Policies

Attendance and Participation

Active participation is an important part of this challenge-based course.

Students are expected to attend lectures, labs, discussions, project meetings, and other scheduled course activities.

Because substantial portions of the course involve hands-on work, collaboration, and interaction with instructors and stakeholders, regular participation is important for successful completion of the course.

If circumstances prevent you from participating in a scheduled activity, communicate with the instructor or course staff as early as possible.

Inclusive community

I grew up in a family in which diversity, equity, and inclusion were important parts of everyday life. These values continue to shape how I approach teaching and learning.

I aim to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives are well served by this course. I strive to address students’ learning needs in and outside the classroom and to view the diversity that students bring as a resource, strength, and benefit.

My goal is to present materials and activities that respect diversity and align with Cornell University’s core values.

Your suggestions are truly encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know how I can improve the course’s effectiveness for you personally or for other students and student groups.

I also aim to foster a learning environment that embraces diversity of thought, perspectives, and experiences and respects the identities of all members of the course community.

If experiences outside of class are affecting your performance, please feel free to speak with the instructor. Alternatively, your academic dean is a resource if you prefer to speak with someone outside the course.

Mental Health and Stress management

If you are feeling overwhelmed, or are worrying about a friend, please reach out to me, one of your instructors or your academic adviser.

We can try to help, or we can put you in touch with someone who can help. Cornell has trained counselors available to listen and help: Cornell Health’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS, 607-255-5155); [Student Support and Advocacy Services] (https://scl.cornell.edu/student-support); Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Service (EARS, 213 Willard Straight Hall, 607-255-3277), and Let’s Talk.

The Learning Strategies Center offers a range of academic resources.

Academic Integrity

Absolute integrity is expected of every Cornell student in all academic undertakings. Integrity entails a firm adherence to values grounded in honesty with respect to the intellectual efforts of oneself and others and in free and open inquiry and discussion.

Academic integrity applies to all academic work and interactions connected to the educational process, including the use of University resources and digital technologies.

A Cornell student’s submission of work for academic credit indicates that the work is the student’s own. All outside assistance should be appropriately acknowledged, and students are responsible for truthfully representing their academic work.

Students are expected to follow the Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity, including the version effective for Fall 2026.

Students should review the University’s Guidelines for Students and ask the instructor or teaching assistants whenever they are uncertain whether a particular activity is permitted. See also: https://undergrad.cornell.edu/students/academic-integrity/essential-guide-academic-integrity-undergraduate-students

Academic integrity expectations apply regardless of whether work is completed using traditional resources, online resources, programming tools, generative AI, or other technologies.

Each person in this class is expected to respect the principles of academic freedom for instructors and classmates and will maintain the privacy of the classroom environment, as outlined in Cornell’s S20 Commitment to Academic Integrity, Equitable Instruction, Trust, and Respect.

Responsible Use of Generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence and other generative tools are a useful part of this course and may be used as learning and development aids unless an assignment states otherwise.

Appropriate uses include learning concepts, brainstorming, programming assistance, debugging, exploring technical and data-analysis approaches, generating practice examples, improving student-written material, and learning to work with APIs, packages, models, and other technical tools.

Students remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, interpretation, security, and integrity of their submitted work and should understand and be able to explain anything they submit.

AI-generated code, analysis, calculations, citations, references, facts, claims, and technical explanations should be carefully reviewed and independently verified.

When AI materially contributes to submitted work, students should follow the assignment’s requirements for attribution and documentation. AI use does not override Cornell’s Code of Academic Integrity, and students should ask the instructor or teaching assistants when they are unsure whether a particular use is appropriate.

Privacy, Confidentiality, and Responsible Data Use

Students should be especially careful when using generative AI or other external tools with course and project data.

Confidential farmer information, personally identifiable information, proprietary datasets, credentials, passwords, private research data, and other sensitive information should not be uploaded to AI systems or external services unless the instructor has confirmed that the tool and use are appropriate.

Students are responsible for following applicable data-use agreements, project-specific data governance requirements, and appropriate security practices.

AI-assisted work should be tested, validated, documented, and critically evaluated, and teams remain responsible for their code, analysis, interpretation, sources, and conclusions. External and AI-generated sources, data, code, images, and other contributions should be appropriately acknowledged and verified.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who require accommodations should contact Student Disability Services (SDS) and provide the appropriate accommodation documentation as early as possible in the semester.

If you have an approved accommodation, please communicate with the instructor so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Student Disability Services can be contacted through Cornell’s SDS office.

Student Support

If you are experiencing difficulties that affect your ability to participate or succeed in the course, please communicate with the instructor or your academic adviser.

Cornell provides a range of academic, health, counseling, accessibility, and student-support resources. Students are encouraged to seek assistance early rather than waiting until difficulties become overwhelming.

Course Communication

The course websiteand Canvas will contain the most up-to-date information about course activities, assignments, project requirements, and schedule changes.

Course announcements and important changes may also be communicated by email.

Students are responsible for checking the course website and course communications regularly.