Course Policies

Notice: the course policies are in-flux and will be finalized by the end of the first week of class.

Grade

The total score is composed of the following components:

Percentage	Component
20%	Homework
15%	Exam 1
15%	Exam 2
15%	Exam 3
15%	Exam 4
20%	Final Exam

The total score (following the table above), based on the weights above, will determine the letter grade according to the following scale:

Grade	Range
A+	>= 100
A	>= 93
A-	>= 90
B+	>= 87
B	>= 83
B-	>= 80
C+	>= 77
C	>= 73
C-	>= 70
D+	>= 67
D	>= 63
D-	>= 60

4-credit option For the four-credit-hour section, there will be extra homework problems on a regular basis (every other homework or every third homework), with a goal of focusing on the more theoretical aspects of the topic.

Second chance exam scoring Second chance testing may be implemented as early as Exam 1. If second chance exams are used, then a "weighted average with max" model will be followed for each exam score, with the following formula: .9*best + .1*worst. Example: Suppose there are two scores, 60 and 80, then the total would be calculated as 78 = .1*60+.9*80.

Homework scoring Homeworks are weighted equally. The lowest regular homework score will be dropped. Example: if there are N homeworks, HW1, ..., HWN, then the total will be (sum(HW1, ..., HWN)-HWlowest)/(N-1).

In-class activities Generally in-class activities will not be graded for credit. For-credit in-class activities will be marked (and given sufficient time to complete); in this case the policy with be revised to clarify the formula.

Homework

(Tentative: will finalize by the first homework)

Generally, there will be weekly homework sets over the course of the semester, as shown in the class calendar.

Late homework

Homework submitted after the deadline will count for half of its original worth. This offer is good for up to one week after the original deadline. After that, no late work will be accepted.

Homework will typically come out on Fridays and be due the following Friday. Each homework set will typically consist of a combination of coding, multiple choice, short answer, and written responses.

Solutions to the homework sets will be posted after the due date. If you are submitting homework for the half-credit due date, feel free to use the posted solutions in writing up your own solution. You may however not directly copy the sample solution. What you submit must still be written by you, not just copied.

Grading

You will have exactly one submission per homework set. This means that:

After you click "Submit Assignment" in the top right corner, you will not be able to make changes to your work.
No resubmissions of work already graded.
Homework sets submit themselves automatically at (or soon after) the deadline. If you would like to make use of the half-credit opportunity, you must select "At deadline: Do not submit session for grading". Otherwise, the homework set will automatically be submitted at the deadline. This is particularly true if you have not worked on the homework set at all but wish to work on it during the half-credit period.
Partial submissions on the homework are not accepted. (e.g. we will not allow problems 1 and 2 before and 3, 4, 5 after the deadline.) There will also be no resubmissions of work already graded.

Collaboration on Homework

You may discuss your approach (but not your code or your writeups) with your peers. All parts of each homework set must be your own work. You must have derived/developed/typed/written every part of your homework yourself. In some cases, code/pieces of work from elsewhere may be allowed--if so, this will be stated in the instructions. In that case, you must acknowledge the source. This implies that the use of generative AI is not allowed.
Code from demos as well as submissions/answers from previous semesters may not be used in coding problem submissions. Unless otherwise stated, you must submit code you have written from scratch.
It is important that you understand your rights (and obligations) as given in the UIUC student code.

Exams and Final Exam

There will be a number of exams during the semester, along with a longer final exam. The exams are computer-based and will be offered over a period of a few days.

For on-campus students, exams will take place in the computer-based testing facility ("CBTF").
For students in the online section of the course, exams will use the "ProctorU" proctoring service. Instructions will be shared via email ahead of each exam.
For students in the Chicago-based Master's program, exams will be proctored via the Chicago branch of the CBTF.

You must schedule a time block within that time span in which to take the exam. You must schedule your exam using a self-service web site provided by the facility. Instructions will be given in the class calendar.

All exams and the final are cumulative.

