1. Special needs

If you have a learning disability, a physical disadvantage or other special need, please discuss them with me early in the semester. I will work with you to accommodate your situation.

2. Peer support

Our course is based on cooperation, not competition. You will not be graded against each other. I encourage you to develop camaraderie with your classmates and seek feedback, although all your work must be your own.

3. Attendance

Attendance is required because it is essential to your learning, and to the development of EPS29 as a cohort. Your attendance in this class will have a direct influence on your final grade, too, because it is part of your “Professionalism’ score. Beyond two unexcused absences, I will subtract five points off your final grade for each additional absence.

Four situations count as excused absences:

  • Religious holidays
  • Personal illness
  • A death in your immediate family
  • Attendance at an extracurricular event sanctioned by IU. That is, if you are competing on an IU sports team, attending an academic conference or covering an event for student media, your absence will be excused.

In each case, you must provide written documentation to have the absence considered excused. Typically, this will include a note from a physician, an instructor or coach, or an obituary of the deceased family member.

For religious holidays, go to http://vpfaa.indiana.edu/forms/ and scroll down to the section on Religious Observances. Click on the Request for Accommodations for the Religious Observances link. Please fill out and sign the form, and give it to me before the date in question.

4. Courtesy/respect

Begin to develop your professionalism now:

  • If you arrive after class has started, please enter quietly.
  • Generally, you will not be given credit for attending class if you leave in the middle. But if you absolutely need to leave before class is over, please let me know ahead of time.
  • Please turn off your cell phone and refrain from texting during class.
  • The use of laptop computers or similar devices is not allowed, except when I ask you to use them.

5. Resources

There is no textbook, though you will find this class featyres a fair amount of reading. Your readings are all available on Canvas and on this website. Outside of class, please do NOT message me within Canvas. Please use my email address instead and check your e-mail regularly.

6. Academic integrity

Regarding academic integrity, use basic common sense. I encourage you to help each other, but all assignments must be your own work. If academic dishonesty occurs, I will follow the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, located at this URL: studentcode.iu.edu/

Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of the institution. Violations include: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference, violation of course rules and facilitating academic dishonesty. When you submit an assignment with your name on it, you are signifying that the work contained therein is yours, unless otherwise cited or referenced. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged. All suspected violations of the Code will be reported to the Dean of Students and handled according to University policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment, reduction in your final course grade, and a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. If you are unsure about the expectations for completing an assignment or taking a test or exam, be sure to seek clarification beforehand.

Generative AI:According to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, plagiarism is “presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as the submitting student’s own. A student must not present ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use without fully acknowledging the source, unless the information is common knowledge.” Cheating is “using, providing, or attempting to use or provide unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in any form.” (II: Responsibilities B,4,a and c) Your use of anyone else’s (or any AI system’s) words, graphic images, calculations, or ideas should be properly cited. AI generators/programs such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, QuillBot, Spinbot, Dall-E, etc. should not be used for any work for this class without explicit permission of the instructor and appropriate attribution.

AI text generators should not be used for:

  • Creating or revising drafts
  • Editing your work
  • Reviewing a peer's work

While we will be discussing AI and its impacts as part of our class topics this semester, but the use of generative AI platforms for any assignment will be considered plagiarism and cheating and will be reported to the Dean of Students (Office of Student Conduct) and handled according to University policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on the assignment, a reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. Contact your instructor if you have questions.

7. Deadlines

As a member of the EPS Class of ’29, you are already aware of the importance of meeting deadlines in our industry. But just in case you do miss a deadline for one of our reading responses, there is a late submission policy: For each day you are late, I will count off 10 percent on your score for the late assignment.

If you are having problems meeting a deadline, I want to help you get back on track, but please see me as early as possible — before, not after, the deadline.

8. Incompletes

A course grade of incomplete will be permitted only for serious illness documented by a physician. A timetable for completing the course work must be negotiated before the incomplete is granted.

For more on IUB’s policy regarding incompletes: registrar.indiana.edu/grades/grade-values/grade-of-incomplete.html

9. Sexual misconduct

As your instructor, one of my responsibilities is to create a positive learning environment for all students. Title IX and IU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy prohibit sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, and dating and domestic violence. If you have experienced sexual misconduct, or know someone who has, the University can help.

If you are seeking help and would like to speak to someone confidentially, you can make an appointment with:

  • The Sexual Assault Crisis Services (SACS) at (812) 855-8900 (counseling services)
  • Confidential Victim Advocates (CVA) at (812) 856-2469 (advocacy and advice services)
  • IU Health Center at (812) 855-4011 (health and medical services)

It is also important that you know that Title IX and University policy require me to share any information brought to my attention about potential sexual misconduct, with the campus Deputy Title IX Coordinator or IU’s Title IX Coordinator. In that event, those individuals will work to ensure that appropriate measures are taken and resources are made available. Protecting student privacy is of utmost concern, and information will only be shared with those that need to know to ensure the University can respond and assist.

I encourage you to visit stopsexualviolence.iu.edu to learn more.