Fundamentals of Mathematics & Elementary Algebra

DMTH-D293
Fall 2009

Instructor: Leszek Kisielewski

Email: leskay@utdallas.edu
Phone: (972) 883-6737
Office: CN 1.206A
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 4:00-8:00pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION: (2 semester hours) A math course designed, foremost, to help

students meet the mathematics standards of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) and also, to help
students prepare for college level mathematics. The course offers students the opportunity to
develop proficiency in the fundamentals of mathematics and elements of algebra including the
real numbers, arithmetic operations, percents and proportions, algebraic expressions, equations,
and inequalities. The concepts of linear and quadratic relationships are covered. The course not
only emphasizes a proficiency in algebraic manipulations but also focuses on the relationship
between three areas: mathematical relationships as expressed in words, the corresponding
relationships as expressed in the language of algebra, and the graphical representations of those
relationships (in particular, the graphical representations on the rectangular coordinate plane).
Applications of arithmetic and algebra to basic geometry are also covered. This developmental
course cannot be used for degree credit. A passing grade in DMTH D293 does not make a
student TSI compliant. This course may have to be repeated in order to attain a level of ability
and knowledge required to become TSI compliant.

CLASS LOCATION: GEMS Center in the Conference Center and online. The GEMS Center
Lab hours of operation are:
Monday-Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm
Friday-Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm (math tutors not available Sunday)

CLASS TIME: DMTH D293 is a lecture free course. The class does not meet at any one
specified time. Class hours are available any time the GEMS Center Lab is open. Class hours are
considered the time spent in the GEMS Center Lab. Students are free to choose the class hours
spent in the GEMS Center Lab from the GEMS Center Lab’s hours of operation. Consultations
with the instructor can be held at any time the instructor is available throughout the week or
during office hours (Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm).
REQUIRED MATERIALS: ALEKS subscription for one semester, paper, and writing utensils.
ALEKS subscriptions are included with the course. Also, access to the internet with browser is
required but provided. The GEMS Center provides the resources and tutors to help you succeed
in the class.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Course objectives are directly listed in ALEKS as a list of topics to
be mastered. The list depends on the initial ALEKS assessment given at the beginning of the
term and on the progress of the student.

ATTENDANCE: In order to improve student learning and success at UT Dallas, attendance is

mandatory. Attendance is vital to your success in this course. Attendance entails the following:
• A minimum of 2.5 hours per week in the GEMS Math Lab (CN 1.206) working in
ALEKS. Assistance from GEMS Lab math tutors is available.
• A total of 5 hours per week logged in ALEKS (that is, at least 2.5 hours in the
GEMS Center Lab and at least an additional 2.5 hours logged in ALEKS outside
or inside the GEMS Center Lab)
• weekly consultation with the instructor

Failure to meet the attendance for any three, but not necessarily consecutive, weeks in the
semester will result in an F or withdrawal from UT Dallas.

If a student becomes TSI compliant mid-semester, the student may well choose to continue
working in ALEKS so as to prepare them better for college mathematics. Continuation in the
course is strongly suggested so as to help students prepare and achieve success in college level
mathematics. However, if a student wishes not to continue in the course after becoming TSI
compliant, the student MUST immediately consult the instructor.

Furthermore, if a student completes an ALEKS course before the end of the semester, but is still
not TSI compliant at that time, the student MUST proceed to the next level of ALEKS and
continue to adhere to the attendance policy.

COURSE GRADE: If the student adheres to the requirements of the attendance policy then
course grades are:
A –student completes 95 % of the ALEKS pie or receives 80% on end of term
assessment
B –student completes 90% of the ALEKS pie but receives less than 80% on the end
of the term assessment
C –student completes 85% of the ALEKS pie but receives less than 80% on the end
of the term assessment
D –student completes 80% of the ALEKS pie but receives less than 80% on the end
of the term assessment
 A student will earn a grade of F for the course if the student fails to comply with the
attendance policy for the course OR completes less than 80% of the ALEKS pie AND
receives less than 80% on the end of semester assessment.

END OF THE TERM ASSESSMENT: An ALEKS end-of-the-term proctored assessment will

be given in the GEMS Center Lab at a time determined by the student and instructor or at the
time indicated by the final exam schedule:
DMTH D293.002 2:00p.m. Thursday, December 10
DMTH D293.501 7:00p.m. Tuesday, December 15

PERIODIC ASSESSMENTS: ALEKS will automatically generate periodic assessments which

consist of 15 to 25 problems. These assessments are a measure of student progress and check
whether a student has truly mastered content indicated by the ALEKS pie. The instructor may
also schedule assessments for any student to be taken in a proctored environment at a specified
time. Based on these assessments, ALEKS may reintroduce topics that were previously thought
mastered. It is not to your benefit to cheat. This course does not count towards credit for a
degree, the grade is not used in calculating GPA, and a passing grade in the course does not
make a student TSI compliant. This course is meant to help students be TSI compliant and ready
for college level math courses.

