Recommended textbooks

There are no required textbooks for this course, but contents from the following texts will be used.

	Tiffany Timbers, Trevor Campbell, and Melissa Lee, Data Science: A First Introduction, Taylor and Francis, 2024.
	Joel Grus, Data Science from Scratch, O'Reilly, 2019

Grading philosophy and scale

This course is not curved in the traditional sense. I do not set a fixed class average (e.g., a "B") and scale grades to fit a predetermined distribution. Instead, I ask one fundamental question: “Has this student mastered the material?”

If every student demonstrates clear mastery of the course content, then every student earns an A. Grades are not a measure of relative ranking—they are a reflection of your personal understanding and engagement with the work.

I encourage you to shift your focus away from grade anxiety. Instead, concentrate on being present, asking questions, exploring ideas, and participating fully in the learning process. In return, I promise to be fair, transparent, and extra supportive. We are in this together, and I want each of you to succeed—not just by earning a grade, but by growing as scholars and professionals.

I am genuinely invested in your progress, and nothing would make me happier than seeing every student earn an A through honest work and intellectual curiosity.

The above said, final course grades will be determined by the total percentage of points earned. The following standard scale will be used:

• A (Excellent): 90–100%
• B (Good): 80–89%
• C (Satisfactory): 70–79%
• D (Poor): 60–69%
• F (Failing): Below 60%

Classroom engagement via

iClicker is an interactive classroom response system that allows students to engage actively by answering questions and participating in polls. The University of Kansas has secured an iClicker subscription for classroom use, and the EECS department is incorporating this system into its courses to boost student engagement. Participation in the iClicker community is mandatory for this course.

When an iClicker notification is sent, students are briefly polled to confirm receipt. If a student encounters a technical issue, they should raise their hand to be acknowledged and meet with the instructor immediately after class to manually adjust the iClicker record.

Responding to iClicker notifications when not physically present in the classroom is strictly prohibited. It constitutes a deliberate act of academic dishonesty and a direct violation of the University of Kansas code of conduct. Logging attendance or submitting responses while absent undermines the integrity of our learning environment and disrespects both the instructor and fellow students who are fully participating. Violations will result in a mandatory meeting with the EECS department chair to address the misconduct and its implications.

LLM and generative AI tools

Generative AI tools—such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Gemini , and others—can be valuable resources for learning. When used appropriately, they may assist in brainstorming, exploring ideas, and refining drafts. However, they must never replace your own intellectual work.

These tools are akin to the writing center consultants, the EECS programming tutors, and lab assistants: they can guide and support but must not generate final submissions. Submitting content primarily generated by AI is a violation of academic integrity, comparable to submitting work completed by someone else.

Unless explicitly permitted, all coursework must reflect your original understanding, reasoning, and expression. If you use AI tools at any stage of an assignment, you are required to disclose that use via a brief reflection, which must include:

• A description of how and why AI was used
• The specific prompts you entered
• How you validated and revised the AI output
• The challenges or limitations you faced while using AI

Failure to disclose use of AI tools or submitting AI-generated work as your own will be treated as academic misconduct. Minimum consequences include a zero on the assignment. Depending on severity, further penalties may include failure in the course and formal referral to the School of Engineering disciplinary committee.

This course is designed to build your skills—not evaluate the performance of generative tools. Authentic engagement with course challenges leads to meaningful growth. Overreliance on AI undermines both your learning and the integrity of our academic community.

Intellectual honesty is not optional—it defines your identity as an engineer, a scholar, and a professional.
.

Academic integrity policy

The University of Kansas, the School of Engineering, and the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS) maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward academic dishonesty and misconduct. All students enrolled in this course are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in their academic work.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism: Representing another person’s work, writing, or ideas—whether published, unpublished, or submitted by another student—as one’s own, without proper attribution.
• Unauthorized collaboration: Giving or receiving unapproved help on assignments, projects, quizzes, or exams.
• Misrepresentation: Knowingly presenting false information or misattributing the source of academic work.
• Cheating: Using unauthorized resources during assessments or submitting work completed by someone else.
• Falsification of research or data: Fabricating results, manipulating data, or misreporting findings.

The minimum consequence for an academic integrity violation is a zero on the item in question (e.g., lab, assignment, quiz, or exam). Depending on severity, penalties may include a grade reduction, a failing grade for the course, and formal referral to the School of Engineering's disciplinary committee for further review and sanctions.

All definitions and procedures follow institutional policy and guidance outlined by the University of Kansas Office of Student Affairs and the EECS Department. Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to these standards at all times.

