Behavior norms
Attendance - Any student who doesn’t attend all four sessions of the first two weeks will be dropped.
You will be dropped from this class after 4 absences (12 hours). There are no “excused” absences, unless you are deathly ill. You cannot make up hours missed in class. If you are a firefighter, police officer, or health care professional who is “on call”, please let me know. If you are going to be absent, it is always a good idea to let me know. Treat this like a job
If you choose not to continue in this course, do not assume you have been dropped. I may not drop you in time, in which case, you will receive an “F” for the course at the end of the semester.
Always make sure you confirm, and drop yourself, so you will get a “W” instead of an “F”.
Someday you may want to go to graduate school, and believe me, they frown on “D” and “F” grades on your transcript.
Being tardy two times in this course equals one absence.
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How this course works, expectations - This course will be conducted utilizing lectures, demonstrations, quizzes, critiques, and hands-on design projects.
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- It is mandatory that you attend each class session, both the lab and lecture. You are expected to arrive on time, and stay for the entire three hours. (I actually recommend that you get here at least 5 minutes before the start of class, because I take attendance as soon as class starts.)
- You are required to treat each other in a civil and respectful manner in this class. I am required by law to report behavior which may be considered sexual harassment.
- Do not talk while I am talking. This includes lectures, discussions, announcements and critiques. Disruptive talking is prohibited in this course.
- I like for the classroom to be quiet. If you are a chronic talker, and cannot be quiet in class, you might want to reconsider taking a class from me.
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Preparing for class
When there is a reading assignment, it is important that you do the reading before class, and be prepared for a discussion or quiz.
You must keep a sketchbook or blank book with notes, thumbnail sketches, ideas, and “doodles” for this class. This is a requirement and not a request. It counts as 10% of your grade. You should draw in this book every day.
Please leave your ego at the door as you enter the classroom. Ego is defined as: “an overly high opinion of oneself” (New Oxford American Dictionary).
This is a learning environment, and you will gain the most from this course if you are willing to accept advice and counsel from your professor and other students.
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Cell phones - This class is a “Cell Phone Free Zone.”
98% of my students will respect this rule. I cannot put into words how disrespectful and rude it is, for the 2% of you who insist on using your cell phone while you are in class. This infuriates every single professor I know, and it is a breach of the academic contract.
You will be asked to leave for the day if you use your cell phone during class in any manner. This will result in an absence for the session, and no credit for the day’s activities. Taking calls, making calls, and text messaging are all prohibited in the classroom.
If you are asked to leave for a second cell phone infraction, you will be excused from the class and the next class period, and will be required to meet with the Dean of Students before coming back to class.
There will be time before class, during the break, and after class to make calls, check your voicemail, outside of the building. If your phone rings in class, simply turn it off.
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Project information
I will create a web page for each project, with links for you to study. You are required to look at these links, as they may provide inspiration and additional information for your projects.
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I will be monitoring your computer usage with Apple Remote Desktop software. If I see you using the internet in an inappropriate manner, I will warn you, and tell you to get back to work. Continued misuse of the computer could result in lowering your class participation grade, or asking you to leave for the day, resulting in an absence. Your time on these computers should be spent working on your projects.
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The critique process
The critique process is an important tool for analytical assessment of the progress of your design projects. The process is very common to college-level art courses. We will generally have two critiques per project; a preliminary and a final. You must participate in each critique. Your final mounted project is due on the date of the final critique.
On critique day, everyone puts their project on the wall and we discuss the formal elements. We all participate every time. You are expected to be supportive, constructive, and positive as you make comments about your fellow students’ projects.
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10% Class participation (staying on task, answering discussion questions in class, participation in critiques)
10% Sketchbook
80% Design projects, midterm, quizzes
Grades are convertible to a point scale as follows:
A=100–90
B = 89–80
C = 79–70
D = 69–60
F = 59 or below
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Cheating and plagiarism
“The administration, faculty, and staff at Bakersfield College believe that students are entitled to the finest education that the college can make available to them.
At the same time, however, a student’s achievement and proficiency in subject matter must include the realization that there are standards of academic honesty which should prevail in all of one’s endeavors.
Accordingly, this realization further requires that each student exerts every effort to maintain these standards.”
Source: Regulations at California State University, Long Beach, General Catalog, 1990-1991, p. 56.,
Bakersfield College 2007-2008 course catalog, page 30.
Definition of plagiarism - Plagiarism is defined as the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons as if they were one’s own, without giving credit to the source.
Definition of cheating - Cheating is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain or aiding another to obtain academic credit for work by the use of any dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means.
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Theft of or damage to the property of the College, another student, or staff.
Use of personal portable sound amplification equipment and other electronic devices… in a manner that disturbs the privacy of other individuals and/or the instructional program of the College.
Dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarizing, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College and its officials.
The use, sale, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol or any other controlled substance prohibited by law, on campus or at any function sponsored or supervised by the College. (Applied chemistry is not tolerated.)
Smoking and/or the use of tobacco products inside all campus buildings and other unauthorized campus areas.
If you show up to class intoxicated, I will call the college police to deal with you, and I will file a report about the incident with the Dean of Students.
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Artwork styles not accepted
You will receive an “F” on any project using material which is not your original work. It is simply unethical. Absolutely no Japanese manga (anime) figures, comic book or graphic novel figures, cartoon characters, team or trademarked mascots or corporate logos. This course is not about stealing art, it is about creating original artwork.
At Bakersfield College, you may fail an assignment for copying. In the real world, you and/or your client or employer could be sued for copying someone else’s work.
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Keep it neutral
I strongly recommend that you keep your political and/or religious views out of your design work. You are starting a portfolio of work, that will be presented to unknown clients with unknown beliefs. Why risk offending a potential client?
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Malicious mischief
Modifying the computer system or the interface in any way is prohibited in this course.
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Mounting of projects
I encourage you to use non-toxic, cold mount adhesive (available in the bookstore or on Amazon.com). I will demonstrate how to use Letratac to mount your projects.
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Assigned seating
I reserve the right to assign seats in this course. If I assign seats, you must use the computer assigned to you. If I choose to exercise this option, it will be a rule and not a suggestion.
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One program open at a time - I suggest that you keep the minimum number of computer programs open at one time on your iMac, while you are working on your project. As you open more programs, the computer’s memory is split between programs, resulting in slower performance.
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Leave other students’ work alone - You share the “Workspace” file partition on your Macintosh hard-drive. Please do not disturb or delete files which are not yours.
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Helicopter Parents
Federal law prohibits professors from revealing any part of your participation in any college or university course with your parents or any family member. I can only discuss your grades with you. You should be discussing your grades with your parents.
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Safety and the lab
I want each of you to look around the lab, and identify the three exits from this room. In case of an emergency evacuation (for earthquake, fire, intruder, etc…) you may use any exit to leave the room.
If we experience a significant earthquake, seeking safety under your desk will probably be a good option.
I also want to mention that the ceiling tiles in this building have been known to fall. Even though they have been secured to the ceiling with drywall screws in the 2011/2012 academic year, hardhats are optional.
