Quizzes, Tests, and Final Exam

There will be two quizzes and two tests. There are no make-ups allowed on any assessment for any reason other than medical emergencies (which must be proven with a valid doctor's note). Tests are substituted for lower quiz grades and the final exam can be taken to improve (not replace) a test score.

The final exam for this course is optional and will take place during finals week. Grades earned on parts of the final exam will be averaged with grades on the corresponding test given during the semester. This gives students another opportunity to demonstrate competency with the material and possibly raise their test grade.

Rules for Quizzes and Tests

What is permitted:

• You may have exactly ONE browser tab open and that MUST point to the Blackboard page where you obtain the test data and where you submit your solution.
• You may have the program open (Excel, Access, SPSS) that you must use to construct your test solution.
• You may bring notes or other written material.

What is NOT permitted:

• You may NOT access online resources of any kind: previous homework, online tutorials, etc.
• You may NOT open any other internet resource such as e-mail.
• You may NOT e-mail your completed test to yourself or to anyone else.
• You may NOT open any program installed on the machine other than the browser to Blackboard and the program that you are using to construct your test solution.
• You may NOT use any digital device to bring information or data into or out of the lab.
• You may NOT use a cell phone or other communication device while in the lab.
• You may NOT talk to another student while in the lab. If you have a question about the test or a technical problem with your computer, speak to the instructor.

Testing Procedures

To create a fair testing environment for all students, the following test procedures are generally observed:

• Students are assigned to work stations or seats at random by the instructor
• Students may be moved to different work stations or seats at the discretion of the instructor
• Students may receive different assessments, tests, or work instructions
• Students may be asked to use a lock-down browser or to log into a specific user account with reduced network access privileges

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Syllabus Quiz

All students must take the syllabus quiz and earn a score of 100% in order to pass the course. The syllabus quiz does not count towards a student's grade. The quiz can be taken as often as needed to pass with a score of 100%. The quiz is administered through Blackboard.

Lecture Quizzes

Each lecture will end with a very short quiz. Lecture quizzes will count for 5% of the overall grade and the lowest score will be dropped. These will help you to assess the degree to which you understand the lecture content.

Grading

Tests will count for 50% of your overall grade, quizzes will count for 20%. Lecture quizzes count for 5% and the assigned labs will count for 25%.

There will be an Access test and a quiz, and an Excel test and a quiz. If you receive a higher grade on a test than you received for the quiz for the same topic, then your quiz grade will be raised to match the test grade. The quiz grade will never be lowered.

The final exam will consist of an Access part and an Excel part. You may take both parts, one part or neither part. If you take the Access part, it will be averaged with your Access test grade. If you take the Excel part, it will be averaged with your Excel test grade. In both cases, the test grade will be averaged with the final grade regardless of whether you did better or worse on the final. Taking a final may lower your corresponding test grade(s), so you should only take the final if you are not satisfied with your test grade(s) and believe you will do better on the final.

Late Submissions

20 percentage points will be deducted from assignments for each day that they are submitted late. Exceptions to this rule will only be granted for a valid medical excuse accompanied by a doctor's note. Any lab that is submitted more than four days past the due date will not receive any credit.

Grading Scale

Final grades will be awarded according to the scale below:

00 - 59 F
60 - 62 D-
63 - 66 D
67 - 69 D+
70 - 72 C-
73 - 76 C
77 - 79 C+
80 - 82 B-
83 - 86 B
87 - 89 B+
90 - 92 A-
93+ A