Please also see KU's academic misconduct policy

LMS features. During exams or quizzes, only one device should be used, with solely the Canvas app or a single browser tab for Canvas open. Having any other app or file open will be considered a violation of academic integrity. To further facilitate academic integrity, the following features of Canvas will be utilized:

• Each exam and quiz will be conducted synchronously in classroom, will be scheduled on a regular weekly session.
• Each exam or quiz will have a limited and narrow time (set via a timer) to be completed and each person will get only one chance to do it.
• Exam and quiz questions will be randomly numbered for each person. Furthermore, the multiple choice, matching and similar questions will have randomized choice selections. As a result, a choice like "All of the above" or "None of the above" may not be the last choice and refers to the other choices.
• Exam and quiz questions will be displayed one-at-a time, with no backtracking.
• The "originality checking" mechanisms of LMS will be utilized for exams but also assignments. LMS is able to check written responses against online databases of previously published works and trace sentences or clauses to other sources.
• LMS features to prohibit printing, copying/pasting of exams will be turned on.
• LMS lockdown feature will be employed.

Code of student rights and responsibility: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities

The School of Engineering statement on EdTech

Keep in mind that when a person signs up to participate by either uploading, and/or downloading, and/or using posted material from these sites, the “terms of service” that are agreed to do not protect the person when KU and/or the School of Engineering decide to conduct investigations related to academic misconduct (e.g., plagiarism and/or cheating).

In fact, EdTech services, like Chegg, retain contact information of students who use their services and will release that information, which is traceable, upon request. Using these services constitutes academic misconduct, which is not tolerated in the School of Engineering. It violates Article 3r, Section 6 of its Rules & Regulations, and may lead to grades of F in compromised course(s), transcript citations of academic misconduct, and expulsion from the University of Kansas.

If unsure about assignments, it is important that students use the allowable available resources, such as instructor office hours, graduate teaching assistants, and/or tutoring. The School of Engineering wants students to be successful; cheating is not the way to attain that success."

Attendance, late work, and makeup policies

Attendance expectation. Regular attendance is essential for success in this course and its lab components. Attendance will be be recorded throughout the semester via iClicker. More than three unexcused absences will result in a one-letter reduction in the final course grade, which will be reflected when grades are posted at the end of the term.

Excused absence requests. Requests for excused absences must be submitted in advance and approved by the instructor, except in cases of emergency. Supporting documentation must be included with all requests. For emergencies, notify the instructor as soon as possible following the absence. Examples of excusable absences are listed below.

Examples of excusable absences.

Responsibility for missed work. Students who miss class without a valid excuse are responsible for obtaining missed materials. The instructor or the TAs will not provide individual makeup lectures or one-on-one instruction. It is the student's responsibility to stay informed about course content and course updates.

Late-work, makeup policy. Late work will not be accepted under any circumstances. Make-up options for labs, quizzes, and exams are unavailable except in cases of excused and verified absences.

Timing of make-up assessments. Make-up quizzes and exams for excused absences must be completed before the class session in which the quiz or exam content will be reviewed or its answer key released. Make-up labs, assignments, or homework must be completed within one week of the excused absence.

Make-up assessment integrity statement. If granted permission to take a quiz or exam at a later time due to an excused absence, the student must affirm the following: “I acknowledge that I have been granted the opportunity to complete this assessment as a result of an officially excused absence from its original administration. I hereby affirm that I have not sought, received, or accessed any information regarding the content, structure, or subject matter of this quiz or exam from any individual who previously completed it. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal conversations, written notes, online discussions, messaging apps, shared files, or any other form of communication. I understand that violating this pledge constitutes academic misconduct and will result in immediate disciplinary action, including a failing grade on the assessment and referral to the School of Engineering disciplinary committees.”

Common policies

Technical problems. If you experience technical problems with your EECS account or the EECS servers or the lab equipment, please submit a support request help at: https://tsc.ku.edu/request-support-engineering-tsc.

Inside classroom policy. Students are expected to come to the class on time, be attentive and engaged, conduct themselves professionally, and avoid anything that could cause a distraction or detrimental either for other students learning or for the instructor's presentations. Profanity and swearing is not allowed.

Students are expected to actively participate in all classroom presentations and discussions, ask questions, and regularly make contributions such as offering comments, responding with good answers, and providing feedback.

Canvas announcements. Announcements is a Canvas tool to post important information and updates to all members of a course. It is your responsibility to regularly check your Canvas account for such announcements (students may also receive an email notification when a new announcement is posted).

Email communications E-mail communication is fast, flexible, and effective. You have an @ku.edu email account and you are expected to regularly check it. Important information may also be communicated via email.

You are a student registered in a course offered by the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas, a top regional and a nationally ranked institution. Your communications, especially written communications (composition, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc), should reflect that status. Please include a descriptive subject in all emails, and for course-related communications, begin the subject line with EECS###. Please follow these email guidelines and etiquettes.

Send text-only emails in text-only format. All classroom assignments, labs, or projects should be typeset and submitted on Canvas. Other documents (e.g., documents for an excusable absence) shoud be emailed in PDF or a well-known image format (e.g., JPG or PNG). See the Guidelines for submitting electronic documents.

