STAT 300 SPRING 2025 CLASS SYLLABUS

INTRO TO PROBABILITY & STATISTICS AMERICAN RI VER COLLEGE

FULLY ONLINE COURSE CODE 11845
PROFESSOR Aileen Halseth (Mrs. H) ONLINE OFFICE HOURS M/W Noon–1:30pm
OFFICE Howard Hall, Office #112 IN-PERSON OFFICE HOURS T/TH 12:40–1:40pm
(916) 484-8532 Outside of in-person hours, contact me via email
TUTORING click on ARC Tutoring Programs EMAIL [email protected]

Welcome to STAT 300! I look forward to spending the semester learning Statistics with you. You will probably
experience a wide range of emotions while learning Statistics—amazement with how easy some concepts and
problems are to understand, but also equally surprised by how time-consuming other concepts and problems
are to work through and solve. This is normal, please be patient with your learning and take the initiative and
responsibility to successfully master course concepts. Success in a Statistics course takes a lot of self-discipline
– make sure to set aside time in your everyday schedule to work on the material. Please expect to spend
about 12 hours or more every week working on Statistics. If you have questions or are struggling, let me
know ASAP. I will help you to the best of my ability. Learning can take time; so be patient, be persistent,
maintain a positive attitude, and have fun. If you commit to putting in the time and hard work, I know you can
succeed!

Prerequisite: Through the Los Rios Placement Process, or High School Algebra 2, or Integrated Math 3, or
Intermediate Algebra.

