Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions

Hi. On this page, you'll find the answers to many general questions that seem to keep coming up.

 

Contact Information

1. Where can I find you?
2. When will you be in your office?
3. What's your phone number, and when can I call?
4. What's your email address?
5. How can I leave papers or other things for you?
   • The answers to all of these questions are on my home page (click to go there).

Exams and Assignments

1. I missed a test. Now what?

Whenever you miss a test in a face-to-face class, I'll send a make-up exam to the SUNY Broome Community College Testing Center. You should contact them directly (607-778-5038) for an appointment to take the test. You will usually have about a week to take this make-up. If you are in a hybrid or fully online course, the exams will be available for a specific amount of time (usually 4-7 days, depending on the course and exam), so there should be no problem with regard to missing a test.

2. Can I do extra credit?

   Each course is different. The syllabus for your course will tell you what extra credit opportunities you may be able to pursue. You can link to the course syllabi using the links at the left side of this page.

3. Can I turn in my papers late?

If you turn in work late, papers are subject to a fine of 10 points per day (including weekends). If your paper is over a week late, it will not be accepted.

4. Where can I find the reserve readings?

All reserve readings are available on the SUNY Broome Community College Library website's reserve readings tab. When you get to the Library's website, be sure to click on the RESERVE tab at the far right. Then choose to find our reserve readings by instructor. Be sure you select the correct course, as I teach several and there may be different readings for each group.

5. What is the format for our papers?

   All papers and other work in this course will be done in APA format. This is the formatting style of the American Psychological Association. Many fields beside psychology also use this format. If you are planning to work in criminal justice, social work, health care, education, or many other fields, this is the format you will need to know. You can find a lot of information about this format on my Writing Tools web page.

6. Can I email you my papers?

I do not accept email submission for papers, except under very unusual circumstances.

7. If I want to upload my paper to you, what file format does it need to be in?

   If I have given you permission to email a paper, you may send it as a PDF file.

8. What homework is due?

   This varies by course, but is ALWAYS listed in your syllabus or course schedule. Please check the schedule for your course. You can link to your course using the links at the left side of this page.

9. When are the exams?

This varies by course, but is ALWAYS listed in your course schedule. Please check schedule on the syllabus for your course. You can link to your course using the links at the left side of this page. If there is a special exam time for the final exam, it will be announced in class.

10. Are the exams cumulative?

    No.

11. How much time do I need to devote to the class in order to be successful?

     

The normal workload for a 3-credit course is about 45 hours in direct classroom contact, and about 90 to 135 hours in work outside of class. Thus, you should plan to devote roughly 135-180 total hours to this class over the course of a semester. In more practical terms, that would mean going to class (3 hours) and doing the appropriate work outside (approximately 6-9 hours) every week. I expect that most people will be able to work at the lower end of this range, if they spread out all of the work over the course of the semester, and don't try to cram things in at the last minute.

 

Classroom etiquette and other class issues

1. Do I have to come to class?

Yes. Attending class is important for several reasons. I will often cover material in class that is not included in the book. In addition, there are daily writing exercises. These cannot be made up if you are absent. Finally, everyone in the class benefits when everyone participates. Sharing ideas is basic to education.

2. What should I do if I have to miss class?

   Missing class due to sickness or emergencies (including sick children or other people for whom you are a caregiver) is certainly understandable. This is also the case with military service, jury duty, or religious holidays. However, if you are making appointments with your doctor, dentist, or other professional, you should not miss class for these. You should make these appointments for times when you are not otherwise engaged. Likewise, vacations or other events are not appropriate excuses for missing class.

   If you know you will need to miss class, please contact me beforehand so that we can make arrangements for anything you might miss. If missing class comes as the result of an emergency or illness, please contact me as soon as you can.

3. How can I get class notes if I'm absent?

There are several possibilities for getting notes:

• Ask a classmate
• Check the course wiki
• Put a request out on the class mailing list

4. Is it OK to text in class?

   No. This is impolite, and distracting both to me as the professor and to your fellow students. I expect all cell phones and other communication devices to be turned off when you enter the classroom. The only exception would be if you are monitoring a sick child or other person, or if you are a first responder and must be on call. In cases of that sort, please let me know, set your phone to vibrate, and sit near the door. That way you can take your call outside the classroom, where you'll get some privacy (perhaps in the vestibule by my office) and you won't disturb the class.

5. Can I use my cell phone in class?

No. This is impolite, and distracting both to me as the professor and to your fellow students. I expect all cell phones and other communication devices to be turned off when you enter the classroom. The only exception would be if you are monitoring a sick child or other person, or if you are a first responder and must be on call. In cases of that sort, please let me know, set your phone to vibrate, and sit near the door. That way you can take your call outside the classroom, where you'll get some privacy (perhaps in the vestibule by my office) and you won't disturb the class.