NOTE: The course does not count as credit towards a degree nor is the student’s grade in this
class used in calculating GPA. However, the letter grade earned in this course does stay on the
student’s university transcript. Also, a passing grade in DMTH D293 does NOT make a student
TSI compliant. Questions regarding TSI compliance may be directed to the student’s program
Academic Advisor. A directory of advisors can be found on the UT Dallas website at:
http://www.utdallas.edu/dept/ugraddean/advstaff.html

NOTICE TO STUDENTS ABOUT E-MAIL: Your instructor may provide you with
information using ALEKS e-mail or your UT Dallas e-mail address. Notices sent to your e-mail
address will be considered as having been received by you on the date sent. It is your
responsibility to check your e-mail frequently.

CLASSSROOM CONDUCT: Students of this class will be using the GEMS Center’s lab
facilities located in CN 1.206. Policies for use of the GEMS Center Lab prohibit the presence of
food or drink in the lab. The use of cell phones or pagers is prohibited in the GEMS Center Lab.
Use of another student’s ALEKS code or allowing another student to use your ALEKS code is a
violation of the academic integrity policy at UT Dallas and is subject to all penalties involved.
Although held in a computer and tutoring lab, students are required to conduct themselves in the
same manner as in any other university classroom.
COMET CARDS: Students must present their Comet Card to the lab attendant when entering or
exiting the GEMS Center Lab. This process allows the instructor to keep track of the time
students spend in the GEMS Center Lab.

CALCULATOR POLICY: An on screen calculator is provided by ALEKS for certain

problems. Using students’ own personal calculators for ALEKS is barred as some problems are
designed to be completed without the use of a calculator.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Last day to register for ALEKS and
take initial assessment….………………….………Saturday, August 29
Last day to drop a class without a “W”…………………………Friday, Sept. 4
“Signature required” period to withdraw
from UG courses……………………….Tues., Sept. 8—Thurs., Oct. 22
Undergraduate course WP/WF
withdrawal period begins………………….…..Thursday, September 17
Last day to withdraw from an undergraduate
course with WP/WF…………………………..…Thursday, October 22
Final time to take end-of-term assessment
DMTH D293.002……………………………...Thursday, December 10
DMTH D293.501……………………………....Tuesday, December 15

Please Note: Enrollment in classes at UT Dallas may be contingent on enrollment in DMTH

D293 for some students. Therefore, withdrawing from DMTH D293 may cause a student to be
withdrawn from ALL their classes. Students should consult their academic advisor before
making any decisions about withdrawal.

Please be advised that this syllabus is subject to change.

Student Conduct and Discipline: The University of Texas System and The University of
Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business.
It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about
the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on
student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is
provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas
administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process.
Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The
University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student
Services and Activities of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these
rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff
members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602,
972/883-6391).

Email Use: The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time,
email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email
exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a
student's U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students
official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a
high degree of confidence in the identity of each individual corresponding and the security of the
transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used
in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at
U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other
accounts.

Academic Integrity: The university expects all students to maintain a high level of
responsibility with respect to academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree
depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is
imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic
work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's own work or
material that is not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially
from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general
catalog for details). This course has access to the resources of turnitin.com, which searches
the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

SECTION 49.36 SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY

(d) Cheating includes, but is not limited to

(1) copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files, data
listings, and/or programs or engaging in conduct that facilitates such conduct by another student.
(2) using during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
(3) failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test which would
include, but not be limited to, time restrictions, use of blue book, seating arrangements;
(4) collaborating with or seeking aid from or giving aid to another student during a test;
(5) knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part the
contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solutions, or computer program;
(6) substituting for another student, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself, to take a
test;
(7) soliciting another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an
unadministered test;
(8) discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take the examination;
(9) possession during a test of materials that are not authorized by the person giving the test, such as
class notes or specifically designed "crib notes." The presence of textbooks constitutes a
violation only if they have been specifically prohibited by the person administering the test.
 (10) submission of substantial portions of the same academic work for credit (including oral reports)
more than once without written authorization from the instructor.
(e) Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's
work and the submission or incorporation of that work in one's own written work offered for credit without
appropriate attribution.
(f) Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic
assignments offered for credit.
(g) Falsifying academic records means the altering of grades or other falsification (statements, acts or
omissions) of academic records including but not limited to the application for admission, grade reports, test papers,
registration materials, and reporting forms used by the registrar's office or other university offices.
(h) Falsifying data or experiments includes, but is not limited to, the submission of false findings and/or
the citation of false references in research or other assignments submitted for credit and/or for the awarding of a
degree.

Disability Services: The University of Texas at Dallas is on record as being committed to both
the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is
renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students

with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility
primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing
authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding
specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at:
www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/hcsvc.html. Please visit the office of Disability Services in
Student Union (1.610) or call at 972.883.2098 to obtain proper paperwork for this class.

Religious Holy Days: The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or
other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion
whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as
possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so
excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time
after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A
student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be
penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the
prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
 DMTH D293
Fall 2009

Sign if you agree to the rules and regulations outlined in the syllabus for DMTH
D293 for Fall 2009.

DATE___________________

NAME_________________________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE__________________________________