CMPS 6610/4610 Algorithms
Fall 20
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Policies

Class Schedule:

The class schedule shows the topics that are covered in class each day, as well as due dates for readings and homeworks.

Class and Readings:

The class will be in a flipped format. That means there will be reading assignments that are due at noon before each class. (Discussions associated with the readings will be conducted on Teams.) The class periods will be used for more discussions and to answer questions.

Readings consist of a significant amount of self-study material which makes up for the shorter class periods and the missing class day this semester. There is no required textbook (A large portion of the class material is based on the CLRS book, but most of the material can be found in other textbooks as well.). Materials for the readings will consist of slides or other freely available material and will be provided separately. You are expected to discuss the readings on Teams. The grade for each reading will be determined based on your participation in the discussion for the reading. Expectations for discussion participation will be different for graduate and undergraduate students and will be communicated throughout the semester.

All classes will be conducted outdoors. The classroom location will be communicated on Teams. In the case of rain the class will be conducted online using the Zoom room accessible from Canvas. (You can optionally use BO 240 as backup classroom space to join the lectures online.)

Attendance in class will not be taken but students are fully responsible for all material presented or assigned in class. For this reason, attendance is strongly recommended.

Teams:

We will use Microsoft Teams to interact throughout the semester. All messaging will take place in Teams. Please go to teams.microsoft.com (or use the Teams app; as part of Office 365), log in with your Tulane credentials, and look for the Algorithms team. All discussions for the readings will be conducted on Teams.

Miro:

We will use a Miro collaborative whiteboard to interact throughout the semester.

Recordings, Slides, Pictures:

Any slides, board pictures, or other additional class material will be made available on Teams. All classes will be recorded: outdoor classes will be captured via audio recordings and board pictures, online classes will be recorded via Zoom. All recordings, slides, board pictures, or other additional class material will be made available on Teams or Canvas.

Homework Assignments:

There will be eleven homework assignments of equal weight which are usually due within one week. Homeworks will consist of written problems only. Homeworks will be posted on Teams and have to be submitted electronically on Gradescope. Homework grades will be available on Gradescope and Canvas. A point percentage equivalent to one homework score will be dropped from the total homework score.

There will be a different set of homeworks for the undergraduate section and for the graduate section.

You are engouraged to discuss rough ideas and thoughts about a homework assignment with your other classmates. However you have to write up your solution on your own. You are not allowed to read, copy, or rewrite the solutions written by others (in this or previous terms). See the section on Academic Integrity.

Exams:

There will be one midterm and one final exam. Both exams will be one-on-one oral exams of 30 minute length and non-comprehensive. The exams for the undergraduate section will be different from the exams for the graduate section.

Late Policy:

Without prior arrangements, missed readings, homework assignments, and exams result in a grade of zero. In extra-ordinary cases, contact the instructor prior to the due date to get an extension. If you miss the deadline for a reading, you are strongly encouraged to still complete the reading in order to make up the material you have missed.

Grading:

Grading will be based on the following weighted scale:

The weighted average will determine your letter grade roughly as follows:
A >=92; A- >= 89; B+ >= 87; B >=83; B- >= 79; C+ >= 77; C >= 73; C- >= 69; D+ >= 67; D >= 63; D- >= 59; F<59

Academic Integrity:

You are engouraged to discuss rough ideas and thoughts about a homework assignment with your other classmates, but you have to write up your solution on your own. You are not allowed to read, copy, or rewrite the solutions written by others (in this or previous terms).

If you are stuck on a problem and unable to get to the instructor for help, then we suggest you try and use hints from a publicly available source such as a textbook or journal article. The source must be cited and you must write the solution in your own words. It should be apparent that you understand the solution for full credit.

You are required to adhere to the Code of Academic Conduct. Every cheating will be reported. If two people are caught sharing solutions then both the copier and copiee will be held equally responsible. Cheating on an exam will result in failing the course.

Last modified by Carola Wenk,   cwenk  -at-   tulane  -dot-   edu,