COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Computer Science Major’s Handbook
GENERAL DEPARTMENT
POLICIES
Grade Policy and
Minimum Grades
Most Computer Science courses have two components: lecture material and programming projects. In these cases, two grades are given: a course grade and a laboratory grade. Each instructor has the right to allocate assignments to these two grades as they see fit.
The department requires that all students wishing to take a 200 level course much have completed CSC 110, 111, and 111L or an equivalent sequence with no grade less than “C”. If a student does not meet the requirements for any one of these sections, that section will have to be repeated. For example, if a student gets a “D” in CSC 111L, the student must register for CSC 111L again and do the projects required at a level of “C” or better, before taking any 200 level courses.
Advisement Policy
All Computer Science majors are expected to see the
appointed Computer Science advisor for advisement two (2) times during the academic
year: 1) before registering for the Fall
semester, 2) before registering for the Spring semester. First year Computer Science majors should
seek advisement through the
The purpose of advisement is to give assistance to students in determining the correct course of study leading to the BA or BS degree in Computer Science. Routine advisement consists of checking over the course schedules and surveying the needs for Computer Science electives and courses. Special needs such as planning a BA concentration, dual majors, adjusting schedules for missing courses or electives are also handled by the advisor. To expedite the process, students should have a tentative course schedule ready before coming in for advisement.
Failure to see the Computer Science Department advisor in a timely fashion each semester indicates that a student is no longer interested in being a Computer Science major, and may result in suspension of Computer Science Department privileges.
Incomplete Grades
Incomplete grades will only be given when the student has a good reason for not completing the requirements of a course. Examples of such reasons might be prolonged illness or hospitalization during the semester, serious illness at the time of the final exam or other unusual circumstances.
The student requesting an incomplete must present, in writing, the reasons to the instructor, who may then request that the Dean grant an Incomplete grade. The student
Should be aware that an incomplete grade is only temporary, and that all requirements must be completed within 6 weeks after the end of the semester.
Course Withdrawal
A student wishing to withdraw from a Computer Science course must do so by the College’s deadline for withdrawals. Students wishing to withdraw must have a course withdrawal form signed by the instructor and filed with the Dean by this date. Any attempts to withdraw past this date will be strongly opposed by the department.
Computer Systems and
Accounts
During their time in the Computer Science Department, students will be expected to use a variety of computing facilities. The privilege to access these systems is granted by either Information Technology Services or the Computer Science Department. Information Technology Services and the Computer Science Department both reserve the right to withdraw the privilege if abused.
Students will automatically receive a Novell account on the Wehle server that may be used from a Macintosh or Wintel computer on campus. In addition, they will automatically receive a Gort/Mailhost account to handle their electronic mail.
Students are responsible for their own diskette protection and backups.
Access to the department’s advanced workstations is granted to all students taking Junior/Senior level courses in the Computer Science Department. These accounts will stay active during the students’ time in the department.
NOTE: All accounts are issued for use by one person, or group (where specified). Under no circumstances should a user give their password or access to their accounts to anyone else. Students should be aware that they are ultimately responsible for anything done by or associated with their account, whether they or someone else was the cause.
Department Facility
Accessibility
The department facilities can be broken down into 4 distinct areas with specific accessibilities: The department Microcomputer laboratory (WTC 208), the Advance Laboratory (WTC 206), the machine room (WTC 206A), and the seminar room (WTC 205). Junior and senior Computer Science majors are eligible for 24 hour access to all of these rooms except to WTC 206A. Sophomore Computer Science majors are eligible for 24 hour access to room WTC 208 and the seminar room WTC 205. All students will be required to attend a session on the new computer equipment sponsored by the department before access is granted.
Majors should be aware that the Microcomputer laboratory (WTC 208) and Advanced laboratory (WTC 206) are designed for work and are considered ‘noise free” areas. There should be no radio or TV playing or merry making in these rooms. Students are encouraged to user personal stereos with headphones if they desire to work with music.
The department Microcomputer laboratory (WTC 208) is normally available to Computer Science students from their first semester sophomore year through to their graduation. They have the right and the obligation to prohibit non-authorized students from using this facility. A list of authorized users is posted in room WTC 208. If a non-authorized individual refuses to leave, Public Safety should be called (2330) immediately to remove the individual.
The department’s Advanced laboratory (WTC 206) is restricted
to junior and senior Computer Science majors.
Majors may have guests in the laboratory (Monday through Friday
The department Advance computer laboratory (WTC 206) has shelves that students may use for storage. These shelves should be kept neat and orderly. No food or drinks should be kept on shelves.
The machine room (WTC 206A) is restricted to faculty, staff, and students who have been trained.
The seminar room (WTC 205) is primarily for use as a meeting room, but is available for general student use on the same schedule as the department Microcomputer laboratory. This room may be used as work and eating areas, with students responsible for leaving the room in clean and orderly condition. The department reserves the right to use the seminar room for classes and meeting, and expects that students will vacate the room on request. This room is not to be used to store personal belongings, since no student will be allowed to interrupt any meetings or classes while they are in progress.
Proper Mail Usage
Mail is a mechanism for electronically sending messages to other computer users. This system could be used to ask questions of faculty or friends and to inform students about changes to assignments or due dates. There are special mailing aliases set up under UNIX for each course, class and special groups, which make mailing to a special group of people easier.
All students are required to read their mail regularly, delete unneeded mail, and properly file messages that are important. Since the department deletes system mail files when they become unwieldy, the student must follow this procedure to preserve important information.
Mail can also be used to communicate with other computer systems and to transfer files between machines. It is assumed that students will always act properly in the use of mail; however, the department reserves the right to suspend access to anyone who abuses these privileges.