Attitude / Academic Rigor: This is a discussion, presentation, and hands-on class, wherein the students and instructors are together exploring the material. Before coming to class you are expected to read the assigned chapter and practice the concepts. Please come to class prepared!  We will all benefit.  It is much easier to be involved in the learning process if you proactively do your work. It is very easy for unprepared students to feel that this (and any) class is boring, so it is in your own best interest to come prepared for every class.  Your positive class conduct and leadership will earn you extra credits while negative attitude and behavior will impact adversely on your participation grade.

Feel free to ask questions. Do not worry about asking "silly" questions, there is no such thing. It is far better to get your question cleared up, than to leave confused. Your silence in the classroom indicates that you understand the material and that we can move on to the next topic. There is never enough time to cover all the detail of the chapter, therefore we will focus the in-class discussions on the major points of each chapter and leave many of the detail points for the students to actively learn.

We follow the Shidler College's policy on academic rigor.  Please ensure that you are familiar with this policy.

Attendance:   Students are expected to be on time and attend all class sessions.  Your participation grade is 10% of your final grade.  In addition, however, the following policies apply:  

• Unexcused absence of more than 2 classes will result in one letter grade penalty. 
• Excessive lateness/tardiness will result in one letter grade penalty.  
• Excused absence will not earn participation grade.  
• Excessive absense may result in an "F" in this class.  

Cell Phone Usage: this is a cell-phone free course!! Any student who receives (or makes!) a cell phone call during class time will be given a warning and asked to leave the class.  Any student who does this twice be assessed a penalty of 10% of their final grade (their class participation points). So turn them off before entering the classroom!!!  

Laptop Usage: Laptop usage in class is limited to taking notes for this class and in-class exercises.  Any other unauthorized usage will result in negative impact on your grade:  Each warning will result in 50% deduction of a letter grrade.

Communications:  Students are encouraged to talk with each other and with the instructors after class about your assignments, concerns, or questions. You may also e-mail the instructors, which is often easiest. In addition, the class will have access to WebCT that we will use to make periodic announcements, and pass on important information and tips. You are required to check your WebCT e-mail frequently, at least once a day.

Reading Assignments: Students are expected to do their reading assignments prior to class meetings!  Not all reading materials will be covered in class discussions. However, students will be expected to apply readings in class discussions and homework assignments and will be accountable for reading assignments in exams. Therefore it is essential to keep up with the readings as they are assigned, to bring questions to class, to consult with other students; and to see the instructors during office hours if additional assistance is needed. You should be prepared to study at least 3 hours for every 1 hour in class. This is a total 9 hours per week outside class at a minimum.  Many students require more than this. Your understanding and grading are highly dependent on this level of effort!

Assignments: The assignments are designed to help you understand the course material and to prepare you for exams, projects (and a successful business career).  It will be very difficult for you to pass the course if you do not attempt the assignments.  All homework and assignments are due at the beginning of the class.  Missed assignments will negatively affect your participation grade.

Exams:  This course will have two exams. Students who miss an exam without a documented illness will get a mark of 0 for the exam that they missed. We may elect to randomly assign seating during exams, to minimize the likelihood of cheating.

Incomplete:   Students requesting an incomplete must meet two criteria: 1) They must be passing the course with a grade of “B” or better; 2) They must have a documented medical reason (documentation must be obtained through the Dean of Student Academic Services).

Course Add/Drop/Withdrawal:  All requests for changes in registration (add/drop) are strictly processed at OSAS.  The Dean of Student Academic Services approves or denies requests for course withdrawals after the deadline.  See university catalogue for the specified  deadlines.

Academic Dishonesty:  The definition of academic misconduct is (a) cheating (using unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise), plagiarism, falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations, intimidation, and any other actions that may improperly affect the evaluation of the student’s academic performance or achievement; (b) assisting others in such act; or (c) attempting to engage in such acts.   For "suspected" misconduct, the parties involved will get a zero for the exam, homework or project.   Any evidence of cheating will also be forwarded directly to the university authorities for further investigation and punitive steps may be pursued, possibly to the fullest extent of academic dishonesty punishment (e.g., expelled from UH).    Please find guidelines regarding  Student Conduct on  http://www.hawaii.edu/student/conduct/imper.html

Plagiarism:  Plagiarism includes but is not limited to submitting, in fulfillment of an academic requirement, any work that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual's work without attributing that borrowed portion to the individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation another's idea and particular phrasing that was not assimilated into the student's language and style or paraphrasing a passage so that the reader is misled as to the source; submitting the same written or oral or artistic material in more than one course without obtaining authorization from the instructors involved; or "drylabbing," which includes obtaining and using experimental data and laboratory write-ups from other sections of a course or from previous terms.   Furthermore, allowing your work to be copied is also considered plagiarism, so guard your work to prevent others from copying it.  Any submitted work suspected of plagiarism will be submitted to a powerful plagiarism detection software test:  Turnitin.com.    

Support:  Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific need.  Also, please contact the on campus KOKUA program at 956-7511 located at the Student Services Center (www.hawaii.edu/osa/KOKUA.html) to coordinate reasonable accommodations.

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