matthias beck

Important deadlines

are posted in the academic calendar.

Human connectivity

Our class relies heavily on human interaction (among students and between students and the professor). I expect you to be present and engaged in every class session, work with classmates, and share your ideas as part of our course community. Research shows that use of cell phones, laptops, and other devices causes distraction and impairs learning not only for the person using the technology but also for people nearby. Consequently, no technology use of this kind is permitted during class sessions. (If you have accommodation needs around technology that have been registered with DPRC, please let me know.)

Academic integrity and plagiarism

Academic integrity refers to the "integral" quality of the search for knowledge that a student undertakes. The work a student produces, therefore, ought to be wholly hers or his; it should result completely from the student's own efforts. Plagiarism is a form of cheating or fraud; it occurs when a student misrepresents the work of another as his or her own. Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas, sentences, paragraphs, or the whole text of another without appropriate acknowledgment, but it also includes employing or allowing another person to write or substantially alter work that a student then submits as her or his own. Any assignment found to be plagiarized will be given an "F" grade. Instances of plagiarism may be reported to the Dean of the College, and may be reported to the University Judicial Affairs Officer for further action.

Unless stated otherwise, my students are allowed to collaborate on homework, but each of them must submit their own individual write-up. If I suspect that an individual student simply copied someone else's work, I have the right to test the student orally on their homework. If there is a discrepancy between the written and oral work, the homework grade will be altered accordingly.

Tutoring

San Francisco State's Tutoring Center is located in LIB 220 and they do specific math tutoring.

CR/NCR grading

Most Mathematics classes allow CR/NCR grading, but many majors--including Mathematics--do not count CR/NCR grades towards the major. Mathematics majors should not take their Mathematics classes CR/NCR. All other majors should check with their academic advisors before deciding to take a Mathematics class CR/NCR.

If--after checking with your advisor--you want to apply for CR/NCR grading, you must log onto this web site and sign up for CR/NCR grading before the deadline. I will not pass out a CR/NCR sheet in class.

Incomplete grades

The Incomplete grade (I) is assigned only to students doing satisfactory work until the last few weeks of a course, when events beyond the students' control prevented them from completing the course. If this happens to you, discuss with me the possibility of taking an Incomplete rather than withdrawing from a class that you cannot finish. If you would like me to consider an Incomplete, be proactive: approach me as soon as you realize you will not be able to finish the class, and be prepared to present me with a plan how you intend to make up your Incomplete.

Late and retroactive withdrawals

Petitions for withdrawal from a class after the deadline, either before the end of the semester (late withdrawal) or after the semester ends (retroactive withdrawal) must be justified by events that occurred after the deadline. In general, only petitions for withdrawal from all courses will be approved. Late withdrawal from your math course alone is usually not approved.

Student disclosures of sexual violence

SF State fosters a campus free of sexual violence including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination. If you disclose a personal experience as an SF State student, the course instructor is required to notify the Title IX Coordinator by completing the report form available at http://titleix.sfsu.edu, emailing vpsaem@sfsu.edu or calling 338-2032. SF State fosters a campus free of sexual violence including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination. If you disclose a personal experience as an SF State student, I am required to notify the Title IX Coordinator. To disclose any such violence confidentially, contact:

• The SAFE Place - (415) 338-2208
• Counseling & Psychological Services Center - (415) 338-2208

For more information on your rights and available resources click here.

Students with disabilities

Please let me know early on if you need special assistance of any kind. Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact me. The Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) is available to facilitate the reasonable accommodations process. The DPRC is located in the Student Service Building and can be reached by telephone (voice/415-338-2472, video phone/415-335-7210) or by email.

Religious holidays

Reasonable accommodations will be made for you to observe religious holidays when such observances require you to be absent from class activities. It is your responsibility to inform me during the first two weeks of class, in writing, about such holidays.