Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort

Spring 2023

INSTRUCTOR: Chavel St-Fort

EMAIL: [Link]@[Link]
OFFICE HOURS: T/TH 9:00am – 10:30am Wheatly 3rd floor 154-03
MEETING AND LOCATION: M/W/F 11:00am- 11:50am McCormack M01-0208

Text
TITLE: Intermediate Algebra
AUTHORS: Julie Miller/Molly O’Neil/Nancy Hyde
EDITION: 5th
It is important that purchase a copy of this text as we will follow it closely and use it for many homework
assignments. Daily class worksheet will be use to make the lecture easier to follow and generally
improve the in-class experience.

Course Description
Designed primarily but not exclusively for students seeking a stronger foundation in algebra before
taking MATH 129 or MATH 130. Topics include basic algebra concepts, linear equations and inequalities
and inequalities, properties of functions, linear and quadratic functions, absolute value equations and
inequalities, systems

Expectations
The purpose of this section is to present to you what the Mathematics Department must expect of
students in support of their success and the fundamental ways the Department expects instructors
to support your success. Please review the lists below and return to this section if you are
confused about improving your performance in your current math class. You may find these
expectations shocking, but it is the sober consensus of a large number of experts that success in
university-level mathematics courses is not possible unless students commit to the following:

 Attend all classes and take good notes.

 Spend 10–15 hours per week outside class reading, studying, doing homework, and
working on additional practice problems of your choosing until you have achieved
thorough mastery of concepts and high accuracy and fluency in computation. (This is not
a typographical error or a mistake. Mathematics is a unique subject that requires more
study and practice to achieve mastery than many other subjects. You would not expect to
master a musical instrument without considerable time spent practicing, and you should

1
 Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort
Spring 2023

think of Mathematics in much the same way. This subject is foundational to many other
subjects, especially in science and technology, and time spent achieving thorough
mastery will have a very high return on investment.)
 Thoroughly review lecture notes until knowledge gaps are filled.
 Work on problems outside of class and do more problems than assigned for homework,
again referring to the lecture notes when knowledge gaps arise.
 Please review the list of Measurable Outcomes for the course and take responsibility for
mastering all of them, utilizing all appropriate resources (lecture notes, homework and
other practice problems, textbook, etc.).
 Take responsibility for thorough mastery by asking questions in class and/or seeking
extra help whenever necessary.

In return, students should expect instructors to support their learning in the following ways:

 Communicate the objectives of the course.

 Distribute the syllabus and the Measurable Outcomes list.
 Communicate the due dates of homework assignments and the dates of exams.
 Return graded work promptly, generally within two weeks of its due date.
 Identify the study resources (textbook, tutoring, etc.) available to students and appropriate
for their use in this course.

Attendance
Perfect attendance is strongly recommended to keep current with the work. The attendance will be taken
with a sign-in sheet and the homework will be collected on due dates. In case of a transportation delay,
snow emergency, or a personal emergency keep in mind that it is better to come late than to miss entirely.
If you miss class without a written medical excuse, it is to be understood that you will receive a grade
zero for that day’s assignment unless you send it in with someone else. If you miss three classes in a row,
I will assume that you have dropped the course. Should an emergency arise, please communicate with me.

Homework
This course will use the online homework system, WebWorK, for the assignments. You can access the
WebWork assignments through the link provided in Blackboard. All HW sets are accessible now and due
at 11:59 pm ET on their due dates. I suggest starting each HW right after finishing the related lecture.
This is 15% of the final score.

Tests/ Final exam

2
 Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort
Spring 2023

This course has a final exam during the period May 15 - 19, 2023. The exact time of the final is
determined by the Registrar's Office, and will be posted on WISER around the middle of the semester.
No exceptions: final exam must be taken with the class.
Tests are now scheduled for Wednesday, February 15; Friday March 24; Monday, April 10; and Monday,
May 8. All dates are subject to change; make sure that you find out the exact date of each test.
No make-up test will be given. Missing a test will result in an automatic zero for that test. One test missed
will drop a course grade two (2) letter grades. For example, a B average with one test results in a course
grade of D. In the case of a valid written medical excuse there will be no penalty. If you anticipate
something and let me know a week before, I might be amenable to give you a substitute test before the
schedule date.
Show your work on all tests; otherwise, it is impossible to give partial credit if the final answer is wrong.

Grading
Your grading will be determined in the following manner

Homework 15%

Test 1 12%

Test 2 13%

Test 3 15%

Common Final exam 35%

Class Participation/Attendance/quizzes 10%

Total 100%

Umass Boston Grading System

3
 Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort
Spring 2023

Incomplete Grade
The grade of incomplete is rarely given in the Mathematics Department, and only in cases where a
student would otherwise pass has missed a small portion of the course because of unavoidable
circumstances. In that case the missed work must be made up according to a prearranged schedule,
agreeable to the instructor and student. Generally, that will require making up the work by the end of
the next term. Failure to adhere to the schedule will automatically change the grade of incomplete to F.

