18-746 Storage Systems (Fall 2018): Policies



This page describes policies for this class, on a range of issues including cheating, regrade requests, and recordings.

Cheating policy

Each exam and project must be the sole work of the student turning it in. Like the University as a whole and the ECE and CSD departments, we take cheating very seriously. See CMU's policies on academic integrity for more information on the University's policies, which apply fully to this course.

The usual penalty for cheating in this class is to be removed from the course with a failing grade. The University also places a record of the incident in the student's permanent record.

No collaboration on exams is allowed. Unless otherwise notified, the following guidelines dictate what non-exam collaboration is authorized and what is not.

What is Cheating?


What is NOT Cheating?


Be sure to store your work in protected directories, and log off when you leave an open cluster to prevent others from copying your work without your explicit assistance. Do not use publicly accessible code repositories or revision control systems; make sure that only you can access your code. If you are going to host your code on Github, make sure you use a private repository, and be warned that two years after your student status expires, Github will be converting your private repositories to public, so be sure to remove your code. Academic integrity policies extend beyond the duration of your studies.

We understand that the web is a popular tool for everyone (including students) seeking to better understand and solve problems. Because the line between cheating and such explorations has been reached by some in the past, we ask all students to explicitly list websites on which they relied in developing their solutions. And, we reiterate for enphasis: looking at or relying on implementations found on the web is considered cheating.

Mobile devices and other distractions

Research on learning shows that unexpected noises and movement automatically divert and capture people's attention, which means you are affecting everyone's learning experience if your cell phone, pager, laptop, etc. makes noise or is visually distracting during class. For this reason, we allow you to take notes on your laptop, but insist that you turn the sound off so that you do not disrupt other students' learning. If you are doing anything other than taking notes on your laptop, please sit in the back row so that other students are not distracted by your screen.

No recording of class meetings

No student may record or tape any classroom activity without the express written consent of all instructor(s). If a student believes that he/she is disabled and needs to record or tape classroom activities, he/she should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Services, Disability Resources to request an appropriate accommodation.

Re-grading policy for exams and assignments

We will make the utmost effort to be fair and consistent in our grading. But, we are human. If you believe that you did not receive appropriate credit for an exam or assignment, you may request a re-grade as follows:



Late policy

No late assignments will be accepted, beyond explicitly announced deadline extensions announced to the entire class. If extreme extenuating circumstances make it impossible for you to submit your assignment on time, e-mail one of the course instructors.

Pre-requisites

This course will require solid understanding of computer organization, basic operating systems, and basic communication. Therefore, the minimum pre-requisite is a 'B' or better in 15-213 (or 18-213 or 15-513 of 18-600, which are the same class). Exceptions are rare and only by permission of the instructor. Our experience indicates that students without the substantial hands-on systems experience provided by this prereq (or some equivalently extensive experience) struggle significantly.

Take care of yourself

Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress. All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful. If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help: call 412-268-2922 and visit their website at CaPS website. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.

Final note

* Everything here is subject to change.

Last updated: 2018-11-04 19:09:16 -0500