Required Materials:
• Access to a reliable computer with a reliable, high-speed internet connection.
• Pearson/MyLab: You will need to purchase the 18-week student access kit for MyLab online directly
from MyLab when you set up your account, or from the ARC bookstore so that you can get started on
your assignments. Details: MyLab Statistics with Pearson e-Text, 18-Week Standalone Access Card, for
Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World, 8th Edition, 9780137493227. Directions for setting up your
account are on page 5 of this syllabus. If you are waiting for funds, or are on the waitlist, a 14-day
free trial is also available.
• Calculator: We will be using a computer program called StatCrunch, that is included in your MyLab
access, to do most of the calculations, but a scientific or graphing calculator can still be helpful. If you
have a smart phone, the free “Calculate84” app works great. Otherwise, I recommend, using a TI-84
Plus Graphing Calculator (or similar model), or the TI-30XIIS Scientific Calculator, but any scientific
calculator should work. The ARC Library has TI-84 calculators available for checkout: for more info go
to: https://answers.library.losrios.edu/arc/faq/285981.
• Canvas: Students must log into Canvas to access all course assignments. I recommend having the
Canvas app on your smart phone.
• Complete the Orientation Module by 11:59pm, Thursday, 1/23/25, with scores of 100%. The
Orientation Module for this class is mandatory for all students. Students not completing the
Orientation Module with scores of 100% by the due date will be dropped from the class. Dropped
students will not be reinstated. Students wanting to add the class must complete the orientation
assignments by the due date before being given permission to add the class. The Orientation Module
consists of two online assignments: the Syllabus Orientation and the MyLab Orientation. If you have
trouble accessing either of the two assignments listed above, email me ASAP to avoid getting dropped.
• Optional Materials: You may wish to have some graph paper, a ruler, and colored pencils. The
textbook, Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World, 8th Edition, by Ron Larson, is optional and not
necessary since you already have access to the textbook via the E-Text as part of your MyLab
subscription.
Communication: Please check your Canvas account, Canvas Announcements, and email (both your Los Rios
Gmail and your Canvas email) everyday is best, but at least 3 times per week! I will be posting
Announcements in Canvas and emailing you throughout the semester with reminders about due dates, helpful
tips, resources to aid in learning the material, …, etc. To ensure you receive an email every time I post a new
announcement, please go to your account settings in Canvas and make sure the Notifications for
Announcements is set to “Immediately”. Also, if you get stuck and need some help, please don’t hesitate to
email me. When emailing me be sure to include the words “Online Stat” and your full name in the subject
line of the email. I will get back to you within 24 hours during the week, weekends and holidays may take a
little longer.
Active Participation: An online class allows some flexibility as to when you choose to complete the required
assignments. However, community college funding from the State of California is based upon student
enrollment, and it is my responsibility to verify that the class roster reflects only students who are “active” in
the course. The way I take attendance, is by making sure that you are an “active” participant in the course—
this means that you are watching the required videos, completing the Assignments, Quizzes, Exams, and
Discussion Posts on a regular basis. Students should expect to spend about 12 hours or more every week
working on the STAT 300 coursework. Students who have not worked on their assignments for 10 or more
days can be dropped by the instructor as “inactive.” Also, it is your responsibility to notify me as soon as
possible if you are experiencing any challenges with the course, and/or to drop the course if you feel you can
no longer participate.
Drop Policy: Students may be dropped from the class for any of the following reasons:
• Failing to complete the two-assignment orientation, with scores of 100%, by 11:59pm, Thursday,
1/23/25.
• Failing to take and complete the Midterm Exam by 11:59pm, Sunday, Mar 30, 2025.
• Failing to work on the class assignments for 10 or more days.
Your Grade—is based on the percentage of points earned out of the total possible of 1000 points. All
coursework is incorporated into weekly modules and submitted online. Coursework due dates are listed in
both the Class Calendar and the modules. The coursework is split into weekly modules that are usually due by
11:59pm on Sunday of each week.
Each of the below categories counts for the specified number of points:
Assignments: (200 pts) Most assignments are 4-points each. Please follow the calendar included on pages 7-
9 of this syllabus to help you keep track of what you are expected to complete each week. Pace yourself so
that you can fully complete all of the assignments due each week. I recommend working on your
assignments every day, but if that is not possible, at least 3-days per week. Problems completed after the
due date will be marked down 10% for each day they are late. We will cover lots of material very quickly, so
it’s easy to fall behind. Please stay organized and dedicate time in your daily schedule to consistently work on
the material. There are no extra-credit assignments for this course.
Video Lessons: For every assignment section, there is a 1-point video lesson. Watching the videos counts as
part of your Assignment grade. You must watch the section video(s) before you can access the matching
section assignment. You can watch the videos at your own pace: pause, fast-forward, rewind, and re-watch as
needed. As you watch the videos, please use the provided blank notes posted in the Canvas Modules to take
your own notes. You can download notes to a tablet and use an app like “notability” to take electronic notes,
or print the notes, or pick up a printed notepacket from campus and handwrite your own notes onto the
printout. Please keep your notes in an organized electronic file or notebook. After you watch and understand
the required video(s), start the corresponding section assignment. This course is structured so that video
lessons can be accessed at any time according to your schedule, so long as you adhere to the weekly due
dates. There are NO synchronous (at the same time) live entire class zoom meetings. My communication
with my students is primarily through direct email, the “Ask my instructor” feature, the Canvas
Announcements, and the Canvas Homepage for this course.
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Completing Assignments: I highly recommend completing your assignments using your own paper in an
organized binder. Once you complete a problem on paper, enter the answer into your computer in the space
provided and click Check Answer. If the answer is wrong, you can try again, and again for a third time. You
get three attempts at each problem before it is scored incorrect (exceptions to this are multiple choice and
true/false questions, in which you may only get one or two attempts). If a problem is marked incorrect, a
Similar question box will appear. Click this box, and you’ll get a new problem to try. If you get this new
problem correct, then you will get credit for the original problem.
Getting help with the Assignments: When you get stuck, try the following options:
• Re-watch the video(s) for that section and take more notes as you are watching. Also, refer to the
completed notes (posted in the coursework modules), to find an example problem similar to the
problem that you are stuck on.
• Click on View an example. This feature will walk you through solving an example problem that is
similar to the problem you are working on.
• Click on Help me solve this. This feature will walk you through solving the actual problem you are
working on. If you use this feature, you will need to successfully complete a “similar exercise” in order
to get credit for the problem.
• Click on Get more help, to select a variety of extra help resources including Ask my instructor. Using
Ask my instructor is the best way to send me a question, since it will send me a direct email with a link
to your specific problem and also allows me to see what answer you typed in. Please specify in the
email what part of the problem is giving you trouble. I usually respond to emails within 24 hours
during the week, weekends and holidays may take me a bit longer. If you don’t get a reply email from
me within 24 hours, please email me through Canvas – sometimes there can be issues with the Ask
My Instructor feature. You always welcome to email me directly with other types of questions that
are not problem specific.
• Try using some of the additional resources included in your MyLab subscription. Click on "Access
Pearson" from the Canvas main menu, next click on the yellow tab "Open Pearson”, and then click on
“Open MyLab & Mastering". Use the menu on the left side of the page to access: the Student
Gradebook, StatCrunch, the e-Text/chapter contents, and the Video & Resource Multimedia Library.
• Search the internet for other math videos: Khan Academy is a great resource.
• Use the in-person or online tutoring available through the college. For more information go to:
ARC Tutoring Programs
• Explore the programs available at ARC. A good place to start is the ARC Student Services webpage:
https://arc.losrios.edu/student-resources
Quizzes: (150 pts) There is a 15-point online quiz for each of the 10 Chapters covered in the class. Quizzes
completed after the due date will be marked down 10% per day late. Details about completing quizzes:
• You must complete the entire quiz before the answers can be checked. After the first attempt on a
quiz, you can go to the MyLab Student Gradebook to review your attempt. To improve your score, you
must retake the entire quiz.
• You have unlimited attempts on each quiz, but you must retake the entire quiz on each attempt. Only
your highest score will count towards your grade.
• The “View an example”, the “Help me solve this”, and the “Get more help” tabs are not available when
you are working on a quiz.
• There is no time limit for quizzes. Take each quiz on or before the due date, complete each quiz in one
session, and complete each quiz on your own. Set aside extra time to complete quizzes, since they are
more challenging and time-consuming to complete than the regular assignments.
• The Chapter Quizzes provide a format that is most like the format on the Midterm and Final Exam. This
means reviewing the quizzes, taking the quizzes as if they are exams, are great ways to study for
exams.
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Canvas Discussion Posts: (50 pts) There are five online Discussion Posts in Canvas, worth 10 points each.