Grade and absence clarification or correction. If you believe your grades on an assignment, lab, quiz, or exam are incorrect, you should formally submit a grade appeal via email to the instructor within one week of receiving the graded work. Similarly, if you have an excusable absence, and you did not provide documentation prior to the absence, submit relevant documentation within one week of the absence. Failure to address concerns within these timeframes will result in the decision becoming final. This timeline ensures timely resolution and fairness for all parties involved.

Cell phone policy. Cell phones should be turned off before coming to the classroom. Cell phone use for the purposes of texting, email or other social media should be avoided. Earphones for music are OK during lab work or individualized problem solving, as long as the volume allows you to hear announcements. Also cell phone or other cameras may be used to photograph projects and the whiteboard but avoid shots that include the presenter or other students.

Laptop/electronic device policy. The use of laptops, tablets or similar devices is common for taking notes but turn off audio and avoid any possible uses that could cause distraction for others (e.g., Web surfing or social media visits).

Incomplete grade policy. "Incomplete (I) grades are used to note, temporarily, that students have been unable to complete a portion of the required course work during that semester due to circumstances beyond their control. Incomplete work must be completed and assigned an A-F or S/U grade within the time period prescribed by the course instructor. After one calendar year from the original grade due date, an Incomplete (I) grade will automatically convert to a grade of F or U, or the lapsed grade assigned by the course instructor."

Also please review change of grade policy here and here.

Accommodations for students with disabilities. The University of Kansas is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for special accommodations may be made thru the KU Student Access Services.

The Provost's freedom of expression statement . "Our IRISE values will guide us and our students as we all engage with each other in respectful freedom of expression.

In a setting as diverse as KU, we will inevitably encounter ideas, opinions and philosophies that are different than our own and which some personally find uncomfortable or offensive. To be clear, threats, incitement of violence and targeted harassment are not protected speech under the First Amendment. Offensive speech, although it can be painful, is generally considered protected speech. We need to strongly encourage and facilitate civil and respectful discussion and interaction. We simply must not inhibit or penalize expression protected by the First Amendment."

Please also see: The Provost's academic year welcome memo

KU's nondiscrimination, equal opportunity. "The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the University's programs and activities."

Please also see: KU's statement on nondiscrimination and on racial and ethnic harassment policy.

KU's sexual harassment policy. "The University of Kansas prohibits sexual harassment and is committed to preventing, correcting, and disciplining incidents of unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual assault."

Please also see KU's statement on sexual harassment.

KU's mandatory reporter statement. "The University of Kansas has decided that all employees, with few exceptions, are responsible employees or mandatory reporters who must report incidents of discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence that they learn of in their employment at KU to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. This includes faculty members. As such, if you share information about discrimination, harassment, or sexual violence with me, I will have to relay that information to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. I truly value your trust in me to share that information and I want to be upfront about my requirement as a mandatory reporter. If you are interested in contacting KU’s confidential resources (those who do not have to make disclosures to OCRTIX), there are: the Care Coordinator, Melissa Foree; CAPS therapists; Watkins Health Care Providers; and the Ombuds Office."

Please see KU's statement on mandatory reporting.

KU's commercial note-taking ventures. "Pursuant to the University of Kansas’ Policy on Commercial Note-Taking Ventures, commercial note-taking is not permitted in this course. Lecture notes and course materials may be taken for personal use, for the purpose of mastering the course material, and may not be sold to any person or entity in any form. Any student engaged in or contributing to the commercial exchange of notes or course materials will be subject to discipline, including academic misconduct charges, in accordance with University policy. Please note: note-taking provided by a student volunteer for a student with a disability, as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA, is not the same as commercial note-taking and is not covered under this policy."

Please see KU's statement on commercial note-taking.

Concealed handguns. "Individuals who choose to carry concealed handguns are solely responsible to do so in a safe and secure manner in strict conformity with state and federal laws and KU weapons policy. Safety measures outlined in the KU weapons policy specify that a concealed handgun:

• Must be under the constant control of the carrier.
• Must be out of view, concealed either on the body of the carrier, or backpack, purse, or bag that remains under the carriers custody and control.
• Must be in a holster that covers the trigger area and secures any external hammer in an un-cocked position.
• Must have the safety on, and have no round in the chamber."

Ethical foundations for technical professionals

The ACM's and IEEE's code of ethics. As IT and computing professionals and/or as engineers, you should be familiar with the ACM's (IT, computing) and IEEE (engineering) codes of ethics and apply them during your academic and professional careers. These are lifelong commitments to integrity and professional conduct.

We will review these during the first class session, but you are strongly encouraged to review these codes in detail:

• ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
• IEEE Code of Ethics

From the ACM's preamble: Computing professionals' actions change the world. To act responsibly, they should reflect upon the wider impacts of their work, consistently supporting the public good. The ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct ("the Code") expresses the conscience of the profession.

From the IEEE's preamble: We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree.