DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS

STUDENT SYLLABUS

MAT 101-01 CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS

Spring 2008

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Boulis OFFICE: 210 BB

OFFICE HOURS: TBA

E-Mail: cboulis@leeuniversity.edu not to be used for communicating reasons of absence(s)

URL: http://faculty.leeu.edu/~cboulis/

TEXTBOOK:

Thinking Mathematically, by Robert Blitzer, 3^rd Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ 2003

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

A survey of mathematical topics designed to develop an appreciation of the uses of mathematics. Selected topics will include problem solving, algebra, mathematical modeling, logic, sets, probability, statistics, and the mathematics of finance. Three hours credit.

PREREQUISITIES:

Students scoring below 18 on the mathematics portion of the ACT must take appropriate pre-core courses before enrolling in Contemporary Mathematics.

ATTENDANCE:

Class attendance is expected of all students without exception. A student absent from class bears the full responsibility for all subject matter and procedural information discussed in class. Attendance, if checked, may be by roll call, quizzes, or from homework handed in personally.

EVALUATION:

There will be a quiz every class meeting, four unit tests and a cumulative final examination. The lowest four quiz grades will be dropped. . The final exam may be used to substitute a test grade. The student has to decide whether s/he will take the final exam. If the student decides to take the final exam, the final exam’s grade will substitute the lowest test grade regardless of whether the final exam grade is better than that test’s grade or not.

Numerical course grades will be determined by the formula (Q+T1+T2+T3+T4)/5 where Q = quiz average, T1, T2, T3 and T4 = unit test grades. Letter grades will be determined from numerical grades as follows:

A = 91.5 or above B+ = 87.5 – 89.49 C+ = 77.5 – 79.49 D+ = 67.5–69.49

A- = 89.5 – 91.49 B = 81.5 – 87.49 C = 71.5 – 77.49 D = 59.5–67.49

B- = 79.5 – 81.49 C- = 69.5 – 71.49 F = below 59.5

EXAM POLICY:

No makeup tests/quizzes or early tests/quizzes will be given. A test absence or quiz absence will be excused only if the student presents sufficient verifiable evidence of acceptable, extenuating, unavoidable circumstances. An acceptable medical excuse must state explicitly that the holder should be excused from class. Students missing class because of a family death must show evidence of the death and evidence of the relationship to the deceased. Absences from tests and quizzes for family social events will not be excused.

If a test absence is excused, then the final exam grade will be used for the missed test grade. The final-exam grade minus a penalty will be used for an unexcused test grade provided that the instructor has knowledge of your reason(s) for the absence, otherwise a grade of zero will be used for the test. If a student misses two tests, then the student will be given a special exam during the final exam period (with no extra time), in addition to the regular final exam. No student will be given a passing grade if he/she misses more than two unit tests. If a quiz absence is excused, then the next unit test grade will be used for the missed quiz grade. A grade of zero will be used for an unexcused quiz grade.

All excuses should be documented. Do not use e-mail to tell me your reasons for being absent.

No e-mailed excuses will be accepted.

STUDENT ATHLETES/Singers/Dancers…etc.:

You need to identify yourself to me in class. Any absence from class, quiz or test should be documented. You need to present a hard-copy letter from your coach/choir leader…etc. which states that you need to be excused from class. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSES SENT VIA E-MAIL WILL BE ACCEPTED.

If you know your schedule in advance, you need to give me a copy of it at the beginning of the semester.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:

As a Christian community of scholarship, we at Lee University are committed to the principles of truth and honesty in the academic endeavor. As faculty and students in this Christian community, we are called to present our academic work as an honest reflection of our abilities; we do not need to defraud members of the community by presenting others’ work as our own. Therefore, academic dishonesty is handled with serious consequences for two fundamental reasons: it is stealing – taking something that is not ours; it is also lying – pretending to be something it is not. In a Christian community, such pretense is not only unnecessary it is also harmful to the individual and community as a whole. Cheating should have no place at a campus where Christ is King because God desires us to be truthful with each other concerning our academic abilities. Only with a truthful presentation of our knowledge can there be an honest evaluation of our abilities. To such integrity, we as a Christian academic community are called. Please read the Academic Integrity Policy in its entirety as found in the University Catalog and in the Student Handbook.

If any form of academic dishonesty occurs in this class, the teacher will decide the course of action ranging from giving the student an F on a test to an F for the course. Moreover, the teacher may refer the case to the Dean’s Council. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may then determine the penalty or refer the case to the Judicial Council.

TUTORING: Through the department at times to be announced online.

TENTATIVE TEST DATES: Test 1 Monday, February 4

Test 2 Friday, February 22

Test 3 Wednesday, March 26

Test 4 Friday, April 18

Final Exam Monday, April 28 from 8:00 till 10:00

A copy of the complete syllabus is available online.