Midterm and Final Exam: (300 Pts Each) There are two online exams: one Midterm Exam and one Final Exam
that you are required to complete on your own.

• MIDTERM EXAM (Ch 1-5) Due by 11:59pm, Sunday, Mar 30, 2025. Available at 6am, Friday, 3/28.
• FINAL EXAM (Ch 6-10) Due by 11:59pm, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Available at 6am, Friday, 5/16.

If there are any conflicts with these dates, please contact me to make other arrangements before the exam.

Details for Exams:

• Exams are completed online. It is expected that you complete the exam on your own without help
from others. Evidence of receiving outside help, using websites other than Canvas and Pearson
(Pearson includes MyLab and StatCrunch), or collaborating with other students during an exam will
result in a zero on the exam.
• Exams are open book, open notes, open StatCrunch, and calculators are allowed.
• You will have 3 hours to complete exams.
• Although I will leave the exam open for approximately a 2.5-day period, you must complete the exam
in one, single, 3-hour session.
• No make-up exams will be given without valid written documentation (such as a medical emergency)
AND you MUST contact me BEFORE the exam.
• Missed exams receive 0-points and missing the midterm will result in being dropped from the class.

Academic Honesty: Please don’t cheat. You can learn statistics and be proud of your accomplishment!
Some examples of cheating:
• Submitting work that is not your own (for example, having someone else do your homework.)
• Receiving help from another person or from an unapproved online resource during an exam.
• Working together with another student in the class during an exam.
What happens if I do something that is considered cheating?
• You will be given 0% for that assignment/quiz/exam. This score cannot be replaced.
• You may be referred to the Area Dean for academic discipline.

