Statement of Teaching Policies

Prof. A. Bruce McDonald
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

The following policies apply to every course that I teach in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Northeastern University. The expectations and workload for graduate students will typically exceed those for undergraduates. However, all students are expected to produce high quality work in both content and presentation. These expectations and the policies listed below may differ from your past experiences; hence, if they are not acceptable you it is your perogative to avoid my classes. Remember, I am only a guide---I want you to to practice creativity and engineering skills in the process of teaching yourself new material. This will make the class a worthwhile experience. Do not be scared away by this diatribe---I always try to be fair, flexible and open minded.

• Academic Honesty and Integrity: Students taking my classes are required to adhere to the University Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy. If you are not familiar with it you can find it by clicking here. Anyone caught violating this policy will receive an automatic grade of 'F' for the course and face a possible probationary hearing.
• Cooperation on Homeworks: Students are encouraged to work together and in a cooperative manner on the homework assignments. However, outright copying does not qualify as an acceptable cooperative engagement and will be considered as cheating under University policy. As this is very difficult to detect and confirm, the truth is typically revealed by the exams. Homeworks must be very neat and well organized---paper must not be torn from spiral notebooks.
• Late Homework Assignments: Late homework assignments will be accepted so long as they are received prior to the time that the grading of the assignment has been completed, at which time a solution set is typically distributed. A homework is considered late if it is not handed in at the start of class on the due date. A penalty of 10 points per day shall be assessed on all late assignments.
• Reading Assignments: Reading assignments are given for a number of important reasons. These include, but may not be limited to, preparing students for upcoming lectures, filling in details that we may not have time to cover in class, and providing additional background material that may be needed to complete a homework assignment or make progress on a project. Students are strongly encouraged to keep up with the reading and raise questions as they arise.
• Late Projects: If the course includes a project it will typically consist of multiple components each with its own due date. This approach is adopted in order to ensure that students progress steadily throughout the term and acquire the requisite skills or knowledge as it is needed. No late project components will be accepted without prior approval of the instructor.
• Project Teams: Working on project teams is an important skill to practice. I strongly encourage students to work in teams, and I shall typically limit those teams to two students. Management of the project team is the responsibility of the individuals on the team. Each team member is expected to contribute equally based on their own strengths and interests. Problems must be brought to my attention early in the quarter so that they can be resolved without further jeopardizing progress.
• Class Attendance and Participation: Students are strongly encouraged to attend each meeting of the class and to actively participate in discussion and questions. Other than making the class more interesting for everyone (especially me), this helps me get to know you and the amount of effort you are putting forth. Hint: This can make a difference at grading time.
• Exam Attendance: Every student is required to attend midterm and final exams at the scheduled time and place. If there are legitimate circumstances that prevent attendance, for example, the student is attending a conference in Seattle, etc., this must be discussed with and approved by me prior to the date of the exam. Emergency situations must be verifiable.
• Scope of Work: I expect each student to utilize all resources available to learn the material. It is impossible to cover all the material in class. Hence, your efforts must extend beyond the classroom and sometimes beyond the required text(s). Lectures will cover material in the text and supplementary material that may not appear in the text. Students are responsible for all material. Excellent projects typically involve moving ahead of the class pace with respected to limited material and research outside of the scope of regular course work.
• Grading Policy: All grades are at my discretion. Translation: I shall assign each student the grade that I believe they have earned. I shall endeavor to grade fairly and indicate how grades are determined. However, there are intangibles and a degree of subjectivity in this process. I do not limit the number of any particular grade---if everyone does 'A' work, everyone will get an A. If you are not satisfied with the grade you receive your first action should be to examine yourself. Please avoid frivolous complaints!
• Problems: As a Professor I am here to help guide your academic progress and provide advice and encouragement regarding your studies, your research, and also the balance in your life. Balance is crucial for everyone. I am a human being with diverse interests and experiences---both personal and professional. I have an open door policy for students experiencing academic or external problems or who just need someone to talk to.