COURSE OUTLINE (LINK ON THE LEFT)

POLICY ON MISSED TERM TESTS IN MATH 1LS3 (BELOW)

GUIDELINES ON SENDING EMAILS TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR (BELOW)

POLICY ON MISSED TERM TESTS IN MATH 1LS3

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS: UNIVERSITY POLICY AND FACULTY POLICY (WITH ONLINE FORMS) ON ABSENCES WHICH RESULT IN MISSED ACADEMIC WORK. CONTINUE READING TO SEE HOW THESE POLICIES APPLY TO MATH 1LS3.

There are four tests in Math 1LS3 (three written term tests; computer labs count as the fourth test). In calculating your course grade, the lowest test mark is dropped (i.e., the remaining three tests count toward 60% of your course grade; these could be three written tests, or two written tests and computer labs, whichever is better).

If you miss one test for any reason, medical or not (and disregarding whether or not you reported your absence using MSAF), then that test is dropped from the course grade calculation, and the remaining three tests count toward 60% of your course grade. This is done automatically, and so you can ignore the part of the MSAF policy which suggests that you must contact your instructor.

If you miss two tests, and reported your absence from one test using MSAF and from the other test by presenting proper documentation to a student adviser in your faculty office (who will then inform your 1LS3 instructor), then your remaining two tests combined count toward 30% of your course grade, and your final exam is worth 70%.

If you miss two tests, used MSAF for one test but have no documentation for the second absence, or your faculty office deems that you do not have a valid excuse, then the test grade of 60% is based on three test marks: the mark of 0 for the missed (undocumented) test, and on the remaining two test marks.

If you miss two tests, and have no documentation for either absence, or your faculty office deems that you do not have valid excuses, then the test grade of 60% is based on three test marks: the mark of 0 for one missed test, and on the remaining two test marks.

If you miss more than two tests then you need to contact your course coordinator (Erin Clements, at clemene@math.mcmaster.ca).

POLICY ON MISSED COMPUTER LABS

Because

* you will have at least one week to complete each lab
* all relevant math material will be covered before the start of the lab
* MSAF can be used for absences of up to three days

we do not accept MSAFs for missed computer labs.

In case of a longer absence due to illness, you need to contact Associate Dean's office, and also inform your course coordinator (Erin Clements, at clemene@math.mcmaster.ca).

* if you expect an answer and are using your mcmaster email, make sure that your mailbox is not full (this is not an issue with gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc. since they give you a huge amount of space) ... as well, sign your email; ID is not necessary, but at least your first name should be there.

* your instructor deals with academic issues; for anything else (such as dropping/adding the course, absences other than MSAF) talk to a student adviser in your faculty's office (Faculty of Science office is in BSB129).

* for many emails, the reply is - check the webpage! so check the 1LS3 webpage first, in particular TERM TESTS and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS links; what to do if you missed your test, if you're ill, material covered on a test, test times and locations, campus map ... it's all on the webpage. As well, 1LS3 has a Facebook page, check it out, the answer to your question might be there.

* your instructor will try to reply the same day, but you should not expect an immediate reply, especially if you send your email after working hours, or on weekends/holidays.

* if you're suggesting questions for a tutorial: instead of saying 'can you do question #4 from assignment 5' provide a bit of detail, something like 'i don't understand how you went from second line to third line in question #4 from assignment 5' ... this helps a lot in organizing a tutorial.

* asking math questions over email: in spite of all advances in technology, math is still far from easy to type in emails; so unless your question requires a simple answer, it's better if you ask your question during or after lecture, or visit math help centre, or come to your instructor's office hours.