How to check your grade: Anytime throughout the semester, you can check your current grade in the class
using the Canvas or MyLab Gradebook. Please be aware that I will typically update the MyLab gradebook
every Monday. To check your grade in Pearson/MyLab:
• From Canvas click on "Access Pearson" from the menu on the left-side of the window, next click on
"Open Pearson", and then click on “Open MyLab & Mastering”.
• Next click on the “Student Gradebook” from the menu on the left-side of the window
• Click on “Overall Score”. The percent shown inside of the circle is your overall percent in STAT 300.
• Click on the blue writing: “Calculation” to see how your overall grade is calculated.
• Letter Grades are assigned based on your overall grade percentage:
89.45 - 100% A
79.45 - 89.44% B
69.45 - 79.44% C
59.45 - 69.44% D
0.0 - 59.44% F

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You will need to have access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection on a regular basis. You may
encounter technical difficulties with your computer and/or internet connection which will require you to do some
problem solving outside of the subject itself. This is to be expected! The internet connection may go down, the
Canvas or MyLab system might crash, etc... To avoid the stress of technical problems:
Do not wait until the last minute to begin your online assignments!

HOW TO SET UP YOUR MYLAB ACCOUNT and start WORKING on your assignments:
1. Watch this Video showing how to get started with Pearson/MyLab & Mastering:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMhGvVUR6rw
2. Get started creating/accessing your account: Go to the ARC homepage: https://arc.losrios.edu/
3. Click on Student Login and sign in to Canvas and click on your STAT 300 Canvas course.
4. Select Access Pearson in Course Navigation—the menu located on the left of the page, next click on
Open Pearson, and then click on Open MyLab & Mastering.
5. Create a Pearson account (or use a previously created account)
• If you have not used MyLab or Pearson before then click on Create an account. Follow the
directions to create your account, be sure to document your username and password as you
will need this info.
• If you have used MyLab or Pearson before then link your student Canvas and Pearson accounts
by entering in your Pearson username and password.
6. When prompted select how you want to pay for your online access to the course materials:
• If you have NOT purchased online access yet, then:
o Use a credit card or PayPal to purchase access directly from Pearson by selecting
the Single-term access for $99.99, one time fee, Or....
o If you can’t pay right now or are on Financial Aid, then click the link on the left-side of the
page: Get temporary access without payment for 14-days. If you select this option, you
MUST pay to upgrade your MyLab subscription to a paid account before your free 14-day
trial expires.
• If you already purchased the access kit from the bookstore (the bookstore charges $133.50) or
from another source: click on Access Code on the left-side of the page and enter the access code
that came with your purchased access kit.
• Next, Select Go to my course. If this link doesn’t work, please clear your web browser history,
restart your computer, and enter our course from Canvas.
7. Click on Modules, go to the Orientation Coursework Module, click on an assignment to get started. So
long as you complete everything listed in the Modules, you will not miss any assignments for this
class.
Some helpful suggestions for the most common technical issues with Canvas or MyLab:
• Do not use a phone or tablet, use an actual computer—either a desktop or a laptop. Use Google Chrome or
Firefox as your Web-browser
• Make sure your browser (Google Chrome or Firefox) is updated and run the suggested browser check:
https://support.pearson.com/getsupport/. Clear your web browser history for all time (including cookies etc...)
and make sure you are allowing pop-ups.
• Occasionally Canvas will "time-out" for some reason. If this happens, exit out, close all your windows, shut
down and restart your computer, and then log back in. If MyLab is taking a while to load, be patient--don't click
on anything else while it's loading.
• The Pearson support link for common issues: https://support.pearson.com/getsupport/.
• To contact a customer support agent: https://support.pearson.com/getsupport/s/contactsupport.
• Please be aware that when the Canvas and/or MyLab systems are down, instructors do not have any special way
to gain access. If Canvas/MyLab is not working for the students, it isn’t working for the instructors either.

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STAT 300 Course Description: This course is an introduction to probability and statistics. Topics include
elementary principles and applications of descriptive statistics, counting principles, elementary probability
principles, probability distributions, estimation of parameters, hypothesis testing, linear regression and
correlation, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Applications use data from various disciplines including
business, social sciences, psychology, life and health sciences, and education. Statistical analysis using a
computer statistics package or graphing calculator is required.

