SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: Students who feel they need special accommodations for lectures, exams or other aspects of the course are encouraged to speak with the instructor as early as possible in the semester.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is expected of all registered students at all scheduled meetings of each class, and attendance records are maintained. Most classes involve group interaction and/or projects, and you cheat your colleagues out of part of the interactive experience when you are not there. More than four unexcused absences will result in the loss of 100 participation points, effectively reducing your final point total by one full letter grade. Someone (possibly you!) is investing large sums of money so that you may attend this college. Therefore, maximizing the benefit of this opportunity should be your primary occupation during your time here. If your absence for any class session is unavoidable for ANY reason, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor IN ADVANCE -- either in person, by phone (voice mail), or via e-mail -- in order to be excused, just as you would notify your employer if you were to miss work. This policy has implications for deadlines and exams:

ASSIGNMENTS: Deadlines are firm. No assignments will be accepted late unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. If you anticipate a serious problem, discuss it with the instructor in advance of the deadline. You are urged to begin your work before the last minute. Computer difficulties occurring the night before the deadline ("the dog ate my disk," "the printers were all busy") do not constitute a valid excuse! Papers or speeches of less than the assigned length are considered incomplete and graded accordingly. Paper length is judged by the page, not your word processor's word count.

MAKE-UP EXAMS: A student who wishes to make up an exam or quiz missed due to medical or family emergencies must notify the instructor of the problem by telephone or e-mail before the scheduled exam. The student also must submit a written request for a make-up exam to the instructor, stating the reason for absence and accompanied by documentation of the emergency or illness. This written request may be submitted after the exam, so long as the instructor has been notified in advance.

"EXTRA CREDIT" is not an option. Don’t ask.

UNETHICAL CONDUCT: Plagiarism (i.e., incorporating the words and ideas of others without due attribution) and cheating of any sort will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with according to the provisions of the Luther Student Honor Code (see Student Handbook).

DISTRACTIONS: Avoid use of technologies in class that will be distracting to yourself and others. Silence cell phones. Use of wireless network devices during exams is an Honor Code violation.

COMPLAINTS: I am open to hearing student concerns or complaints related to the course and wish to know your thoughts. Please speak with me during office hours or send e-mail with your concern. If you feel uncomfortable speaking with the instructor about a concern, you may consult Dr. William Craft, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and/or other relevant authorities.