PLEASE
READ THE FOLLOWING AND SIGN AT THE BOTTOM
In
many ways, a course is similar to a contract between a professor and a student;
we agree to our half of the bargain, and you agree to your half. For example,
as a professor, I agree to:
1)
Provide explicit and clear expectations that will allow you to do well in
this class.
2)
Answer your e-mail questions within 18 hours during weekdays and
take your phone calls as I am able. On weekends, I will respond to
e-mail within 24 hours. I will also hold office hours.
3)
Return your homework by a reasonable date and provide clear and helpful comments
so that you can do better on the next assignment.
4)
Assign a reasonable amount of work. Generally, that promise means in a single
week no more than 3.5 hours a week in classes that meet twice a week and no
more than 4.5 hours in classes that meet once a week.
5)
Allow you to revise essays (but not other written work) as many times as you
wish to improve your grade - with certain limitations that we will discuss
in class.
6)
Avoid assigning "busy work' that serves no purpose.
7)
Give you the time, tools, and skills you need to succeed in this class.
8)
Grade you fairly and transparently in a way that rewards progress over the
course of the semester.
Here
is what we expect you to agree to:
1)
I agree that I will ask questions as I have them. If I encounter difficulties
with an assignment, I will contact the professor well before that assignment
is due.
2) I understand that as a web hybdrid class, it is my responsibility to get
the necessary help from the helpdesk at John Jay for the computer resources
used in this class. I understand that as long as the network and applications
are up and running, it is my obligation to make them work on my computer and
that a failure to get a resource to work on my computer is NOT an excsue for
not doing the work. I understand the Prof. Umbach does NOTprovide technical
support for this class because there's already an office for that purpose
at JJ.
3)
I understand that missing more than than two class will cause me to fail this
course and that I alone am responsible for getting the necessary information
regarding classes I miss and to turn in homework.
4)
I understand both that arriving more than fifteen minutes late for a class
constitutes an absence and that three lates of any amount of time constitutes
an absence
5)
I agree to check my JOHN JAY e-mail at least every 24 hours during
weekdays.
6)
I have read the definition of plagiarism and have both understood it and signed
below the definition testifying that I understand that description. I recognize
that Professor Umbach is kind of a techno-geek, and that accordingly --
as other John Jay students have discovered to their extreme unhappiness
-- it is unlikely that I will successfully be
able to present material I find on the web as my own work.
I recognize that cheating hurts the John Jay community and will cause
me to fail the course and additional penalties as imposed by the school, up
to and including a permanent indication on my college transcript that I violated
the Code of Academic Integrity. I know that such a transcript will likely
make it impossible for me to work in any area of the criminal justice system
or get accepted into graduate school.
7)
I understand that class participation is part of my grade. I recognize that
sitting quietly during class discussion is unlikely to help my acquisition
of skills or knowledge (or improve my grade). I agree to treat my classmates
with respect during in-class discussion.
8)
I understand that assigned reading is not optional; I agree to do the reading
in its entirety and come to class prepared to discuss it. I understand that
often there will be quizzes on the reading at the start of class.
9) I agree to do my work on time all the time. In particular, I will submite all assignments by blackboard's dropbox. I will not attempt to turn in handwritten work.
10)
I agree to take no phone call during class; if my phone rings in class, I
understand that I will lose class participation points.
11) I acknowledge that failing to fulfill my half of the class contract as
specified above will result in a lowering of my grade.
12) I agree to inform the professor whenever I work with other students
to complete an assignment for this class and that if I don't inform the Professor
such group work constitutes plagiarism (see above).
13) I agree that any work I submit becomes the property of Prof. Umbach and
that he may use my work anonymously in any way he sees fit.
Name (printed) ___________________ Signature_____________________ Date__________________