top of page

Course Policies                       Campus Resources 

Artificial Intelligence

AI tools are wonderful and are changing the world! 

You can use them for anything you'd like in this class.  

That being said: learning to use AI tools well requires you to do things like double-checking information, cleaning up stilted or awkward language, and finding your own citations. I personally find Chat GPT helpful for brainstorming, drafting, and proofreading.  But even when I start with AI, I have to do some of my own writing and most of my own editing to end up with work that meets my standards. And people who help design these programs are the first to say they are not research tools. I wouldn't recommend them for research.

 

You're all welcome to be open about how you use this resource, especially if you find something helpful or interesting. We're all here to learn and build new skills.  

Attendance

Once you’ve missed class four times, I reserve the right to lower your final grade by one-third of a grade for each class that you miss (i.e. A- to B+).  If you miss seven classes, I reserve the right to assign you a failing grade.

 

That being said, I have no interest in policing your attendance. Come to class when you want to learn, and come to class when you are part of group projects that have other people relying on you. If you miss a multitude of classes it will affect your participation grades, but you're adults and can make your own choices.  

If you're sick or have other reasons to miss multiple classes just send me an email, and we’ll develop a workable plan that is appropriate for your circumstances.

You are also welcome to miss classes for Religious or Spiritual Practices. Wake Forest has developed a calendar of common Holy Days observed by many individuals on our campus. Should you need such accommodations this semester, just email me and we will develop equitable alternatives. 

Email

Email is a good way to be in touch about simple things (i.e. asking a quick question or scheduling a meeting).  But if you would like to discuss a more serious matter (i.e. paper drafts, grades, or accommodations), please come to office hours or email to schedule a “face-to-face” meeting over Zoom. I do not consistently respond to emails after 5 PM or on the weekends, so please keep this in mind. This probably goes without saying, but you should check your email regularly for course updates.

Names, Pronouns, and Identities

This course affirms people of all gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than what appears on the class roster, please advise me. If we are online please make sure your Zoom name tag lists the name you would like to be called, and, if you like, your correct pronouns. I will do my very best to learn all of your names as quickly as possible, and I would be grateful for both your corrections and your patience.  

Please also feel very encouraged to correct me if I am mispronouncing your name!

Office Hours

You’re always welcome to stop in to ask questions, to work through ideas, or to explore your interests.  

I’ll add additional office hours during busy times in the semester, like before papers and projects are due. You’ll know when they are because in order to attend office hours you should sign up for a time slot. This is the best way for me to know when I need to make more time—and to keep people from having to wait in the Zoom waiting room for entirely too long. If you are unable to meet during office hours because of a reasonable conflict (i.e. class or lab), email me, and we’ll find a time to talk. And if you only need a few minutes, we can usually touch base after class.

Plagiarism

The Honor Code applies to all of the work you do at Wake Forest. Do not cheat, and do not plagiarize!  Failure to document the words or ideas of others will result in a zero on the assignment—and, potentially, an “F” in the course. ZSR Library offers resources on this topic, and the English department recommends this plagiarism tutorial.  If you ever have questions, just ask before there’s a problem!   

Recording

Recordings, photos, transcriptions, streaming, copying, or similar efforts to capture audio or video of the class or instructional content, in whole or in part, is prohibited except with the advance written permission of the instructor. If instructor permission is granted, any distribution of the recording is prohibited.

 

Students with specific electronic recording accommodations authorized by the University do not require instructor permission; however, the instructor must be notified of any such accommodation prior to recording. Any distribution of such recordings is prohibited. 

 

Violation of these instructions will result in a Student Code of Conduct referral.

Zoom

 

Some of our course meetings—classes, small group discussions, and office hours—will happen here.

You’ll need a password, which I’ll provide on Canvas. I’ll also be using Zoom’s “waiting room” feature to provide us with an extra layer of security, so at the start of class I’ll let everyone in. If for some reason you leave our conversation in the middle of class (usually when a wifi connection drops) and I don’t see you to let you back in, please ask one of the people you exchange contact info with on the first day to let me know.