STAT 300 Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
• identify methods of obtaining data and related advantages and disadvantages of each.
• distinguish between types of data as well as their different scales of measurement and corresponding
implications.
• organize and display data appropriately using tables and graphs.
• analyze data by computing measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, and measures of
position.
• analyze bivariate data for linear trends using the least-squares regression model and the correlation
coefficient.
• distinguish between probability models appropriate to different chance events and calculate
probability according to these methods.
• analyze both discrete and continuous probability distributions, including binomial probability, normal
distributions, and t-distributions by examining and interpreting areas under the graph of a histogram
or a normal curve.
• apply inferential statistical methods to compare population parameters, make predictions, and draw
conclusions about hypotheses.
• select the appropriate hypothesis test, perform the necessary computations and comparisons for the
test (including significance of p-values and type I/II errors), and explain the conclusion of the test.
• test the significance of correlation and make predictions based on linear trends using the least-squares
regression model.
• create and interpret confidence interval estimates for population parameters based on appropriate
probability models.
• analyze and interpret applications using data from various disciplines including business, social
sciences, psychology, life sciences, health science, and education.
• use statistical software or graphing calculator to calculate single-variable and two-variable statistics
and analyze the results.

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 STAT 300 Online: SPRING 2025 CALENDAR
Orientation
1) Complete the Syllabus Orientation, redo the assignment until you score 100%
Due by 11:59pm,
2) Complete the MyLab Orientation, redo problems as necessary to score 100%
Thursday, Jan 23
1) Watch Video(s) for 1.1: An Overview of Statistics
Week 1 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 1.1
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 1.3: Data Collection and Experimental Design
Sunday, Jan 26 4) Complete Assignment 1.3
5) Complete the Chapter 1 Quiz
1) Watch Video(s) for 2.1: Frequency Distributions and Their Graphs
Week 2 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 2.1
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 2.2: More Graphs and Displays
Sunday, Feb 2 4) Complete Assignment 2.2
5) Discussion Post 1: Introductions
1) Watch Video(s) for 2.3: Measures of Central Tendency
Week 3 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 2.3
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 2.4: Measures of Variation
Sunday, Feb 9 4) Complete Assignment 2.4
5) Watch Video(s) for 2.5: Measure of Position
6) Complete Assignment 2.5: Measure of Position
1) Watch StatCrunch Video(s)
Week 4 Coursework 2) Complete the StatCrunch Assignment
Due by 11:59pm, --Be sure to use StatCrunch to complete the above assignment
Sunday, Feb 16 3) Complete the Chapter 2 Quiz
4) Watch Video(s) for 3.1: Basic Concepts of Probability and Counting
5) Complete Assignment 3.1
1) Watch Video(s) for 3.2: Conditional Probability and the Multiplication Rule
2) Complete Assignment 3.2
Week 5 Coursework 3) Watch Video(s) for 3.3: The Addition Rule
Due by 11:59pm, 4) Complete Assignment 3.3
Sunday, Feb 23 5) Watch Video(s) for 3.4: Additional Topics in Probability and Counting
6) Complete Assignment 3.4
7) Complete the Chapter 3 Quiz
1) Watch Video(s) for 4.1: Probability Distributions
2) Complete Assignment 4.1: Probability Distributions
Week 6 Coursework 3) Watch Video(s) for 4.2: Binomial Distributions
Due by 11:59pm, 4) Complete Assignment 4.2: Binomial Distributions
Sunday, Mar 2 5) Complete the Chapter 4 Quiz
6) Discussion Post 2: Probability—Prediction by the Numbers

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 STAT 300 Online: SPRING 2025 CALENDAR

1) Watch Video(s) for 5.1: Intro to Normal Distributions

Week 7 Coursework
2) Complete Assignment 5.1: Intro to Normal Distributions
Due by 11:59pm,
3) Watch Video(s) for 5.2: Normal Distributions: Finding Probabilities
Sunday, Mar 9
4) Complete Assignment 5.2: Normal Distributions: Finding Probabilities

