All due dates and times, as announced in class, are strict, to the second. If you believe your work was delayed by truly exceptional circumstances, let me know as soon as those circumstances are known to you and I will try to make a fair allowance. However, the default is that you get a zero if you don’t turn in the work on time, and fail the class if you don’t turn it in at all (cf. Grade Components above).
It is very important to attend all class meetings, for many reasons, but the grade component provides additional motivation to those who may need it. If you have a valid reason for missing a class, let me know early and I will try to help you make up the class. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes. A missed test earns zero credit. If you have a valid reason for missing a test, let me know as early as that reason is known to you and I will make a fair allowance (typically by scaling other scores) but there will be no make-up tests in any case.
This course is based on an active learning format, so effective classroom activities are critical to its success. Students are expected to contribute to their own learning and to that of their classmates, and to devote 100% of their attention to these activities while in class. For this reason, electronic and other distractions (computers, phones, assorted gizmos, etc.) may be required to be be completely silenced and put away for some or all of the duration of class meetings. (Students who need any such devices for disability accommodations should follow the appropriate procedures, or contact the instructor if in doubt. Others who need any accommodation in this regard due to special circumstances should make advance arrangements with the instructor.) No food or drink is allowed in class, other than water, tea, coffee, and similar, in a spill-proof container. (As a general guideline, we will follow “library rules” in this regard.) Students who violate these rules or otherwise cause distractions in class will be asked to leave with no warning; habitual violators will face disciplinary action.
All students are encouraged to make use of office hours to further their learning, obtain assistance on homework assignments, obtain feedback on their class performance, etc. However, office hours are not to be used as a substitute for attending and participating in class meetings (see above). Similarly, assistance with homework assignments will be limited to what is appropriate based on fairness to all; students are expected to demonstrate substantial effort on the assignment before seeking assistance.
I may have to reschedule a few classes due to my other professional commitments. I will make every attempt to minimize the number of such occurrences and to reschedule for a time that works for most students. Further, I will make sure no student is penalized by such occurrences.
Among the very many available resources that may be used to assist with coursework (books, Web sites, tutorial videos, etc.), recent and rapidly evolving generative AI (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, perplexity.ai, and many more, perhaps deserve a separate clarification here.
Briefly, the use of such GenAI tools is allowed subject to important conditions (below), but not recommended.
If GenAI tools are used then:
The use must be properly cited in a prominent manner in all submitted material (in particular including code). The format suggested by the following example must be used:
“Write a regular expression that recognizes Java numeric literals” prompt to ChatGPT. 2025-09-12 04:45. https://chatgpt.com/.
All parts of the submitted material that were generated by such tools (even if further edited) must be very clearly delineated. For example, if a regular expression (or other code snippets) resulting from the above prompt is used in submitted code, that use must be very clearly marked using both inline comments in the code and comments in the accompanying documentation (such as a README file).
The submitter must understand all submitted material, regardless of source. In particular, this requirement means that everyone must be able to explain, in detail, all their submitted code if and when they are called upon to do so. In the ongoing example, the submitter must be able to explain exactly how the regular expression works, why it is needed, etc.
The submitter is responsible for all submitted content, regardless of source. For instance, in the ongoing example, if the code snippet related to regular expression contains a benign or malicious bug that does horrible things, the submitter is responsible in the same manner as if that code were written without such tools.
It is the submitter’s responsibility to ask for clarifications and ensure compliance with these requirements. Failure to do so is a serious case of academic dishonesty and will be subject to the usual (severe) penalties.
[Verbatim, standard wording from https://umaine.edu/citl/teaching-resources-2/required-syllabus-information/. Please refer to that site for further details.]
The University of Maine is committed to making campus a safe place for students. Because of this commitment, if you tell a teacher about an experience of sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, relationship abuse (dating violence and domestic violence), sexual misconduct or any form of gender discrimination involving members of the campus, your teacher is required to report this information to the campus Office of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention or the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you want to talk in confidence to someone about an experience of sexual discrimination, please contact these resources:
For confidential resources on campus: Counseling Center: 207-581-1392 or Cutler Health Center: at 207-581-4000.
For confidential resources off campus: Rape Response Services: 1-800-310-0000 or Partners for Peace: 1-800-863-9909.
Other resources: The resources listed below can offer support but may have to report the incident to others who can help:
For support services on campus: Office of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention: 207-581-1406, Office of Community Standards: 207-581-1409, University of Maine Police: 207-581-4040 or 911. Or see the OSAVP website for a complete list of services at http://www.umaine.edu/osavp/