1.5. General Course Policies

1.5.1. Attendance Policy

Coming to class on time is mandatory. We will take attendance at each class and three unexcused absences will cause you to lose 10% in your final grade, with an additional 10% for each successive missed class. If you must be absent, you must request approval in advance.. Late requests will be considered on a case by case basis. Unexcused absences during review days will also reduce your individual project grade.

I understand that the hour is early and your other courses have big deadlines, but the designated class hours are the most effective time for communicating among group members and instructors. This is a project-based class where we work in teams, and I need to make sure absences aren’t impacting other students.

1.5.2. Physical Computing Lab

The classroom for the course in the IDeATe Physical Computing Lab in Hunt A10. Part of taking this course is joining the IDeATe interdisciplinary community. You will gain access to IDeATe facilities but are also expected to be a good community member and take responsibility for sharing resources wisely.

All lab users are expected to abide by the Physical Computing Lab Policies. The lab inventory of components and materials is available online at Physical Computing Lab Inventory.

The room is used quite a bit during Mon-Thu, see the IDeATe PhysComp Lab Calendar. Other resources may be reserved using the IDeATe Reservations Calendar.

1.5.3. Lateness Policy

All assignments must be submitted by the required deadline, unless prior authorization is obtained from an instructor and documented in email. Verbal authorization is not sufficient: any verbal discussion of late submission must be documented with an emailed request and reply.

Assignments received within 24 hours of the deadline will receive half-score. Assignments received later than 24 hours will not be examined and receive zero score.

Assignments bounced for revision at the discretion of the instructor must be returned within 24 hours if not otherwise specified. This rule is meant to allow a grace period for reports which overlook a required element; please do not assume that incomplete work can be resubmitted.

However, please remember that something is always better than nothing. If the deadline is imminent, please submit whatever text, images, and drawings you can rather than do nothing.

And please also note that I understand you have other major deadlines, so extensions will be forgiving. Always ask for an extension rather than silently fail to deliver.

1.6. IDeATe Facilities Policies

Please read and become familiar with the IDeATe lending and purchasing policies, which can be accessed at https://resources.ideate.cmu.edu. The IDeATe facilities are shared student resources and spaces. As such, all members of the IDeATe community are expected to be respectful of the equipment, the spaces, and fellow students and their projects. Always clean up after completing your work, put things back in their correct place, and leave the lab in better condition than you found it.

Students may be required to purchase materials to complete class projects. For convenience, some materials are available for borrowing and for purchase at IDeATe Lending (Hunt A29).