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    [03/25/20 3pm]  Last Day to Drop with Grade of W - Deadline Extended
The last day to drop a course with a grade of "W" on your own (via Pipeline)
has been pushed back to Friday, April 10th, for full-term MTSU and TN eCampus
classes.  Previously this deadline was March 29th, so this allows additional
time to drop classes with a grade of "W" before instructor and department
permission is required.

If you have questions about how dropping will impact your financial aid,
please email the MT One Stop at mtonestop@mtsu.edu.  We are past the point
of any tuition adjustments for dropping courses, but dropping could cause
you to owe a balance if you have financial aid. The date you may withdraw
and earn 100% of your financial aid for full-term classes is now March 31st,
assuming you have been attending classes all semester.  Also email the
MT One Stop if you need to withdraw from a class or classes but a hold
for advising or a balance owed is preventing you from doing so.  Include
the class(es) you are attempting to drop so we may assist in that process

For more information: https://pipeline.mtsu.edu/custom/announcements/686

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    [03/22/20 4pm]  ITD's equipment checkout program

If you need it, MTSU's Information Technology Division (ITD) has laptops,
and Wi-Fi hotspots available to loan to students. While the University will
cover the cost of the hotspot access fees, it is expected that students will
return the equipment in good condition once the University returns to normal
operations.  Students should contact ITD’s Robin Jones (Robin.Jones@mtsu.edu
or 615-898-2214) to secure equipment.
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    [03/20/20 5pm]  Remote Delivery - the way forward this semester

CSCI 1170/2170 folks,

First, let me repeat that nothing was due this "extended break" week,
so none of the OLAs are late.

Instruction going forward will be fluid---a fancy way of saying
it might change on short notice.  Because of this I'm asking you
all to check your MTMAIL emails at least twice a day, once about
an hour prior to your scheduled lecture time and again sometime
after 6pm.

Here's the current plans:

What you'll need/use:
   Everything will be done over the internet.  You will need a
decent internet connection.  If you've been successful in
connecting to ranger remotely in the past you'll be fine.

   You do not need a webcam.  You will need audio output (the
speakers on most computers are just fine) and ideally a microphone
(again, the one on most laptops is just fine...but if you have
an older desktop you may need to consider getting a microphone).

   For lectures, we will be using a service called Zoom.  This means
we will be "meeting" over the internet at the usual lecture time and
attendance is expected.  Although the university signed a contract
with Zoom earlier in the week, our enterprise version of Zoom is
still not available.  Consequently I cannot say if lectures will
be recorded for later playback.  Don't worry about signing up for
a Zoom account quite yet.  (BUT keep reading your emails if this
should change!)

   Closed Labs will be assigned much as they always have been.
During the lab period, if you have questions and need help
from the GTA we will be using an app call Discord.  If you wish,
you may sign up for Discord---if you do please use your MTMAIL
address for the registration and your Pipeline username as your
Discord username...it will make life simpler.  If you already
have a Discord account feel free to use it; although I wish you
would change your username to the Pipeline-like username it
isn't necessary.  However users with inappropriate or obscene
usernames will be ignored.

   Exams and quizzes.  We will start using D2L for some of this.

   Office hours:  I will be changing my office hours.  I have
a new phone number (already changed on the syllabus) that will
allow me to keep in touch via an app.  You may phone me at
615-796-6829 during office hours with questions.  You can, of
course, always email me.  (But do NOT use the D2L email
mechanism...use MTMAIL.)

   Please send an email to "untch@mtsu.edu" with the subject
line "Re: Remote Delivery" as soon as you've read this email
so I can verify delivery.

   I am here to help.  Be safe, take care of yourself.

---Dr. Untch

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    [03/20/20 4pm]  Unfortunately MTSU's new ProofPoint spam/virus filter
often mangles web addresses/URLs.  Consequently I'm reposting the "clean"
version of those announcements here:

                        ***************
              Announcing the "CS Online Tutoring Center"

The KOM 363 center will be closed for the rest of the Spring Semester.
However the tutors are available online to help students in Computer
Science courses (CSCI 1170/2170/3110).  On a browser, simply enter
                   https://discord.gg/GqpkWyb
to be connected to the "CS Online Tutoring Center" folks.  No advance
download necessary.  Hours of availability will be posted on the center's
site starting Monday, March 23rd.

(Note: This link to the tutoring center can also be found as an icon
near the bottom of the course homepage, labeled "CS Tutoring".)

                        ***************

                   Announcing the "CS Hotline"

If you have problems using the remote learning/remote access
technology being used in your CS course (for example, Discord
or Zoom or D2L), the Computer Science department has set up a
"hotline" at 615-900-0744 to help answer questions.  Starting
March 23rd it will be available Monday-Thursday 8am-11am and
4:30pm-5:30pm; Friday 8am-Noon.
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