Calculator
Mostly we don’t use calculator in this class. We will occasionally use the following graphing tool in
class: [Link]

Tutoring and Review Sessions

4
 Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort
Spring 2023

Free tutoring should be available through the Tanimoto Center, at the Math Department. Go to the
front desk at Wheatley-03-154 for service. This help often helps to resolve difficulties in the course if it is
used early enough. A student doing D or F work must seek help immediately if he or she hopes to pass
the course. Most others are also likely to benefit and should not hesitate to get help. Review sessions for
the final exam will be offered during the study period, and special reviews will be scheduled for the
three tests.

Class Atmosphere/Behavior
An interactive, relaxed, and courteous atmosphere helps students achieve their full potential. Students
should behave in a professional manner by being timely in all that relates to the course including
arrival and departure from class and the submission of assignments. Students focus on the subject
matter and are mindful and respectful of the instructor and other students. Misconduct and
disruptive behavior are not acceptable. Social conversations, swearing, moving around or going in
and out of class or any other disruptions are not tolerated. Cell phones have to be silenced and put
away. No text messaging. In case of emergency (ex. sick child), notify the instructor and put cell
phone on vibrate mode. If problems arise, the professor could ask students to move to another
seat, turn a cell phone off or leave the classroom and meet with the professor during office hours. A
student who continues to disrupt the learning process will be referred to the Dean and may be
expelled from class. See the Student Handbook for policies and procedures.

Academic Honesty
It is the instructor’s intent to enforce the University policy on honesty. Copying from prohibited sources
including from other students during a test will result in a zero for both the person who copies and the
person who allows it. It also could result in an automatic F for the course or a more severe penalty.
Signing another’s name to the attendance list is improper conduct and will be dealt with harshly. We
shall have an implied code of honor. If you see another student cheating, let me know confidentially of
that fact. In the past, it has been through student vigilance that those who abuse the system have been
stopped. It is very unfair to the others for any student or students to cheat on final exams, tests, quizzes,
or homeworks and we shall not tolerate it. For homework assignments except for the two diagnostics,
students are encouraged to work together, and this shall not be a violation of the plagiarism rules.
However simply copying a homework paper from another student or from an answer sheet is a serious
infraction. The minimum penalty will be a grade of zero for all homeworks.

Disability Services
The Ross Center provides services for students with disabilities. It is in the campus center, on the upper
level, Room 211, telephone 617-287-7430. It can provide such things as extended times for tests, note
takers, adaptive computing. Any student with a documentable learning, physical, or mental disability
should be in touch with the Ross Center. They will set up a plan to provide accommodations to ensure
effective communication access and needed support services.

5
 Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort
Spring 2023

Complaints
All complaints about the course should be directed to the course instructor. If he cannot resolve it, the
next level is the Committee of the Lower Division in the Department of Mathematics. Do not start a
complaint with the Dean of the College or higher.

If issues arise regarding the design of this course or the conduct of the instructor, the proper complaint
procedure is to first make a good-faith effort to resolve the problem by speaking with the instructor. If
this fails, students may contact the Course Coordinator. If this also fails to resolve the problem, students
may contact the Director of the Lower Division, and if this too fails, the Chair of the Mathematics
Department. Current contact information for these individuals is given below:

• Course Coordinator: Mehdi Vazifedan ([Link]@[Link])

• Director of the Lower Division: Steven Jackson ([Link]@[Link])

• Department Chair: Alfred G. Noel ([Link]@[Link])

ADD/DROP
Students should check the academic calendar to confirm the add/drop deadline. Dropping and/or
adding courses is done online. Courses dropped in this period are removed from the student’s record.
Non-attendance does not constitute dropping a course. If a student has registered for a course and
subsequently withdraws or receives a failing grade in its prerequisite, the student must drop that
course. In some cases, the student will be dropped from that course by the Registrar. However, it is the
student’s responsibility to make sure that he or she meets the course prerequisites and to drop a course
if the student has not successfully completed the prerequisite. The student must see his or her academic
advisor or academic department chair for schedule revision and discuss the impact of the failed or
withdrawn course on the student’s degree status

General Comments
All students are encouraged to see me in my office. If posted office hours are inconvenient, I will gladly
try to arrange an appointment to meet on a class afternoon or evening at another time. I am also
generally available for appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Should you have a complaint or a suggestion, let me know privately. Many good ideas from students
could improve the course. Often, they come too late to benefit those taking it this term. I am always
open to comments or criticism and promise not to lower your grade if you have a complaint.
If you are absent, please make sure you still do the homework that is due at the next class. Don’t fall
behind. Being two days behind and doing well might result in a failing grade. Missing assignments just
means that you have more work to make up later.

6
Math 115-03 : College Algebra st-fort
Spring 2023