Please have your camera on during our meetings when you have the bandwidth to do so. And please use your laptops instead of your cell phones. If there is a reason that you’d prefer to keep your camera off or that you need to temporarily use your phone and you didn’t raise it in your tech survey, feel free to email me. I am absolutely willing to make exceptions to this policy, but in general I think we'll have better conversations if people are on laptops with their cameras on.

Accommodations

Wake Forest University provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If you are in need of an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact me privately as early in the term as possible. Students requiring accommodations should also consult the Learning Assistance Center & Disability Services  (118 Reynolda Hall, 336-758-5929, lac.wfu.edu).

Campus Health and Illness

Your health and the health of our community come first. Please do not come to class if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of illness (including COVID-19).

Wake Forest University provides on-campus medical care through WFU Student Health Service (SHS), located in the Wellbeing Center. You can schedule an appointment online at shs.wfu.edu, through the Student Health Portal, or by calling 336-758-5218. For after-hours support, a nurse advice line is available at the same number.

  • If you are sick for a day or two, there’s no need to email me—just take care of yourself.

  • If you anticipate missing more than a week of class, please email me so we can make a plan.

  • If you test positive for COVID-19, you should follow university guidance on isolation and notify close contacts.

You can find more information about Student Health Services at https://shs.wfu.edu

Mental Health Support

This is a very difficult time. In a recent survey we learned that 59% of undergraduates struggled with stress and anxiety, and that went up to 67% of students in Division 2 courses. You are not alone.

Students experiencing psychological or emotional distress may receive support through the University Counseling Center (UCC), a confidential resource for all Reynolda Campus undergraduate and graduate students experiencing psychological/emotional distress. The UCC offers individual counseling, group counseling, case management/referral support, same-day appointment scheduling, and crisis assistance. The University Counseling Center (UCC) is located at 117 Reynolda Hall and is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. To make an appointment, call 336.758.5273 during office hours.  After-hours support is also available after 5:00 PM on weekdays, 24 hours a day on weekends, and during holiday breaks by calling 336.758.5273.

Research Support

Get help with your research at ZSR here.

 

You can also chat with a librarian or book one-on-one research consultations talk you through your topics!

Report Bias

You deserve a community free of bias and discrimination—or any acts or behaviors motivated by the offender’s bias against facets of another’s identity. Bias occurs whether the act is intentional or unintentional. Bias may be directed toward an individual or group. And bias may contribute to creating an unsafe or unwelcoming environment.

​Please report bias when you experience or witness something that you think the University should know about. You can learn more about reporting bias here, or you can report bias by filling out this form.

Especially in this moment I would strongly encourage you to resist and respond to racism and other forms of bias in whatever ways you can, and at the very least anonymous reporting is something everyone can do.

Tech Support

If you run into problems with technology, I strongly recommend https://is.wfu.edu/. It will direct you to chat with someone at help.wfu.edu or to call 336.758.4357 to speak with someone at the help desk. You'll also be directed to guides for a few frequent problems.

Writing Center

Visit the Writing Center to get feedback on your work (http://college.wfu.edu/writingcenter/). It’s a terrific resource for writers of all levels, and it’s helpful for far more than learning to recognize and then correct surface errors.  Trained tutors will also talk through you work and help you develop your ideas!  A number of students make use of this opportunity ever semester, and almost all of them report that it’s well worth the effort. (Pro tip: book before the end of the semester! Times go quickly!)

 

Wake Forest University Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

 

This statement honors the land on which Wake Forest University now resides and the land on which the original campus resided. This land served for centuries as a place for exchange and interaction for Indigenous peoples, specifically Saura (saw-ra), Catawba (ka-tah-buh), Cherokee (chair-o-kee), and Lumbee (lum-bee) in this location and Shakori (shu-kor-ee), Eno (ee-no), Sissipahaw (sis-suh-pa-hah), and Occaneechi (oak-a-nee-chee) in the original campus location. Today Wake Forest continues to be a place of learning and engagement for Indigenous students, faculty, and staff regionally, nationally, and globally.

bottom of page