CS 101 Introduction to Computers Fall 2008 Syllabus - Attendance and Makeup Policies

This page explains what is expected of each student as far as attendance for each part of the course and what to do if you miss a meeting or test. If you miss any exam, it is your responsibility to contact Dr. Keen within one week of the date of the test. If you do not, your absence will be considered "unexcused".

Attendance at Lecture

Class lectures meet Monday and Wednesday at 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm (sections 1-16) in Biological Sciences Building 107, or Monday and Wednesday at 3-3:50 pm (sections 17-30) in Chemistry Physics 155.

Attendance at lectures and participation in cooperative learning activities is required, and is weighted as 5% of the final grade. Attendance will be recorded by use of a "Personal Response System" ("clicker") or other activities. Attendance at lecture may be taken at any time during the period and may be taken more than once per period.

What to do if you miss a Lecture

If your absence is excused, bring your documentation to either Dr. Keen within one week after the absence and you will be given credit for that attendance.

Attendance at Lecture Tests

There are 2 content exams during the semester and a non-comprehensive final exam during Finals week. They are common hour exams at night. Details of times and locations are here. Students are expected take the exams at the scheduled time.

What to do if you miss a Lecture Test

In case of a legitimate unforeseen conflict (illness or death in the family), the student MUST contact Dr. Keen within one week after the scheduled exam in order to have an opportunity to take the test. In case of other conflicts the student MUST inform Dr. Keen at least a week in advance of the scheduled exam.

Attendance at REQUIRED Labs

The meetings marked on the schedule as REQUIRED are the times you are REQUIRED to attend the lab sessions. The very first lab meeting is marked REQUIRED because we need to verify that everyone has their University account set up.

There is one other REQUIRED lab session besides the lab tests, the one which meets the very last week of the semester. This lab is required because we ask you to do the official UK Teaching and Class Evaluations that week. It is also an opportunity to get another bonus percentage point on your final grade by doing some Powerpoint tasks.

What to do if you miss a REQUIRED Lab

That is, what if you miss either the very first lab of the semester or the very last lab of the semester? If you miss the first lab, you do NOT get the bonus points for it. You still need to see your TA as soon as you can and demonstrate to them that you can log in with your University account. This should be done BEFORE the first Lab Test - there will be a penalty on the test if you cannot log in. If you miss the very last lab, you do NOT get the bonus point for the Powerpoint, and you don't get to fill out the Class Evaluation.

Attendance at Open Labs

Attendance at the other lab periods that are not lab tests, called "open labs", is optional. A student may attend these lab periods or not, as they judge necessary. The Teaching Assistants will be there at the scheduled times, and will answer questions and provide as much assistance as possible. However, attendance at "open lab" sessions has a high correlation with success on the lab tests. Therefore, attendance will be taken at every open lab session. Students who attend at least 5 open labs during the semester will receive one bonus percentage point on their final grade. This applies only to attendance at the scheduled labs at the section time the student is enrolled in. If a student desires more lab time, he or she can attend additional lab times during the "Open Lab" weeks if there is a machine available in the lab room.

What to do if you miss an Open Lab

You can attend another lab session with the same or a different TA if there is room in the lab. This will allow you to ask questions and get assistance on the material. It will NOT count for your bonus point attendances. You MUST go to your scheduled lab with YOUR TA to get credit for the bonus.

Attendance at Lab Tests

At regular intervals during the semester, about every 2-3 weeks, Lab Tests will be given. Attendance is REQUIRED for these. See the schedule for these dates. The Lab Tests will take place during regularly scheduled lab periods. The student MUST take the exam during the section they are enrolled in; otherwise there will not be a machine available for them.

What to do if you miss a Lab Test

If you miss your scheduled Lab Test AND you have an excused absence as defined below, you need to arrange a makeup exam with Dr. Keen. The procedure for doing that is here. If a student comes to the wrong section time, they will be turned away and will NOT be allowed to arrange a makeup.

If you do not have documentation of an excused absence for a lab test, you will NOT be allowed to make it up later! You will get a zero score.

Punctuality: Students are expected to come to all classes on time and stay for the whole period. This is especially important for Lab Tests. Lab Tests end at 10 minutes until the hour. Any work turned in after that deadline will lose 10 percent out of what is possible for each minute late, based on the file's timestamp when it is submitted. Extra time will NOT be given.

Excused Absences Defined

Excused absences are the following:

• Illness of the student or serious illness of a member of the student's immediate family.
• The death of a member of the student's immediate family.
• Trips for members of student organizations sponsored by an academic unit, trips for University classes, and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events. When feasible, the student must notify the instructor prior to the occurrence of such absences.
• Major Religious Holidays. Students are responsible for notifying the instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays no later than the last day for adding a class. NOTE that this includes Good Friday before Easter.

Missed announcements, instructions, assignments, etc. due to the absence will not constitute acceptable reasons for failing to meet subsequent deadlines. It is the student's responsibility to learn the content of the missed classes.

NOTE: See definition of excused absences in the current edition of Student Rights and Responsibilities or on the web at http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/. No absence can be designated "excused" until documentation has been provided and verified. Absences due to minor conditions (lack of transportation, slight discomfort, conflict with an appointment, etc.) are considered UNexcused, as are absences for registration or advising.

Examples of EXCUSED absences:

• your aunt dies and you have to go home to the funeral (copy of the funeral home program or obituary is sufficient documentation for this)
• you have pink eye and the doctor tells you to stay away from people for 3 days (a note from the doctor's office to that effect is sufficient)
• you have to represent the University at a conference in another state (a note from your coach/advisor is sufficient)
• you have a religious ceremony you must attend (a note from your religious leader, delivered DURING the first week of class!, is sufficient)
• you have a serious car accident (copy of the police report is sufficient)
• you have a court appearance date (copy of the official notice to appear is sufficient)

Examples of UNEXCUSED absences:

• you overslept
• your car failed to start
• your buddy's car is blocking your car in the driveway
• you had an advising appointment - we assume you know when your lab test is scheduled and will schedule around it!
• you went to a Fraternity or Sorority event. This is NOT an excused absence unless the University separately verifies that it is an academic event.

These are NOT excused and will result in a score of ZERO.