Teaching Policies

ASSIGNMENTS:

• This is a very fast-paced course covering a lot of material.
• The texts provide you with a thorough background of theory and terms used in the field.
• We will use the class time to refine your understanding of the concepts and examine applications of the material.
• All readings and assignments must be completed prior to the scheduled class.
• Students will be expected to present their work, to participate in class discussions, to answer questions about the current topic, and to be able to formulate thoughtful ideas and questions on the subject.
• Students will be responsible for knowledge of all announcements made in class, materials discussed in class, such as lectures, videos, and peer discussion, as well as all handouts and material covered in the reading assignments.

This is done by marking what you think is the correct answer and then writing an explanation of the concepts being asked about and the confusion experienced on the back of the exam paper.

If this explanation shows an understanding of the concepts, the student will receive credit for the question even if it is marked incorrectly on the answer sheet.  However, if the explanation shows a lack of understanding, no credit will be received even if the correct option is marked on the answer sheet.

DUE DATES:
My overall attitude toward homework, is that I am your customer.  I buy your homework and tests and pay you in the currency of grades.  As in real life, I refuse to pay full price for shoddy workmanship, carelessness, delivery of the wrong product or late delivery.

A deadline is like a ticket for a cruise.  If you arrive after the scheduled departure time, the ship will have sailed without you and your ticket (homework) will be worthless.  Written homework must be handed in within 5 minutes of the scheduled start time for the class period on which it is due.

Late homework will not be accepted, and you will receive a 0 for that assignment.  Do not plan to print your homework in the lab at school at the beginning of class (printing during my class is prohibited, the printers are often out of ink, and no staplers are available).

WRITING QUALITY:

• Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity of expression will count in every piece of work you do for this course.
• Your grade will be based on what you say or write and how you present it. It becomes difficult to read for content if the mechanics are sloppy, and a superior job may not be recognized as such if presented in an error-laden package.
• Good ideas sloppily expressed will receive mediocre grades, as will flashy presentations that lack content.
• If you have trouble with spelling, grammar or punctuation, have someone proofread your package.
• Students whose native language is not English must meet the same quality requirements as others.

• Written assignments are to be typed or word processed (except for annotations of computer print-out) in 12 pt Times New Roman font or similar, spell-checked, proofread, well organized, and fastened together (please no paper clips, folded corners, or vinyl covers with slide-on spines).
• The student's name, assignment description (including step numbers), and section number must be included.
• Be sure to number all pages.
• Unless the word processor you use has truly proportional spacing, please submit your package in "ragged right" or left justified format rather than flush right; it is much easier to read.
• Be sure to include appropriate headings.
• It is crucial that you include a complete list of references in any written work.  Any quotes, facts or ideas that are drawn from other sources without appropriate citation will be considered examples of plagiarism and will be dealt with accordingly.

STUDENT CONDUCT:
As a program that helps to create business and government leaders, the School of Business Administration has an obligation to ensure academic integrity is of the highest standards.  Standards of academic integrity will be enforced in this course.

• University regulations will be enforced in all cases of academic irregularities, cheating or plagiarism or any variations thereof.
• All PSU students have the responsibility to be familiar with and to observe the requirements of The PSU Student Conduct Code. This code forbids cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic work, plagiarism of written materials and software projects, abuse of academic materials (such as Library books on reserve), and complicity in academic dishonesty (helping others to violate the code).
• Any further specific requirements or permission regarding academic integrity in this course will be stated by the instructor, and are also binding on the students in this course.
• Students who violate the code can be punished to the extent of being permanently expelled from PSU and having this fact recorded on their official transcripts. The normal penalty is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial reduction of the course grade. In almost all cases, the course grade is reduced to "F."
• If you do not have a copy of the code, you can obtain one from the PSU website.
• Students are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty they become aware of to the course instructor who is responsible for dealing with them.
• Feel free to discuss the definition of cheating and/or plagiarism with me if you are unclear on these terms or have questions about the acceptability of a particular type of action.

• Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions in this course and are responsible for completing the work from all of the class meetings.
• A student's grade may be affected by missing material, quizzes, the opportunity to participate and specific instructions regarding homework assignments that will be presented in class.  Your team members or other classmates will be your primary source for information if you do miss class.

1. Monitor lab use to insure that hardware and software is not abused.
2. Assist students with hardware or software problems if there is a malfunction.

CLASS BEHAVIOR:
Inappropriate behavior distracts from the ability of others to profit from their in-class experience.  Such behavior includes arriving late, leaving early, talking, surfing the net, and so on.

• Rude and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
• Since it is my responsibility to provide an environment that is conducive to learning for everyone in the class, I will deduct points from the grade of any student who chooses to repeatedly distract others.
• In particularly egregious cases, I will have the student permanently removed from the class.
• Under no circumstances will students be permitted to spend their lab time working on assignments for other classes, checking e-mail, surfing the Web, or printing out homework.
• Attempts to engage in such behavior will be reflected in lower grades and may lead to removal from the course.
• Cellular phones and pagers MUST BE TURNED OFF OR SET TO VIBRATE DURING CLASS, except in cases of medical emergencies.

