Academic Integrity

This course will adhere to the CSU Academic Integrity/Misconduct policy as found in the General Catalog and the Student Conduct Code.

Academic integrity lies at the core of our common goal: to create an intellectually honest and rigorous community. Further information about Academic Integrity is available at CSU’s Academic Integrity – Student Resources.

We encourage you to talk with other students about your assignments and questions, but make sure you do your own work. You may not:

  • copy another student’s program or other work in whole or in part, either with or without their knowledge
  • write code or other work for another student
  • share your code with another student,
  • copy or solicit solutions from the Internet.

We are accountable for our actions and will act ethically and honestly in all our interactions.

That means you do your own work! This is especially true when it comes to programming, as it is easy to copy another’s code. Copying code is cheating. Such violations will result in zero to a full negative grade on the assignment and reporting to the appropriate university resources. Further infractions will result in an F in the course.

We encourage you to talk with other students about your assignments and questions, but make sure you do your own work. Here are some guidelines on what is appropriate:

  • Clarifying ambiguities or vague points in assignments, class handouts, textbooks, or lectures
  • Discussing or explaining the general class material
  • Providing assistance with Python and the various tools
  • Discussing the code that we give out in the assignment
  • Discussing the assignments to better understand them
  • Getting help from anyone concerning programming issues which are clearly more general than the specific project (e.g., what does a particular error message mean?)
  • Suggesting solution strategies
  • In general, oral collaboration is OK.

Here are some things that are inappropriate:

  • Copying files or parts of files (such as source code, written text, or unit tests) from another person or source
  • Copying (or retyping) files or parts of files with minor modifications such as style changes or minor logic modifications
  • Allowing someone else to copy your code or written assignment, either in draft or final form
  • Getting help that you do not fully understand
  • Copying prose or programs directly
  • Giving copies of work to others
  • Coaching others step-by-step

Here are some gray areas:

  • Reading someone’s code for clarity or bugs, after you have completed your own
  • Helping with debugging
  • Looking at someone’s program but thinking about them and writing your own
  • Following someone’s advice or instructions without understanding them

This discussion of is based on the following CMU policy.

AI Policy

Use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and others to write or “improve” your code or written work at any stage is prohibited. Turning in code or an essay written by generative AI tools will be treated as turning in work created by someone else, namely an act of plagiarism and/or cheating.

Ultimately, you will get out of the class what you put in. Simply copying and pasting code from generative AI tools is neither ethical nor does it contribute to your learning experience. There are multiple reasons why these generative AI tools are detrimental to your learning experience:

  • They rob you of the ability to think and learn the concepts for yourself. Solving problems is an essential step to gaining a solid understanding of the material.
  • You will struggle with the in-classroom quizzes and exams where you will not have access to these tools.
  • While we acknowledge that these tools are likely to become an important part of a software engineer’s workflow in the future, you are much more likely to use these tools in an effective manner if you already have expertise in the relevant technical topics. Developing such expertise requires putting in the effort to learn these topics without the assistance of these tools.
  • These tools are prone to generating imperfect or even incorrect solutions, so trusting them blindly can lead to bad consequences.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING/ACCOMMODATION OF NEEDS 

I am committed to the principle of universal learning. This means that our classroom, our virtual spaces, our practices, and our interactions be as inclusive as possible. Mutual respect, civility, and the ability to listen and observe others carefully are crucial to universal learning.

If you are a student who will need accommodations in this class, please contact me to discuss your individual needs. Any accommodation must be discussed in a timely manner. A verifying memo from the Student Disability Center (SDC) may be required before any accommodation is provided.

The SDC has the authority to verify and confirm the eligibility of students with disabilities for the majority of accommodations. While some accommodations may be provided by other departments, a student is not automatically eligible for those accommodations unless their disability can be verified and the need for the accommodation confirmed, either through SDC or through acceptable means defined by the particular department. Faculty and staff may consult with the SDC staff whenever there is doubt as to the appropriateness of an accommodative request by a student with a disability.

