HOMEWORK REGULATIONS

Computer Science and Engineering Department

The Computer Science and Engineering Department wishes to encourage all students in the process of learning. The activity of learning course material involves the effort of each student. Without this effort it is usually not possible to absorb the material to a desirable level. In addition to student/instructor interaction, we also encourage active student/student interaction. The later works only if each student involved makes an effort to contribute to the interaction. Unfortunately, in a very small number of cases this is abused when a student does not made the effort to add a contribution to the cooperative effort, but simply uses the work of others to obtain a grade. It is for this reason that we have prepared the regulations below. If they seem somewhat forbidding it is because we have a need to be precise. Be assured that we will bend over backwards not to invoke the regulations. We are in the business of education and are not policemen. However, when the abuse is so flagrant that it cannot be ignored, we will have to take some action. The regulations are established so that we can be fair as well as lenient.

THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS IN A COMPUTING COURSE FORM A VITAL PART OF THE COURSE. IN THE GRADING OF SUCH ASSIGNMENTS THE GRADER MUST BE ASSURED THAT THE STUDENT HAS MADE AN ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE ASSIGNMENT WHICH IS TURNED IN. THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG STUDENTS IS TO BE ENCOURAGED, BUT IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT THE ASSIGNMENT TURNED IN BY THE STUDENT SHOULD BE THE INDIVIDUAL WORK OF THE STUDENT. THEREFORE, IN ADDITION TO THE REGULATIONS AS STATED IN THE LEHIGH HANDBOOK, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY CONTRADICTED IN A GIVEN ASSIGNMENT BY THE INSTRUCTOR, THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CONSIDERED EVIDENCE OF LACK OF ORIGINALITY:

1. When the work of two students, for a given assignment, in the judgment of the instructor, differs only in that the variable names have been changed.

2. When the work of two students, for a given assignment, in the judgment of the instructor, differs only in that the basic modules have been rearranged.

3. When the work of two students, for a given assignment, in the judgment of the instructor, differs only in that a combination of 1 and 2 above has occurred.

Should the instructor feel that a violation has occurred, based on the above, then the following will take place:

A. The instructor will inform the student. If the student is willing to accept the penalty imposed by the instructor, the matter will end here;

OR

B. The matter will be brought to the Chair of the Computer Science and Engineering Department (or another member of the Department if the Chair is the instructor). If the student accepts the judgment made at this level, the matter will then be terminated;

OR

C. The matter will be brought before the University Disciplinary Committee for final adjudication.