1) Watch Video(s) for 5.3: Normal Distributions: Finding Values

Week 8 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 5.3: Normal Distributions: Finding Values
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 5.4: Sampling Distributions and the Central Limit Theorem
Sunday, Mar 16 4) Complete Assignment 5.4: Sampling Distributions & the Central Limit Theorem
5) Complete the Chapter 5 Quiz
Spring Break March 17 through March 23

Week 9 Coursework • The Practice Midtermth

and the Midterm EXAM are both due by 11:59pm,
Practice Midterm and Sunday, March 30 .
Midterm EXAM • The Midterm Exam will be available starting at 6:00am, Friday, Mar 28th.
Due by 11:59pm, It will remain open until 11:59pm, Sunday, 3/30.
Sunday, Mar 30 Please start the Midterm Exam by no later than 8:59pm, Sunday, Mar 30th.
• Midterm Exam must be completed in 1, single, 3-hr session—1 attempt only!
1) Watch Video(s) for 6.1: Confidence Intervals for the Mean (sigma known)
2) Complete Assignment 6.1
Week 10 Coursework 3) Watch Video(s) for 6.2: Confidence Intervals for the Mean (sigma unknown)
Due by 11:59pm, 4) Complete Assignment 6.2
Sunday, Apr 6 5) Watch Video(s) for 6.3: Confidence Intervals for the Proportions
6) Complete Assignment 6.3
7) Complete the Chapter 6 Quiz
8) Discussion Post 3: Midterm Exam Self-Assessment
1) Watch Video(s) for 7.1: Introduction to Hypothesis Testing
Week 11 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 7.1
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 7.2: Hypothesis Testing for the Mean (sigma known)
Sunday, Apr 13 4) Complete Assignment 7.2
5) Watch Video(s) for 7.3: Hypothesis Testing for the Mean (sigma unknown)
6) Complete Assignment 7.3
1) Watch Video(s) for 7.4: Hypothesis Testing for Proportions
2) Complete Assignment 7.4
3) Complete the Chapter 7 Quiz
Week 12 Coursework 4) Watch Video(s) for 8.1: Testing the Difference Between Means,
Due by 11:59pm, Independent samples, sigma 1 and sigma 2 known
Sunday, Apr 20 5) Complete Assignment 8.1
6) Watch Video(s) for 8.2: Testing the Difference Between Means,
Independent samples, sigma 1 and sigma 2 Unknown
7) Complete Assignment 8.2

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 STAT 300 Online: SPRING 2025 CALENDAR

1) Watch Video(s) for 8.3: Testing the Difference Between Means,

Dependent Samples – Before and After Studies
2) Complete Assignment 8.3
Week 13 Coursework 3) Watch Video(s) for 8.4: Testing the Difference Between Proportions
Due by 11:59pm, 4) Complete Assignment 8.4
Sunday, Apr 27 5) Complete the Chapter 8 Quiz
6) Discussion Post 4: Hypothesis Testing--MythBusters vs. Statistics!
7) Watch Video(s) for 9.1: Correlation
8) Complete Assignment 9.1
1) Watch Video(s) for 9.2: Linear Regression
Week 14 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 9.2
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 9.3: Measures of Regression
Sunday, May 4 4) Complete Assignment 9.3
5) Complete the Chapter 9 Quiz
1) Watch Video(s) for 10.1: Goodness-of-Fit Test
Week 15 Coursework 2) Complete Assignment 10.1
Due by 11:59pm, 3) Watch Video(s) for 10.4: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Sunday, May 11 4) Complete Assignment 10.4
5) Complete the Chapter 10 Quiz
6) Discussion Post 5: Final Reflections
• The Practice Final and the Final EXAM are both due by 11:59pm, Sunday,
May 18th.
th
Week 16 Coursework • The Final Exam will be available starting at 6:00am, Friday, May 16 .
It will remain open until 11:59pm, Sunday, 5/18.
Practice Final and
Please start the Final Exam by no later than 8:59pm, Sunday, 5/18.
Final Exam
Final Exam must be completed in one, single, 3-hr session—1 attempt only!
Due by 11:59pm,
• Any and all assignments for this class must be submitted by no later than
Sunday, May 18
11:59pm, Sunday, 5/18.
*End of Class*