Course Policies:

Homework:

· Homework is due week after it is assigned unless otherwise specified.

· Several problems will be assigned at the end of each section as stated in the syllabus. Additional problems may be also assigned.

· The objective of the homework is to train you to use the principles we covered in class. Please feel free to solve homework in groups or individually.

· Submit your assignments on 8.5” x 11” paper. Be sure to include your name at the top of the first page. Staple your pages together. Include the following information for each problem:

1. Most of the problems will require a sketch of the problem along with one or more Free Body Diagrams showing the applied loads along with the external and internal reactions.

2. Show your work completely. Please write down the equations you use to reach your solution.

· You will not receive credit for a correct answer if you have not shown the work.

· Homework is graded either one or zero based on how you attempt to solve the problem. You get a grade of zero if the grader thinks that you did not try to solve the problem. You get a grade of one if you try to solve the problem even if you did not get the right final answer.

· Solutions will be posted after we finish each chapter.

· You should expect the grader to justify why he/she does not agree with your solution. Simple check mark is not sufficient.  Please bring this issue, if it happens, to my attention.

· Try to review graded homework so you can understand your mistakes.

• Students are encouraged to attempt to solve more problems to improve the depth of their understanding of the material.

Exams:

· You will receive a notice of the exam time at least one week before it.

· Exams are closed book. You are however free to bring one sheet with formulas that you feel important. Please do not copy homework solution into it!

· The objective of exams is to test your understanding of the material covered so far. Therefore, please do not expect to see one of the homework problems, slightly masked, in the test. You should not also expect to see something totally new in an exam, as you will not have enough time to consider it.

· My experience tells me that your chance of passing an exam is greatly enhanced if you solve the homework assignments regularly.

Projects:

· To form team, we will be using Team-Maker software. Team-Maker collects information about you and your classmates to form teams according to specific criteria. For the best teaming experience, please answer each question completely and accurately. Your responses to the survey questions are confidential. The survey will help me understand the background of each student. Teams will be formed by matching students with complimentary expertise in various areas that are necessary for the project.

· Projects start with brief set of specifications followed by a lengthy discussion in class.

· Each group prepares a preliminary report, which includes all calculations and sketches explaining all the components of their design. Depending on your proficiency in CAD, you may want to start creating parts and assembly after you settle on a design.

· Preliminary report will be graded.

· After students receive the graded preliminary report, we will have another in-class discussion to address common mistakes.

· Each group will create a prototype of their project, typically using the rapid prototyping machine of the department. The prototype should be functional. Fits and tolerances should be considered to ensure that all parts fit together. Please check Appendix E of your ME 440 textbook for a discussion of fits and tolerances. You can also find this information on the Internet. Components should be sent in STL format for individual parts.

· Students prepare the final project that should be submitted at the specified deadline. The project should strictly follow the format specified at: http://www.me.unlv.edu/~mbt/440/Project_Format.html.

· The final project should address all the design concerns listed in the graded preliminary report.

· In addition to a hardcopy of the final project, please email me your assembly. I prefer to have it in the e-Drawing format for portability.

· Please have your project checked by the UNLV Writing Center http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/. It is your responsibility to schedule an appointment with them in advance to ensure that one of their staff is able to meet you. The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that your writing style meets the standards of proper English. Failure to go through this step will result in penalty.

· Each group will be given a time for a 5-minute presentation, followed by a 5-minute Q&A to sell their projects.

· Each student grades other team members as well as himself/herself. This year you will enter your evaluations in CATME (https://engineering.purdue.edu/CATME), which is a tool for managing the teamwork environment. The Team-Maker forms teams according to user-specified criteria. CATME gathers peer evaluation data and self-evaluations to assess how effectively each team member contributes to the team and gives feedback to team members and to the person administering the teams. I appreciate if you can evaluate your group. For each way of contributing to the team, rate each of your teammates (including yourself) by clicking on the button next to the list of behaviors that most closely describes how that team member behaved during the period being evaluated. Your goal is to answer each question as accurately as possible. Please complete the evaluation in private and do not discuss your answers with anyone else. Please remember that this survey is a part of your grade. You will have 24 hours to fill in the survey. This is a firm deadline. Any responses submitted after that date will be disregarded.

· Final project grade will be combination of preliminary report (30%), final report (40%), prototype (10%), presentation (10%), and self-evaluations (10%).

General Policies

Academic Misconduct – Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution.

An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at: http://studentconduct.unlv.edu/misconduct/policy.html.

Copyright – The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you

to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at: http://provost.unlv.edu/copyright/statements.html.

Disability Resource Center (DRC) – The UNLV Disability Resource Center (SSC-A 143, http://drc.unlv.edu/, 702-895-0866) provides resources for students with disabilities.  If you feel that you have a disability, please make an appointment with a Disabilities Specialist at the DRC to discuss what options may be available to you.

If you are registered with the UNLV Disability Resource Center, bring your Academic Accommodation Plan from the DRC to me during office hours so that we may work together to develop strategies for implementing the accommodations to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. Any information you provide is private and will be treated as such. To maintain the confidentiality of your request, please do not approach me before or after class to discuss your accommodation needs.

Religious Holidays Policy – Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor no later than the end of the first two weeks of classes, September 6, of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering the test or examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the university that could not reasonably been avoided. For additional information, please visit: http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php?catoid=4&navoid=164.

Incomplete Grades - The grade of “I” – Incomplete – can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed all course work up to the withdrawal date of that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the student’s control, and acceptable to the instructor, cannot complete the last part of the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. A student who receives an “I” is responsible for making up whatever work was lacking at the end of the semester. If course requirements are not completed within the time indicated, a grade of “F” will be recorded and the GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete do not register for the course but make individual arrangements with the instructor who assigned “I” grade.

Electronic Communications – Please refrain from any form of electronic communications (cell phone, laptops, I-Pad, etc.) during class. Failure to follow this may result in you being asked to leave the classroom.