Taking exams in person at the CBTF

You will take your exams as scheduled with the CBTF, and only on the scheduled day and time. If you do not take the exam (e.g. by not scheduling an appointment, by not reporting to the facility at the scheduled time, or by not performing the required work), the exam will be counted for a grade of zero.
There will be no exceptions to the exam scheduling policy except in cases of severe emergency (e.g., loss of life or limb). Examples of events that do not qualify as emergencies include (but are not limited to): transportation problems, conflict with work schedule, important family vacation, or computer problems. The policies of the facility apply during each exam for aspects such as late arrival and emergency closures.
For any type of foreseeable absence, documentation must be received by the instructor at least one week before the exam to be acceptable, at which point the instructor will determine whether a make-up exam will be allowed.

Make-up exams are not allowed without proper documentation as described above or for university-approved activities. Make-up exams are not allowed for any type of unexcused absences, including missing class to study for a test, oversleeping, not being ready to take the exam, or having to work at an outside job. Since we allow you to take the exam over a period of a few days, conflict exams will generally not be allowed.

For health-related or other absence because of an emergency, the instructor must be notified at least two hours before the exam to receive consideration for a make-up exam, but preferably as early as possible. However, there is no guarantee that a decision will be made by exam time without sufficient notice.
No aids other than a writing utensil and paper provided by the facility are allowed in exams. In particular: If you are seen near a phone or other digital device (turned on or not) or another unallowed aid during an exam, you will receive a grade of zero for the exam or final.

CBTF/Exam Policies

(from https://cbtf.illinois.edu/faculty/syllabus)

This course uses the Grainger College of Engineering’s Computer-Based Testing Facility for its exams.
The policies of the CBTF are the policies of this course, and academic integrity infractions related to the CBTF are infractions in this course.
If you have accommodations identified by the Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services (DRES) for exams, please submit your Letter of Accommodations (LOA) through the DRES Accommodations tab on the CBTF website as soon as possible. It can take up to five days for your LOA to be processed and if you make a reservation before your LOA has been processed, your reservation will not include your testing accommodations and you will be required to reschedule. This must be done each semester you use the CBTF.

*If you have any issue during an exam, inform the proctor immediately. Work with the proctor to resolve the issue at the time before logging off. If you do not inform a proctor of a problem during the test then you forfeit all rights to addressing the problem you experienced during your exam.

Take the CBTF Orientation (10 minutes) and review all instructions on the CBTF website before your first exam.

Student responsibilities

Please read and understand the UIUC student code.

In particular, make sure to read and understand Paragraph §1‑402. The rules there along with the rules in these policies form the foundation for making sure you and everyone else in the class receive a fair, transparent grade. Please see also the Collaboration on Homework Section above.

The penalty for academic dishonesty of any form will be a grade of zero on the affected assignment and a reduction of one letter grade in the course.

Use of Online Learning Support Platforms (including Generative AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) language models, such as ChatGPT, and online assignment help tools, such as Chegg®, are examples of online learning support platforms: they can not be used for course assignments except as explicitly authorized by the instructor. The following actions are prohibited in this course:

Submitting all or any part of an assignment statement to an online learning support platform;
Incorporating any part of an AI generated response in an assignment;
Using AI to brainstorm, formulate arguments, or template ideas for assignments;
Submitting your own work for this class to an online learning support platform for iteration or improvement.

If you are in doubt as to whether you are using an online learning support platform appropriately in this course, I encourage you to discuss your situation with the instructor.

Any assignment or exam content composed by any resource other than you, regardless of whether that resource is human or digital, must be attributed to the source through proper citation.

Unattributed use of online learning support platforms and unauthorized sharing of instructional property are forms of academic dishonesty and will be treated as such.

(based on wording from UMN)

Special Requests

We are usually willing to provide quiz and homework extensions or make other exceptions provided a well-justified request is made in a timely manner. By far the best way to get a prompt response to such questions or other personal issues related to the class is to send a message to the CS450 staff.