Policies

Collaboration

You are welcome and encouraged to collaborate. Discussing the content of this course with others is an excellent way to support your learning. The group projects will be completed in groups, and while some group members may focus on different aspects of the project, all group members should be actively engaged in the overall project, each doing a fair share of work, and regularly communicating with group members.

Large Language Model Usage

This class considers large language model (LLM) usage on par with collaboration with another person (though they do not count as an actual person in your group). This means you may use them. You may use LLMs with your project to help you generate ideas and code. But you should not assume it is correct. You and your group take ultimate responsibility for the quality of the work you submit.

If you use LLMs, you must cite that usage and note what it generated, what it inspired, and what you did without it.

Finally, the usage of LLMs is new. We do not know the best practices for its use in your learning. Therefore, you should take care not to let it short-circuit your learning, where it becomes a crutch that you cannot function without. Not all companies allow the use of LLMs, and right now, you are expected to be able to do good work without them. Moreover, any interaction you have with an LLM service means the company is collecting data on your interactions. Therefore, we currently do not require the use of LLMs due to concerns about data privacy.

Academic Integrity

All students must adhere to the Duke Community Standard (DCS): Duke University has high expectations for students’ scholarship and conduct. In accepting admission, students indicate their willingness to subscribe to and be governed by the rules and regulations of the university, which flow from the Duke Community Standard.

Regardless of course delivery format, it is the responsibility of all students to understand and follow all Duke policies, including academic integrity (e.g., completing one’s own work, following proper citation of sources, adhering to guidance around group work projects, and more). Ignoring these requirements is a violation of the Duke Community Standard. Any questions and/or concerns regarding academic integrity can be directed to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards at conduct@duke.edu.

Illness and Covid

We will be following the Duke Covid Safety Protocol. You are welcome to go further than the protocol states.

If you have to quarantine or isolate due to illness and feel up to attending class online, contact me (Prof. Stephens-Martinez) immediately. If I do not respond in time, you should consider asking a project mate to advocate for you to ensure I saw your message.

Academic Support Resources

The Academic Resource Center (the ARC) offers services to support students academically during their undergraduate careers at Duke. The ARC can provide support with time management, academic skills and strategies, course-specific tutoring, and more. ARC services are available free to any Duke undergraduate student, studying any discipline. (919) 684-5917, theARC@duke.edu, or arc.duke.edu.

Academic Accommodation

If you are a student with a disability and need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to register with the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) and provide them with documentation of your disability. SDAO will work with you to determine what accommodations are appropriate for your situation. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and disability accommodations cannot be provided until a Faculty Accommodation Letter has been given to me. Please contact SDAO for more information: sdao@duke.edu or access.duke.edu.

Religious Accommodation

Students are permitted by university policy to be absent from class to observe a religious holiday. Accordingly, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering have established procedures to be followed by students for notifying their instructors of an absence necessitated by the observance of a religious holiday. Please submit requests for religious accommodations at the beginning of the semester so that we can work to make suitable arrangements well ahead of time. You can find the policy and relevant notification form here: https://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/religious-holidays

Long Term Health Issues

If you have or develop a chronic health issue that will interfere with your participation in this course, please contact your academic dean to seek accommodations as directed by Trinity College.

Personal Distress or Emergencies

If a situation of extreme personal distress or an emergency interferes with your participation in this course, please contact your academic dean to seek accommodations as directed by Trinity College.