FAQ

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Registration

My schedule changed and now I have a conflict with my discussion section. Can you switch me into another section?
No. Our discussion sections tend to fill quickly, and we will not add students to a section above the listed capacity. However, students sometimes choose to drop the course through the first week of the semester, so we invite you to check the online course registration system regularly to see if you can switch yourself into a section that works for your schedule. If you cannot find a time that works, remember that we generally offer this class each semester and summer. Please note: Double-scheduling another class during your discussion section meeting time is not an acceptable reason for an excused absence.

Attendance

I am registered for the in-person lecture. Can I choose to attend the lecture online instead?
Yes. Consult the Home page of this Canvas site to access the lecture streaming site. (And you do not need to inform your TA if you switch lecture.)

I am registered for the online lecture. Can I choose to attend the in-person lecture instead?
Yes. Even with social distancing constraints, the in-person lecture room should hold dozens of extra students above the registration limit, so chances are good that there will be a seat available for you if you decide to attend the in-person lecture. Consult the Home page of this Canvas site to find the lecture room. (And you do not need to inform your TA if you switch lecture.)

I missed the live online or in-person lecture this week. Can I watch the lecture recording later?
Yes. All lecture recordings will be posted in the Modules section of this Canvas site, under the appropriate week. They are also available through the Kaltura Gallery section of this Canvas site. (You do not need to inform your TA if you miss lecture; just be sure to watch the recording later.)

I am experiencing a personal crisis or emergency, and won’t be able to attend discussion section this week. Can I get an excused absence?
Yes. Please email your TA to explain your situation and request an excused absence. Your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site. Your TA will ask you to post an extra reflection about the week’s readings and topics to your section’s threaded text Discussions board, but you will not lose points for missing section.

I missed a discussion section, but I did not receive an excused absence. Can I still make up the points?
Yes. Please go to the Assignments section of this Canvas site, scroll to the bottom, and complete one or more of the Make-Up Assignments. Each student may make up a total of ten points (10% of your final grade).

Assignments

I am trying to turn in my assignment by uploading it to Canvas but there is no “Submit” button on the assignment page. Help!
Try these steps:
(1) Make sure you are logged into Canvas under your UW NetID.
(2) Refresh the assignment page in your browser after you are logged in.
(3) Try a different browser if possible.
(4) If after trying all that you still can’t submit the assignment, please email your TA — there may be an error on the Canvas page that we need to fix. Your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site.

I am experiencing a personal crisis or emergency, and won’t be able to finish an assignment on time. Can I get an extension on the due date?
Yes. Please email your TA to explain your situation and request an extension on an assignment. Your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site. You will still need to complete the assignment, but you will not lose points for being late.

I neglected to turn in an assignment, and I did not receive an extension on the due date. Can I make up the points?
Yes. Please go to the Assignments section of this Canvas site, scroll to the bottom, and complete one or more of the Make-Up Assignments. Each student may make up a total of ten points (10% of your final grade).

I received a low grade on an assignment. Can I make up the points?
Yes. Please go to the Assignments section of this Canvas site, scroll to the bottom, and complete one or more of the Make-Up Assignments. Each student may make up a total of ten points (10% of your final grade).

I don’t agree with the grade I received on an assignment. Can I appeal an assignment grade?
Yes. Please discuss your grade with your TA first. Your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site. If you still have concerns after discussing your grade with your TA, you may appeal to the course professor. The professor’s email address is also on the Home page.

I don’t agree with the final course grade that I received. Can I appeal my final course grade?
Yes. Please discuss your grade with your TA first. Your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site. If you still have concerns after discussing your grade with your TA, you may appeal to the course professor. The professor’s email address is also on the Home page. If you still have concerns after discussing your grade with the course professor, you may appeal to the College of Letters and Science by following the instructions here. Decisions of the College are final.

Getting more help

I still have questions about career development that haven’t been answered in the course. Is there someone who can help me?
Yes. Visit SuccessWorks at successworks.wisc.edu and make an appointment with a career adviser. There are online appointments available.

I still have questions about key communication skills like researching, writing, and public speaking that haven’t been answered in the course. Is there someone who can help me?
Yes. Visit the Writing Center at writing.wisc.edu and make an apppointment with a writing tutor. There are online appointments available.

I would like to request a learning accommodation in this course. How do I do that?
First, make sure you have signed up with the McBurney Disability Resource Center at mcburney.wisc.edu to discuss your accommodations requests. Once you are connected with the McBurney Center, all of your course instructors will automatically receive a summary of the possible learning accommodations that are available for you to request at the start of each semester. Please email your TA to discuss specific accommodations for this course; your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site. We regularly make accommodations for flexible assignment deadlines, flexible course attendance, flexible testing environments, and accessible instructional materials.

I’m having serious difficulties this semester. Is there someone who can help me?
Yes. Please email your TA — we can connect you with campus experts who can help. Your TA’s email address is on the Home page of this Canvas site. You should also consider calling upon these UW resources for help: