Details specific to course content can be found on the respective info pages: TAM 210/211, TAM 212, TAM 251.
Below are the course policies for the online TAM 2XX courses. Please read through them and familiarize yourself with the policies regarding course logistics.
Absences:
- Excuses from assessments will only be given in the following circumstances:
- Illness.
- Personal crisis (e.g., car accident, required court appearance, death of a close relative).
- Required attendance at an official UIUC activity (e.g., varsity athletics, band concert).
- In all cases you must complete the Excused Absence Request Form found on your course homepage and upload a scan of the official written documentation explaining your absence.
- In cases (a) or (b) an official excuse letter from the Dean on Duty must be submitted via the online form within 2 weeks of the due date of the missed assessment, but no later than reading day. In cases of extended or unusual illness, late submission of excuse documentation will be considered.
- In case (c) an official letter from the designated university official must be submitted via the online form at least one week prior to the due date of the missed assessment.
- Notwithstanding the above, at your professor's discretion you may be required to make up any excused work or attend substitute instruction or assessment.
Academic integrity:
Academic integrity infractions, harassment, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. See the University's Student Code, Article 1, Part 4 and the Campus Conduct Policy. Please report any concerns immediately to your professor.
Academic integrity infractions will be dealt with using the most stringent available counter-measures. All infractions are documented through the campus-wide FAIR database, that remains part of the student's permanent record. All infractions in this database will be referred to the Senate Committee on Student Discipline for review and potential additional sanctions. Typical pentalties in TAM 2XX courses for academic infractions include dropping one course letter grade. Students have been expelled from the university for cheating.
Infractions include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and assisting others in a manner not prescribed or allowed for in the original assignment or directions. Notably, for homework assignments, students are encouraged and allowed to work together. The philosophy is that homeworks are formative assessments, meaning they are intended to foster learning. This is in contrast to summative assessments, including quizzes and exams, that measure individual student mastery of course concepts, for which students are of course forbidden from assisting each other.
Computer-based testing on PrairieLearn proctored through CBTF Online deserves special mention. With conflict exams, exams are typically given across multiple days, up to a week. During the entire time period of testing, students are strictly forbidden from discussing any aspect of the test/quiz whatsoever with other students. This includes specifics of questions, general aspects of questions, comments on the difficulty of the quiz, etc. This policy is strictly enforced to preserve the integrity of the computer-based testing.
Contact and obtaining help:
The main way to obtain help is online via Campuswire. Please do not send email directly to CAs, TAs or professors for routine help or absences.
This class uses Campuswire for ALL communications between the instructor, TAs, CAs, and students. Students should not communicate with instructors via email. This is so we can ensure a faster response and keep everyone informed about what's going on.
Students are encouraged to post public messages on Campuswire ("Post to Entire Class"). If you like, you can post anonymously, but we encourage everyone to use their name because it makes a friendlier and more welcoming environment. We will never judge anyone for asking anything on Campuswire, and you will see professors, TAs, and CAs making mistakes and saying stupid things as well!
You can use the private feature on Campuswire by posting a message visible only to the Instructors. In this, you must type "Instructors", instead of sending a message to a specific TA or instructor. Again, this helps to ensure that you get a prompt response.
Gradebook:
All assessment scores are stored on Canvas. Note that we are only using this website for grade reporting. All other class-related information will be posted only to the official class website or Campuswire. Any errors in grade reporting appearing on Canvas must be reported to "Instructors" via Campuswire within 2 weeks of the due date of the assessment item or by the last day of class, whichever is earlier.
Final grades:
The total score s corresponds to final grades as follows.
| 97% ≤ s < 100% | A+ | 93% ≤ s < 97% | A | 90% ≤ s < 93% | A- |
| 87% ≤ s < 90% | B+ | 83% ≤ s < 87% | B | 80% ≤ s < 83% | B- |
| 77% ≤ s < 80% | C+ | 73% ≤ s < 77% | C | 70% ≤ s < 73% | C- |
| 67% ≤ s < 70% | D+ | 63% ≤ s < 67% | D | 60% ≤ s < 63% | D- |
| s < 60% | F |
Lectures:
Watching pre-recorded lectures in a timely manner is essential for your comprehension and success in the course.
