GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASSES
 

Office hours and syllabi for different courses will be announced separately. Preferred way of contact is by email, I cannot retrieve messages left on the voicemail.

Grading Policy
 
Two midterms and a final will be given, each counting 50\% of the grade. The first midterm is expected in the 4th or 5th week of classes, the second in the 8th or 9th week of classes. An announcement about the precise date will be made in class in due time. The lower of the two midterm scores will be dropped.  If you miss one midterm, your score on that midterm will be considered to be 0. Make-up exams will not be given except in emergency situations proved to the satisfaction of the instructor by proper documentation. Make-up projects, make-up finals, and incomplete grades will not be given. All graded work is to be done individually, without any outside help. After all the scores for all the exams  are in, I will add these scores and then arrange the sums in decreasing order. I will then look for `reasonably large' gaps  in this array to divide the array in 1 to 12 groups. Every group will then correspond to a letter grade. In particular,

  1.  The grading will be relative.
  2. Before the above process is completed, no indication can be given
    as to how any individual is doing in the class, except for his/her relative
    position in a given midterm.
This grading policy is subject to change anytime at the instructor's  option.

Final Exam

The final exam will start at the time and place prescribed in the schedule of classes, as amended if applicable.
THE FINAL EXAM WILL  BE 90 (NINETY) MINUTES IN DURATION.
The score on the final will not be dropped.

Attendance

Regular attendance at the class is highly recommended, but not required, except during the first three weeks of classes, the midterms, and the final exam/class meeting.
Nevertheless, even if you don't attend a class meeting,
you are still held responsible for the meeting. In particular, it is your
responsibility to learn everything that was taught as well as any
announcements.  When coming to the class, please be prepared to stay for the complete duration of the class, with full alertness, and great enthusiasm for learning what is taught. Do all the suggested homework diligently, enthusiastically, and regularly, and ask questions about it in the immediately following class. Maintain proper decorum : do not leave in the middle of the class, only one person may talk at any time after seeking my permission, limit the questions  and comments in class to mathematics, etc.

Disabled students

If you have a disability that requires special attention, it is your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements with the Office of Students with Disabilities (ADM 127, 323-343-3140) in a timely manner.

Furloughs

This year across this campus and around the CSU system some class days will be cancelled because of furloughs. A furlough is mandatory un-paid time off, not holidays. Instead, they are concrete examples of how massive state budget cuts have consequences for you as students and for me as a faculty member.

These cancelled class days are January 21, March 9, March 11. This may change at any time. An announcement will be made in class if (and only if) a change is required. Remember that you are responsible for knowing all announcements made in class even if you are absent on the day when the announcement is made.