6. Can I bring my laptop to class?

   You may, but you may not use it in class except on days when we are working on particular computing projects. Like cell phones, the use of laptop computers in class is often distracting to those around you.

7. Do I need the book?

Yes. In general, the book covers a vast range of material. Because class time is limited, we will only cover the most important or difficult parts of that in class. I may also devote class time to information not contained in the book. However, you are responsible for all of the information covered in the chapters that we discuss.

8. Do I need to bring the book to class?

   Not if you don't want to. Many students find it helpful to be able to refer to the book, but it will not be necessary.

   With that said however, please note that my exams are all open-book and open-note. So on exam days in the face-to-face class you will DEFINITELY want to bring your book along.

9. HELP! I don't have the book yet. What should I do?

I have put copies of the book on reserve in the SUNY Broome Library. You may borrow them for in-library reading. Pick them up at the circulation desk.

10. Do I need the textbook supplements?

    No.

11. Where can I get extra help with this class?

Extra help is available through SUNY Broome Community College's Tutoring Center. You can contact them at 778-5333 or 778-5162, or visit them in the SUNY Broome Community College Library.

I also encourage you to see me during visiting hours. If you can't make it to my regular hours, please see me about setting up an appointment for another time.

12. Where can I get extra help with my papers or wiki assignments?

    You can get a great deal of help from the BCC Writing Center. They are located in the SUNY Broome Community College Library. Their consultants can help you to set up your papers and wiki pages. In fact, the earlier you see them, the better. They can often save you a LOT of extra work through appropriate planning.

    You can also get a lot of help from the reference librarians in the BCC Library. You'll find them at the reference desk (near the computers behind the glass wall at your right, as you walk into the Library).

    The course tutors for our course are also a great source of help. Since they've already had to do the assignments I give you, they know exactly what I'm looking for. You'll find them through SUNY Broome Community College's Tutoring Center. You can contact them at 778-5333 or 778-5162, or visit them in the BCC Library.

    And, of course, you can always come to see me. Students who come to me early in their paper-writing efforts, and those who come in for critiques along the way, tend to get much better grades. After all, who better to tell you how to please the instructor than the instructor?

13. Can I bring food and drinks to class?

Absolutely. I certainly do. The only caveat is that whatever you bring should not be distracting to your classmates or to me. So nothing too loud, and nothing with too strong a smell. So most things are OK, but you'll have to leave the limburger and onion sandwiches until after class.

14. How about some smokes?

    Sorry, SUNY Broome Community College is a smoke-free campus. And even if not, it would be distracting to your fellow classmates.

    If you would like more information about quitting, you can find it at SUNY Broome Community College's Smoke-Free web page. It provides many resources and some good advice.

15. Will you give us copies of your PowerPoint slides?

    Not in a face-to-face class. In general, it tends to be counterproductive. When instructors do that it tends to make the students less likely to get as much out of the lecture. Online classes may have access to them, because they don't really have access to a formal lecture.

16. Are the tests open-book?

Yes. Every test I give will be both open-book and open-note. Be sure to bring everything you need with you on test days! If you're in an online or hybrid course, you may certainly use your books and notes for the online exams.

Technical issues

1. What do I do if my computer dies?

In general, you can use computers in several places on campus. There are open computers in the Library, as well as on the first floor and ground floor of Titchener, and in the Business Building. If you are working on something for our class, then you will also be able to use the computers in our lab during the time just before or just after class.

It is also critical to plan for failures of this sort. Be sure that you back up all of your work as you do it. Back up early and often. You may wish to save your work to a USB Flash Drive that you keep with you, or to a cloud service such as Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive. In any case, be sure that you have copies of your work saved, so that if your computer dies you won't be stuck, or have to do everything all over again.

2. What can I do if I can't get to the reserve readings online?

   You can also get copies of the readings by asking for them at the circulation desk of the SUNY Broome Community College Library.

3. How do I sign up for the course mailing list?

Each course has its own mailing list. You'll find course-specific directions on each course's website. Link to your course using the links at the left side of this page. However, if you are in an online or hybrid course, you don't need to sign up. Just use the Discussions button at the left of your screen.

4. How do I get into the course wiki?

   Each course has its own wiki. You'll find course-specific directions on each course's website. Link to your course using the links at the left side of this page.

5. Is there a course discussion list?

   Yes. Directions are available for each class's list on the appropriate course page of this website. However, if you are in an online or hybrid class, use the Discussions button at the left of your screen.