

As for writing, you should proofread your papers scrupulously. Citations should be full, use APA Style, and there should be no spelling or grammar errors in the paper. EOU’s Writing Center can be of help, but this is the student’s responsibility. Every paper has a component for writing, and it’s possible to lose most all of those points for sloppy or barely discernable proofreading.

Regarding Zoom

To borrow the corporate jargon of the day, it is what it is. And occasionally, it is only as good as wifi connections, the user’s equipment, the microphone, etc. If I suddenly disappear from a Zoom session, know that I am furiously trying to re-connect and reset my home wifi router. Same with your fellow students, if you lose one, the expectation is you will try to reconnect.

There may be hiccups over the weekend of the 22-23rd, so try to be patient and understanding. It is what it is …

Students with disabilities

Any student requiring assistance or accommodation from me in performing course-related work should make his/her needs known to me in a timely manner. If you have a documented disability or suspect that you have a learning problem, you are entitled to reasonable and appropriate accommodations. But you must work with the Disabilities Services Office (disabsvc@eou.edu), Taylor Smith, Director. The office is located in Loso Hall 234 (phone 962-3235 or 962-3081).

Drop Policy

A student may drop from a course for any reason with no record on the student’s transcript before the end of the 4th week of the term. Thereafter, a student must withdraw from the course. A student may withdraw from the 5th week of the term through the 7th week with a grade of “W” indicated on the transcript.

No withdrawals will be issued after the 7th week of the term. Instructors will issue a letter grade (A-F, or I) for all students enrolled after the 7th week. A student making adequate academic progress during the term and needing to withdraw after the 7th week may request an incomplete from the instructor.

Grades

Unless I’ve made a math error, all grades are final. If you need the grade, simply do the work. It’s unfair to others to do otherwise. So being a few points shy of the grade you want is something you’ll want to address during the course, not after you see your grade in Webster.

Minuses will be given for the bottom third (0-3) of each range; pluses for the top third (7-9). I will also use pluses and minuses positively if I feel that one’s grade did not reflect his/her effort; I will not use them to reduce a grade.

Unless I’ve made a mathematical error, all grades are final.