Course Orientation and Policies (Math/University wrapper)

Course Orientation and Policies

• Personal introduction and preferred name:

  • The instructor prefers to be called Jess or Professor Gerard. Do not call “Jessica.” The instructor notes a personal preference and asks for respectful address.
  • Pronouns not specified; use the names above when addressing.

• Course platform and home page:

  • There is a university web course home page; access may take a short processing time after adding the class.
  • The instructor will use the syllabus as the guide and will explain everything on screen, then refer back to the syllabus for details.

Class Schedule, Location, and Attendance

• Friday class time is a core commitment:

  • Time window: $9:00 ext{ AM} ext{ to } 10:20 ext{ AM}$ on Fridays.
  • Friday attendance is mandatory in person. If you have a Friday conflict, you should not take this class because attendance is a pivotal part of the course.
  • Friday location: Math And Sciences Building, Room 240/241/242 (three rooms in the area; in-person attendance required).

• Other class meetings:

  • There are two different class meeting times and two different rooms overall (Friday vs other days).

• In-person requirement and flexibility:

  • Fridays are in-person and mandatory; other class meetings may be recorded or available via Zoom. Attendance on those days is tracked differently (see attendance codes).

Instructor Availability and Communication

• Office hours and contact:

  • Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from $14:30 ext{ to } 16:00$ (2:30 PM to 4:00 PM).
  • Friday office hours are also available informally; Fridays are casual except on test days.
  • Location of the office is to be announced (in the Mac Building); the instructor will share the exact room when known.

• Email and communications:

  • Preferred emailing through Webcourses (inbox) for efficient lookup by section/time.
  • If emailing via Outlook, you must include your section (e.g., "Section 3" or the class time) so the instructor can locate your account and coursework quickly.
  • If emailing through Webcourses, the section is automatically included; you can simply request help.
  • Do not rely on sharing your attendance codes or other exam codes via public channels; academic integrity requires codes to be kept confidential.

Textbook, Learning Platform, and Access

• Required materials and platform:

  • Textbook + Learning Platform: Pearson. Other platforms may exist in UCF (Alex, McNulta, Levisign), but this course uses Pearson.
  • The learning platform is where you will do homework, quizzes, and tests; scores sync to the UCF gradebook.
  • The course requires access to a computer or Internet connection (the platform is online). Phones may be insufficient for all tasks.
  • TI calculator policy: TI-30X series is the officially recognized calculator for this course. Other calculators are not allowed on exams, and students will be provided a calculator on exam days. You may rent from the library or buy a TI-30X at common retailers if you expect to need it for future courses.
  • Optional note-taking: You may take notes on paper or on an iPad.

• Pearson First Day (opt-in) program:

  • Access to Pearson is via an opt-in process in the course materials.
  • Price if you opt in through the university program: $69.99$ (approximately $70).
  • If you delay beyond the first drop/add week, the price increases to around $90 ext{--}100$, or more.
  • Opt-in deadline: end of drop/add week, typically Sunday at 11:59 PM; for this class, the deadline is listed as Sunday, August 24.
  • If you opt in, Pearson charges go to the UCF bursar account; financial aid can be used to cover the charge.
  • If you do not opt in, you can still access Pearson by purchasing directly from Pearson, but at a higher cost.
  • Access code process: after opting in, click Reveal Access Code and copy the code; then in Pearson, create an account using your UCF email and enter the access code to gain access.
  • The instructor prefers students use their UCF email and Webcourses integration so grades sync smoothly with the UCF gradebook.
  • Support: if there are iPad or login issues, contact Pearson support; the instructor will assist with Pearson-related problems.

• Quick navigation tips:

  • In Webcourses, go to Course Materials > Opt In/Opt Out to see the opt-in status and access code.
  • If you are new to the class, you may need to wait for processing before you see the opt-in option.
  • After copying the access code, use Open Pearson and register with your UCF email to complete setup.

Required Academic Activities and Week 1 Tasks

• Two key tasks for the week:
  • Get access to Pearson (required).
  • Complete the required academic activity (RAA) by the end of the first week: an eight-question survey about your background, math experience, and other relevant information. You can include any details you want the instructor to know. It’s recorded in the gradebook as an attendance/participation item for the first week and is important for students who rely on financial aid.
  • The RAA is due by Friday at $17:00$ (5:00 PM) rather than the exact time; it doubles as a check that you exist in the system for financial aid purposes.

Attendance and Attendance-Tracking System

• Attendance policy for lectures:

  • Lectures are posted as recordings; attendance is tracked via attendance codes delivered during the live or recorded lecture.
  • Each lecture provides two attendance codes (random five-letter strings). Codes are not announced ahead of time; they are written during the lecture (often mid-lecture and late-lecture).
  • Example first attendance code given in the transcript: $ext{QUNAR}$.
  • Students must record both codes in the associated attendance quiz (e.g., "August 19 lecture attendance"). The quiz has two input boxes for the two codes.
  • It is a violation of academic integrity to discuss or share attendance codes publicly; do not reveal codes to others.
  • If you miss a code during a live class, you may ask neighbors in person for the codes, but do not publicly discuss them.
  • Attendance is counted for both in-person and remote/recorded participation; codes ensure that students are present for the day’s material.
  • In future lectures, the codes will be written via the doc cam; the instructor notes that the codes will be delivered in a way compatible with both in-person and Zoom audiences.