Discussion sections:
Discussion sessions will consist of a worksheet exercise, which is a high-energy and efficient learning experience. Completed discussion worksheet need to be submitted by the end of the week that it is assigned to receive credit.
Online homeworks:
Weekly online homeworks will be assigned via PrairieLearn. Each assignment is due at 11:59pm on the assigned due date. Due dates are available inside PrairieLearn. These assignments place an emphasis on mastery. The idea is to keep doing questions until you master the underlying concept or method. Once you do, you should be able to answer these questions very quickly.
The way this works in PrairieLearn is that each question has a value, a point total, and a point maximum. If you answer a question correctly, two things happen:
- The point total increases by the value, until you reach the point maximum.
- The value increases (2x, 3x, 4x, etc.).
- The value increases (2x, 3x, 4x, etc.).
If you answer a question incorrectly, one thing happens:
- The value goes back to what it was originally (1x).
This system rewards repeated correct answers, which tend to demonstrate mastery. There is no penalty (other than resetting the value) for answering a question incorrectly, so don't be afraid to submit an answer. Similarly, don't be afraid to keep doing a question after you reach the point maximum - your point total with never go down!
If you click on the "?" just to the right of the line about available credit, you'll see all the dates associated with this homework. In particular, it says:
- you can receive 100% until Main End Date
- you can receive 80% until Extended End Date(two days later)
- you can receive 0%, but can keep doing problems as practice for the rest of the semester.
Note that your score will never go down. For example, if you achieve 90% by the Main End Date, you won't be able to increase your score after that time, but you won't be penalized for not reaching 100% - your score will remain 90% forever. On the other hand, if you achieve only 70% by the Main End Date you will be able to increase your score after that time (to a maximum of 80%) until the Extended End Date.
Quizzes and exams:
You will have online quizzes and exams using the PrairieLearn system. Your lowest quiz grade for the semester will be dropped. All quizzes and exams will be proctored by the Grainger College of Engineering Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) Online: https://cbtf.engr.illinois.edu/cbtf-online.
The policies of CBTF Online are the policies of this course, and academic integrity infractions related to CBTF Online are infractions in this course.
If you have accommodations identified by the Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services (DRES) for exams, please email your Letter of Accomodation (LOA) toto the CBTF Manager, Carleen Sacris (sacris1@illinois.edu), before you make your first exam reservation. The proctors will advise you as to whether the CBTF provides your accommodations or whether you will need to make other arrangements with your instructor.
Any problem with testing must be reported to CBTF staff at the time the problem occurs. If you do not inform a proctor of a problem during the test then you forfeit all rights to redress.
Disability-related accommodations:
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to http://disability.illinois.edu. If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability. You may access these by visiting the DRES website and selecting “Request an Academic Screening” at the bottom of the page.
Anti-racism and inclusivity:
The Grainger College of Engineering is committed to the creation of an anti-racist, inclusive community that welcomes diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, disability status, class, age, or religious beliefs. The College recognizes that we are learning together in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, that Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous voices and contributions have largely either been excluded from, or not recognized in, science and engineering, and that both overt racism and micro-aggressions threaten the well-being of our students and our university community.
The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon each of us to create a safe and encouraging learning environment that allows for the open exchange of ideas while also ensuring equitable opportunities and respect for all of us. Everyone is expected to help establish and maintain an environment where students, staff, and faculty can contribute without fear of personal ridicule, or intolerant or offensive language. If you witness or experience racism, discrimination, micro-aggressions, or other offensive behavior, you are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the course director if you feel comfortable. You can also report these behaviors to the Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART). Based on your report, BART members will follow up and reach out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe. If the reported behavior also violates university policy, staff in the Office for Student Conflict Resolution may respond as well and will take appropriate action.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA):
Any student who has suppressed their directory information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should self-identify to the instructor to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. See link here for more information on FERPA.
Religious observances:
Illinois law requires the University to reasonably accommodate its students' religious beliefs, observances, and practices in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work requirements. You should examine this syllabus at the beginning of the semester for potential conflicts between course deadlines and any of your religious observances. If a conflict exists, you should notify your instructor of the conflict and follow the procedure outlined here to request appropriate accommodations. This should be done in the first two weeks of classes.
Sexual misconduct reporting obligation:
The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.
A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here.
Other information about resources and reporting is available here.