Policies

Collaboration policy:

Unless otherwise stated, you may work in groups of two people on the homework assignments. This gives you the opportunity to discuss homework problems with another student and to learn how to work in a group. Only one write-up needs to be turned in for each group, but both members of the group are expected to understand and be able to reproduce the solution. In principle, you may choose to work with a different person for each assignment, but it may be easier to partner with the same person in practice. Nevertheless, it is perfectly fine for you to work on the assignments individually.

Missing grade policy:

If you choose to work in a group of two, you will be responsible for putting both group members’ names in your submission. If you forget to put your partner’s name on your submission, s/he will receive a score of zero for that submission. No exceptions will be made.

Academic integrity policy:

You are expected to maintain the utmost level of academic integrity in the course, in accordance with the academic integrity policy of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System. In particular, (a) it is your responsibility to protect your work from unauthorized access, and (b) the work you submit is is expected to be your own. Academic dishonesty has no place in a university or anywhere else: it wastes our time and yours, and it is unfair to everyone else.

Late assignment policy:

All problem sets must be turned in on the date specified. You will be given six ``free’’ late days, which you can use to turn in your assignment late without penalty. Note, however, that no more than two free late days can be spent on each homework assignment. Note that free late days only allow you to submit your assignments late without any late penalty within the late submission period, but they won’t allow you to submit after 48 hours of the official due date. After you use up the free late days, your late submissions will be penalized as follows. Assignments turned in within 24 hours of the due date will receive 90% of its score. Assignments turned in within 48 hours of the due date will receive 70% of its score. Assignments more than 48 hours late will not be accepted.

Test policy:

You must take the midterms and the final exam on the dates specified in the course schedule. Make-up exams will only be possible if you have medical notes that document your sickness or documentation that you have to be out of town on the date of an exam. No exceptions will be made.

Extra credit policy:

In the past some students were worried about not being able to pass the course in the middle of the semester and asked if there was work that they could do to earn extra credit. The answer is no. If you experience difficulties with the course, you should talk to the instructor and/or the TA early in the semester.

Regrade policy:

The course staff will grade your work carefully. However, questions about grading do occasionally arise. If so, first read the solutions. If questions persist, please see the grader of that problem (come to office hours or schedule an appointment). In the interests of smooth administration and to encourage you to look at your graded work soon after it is returned, regrade requests must be made within two weeks of when the work was returned. We reserve the rights to make regrade decisions “off-line” (i.e., not immediately at the time requested).