Course Requirements
Grading:

Grades will be assigned according to performance:

a. on two exams, a midterm (25%) and a final (30%);

b. on a research paper (15%); and

c. on three exercises (10% each);

No make-up exams or quizzes will be given except for bonafide emergencies or illness. Except in the most unusual circumstances advance notification is required. A letter from your Academic Dean or your doctor is required for the scheduling of a make-up exam or quiz.
Deadlines for assignments will be strictly observed. Grades for late work are subject to a maximum 30% reduction at the instructor’s discretion.
All grades will be based on a scale of 100 with A+ = 97.00-100, A = 93.00-96.99, A- = 90.00-92.99, B+ = 87.00-89.99, B= 83.00-86.99, B- = 80.00-82.99, C+ = 77.00-79.99, C = 73.00-76.99, C- = 70.00-72.99, D+ = 67.00-69.99, D = 63.00-66.99, D- = 60.00- 62.99, and F = 59.99 or less.

Definition of Grades:
A+=
 Rare performance. Reserved for exceptional achievement.
A =
Excellent work. Outstanding achievement.
A- =
Excellent work, but not quite outstanding.
B+=
Very good work. Solid achievement expected of Barnard/Columbia undergraduates.
B =
Good work. Acceptable achievement.
B- =
 Satisfactory work. Acceptable achievement but below that expected of Barnard/Columbia undergraduates.
C+=
 Fair achievement just above that which is minimally acceptable.
C =
 Fair achievement but only minimally acceptable.
C- =
 Unsatisfactory but passing
D =
Very low performance. Unsatisfactory work, but passing. This grade may not be counted toward the major or minor option.
F =
 Failure.
 

Consult the Barnard or Columbia College Catalogs or the Registrar’s Office for other information about grading, including: the definitions of other letter grades, pass/D/fail option, incompletes, and calculation of GPA.
   
   
The Honor Code and Academic Integrity

The Barnard Honor Code (established in 1912) reads:

We, the students of Barnard College, do hereby resolve to uphold the honor of the College by refraining from every form of dishonesty in our academic life. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations, quizzes, or to use in them any papers or books in any manner not authorized by the instructor, or to present oral or written work that is not entirely our own, except in such way as may be approved by the instructor. We pledge to do all that is in our power to create a spirit of honesty and honor for its own sake.

The Honor Code governs all aspects of academic work. If a violation should arise, it will be reported to the Dean of Studies for appropriate action. Honor Board Guidelines on the procedures for implementing the Honor System and acting on charges of dishonesty can be found in the Student Handbook. Remember that Barnard students reaffirm their acceptance of the Honor Code by signing their registration form. Columbia students commit themselves to the Honor Code upon registering for a Barnard course.
Because the Honor Code is not entirely specific and contains qualifications and exceptions, such as “authorized by the instructor” or “approved by the instructor”, please read the following summary of “What behaviors constitute academic dishonesty?”

What behaviors constitute academic dishonesty?

  • Cheating on examinations, quizzes, tests, or other assignments: the giving of assistance to another or the receiving of assistance from another person, another examination paper, other written material, or any source not explicitly permitted by the instructor, is cheating. Thus, you may not look at another’s paper or answers; you may not show your paper or answers to another or leave your paper or answers around for others to look at; and, you may not verbally read or reveal your answers to another. It is also cheating to have access, without the instructor’s approval, to examination, quiz, or test questions prior to the administration of the examination, quiz, or test.
  • Plagiarism: the submission or presentation of ideas or work in any form that are not one’s own without appropriate acknowledgement of the source(s). Even with the acknowledgement, close paraphrasing can constitute plagiarism. You may quote the work of others if properly attributed. Close paraphrasing also requires attribution; close paraphrasing is, however, a gray area on a slippery slope, and the slope tends to become steeper and more slippery with the length of the paraphrase.
  • Submission of the same work for more than one course without the explicit permission of the instructors involved.
  • Falsification or misrepresentation of data in any coursework.
  • Altering, defacing, or concealing library materials.
  • Participating in the academic dishonesty of another student by offering assistance or advice that encourages such behavior.
  • Misrepresentation of one’s sate of health or personal situation to gain deferrals of examinations or extensions of academic deadlines.
  • Forgery of a signature on any document or form related to a student’s academic life, including the adviser’s signature on a program, drop/withdrawal slip, or petition.

Except for the above I encourage and expect students to share and work together, to ask questions, and to receive help from instructors and other students. Admittedly, there are gray areas but these gray areas will not be an issue if the intent of the foregoing is understood. Of course, it is prudent to ask if you have any questions on any matter related to the foregoing.