ACM Code of Conduct
Professionally, we strongly adhere to ACM’s Code of Ethics. We recognize that computer science has a checkered history with respect to inclusion – in corporate environments, in our classrooms, and in the products we create. As a result, we strive to promote characteristics of transparency and inclusivity that reflect what we hope our field becomes (and not necessarily what it has been or is now).
Above all, be kind.
We reject behavior that strays into harassment, no matter how mild. In this context, harassment refers to offensive verbal or written comments in reference to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, or religion; sexual images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation, stalking following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of class meetings, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
If you feel someone is violating these principles (for example, with a joke that could be interpreted as exist, racist, or exclusionary), it is your responsibility to speak up! If the behavior persists, send a private email to your instructor to explain the situation.
(Portions of this code of conduct are adapted from Prof. Lorena A. Barba)
You are also encouraged to file a Bias Incident Report to the university. You may file the report anonymously or in your own name.
Bucknell University Honor Code
As a student and citizen of the Bucknell University community:
- I will not lie, cheat or steal in my academic endeavors.
- I will forthrightly oppose each and every instance of academic dishonesty.
- I will let my conscience guide my decision to communicate directly with any person or persons I believe to have been dishonest in academic work.
- I will let my conscience guide my decision on reporting breaches of academic integrity to the appropriate faculty or deans.
Expectations for Classwork
Courses at Bucknell that receive one unit of academic credit have a minimum expectation of 12 hours per week of student academic engagement. Student academic engagement includes both the hours of direct faculty instruction (or its equivalent) and the hours spent on out-of-class student work.
https://coursecatalog.bucknell.edu/academicstandardspolicies/academicpoliciesandrequirements/
This means for each one-credit lab course, you are expected to put in at least 7 (12-5) hours of work outside of class, which should be divided between reading the textbook and working on assignments (lab and homework). Make sure to account for this time in your weekly schedule.
Use of AI
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and resources is encouraged to enhance learning and understanding. However, students must use these tools ethically and responsibly. AI can be a powerful aid in coding, debugging, and conceptual understanding, but it should not be a substitute for personal effort and academic integrity.
Guidelines for the ethical use of AI tools and resources:
- Academic Integrity: Any work submitted must be the student’s own. While AI can assist in learning and problem-solving, all submitted work should reflect individual effort. Plagiarism or reliance on AI to complete assignments without proper understanding will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action.
- Proper Attribution: When AI tools are used, proper attribution must be given. If AI resources provide specific code snippets, solutions, or significant assistance, this should be clearly noted in the submission, including the prompts used.
- Learning Enhancement: AI can be a valuable tool for exploring new concepts, generating ideas, and improving coding skills. Students are encouraged to use AI to experiment and learn, but they should also strive to understand the underlying principles and logic behind the AI-generated content.
- Limitations of AI: Students should be aware that AI tools have limitations and may not always provide accurate or optimal solutions. Critical thinking and independent verification of AI-generated content are essential to ensure correctness and understanding.
- Written Work: AI tools may be used to create drafts and revise written work. However, AI-generated text should not be used verbatim. Students must critically review, edit, and revise any AI-generated content to ensure it is accurate, coherent, and aligns with the assignment requirements. The final submission should reflect the student’s own understanding and effort. Using AI-generated text without proper revision or personal contribution is unacceptable and will be considered a violation of academic integrity.
By adhering to these guidelines, students can effectively incorporate AI into their learning process while maintaining the integrity and rigor of their education.
Diversity
“Providing an excellent education to all students requires a firm and demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusiveness at all levels of the institution.
Inside the classroom and beyond, we strive to foster an environment in which our students engage with, understand and appreciate perspectives, people and cultures that may be very different from their own.
These experiences position students to enrich their knowledge of self and others, examine their values, and develop skills in critical thinking and collaboration — all of which prepare students to make valuable contributions in a diverse, globally integrated world.”
Quoted from Bucknell’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusive website.
Access Statement
Any student who may need accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Resources at 570-577-1188 or OAR@bucknell.edu. The office will help coordinate reasonable accommodations for those students with documented disabilities.
Mental Health Support
In this classroom and on Bucknell’s campus we support mental health efforts. Any student who is struggling and believes this may impact your performance in the course is encouraged to contact your Associate Academic Dean or the Dean of Students at 570-577-1601 for support. Furthermore, please approach me if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable me to provide resources and support. If immediate mental health assistance is needed, call the Counseling & Student Development Center at 570-577-1604 (24/7).
Student-Athletes
If you are a student-athlete, note that you are a student first and an athlete second. This means that academic work is your first priority. As per University rules, you will not be penalized for being away to take part in athletic events. It is your responsibility, however, to manage your time wisely so that you can do well in this and in your other classes. Please make sure to notify us well in advance of your travel schedule and to work out a make-up schedule for missed mid-term exams.
Communicating with the Instructor(s)
We want to hear your thoughts on how much you’re learning in our courses. If you are struggling with the material, please let us know sooner rather than later. Problems that might be resolved somewhat easily when they are just identified can lead to much hardship if left alone for long. Make the best use of our contact time in regular classes and labs and, if that is not enough, come see us for a chat.
You should feel safe to give us constructive criticism. Although we will work hard to make this course be a good experience for everyone, it won’t be really great unless you give us timely feedback to make adjustments as the semester goes on.
We will do our best to help you reach the learning objectives in this course and to help you grow your enthusiasm for studying computer science.