Course Policies

Communication

In class: Discussion is a crucial component in a seminar, and I welcome questions during and after class. I particularly encourage you to raise questions in class, since it is likely that other students in the class might have a similar question and would benefit from the answer. The second best option is to publicly post your question on Piazza or come to office hours. If you would like to send a private message to the instructors, please email us at the shared email linked at top. Please DO NOT email me about course-related topics. Exceptions to this are for things that you prefer to keep private, such as reasons for absence or ADS accommodations. In that case, if you email me directly, please include the header [CMSC848R] in the subject line.

I will send IMPORTANT announcements via ELMS messaging and/or Piazza. You must make sure that your email & announcement notifications (including changes in assignments and/or due dates) are enabled in ELMS and Piazza so you do not miss any messages. You are responsible for checking your email, Piazza, and Canvas/ELMS inbox with regular frequency.

Excused Absences

Any student who needs to be excused for an absence from 2 or more consecutive class meetings due to a medically necessitated absence shall make a reasonable attempt to inform the instructor of his/her illness prior to the class. Upon returning to the class, present their instructor with a self-signed note attesting to the date of their illness. Each note must contain an acknowledgment by the student that the information provided is true and correct. Providing false information to University officials is prohibited under Part 9(i) of the Code of Student Conduct (V-1.00(B) University of Maryland Code of Student Conduct) and may result in disciplinary action.

For further details, see the Policy on Excused Absence. Here is an excerpt:

The student must notify the instructor in a timely manner. The notification should be provided either prior to the absence or as soon afterwards as possible. In the case of religious observances, athletic events, and planned absences known at the beginning of the semester, the student must inform the instructor during the schedule adjustment period. All other absences must be reported as soon as is practical.

The student must provide appropriate documentation of the absence. The documentation must be provided in writing to the instructor by the means specified in the syllabus.

For medically necessitated absences: Students may, one time per course per semester, provide a self-signed excuse as documentation of an absence from a single class (e.g., lecture, recitation, or laboratory session) that does not coincide with a major assessment or assignment due date.

For all other medically necessitated absences, a course instructor may request that students provide documentation from a physician or the University Health Center to verify an absence. In cases where students are asked to provide verification, the course instructor may request the dates of treatment or the time frame that the student was unable to meet academic responsibilities, but may not request diagnostic information.

Academic Integrity

The University’s Code of Academic Integrity is designed to ensure that the principles of academic honesty and integrity are upheld. In accordance with this code, the University of Maryland does not tolerate academic dishonesty. Please ensure that you fully understand this code and its implications because all acts of academic dishonesty will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this code. All students are expected to adhere to this Code. It is your responsibility to read it and know what it says. If you are ever unclear about acceptable levels of collaboration, please ask!

Generative AI should not be used in any portions of the writing assignments for idea generation. Generative AI can be used for grammar, spellcheck, or rewrites, as long as the stated ideas are yours and you have first written an initial version of the text yourself. This goes without saying, but you also take responsibility for the text you submit if there is, e.g., a factual error in the rewrite. Please disclose this usage (model used and for what purpose) in a one-sentence summary at the bottom of the document.

Accommodations (Accessibility and Disability Services)

The University of Maryland is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational, working, and living environment for people of all abilities. The University of Maryland is also committed to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination. The Accessibility & Disability Service (ADS) provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals to provide equal access to services, programs and activities. ADS cannot assist retroactively, so it is generally best to request accommodations several weeks before the semester begins or as soon as a disability becomes known. For assistance in obtaining an accommodation, contact Accessibility and Disability Service at 301-314-7682, or email them at adsfrontdesk@umd.edu.

Any student who needs accommodations should send their accommodation letter from ADS to the instructors via email within the first two weeks of the semester.

Communication with Peers/Anti-Harrassment

With a diversity of perspectives and experience, we may find ourselves in disagreement and/or debate with one another. As such, it is important that we agree to conduct ourselves in a professional manner and that we work together to foster and preserve a virtual classroom environment in which we can respectfully discuss and deliberate controversial questions. I encourage you to confidently exercise your right to free speech—bearing in mind, of course, that you will be expected to craft and defend arguments that support your position. Keep in mind, that free speech has its limit and this course is NOT the space for hate speech, harassment, and derogatory language. I will make every reasonable attempt to create an atmosphere in which each student feels comfortable voicing their argument without fear of being personally attacked, mocked, demeaned, or devalued.

