Update 0102_engagement.Rmd

0102_engagement.Rmd

@@ -4,58 +4,51 @@ gracewindow="36 hours"
 
 # Class Engagement
 
-In previous semesters, I have had a deliberately hard-line attendance policy. 
-In light of the public health crisis, I have done away with this policy, as it does not align with my general philosophy of treating students as junior colleagues. (It also does not align with my goal of making it through the pandemic without getting COVID... yay, high risk of complications)
-
-Class engagement points are given to encourage your active engagement with the material. 
-Specific instructions for engagement can be found on the class website. In general, you will be rewarded with a perfect score as long as you engage meaningfully, intentionally, and professionally with the material and your peers. As a reminder, you are still responsible for any assignments and/or announcements made if you miss a class.
+In previous semesters, I maintained a deliberately hard-line attendance policy. However, in light of ongoing public health concerns and my philosophy of treating students as junior colleagues, I've revised this approach. (It also does not align with my goal of making it through the pandemic without getting COVID... yay, high risk of complications)
 
+Class engagement points encourage your active participation with the course material. Specific engagement instructions are available on the class website. You'll receive full credit for meaningful, intentional, and professional engagement with the material and your peers. Remember, you're responsible for any assignments and announcements made during class, even if you're absent.
 
 ## Life Happens
 
-As a reasonable and empathetic human, I recognize that life happens. There will be times when your outside life conflicts with scheduled class events. These life events can be any of the obvious things (sports, religious holidays, illness, interviews, etc.), but they can also be the less obvious things, like spending the entire night looking for your lost pet. My general approach is to work with you. You just need to let me know *ahead* of time. These late policies value discussion and communication over deductions and punishment. 
-It is difficult for me as an instructor to know your situation and reason for lateness (e.g. are you sick? did you lose WiFi? struggling with mental health? or just forgot?). Without communication, I will assume that you are choosing not to submit work and do not plan on submitting work. An email will help me better understand your needs and focus on coursework. I am more than happy to give extensions and accommodations, so don't be afraid to email me. You don't need to disclose personal details (your privacy is important to me), so a heads up or request for assistance is enough.
+As a reasonable and empathetic human, I recognize that life happens. There will be times when your outside-life conflicts with scheduled class events. These life events can be the obvious things (sports, religious holidays, illness, interviews, etc.), but they can also be the less obvious things (spending the entire night looking for your lost pet). My approach is to work with you, but communication is key. You need to let me know *ahead* of time. You don't need to disclose personal details – your privacy matters
+. These late policies value discussion and communication over deductions and punishment. 
+
+It is difficult for me, as an instructor, to know your situation and reason for lateness (e.g. are you sick? did you lose WiFi? struggling with mental health? or just forgot?). Without communication, I will assume that you are choosing not to submit work and do not plan on submitting work. An email will help me better understand your needs and focus on coursework. I am more than happy to give extensions and accommodations, so don't be afraid to email me. 
 
 
 ##  Extensions, Absences, Incompletes
 
 ### Excused absences
 
-Except in the case of *true* emergencies, a possible excused absence should be discussed with me as far in advance as possible and *must* occur beforehand. 
-You should not assume that an excused absence will automatically be granted -- but you may assume that I am a reasonable, empathetic person. 
-This discussion should occur via email so that we have a record of it.
-If you also discuss your situation verbally, send me a summary of the discussion by email. 
-An unexcused absence will result in a zero for any graded work that should have been performed for or during the missed class. 
+Except in *true* emergencies, discuss potential excused absences with me as far in advance as possible. This discussion *must* occur beforehand. Don't assume an absence will be automatically excused -- but you may assume that I am a reasonable, empathetic person. Document all discussions about absences via email, even if we also talk in person. Unexcused absences will result in a zero for any graded work that should have been performed for or during the missed class. 
 
 
 ### Late Work
 
-+ Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines. 
-+ If an assignment is not submitted by the deadline (i.e., is late), the student must email the instructor and provide a new deadline, ask for an alternative, or explain concerns *within `r gracewindow`* of the missed deadline. 
-+ Ideally, you will have communicated with me before the deadline, but sometimes life happens. 
-+ As long as you have communicated *within `r gracewindow`*, I will do my best to work with you to come up with a new deadline or modification, so that you can earn full credit. + Any modification or change of deadline must be confirmed in writing. And must be done for each modification.
-+ This late policy does not apply to exams, tests, or quizzes. 
-
-If contact is not made *within `r gracewindow`* of the missed deadline, the missing assignment will receive a 0 and cannot be made up. 
-
-Alternative deadlines will be within one week of the original deadline. 
-
-Exceptions to the 1 week policy are at the instructor's discretion. Exceptions are rare.
-
-In general, I am much more sympathetic and accommodating if you communicate in advance.
++ Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines.  Each assignment typically has two deadlines in Canvas:
+  - Recommended Deadline: Usually Friday at 6:00 PM
+  - Final Deadline: Usually end of Monday (11:59 PM)
++ Submissions are accepted without penalty until the Final Deadline.
++ If you miss the Final Deadline:
+  - Email me within *within `r gracewindow`* of the missed Final Deadline.
+  - Provide a proposed new deadline, ask for an alternative, or explain your situation.
+  - If you communicate *within `r gracewindow`* window, I will do my best to work with you to find a solution that allows you to earn full credit.
+- Any agreed-upon modifications or new deadlines must be confirmed in writing and apply only to the specific assignment discussed.
+- This late policy does not apply to exams, tests, or quizzes.
+- If no contact is made within *within `r gracewindow`* of the missed Final Deadline, the assignment will receive a 0 and cannot be made up.
+- Alternative deadlines are typically within one week of the original Final Deadline. Exceptions are at my discretion and are rare.
+Communicating in advance about potential delays is always appreciated and will generally result in more flexible accommodations.
+- In general, I am much more sympathetic and accommodating if you let me know beforehand.
 
 #### Submissions
 
-It is your responsibility to ensure that the instructor has received the assignment by the established due date and to ensure that the assignment submitted is the complete and correct version. 
-
-Unless otherwise explicitly specified, all work must be submitted through Canvas.
+It's your responsibility to ensure that I receive your assignment by the established deadline and that the submitted version is complete and correct. Unless otherwise specified, all work must be submitted through Canvas.
 
 Unless you have communicated with me in advance, there will be no makeup quizzes or tests.
 
-
 ### Incomplete Grades
 
-I did not make this policy. However, I must abide by it.
+The incomplete grade policy is set by the university, not by me. However, I must abide by it:
 
 Although the language surrounding incomplete grades differs slightly across the bulletins ( [undergraduate](https://bulletin.wfu.edu/undergraduate/procedures/exams-grading/#:~:text=Incomplete%20Grade); [graduate](https://bulletin.wfu.edu/graduate/procedures/grading/#:~:text=Grade%20of%20I)), and office of [academic advising]( https://advising.wfu.edu/academic-challenges/incompletes/), the intent is consistent. 
-Incompletes can only be granted IF a student fails to complete the work of a course because of something outside of the student's control, such as an illness, emergency, or extenuating circumstances. The window to complete the work is narrow, typically 30 days into the next semester. If the work is not completed after that point, the grade is automatically changed to an F. 
+Incompletes can only be granted IF a student fails to complete the work of a course because of something outside of the student's control, such as an illness, emergency, or extenuating circumstances. The window to complete the work is narrow, typically 30 days into the next semester. If the work is not completed after that point, the grade is automatically changed to an F.