• Friday-specific attendance policy:

  • Friday attendance is mandatory in person; the lecture itself is recorded and posted for those who cannot attend live.
  • If you attend in person, you may take the attendance code during the lecture and complete the associated attendance quiz after receiving the second code.

Quizzes, Tests, and Exam Policies

• Quiz structure and timing:

  • Quizzes occur every other Friday (11 quizzes total over the term).
  • Quizzes are open-notes and open-tutor; you have up to seven attempts per quiz.
  • On the day of a quiz, the room (Mac/ Mall computer lab) provides a live environment with tutors available.
  • If you do a quiz late, there is a 50% deduction on that attempt.
  • Quizzes may be completed in-class with an IP-based lock to ensure the in-person requirement; you can bring notes and use a calculator provided in-class on exam days.

• Test and exam policies:

  • Tests are closed-book and closed-tutor; they have their own policies described in the syllabus.
  • Exam dates are fixed and posted in the schedule; final exam dates are not yet finalized and will be announced closer to time.
  • If you are SAS (disability accommodations), contact SAS for an official accommodation; the instructor will adjust dates or accommodations as needed with SAS notification.

• Grade weighting and drops:

  • Homework contributes to the final grade with weight of 15% ($0.15$ of the final grade).
  • The lowest three homework scores are dropped from the final grade calculation.
  • Quizzes have a similar drop policy: the lowest three quizzes are dropped; there are 11 quizzes in total.
  • There are multiple exam dates (test dates) already set; the final exam date is not fixed yet.
  • There is no extra credit in this course.
  • Non-credit grade policy: NC (No Credit) is used for students who do not meet the minimum requirement; NC does not affect GPA but you do not earn credit for the course.
  • If a student misses too many activities or fails to participate, it may impact the grade; drops are in place to protect students, but cheating will jeopardize drops and lead to further disciplinary actions.

• Attendance codes, discussion of integrity, and the consequences of cheating:

  • If cheating is detected, a zero is assigned to the offending assignment, and repeated cheating can trigger academic integrity proceedings, potentially resulting in a Z designation and panel review.
  • The policy emphasizes honesty and integrity; students are encouraged to seek help and use available resources instead of cheating.

• Religious observances and accommodations:

  • If you need to observe religious holidays that conflict with exam dates, inform the instructor within the first two weeks (policy allows two weeks for notice; UCF policy typically allows one week).
  • Documentation from an official religious authority is required, and accommodations will be arranged (e.g., moving exam dates).

Support and Resources

• Tutoring and support:

  • If you need extra tutoring beyond Friday sessions, you can access the Mathematics Success Center on campus.
  • There are tutors circulating in the computer lab on Fridays to help with quizzes; the instructor also offers assistance during office hours.

• Additional notes:

  • If Pearson or other platforms have issues, the instructor will coordinate with support teams to resolve problems and ensure students retain access.
  • If you plan to miss class due to a university-sponsored event (athletic travel, conference, etc.), contact the academic coordinator to arrange accommodations.
  • Keep in mind drop policies and that the course has a well-defined schedule; the instructor expects you to communicate and to use available resources.

Quick Reference: Key Dates and Numbers (summary)

• Friday class time: $9:00 ext{ AM} ext{ to } 10:20 ext{ AM}$; in-person attendance required.
• Fridays location: Math And Sciences Building, Rooms $240–242$.
• Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, $14:30 ext{ to } 16:00$; Friday hours are flexible.
• Pearson access: opt-in price $69.99$; deadline end of drop/add week (Sunday, 11:59 PM; in the example, August 24).
• Required academic activity (RAA): due Friday by $17:00$; 8-question survey.
• Attendance codes: two codes per lecture; example first code "$QUNAR$"; entered in the attendance quiz labeled "August 19 lecture attendance".
• Homework: 15% of final grade; lowest 3 homeworks dropped.
• Quizzes: 11 quizzes; lowest 3 quizzes dropped; open-notes and open-tutor; 7 attempts; late deduction of 50% per late attempt.
• Calculator: TI-30X series is the official calculator for exams; in-class calculators are provided on exam days.
• No extra credit policy: no extra credit opportunities.
• Religious observance accommodations: two-week notice window; documentation required.

Final reminders

• Do not discuss attendance codes publicly; they are used to preserve academic integrity.
• Use Webcourses for communication to ensure proper account lookup by section/time.
• Ensure you gain access to Pearson before the first Friday quiz; the first quiz is on Pearson with open-notes structure and seven attempts.
• If you have accommodations through SAS, coordinate with SAS early to arrange schedule adjustments.
• If you encounter issues with Pearson or iPads, contact the support teams and inform the instructor so they can assist.

If you want, I can tailor these notes further (e.g., convert to a condensed outline, or extract only sections you need for your exam).