Grading Policy:

 Attendance & Participation (5%):
Attendance will be randomly recorded during class hours. If you missed any class(es) on the days when the attendance is recorded, you will receive a reduced grade proportional to the number of missed classes. Your participation in the class will be recorded based on answering oral questions in the class (right or wrong, does not matter) and participating in all class discussions.

Homework (10%): 
If not specified, homework will be due a week after it is handed out. Homework must be turned in during the class hour in the classroom on the due date. Late turned in homeworks will receive a zero grade. Students are expected to turn in neat and organized  homework. Any homework which is sloppy, difficult to read, or difficult to understand will receive a reduced grade. 

 Quizzes (10%):
Total 4 to 8 in-lecture quizzes (5 to 20 min duration) will be given throughout the semester.  If the class attendance is below what I believe is appropriate, I will give these quizzes spontaneously.  Each quiz will include basic material covered in the class during the previous four weeks. The total grade for these quizzes will be worth 10%. I will drop one quiz with the least score for final grade computation. Under no circumstances you will be allowed to make up any missed quizzes.

Exams (30%): 
Three exams (10% each of the total grade) will be given during the semester.  These exams are tentatively scheduled for 16 Feb., 7 March, and 6 April 2005 and will be held at the same location as the class.  Students should plan their schedules around these times. These dates will be confirmed or revised no sooner than 1 week prior to the exams. It is your responsibility to attend the class and record any schedule deviations. You can re-schedule the class exam times only by obtaining consent of the instructor at least 2 working days before the exam. If you are sick, you can re-schedule the exams only by providing a registered doctor’s certificate within a week after the missed exam or when you attend the next class, whichever comes first.

Term Paper (20%): 
You can pick any topic related to waste disposal or waste management and write a term paper. Your topic needs to be approved by the instructor.  If you do not have a topic in mind, I will give you possible topics for your paper. You will need to type your paper (double-spaced, left and right justified, 1” margins on all sides). Total single-sided pages in the paper including tables and figures shall not exceed 15. You may choose to pair up with your classmate to write the term paper.

Final Exam (25%): 
A final exam worth 25% of the total grade will be given at the end of the semester on the date/time listed in the MSU Calendar. The final exam would cover the entire syllabus (comprehensive).

Other Grade Related Rules:

1. If your final answer is incorrect, I will not negotiate partial grades that you may receive for homework, quiz, or exam problems.
2. You must collect graded material during the class hours within one week after it is handed out in the class.  After one week, you will need to stop by the instructor’s office in A135 RCE to pick up your graded material before the end of the semester. After that, I will assume that you have waived your right to access your graded material.

Grading Scale:

Notes: 1. If the class average is above 77.5, grades will be based on the “traditional” scale presented in the above table. If the class average is below 77.5, I may translate the grading scheme by statistical curving to reflect the true class average.

         2. The instructor will make the borderline decisions based on the student’s motivation, attendance, participation in the class, and quality of work.

 
Other Important Notes:

 Academic Honesty: The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades, and in the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades, which are included in Spartan Life, Student Handbook and Resource Guide. Students who plagiarize will receive a 0.0 grade on the relevant assignment.

Accommodations for Disabilities: Students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for People with Disabilities to develop reasonable accommodations. For an appointment with a counselor, call 353-9642 (voice) or 355-1293 (TTY).

Missing Class to Participate in a Required Activity or Religious Observance: To be excused from this class to participate in a required activity for another course, a university-sanctioned event, or a religious event, you must provide the instructor with advanced notice and, when applicable, a written authorization from the faculty member of the other course or from a university administrator.

 
Amendments:

If we make any changes to this syllabus including grading policies, we will note down the amendments in this section.