GROUP WORK:
Assignments in this category are to be accomplished as members of a team and all team members are responsible for the content and format of group assignments.

Teams also function as support groups for members by providing:

• Assistance, support, and encouragement for mastering the course content and skills and providing feedback on how well the content and skills are being learned. Team members are to be there to help one another.  If a team member must miss class, then the other team members are to make sure that the person receives notes and handouts from that class and is informed of any assignments or activities discussed during class.
• Assistance, support, and encouragement for thinking critically about the course content, explaining precisely what one learns, engaging in intellectual controversy, getting work done on time, and applying what is learned to one's own life.
• A set of interpersonal relationships to personalize the course and an arena for trying out collaborative learning procedures and skills emphasized within the course.

• Master and appropriately implement the skills, concepts, and body of knowledge emphasized in this course.
• Ensure that all members of your team master and appropriately implement the skills, concepts, and body of knowledge emphasized in this course.  In other words, if you are successful, find another person in your group to help until all members of your group are successful.
• Ensure that all members of the class master and appropriately implement the skills, concepts, and body of knowledge emphasized in this course.   In other words, if your group is successful, find another group to help until all members of the class are successful.

• participate in all team activities,
• participate in class discussions,
• strive to maintain positive working relationships with their team members,
• complete all assignments,
• assist classmates,
• freely express their ideas, thoughts, comments, and constructive criticisms to their team members, me, and the class.

• stay in contact with your group; and
• ensure that every member of your group gets an opportunity to learn the skills required to pass this course, be successful in their subsequent classes, and be employable in industry.

If any member has not demonstrated adequate mastery of these skills, it is the responsibility of the team to evaluate and compensate him or her appropriately.

SELF-MANAGED WORK TEAMS
Three formal management mechanisms are provided for self-managed work teams.

1. Each team should designate at least one role or responsibility for each member.  This should include at least a team leader and a librarian.  You may also assign a scheduler, or any other roles you feel are important.  Members can rotate into different roles throughout the term. The team librarian will be responsible for maintaining a complete set of documents regarding group work (although each member should also maintain copies for their own use).

2. A team may "fire" one of its members for poor performance. However, this option may only be taken if all other members of the team request this action in a written memo to the instructor after attempting to manage the non-performing members' behavior and informing the affected student of their decision.  The individual may then join another team, receive no credit for the group work or drop the course.

POINT ALLOCATION AGREEMENTS:
Each group must turn in a point allocation agreement signed by all members of the group.

This agreement allows the group to decide what percentage of the points earned for their group work should be assigned to each group member.

• Any allocation method is acceptable, so long as it does not refer to the student's grade in the course or on the assignment.
• For example, students can agree to divide the points evenly among all members, or give twice as many points to one member as to each of the others, or to allocate 30% of the points to one member and divide the rest evenly among the remaining members, etc.
• If you are unclear on the acceptability of your point allocation agreement, see me.
• If the team cannot reach a point allocation agreement, the dispute will move to binding arbitration (with the professor as the arbiter) and will be decided on the basis of the available documented evidence of work allocated, work performed, due dates met and behavior management efforts.
• Setting goals, communicating, meeting agreed upon obligations, providing timely feedback, following accepted policies and other managerial behavior is as important as is task performance!

EXAM OWNERSHIP:
Exams take many hours to prepare and, as a form of intellectual property, belong to those who create them (your professors).

In some Universities, old exams are compiled and shared with a select group of new students, a practice which is unfair to those who do not belong to a group keeping exam banks.

Consequently, exams must remain in my possession or under my control at all times unless you are given explicit written  permission to keep them.

This means that exams cannot be taken out of the room during their administration or during their review at a later class meeting.

Students are encouraged to review their exams during office hours or by appointment for study purposes.  However, failure to return an exam after taking or reviewing it or removing an exam from my  presence at any time will be considered theft of intellectual property.  Such action will result in an exam grade of zero and may warrant further disciplinary action.

INCOMPLETES:
Reasonable accommodation may be made for students experiencing exceptional circumstances that are interfering with their progress in the course (e.g. hospitalization, etc.).

At my discretion, and with submission of appropriate documentation, a student who is passing the course but, due to circumstances beyond his or her control, cannot complete all of the required work may receive a grade of incomplete.

A student who cannot attend a scheduled exam and has notified me at least 3 working days prior to the exam date may be able to take a make-up exam.  Please contact me as early as possible is you are experiencing or anticipating exceptional circumstances.

GRADE APPEALS:
If a student believes that the grade received on an assignment was in error or unfair, it can be appealed to the professor in writing within 7 calendar days of its receipt.

The appeal should clearly state the reasons why the student believes the grade to be unfair or the nature of the error.

EXTRA CREDIT:
Any extra credit opportunities will be announced in class and will be available to all students.  No extra credit opportunities will be provided after the final exam has been administered.

GRADING SCALE: Click here to see the scale by which work will be graded.