The goal of SDC is to normalize disability as part of the culture of diversity at Colorado State University. The characteristic of having a disability simply provides the basis of the support that is available to students. The goal is to ensure students with disabilities have the opportunity to be as successful as they have the capability to be.

Support and services are offered to student with functional limitations due to visual, hearing, learning, or mobility disabilities as well as to students who have specific physical or mental health conditions due to epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, AIDS, psychiatric diagnoses, etc. Students who are temporarily disabled are also eligible for support and assistance.

Any student who is enrolled at CSU, and who self-identifies with SDC as having a disability, is eligible for support from SDC. Specific accommodations are determined individually for each student and must be supported by appropriate documentation and/or evaluation of needs consistent with a particular type of disability. SDC reserves the right to ask for any appropriate documentation of disability in order to determine a student’s eligibility for accommodations as well as in support for specific accommodative requests. The accommodative process begins once a student meets with an accommodations specialist in the SDC.

THIRD-PARTY TOOLS/PRIVACY 

Please note that this course may require you to use third-party tools (tools outside of the Canvas learning management system), such as Zoom and others. Some of these tools may collect and share information about their users. Because your privacy is important, you are encouraged to consult the privacy policies for any third-party tools in this course so that you are aware of how your personal information is collected, used, and shared.

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT SUPPORT 

Any CSU student who faces challenges or hardships due to their legal status in the United States and believes that it may impact their academic performance in this course is encouraged to visit Student Support Services for Undocumented, DACA & ASSET for resources and support. Additionally, only if you feel comfortable, please notify your professor so they may pass along any additional resources they may possess.

TITLE IX/INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 

For the full statement regarding role and responsibilities about reporting harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and the retaliation policy, visit CSU Policy: Title IX Sexual Harassment.

If you feel that your rights have been compromised at CSU, several resources are available to assist:

A note about interpersonal violence: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, relationship violence and/or stalking, know that you are not alone. As instructors, we are required by law to notify university officials about disclosures related to interpersonal violence. Confidential victim advocates are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide support related to the emotional, physical, physiological, and legal aftermath of interpersonal violence. Contact the Victim Assistance Team at 970-492-4242.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES 

CSU does not discriminate on the basis of religion. Reasonable accommodation should be made to allow individuals to observe their established religious holidays. Students seeking an exemption from attending class or completing assigned course work for a religious holiday will need to complete the Request Form at least one full week prior to the event.

Once submitted, the Division of Student Affairs will review the request and contact the student accordingly. If approved, the student will receive a memo from the Dean of Students to give to their professor or course instructor.

Students are asked to turn in the request forms as soon as the conflict is noticed. Similarly, unanticipated conflicts requiring a religious observance, such as a death in the family, can also be reviewed.

CSU PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY 

Inclusion: We create and nurture inclusive environments and welcome, value and affirm all members of our community, including their various identities, skills, ideas, talents, and contributions.

Integrity: We are accountable for our actions and will act ethically and honestly in all our interactions.

Respect: We honor the inherent dignity of all people within an environment where we are committed to freedom of expression, critical discourse, and the advancement of knowledge.

Service: We are responsible, individually and collectively, to give of our time, talents, and resources to promote the well-being of each other and the development of our local, regional, and global communities.

Social Justice: We have the right to be treated and the responsibility to treat others with fairness and equity, the duty to challenge prejudice, and to uphold the laws, policies and procedures that promote justice in all respects.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 

The Office of Inclusive Excellence website includes a comprehensive statement of CSU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

CANVAS INFORMATION & TECHNICAL SUPPORT 

Canvas is where assignments, grades, and lecture slides will reside for this course.

For passwords or any other computer-related technical support, contact the Central IT Technical Support Help Desk by calling (970) 491-7276 or emailing help@colostate.edu.

The Technical Support and Requirements page identifies the browsers, operating systems, and plugins that work best with Canvas. If you are new to Canvas, review the CSU Passport to Canvas course.