PLEASE READ THE
FOLLOWING AND SIGN AT THE BOTTOM
In many ways, a
course is similar to a contract between a professor and a student; we agree to
our half of the bargain, and you agree to your half. For example, as a
professor, I agree to:
1) Provide explicit
and clear expectations that will allow you to do well in this class.
2) Answer your e-mail
questions within 24 hours during weekdays and take your phone calls as I am able. On weekends, I will
respond to e-mail within 36 hours. I will also hold office hours.
3) Return your
homework by a reasonable date and provide clear and helpful comments so that
you can do better on the next assignment.
4) Assign a
reasonable amount of work. Generally, that promise means in a single week no
more than the equivalent 28 pages
of reading and 2 short written assignments. There will be two exceptions to this rule of thumb, as
described later.
5) Allow you to
revise essays (but not other written work) as many times as you wish to improve
your grade - with certain limitations that we will discuss in class.
6) Avoid assigning
"busy work' that serves no purpose.
7) Give you the time,
tools, and skills you need to succeed in this class.
8) Grade you fairly
and transparently in a way that rewards progress over the course of the
semester.
Here is what we
expect you to agree to:
1) I agree that I
will ask questions as I have them. If I encounter difficulties with an
assignment, I will contact the professors well before that assignment is due.
2) I understand that
missing more than two classes will lower my grade for this course and that I
alone am responsible for getting the necessary information regarding classes I
miss and to turn in homework.
3) I understand that
arriving more than fifteen minutes late for a class constitutes an absence and
that three absences constitutes an absence
4) I agree to check
my e-mail at least every 24 hours during weekdays.
5) I have read the
definition of plagiarism and have both understood it and signed below the
definition testifying that I understand that description. I recognize that
Professor Umbach is kind of a techno-geek, and that accordingly -- as other John Jay students have
discovered to their extreme unhappiness -- it is unlikely that I will successfully be able to present material
I find on the web as my own work.
I recognize that cheating hurts the John Jay community and will cause me
to fail the course.
6) I understand that
class participation is part of my grade. I recognize that sitting quietly
during class discussion is
unlikely to help my acquisition of skills or knowledge (or improve my grade). I
agree to treat my classmates with respect during in-class discussion.
7) I understand that
assigned reading is not optional; I agree to do the reading in its entirety and
come to class prepared to discuss it. I understand that often there will be
quizzes on the reading at the start of class.
8) I agree to do my
work on time all the time. In
particular, I will have all assignments typed and printed out by the start of class. I will not attempt to turn in
handwritten work.
9) I acknowledge that failing to fulfill my half of the class contract as
specified above will result in a lowering of my grade.
Name (printed) ___________________ Signature_____________________ Date__________________