Any behavior (including harassment, sexual harassment, and racially and/or culturally derogatory language) that threatens this atmosphere will not be tolerated. Please alert me immediately if you feel threatened, dismissed, or silenced at any point during our semester together and/or if your engagement in discussion has been in some way hindered by the learning environment.

Policies and Resources for Graduate Courses

It is our shared responsibility to know and abide by the University of Maryland’s policies that relate to all courses, which include topics like:

Academic integrity Student and instructor conduct Accessibility and accommodations Attendance and excused absences Grades and appeals Copyright and intellectual property

Please see the University’s website for graduate course-related policies at: Course Related Policies

The Graduate School.

Notice of Mandatory Reporting

Notice of mandatory reporting of sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and stalking: As a faculty member, I am designated as a “Responsible University Employee,” and I must report all disclosures of sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and stalking to UMD’s Title IX Coordinator per University Policy on Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct.

If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact one of UMD’s confidential resources, such as CARE to Stop Violence (located on the Ground Floor of the Health Center) at 301-741-3442 or the Counseling Center (located at the Shoemaker Building) at 301-314-7651. You may also seek assistance or supportive measures from UMD’s Title IX Coordinator, Angela Nastase, by calling 301-405-1142, or emailing titleIXcoordinator@umd.edu. To view further information on the above, please visit the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct’s website at ocrsm.umd.edu.

Right to change information

Although every effort has been made to be complete and accurate, unforeseen circumstances arising during the semester could require the adjustment of any material given here. Consequently, given due notice to students, the instructor reserves the right to change any information on this syllabus or in other course materials.

Acknowledgements

Some syllabus materials adapted with permission from TLTC, Hanna Hajishirzi’s UW CS599 course, and Marine Carpuat.

Other Information and Resources

Names/Pronouns and Self-Identifications

The University of Maryland recognizes the importance of a diverse student body, and we are committed to fostering inclusive and equitable classroom environments. I invite you, if you wish, to tell us how you want to be referred to in this class, both in terms of your name and your pronouns (he/him, she/her, they/them, etc.). Keep in mind that the pronouns someone uses are not necessarily indicative of their gender identity. Visit trans.umd.edu to learn more.

Additionally, it is your choice whether to disclose how you identify in terms of your gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, and dis/ability, among all aspects of your identity (e.g., should it come up in classroom conversation about our experiences and perspectives) and should be self-identified, not presumed or imposed. I will do my best to address and refer to all students accordingly, and I ask you to do the same for all of your fellow Terps.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies on campus can happen at any time. To prepare, visit prepare.umd.edu or use the emergency symbol in the UMD App to review information. Resources for persons with disabilities are available on the emergency preparedness page of the ADA Coordinator’s website.

Student Resources and Services

Taking personal responsibility for your own learning means acknowledging when your performance does not match your goals and doing something about it. I encourage you to visit UMD’s Student Academic Support Services website to learn more about the wide range of campus resources available to you.

In particular, everyone can use some help sharpening their communication skills (and improving their grade) by visiting UMD’s Writing Center and schedule an appointment with the campus Writing Center.

Mental Health

Grad school can be really hard. Sometimes students don’t know that they need help, or they somehow know they’re in trouble but they don’t know what to do about it. What’s really important for you to know is that at a big university like this one, you don’t need to cope with it alone. There are many people on this campus who know how to help students in all kinds of circumstances. It’s their job. Some resources you can take advantage of include the Counseling Center, in the Shoemaker Building, 301-314-7651, and Behavioral Health Services, in the Health Center, 301-314-8106; the Office of Student Affairs, 301-314-8430, is another place you can connect with to find help of various kinds, or one of the many other mental health resources on campus. There are a wide range of resources to support you with whatever you might need (UMD’s Student Resources and Services website may help). If you are concerned about the behavior of another student, and in particular if you are worried that they might pose a threat to themselves or others, see this page for students concerned about another student.

Basic Needs Security

If you have difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or lack a safe and stable place to live, please visit UMD’s Division of Student Affairs website for information about resources the campus offers you.

Veteran Resources

UMD provides some additional supports to our student veterans. You can access those resources at the office of Veteran Student life and the Counseling Center. Veterans and active duty military personnel with special circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill requirements, disabilities) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor.