Syllabus #

Course Description #

In this course, we’ll discuss topics related to a holistic approach to academic vibrancy, personal resilience, joy, and happiness.

  • As academics, we face some unique challenges, such as isolation (we can be measured on OUR contribution more than a team contribution and are isolated from our labmates during covid); finishing a PhD, getting tenure, getting promoted – all based upon the subjective assessment of our work by our advisor, our committee, and other faculty in the world; our work requires a high degree of self-discipline; and we desperately need publications to get a job/promotion/tenure but yet we can get tough peer feedback on and rejection of our publications. The support of a community that understands these challenges can help so much and make us more resilient!

  • As academics, we are humans and want what all humans want – most notably joy and happiness.

  • As academics, we serve humanity through our scientific contribution. As such, we should consider the care and growth of our brains and our physical energy in the same way an Olympic athlete trains their body for physical performance. Being joyful and happy is good for our brainpower. It all ties together!

Each 50-minute session will consist of a short presentation and time to discuss the topic with other PhD students in a general open discussion with the whole group.

Course Objectives #

Upon successful completion of this course, a student will …

  • Have a network of other CSC PhD students
  • Have strategies for finding more joy and happiness in your life
  • Have strategies for self-care
  • Have strategies for boosting your productivity
  • Have strategies for boosting your brain power

Course Structure #

Attendance

There are 14 scheduled class sessions. To pass the class, you will need to attend at least 12 Monday sessions. If you are sick, please notify Dr. Williams. A doctor’s note will be required if you miss too many classes. The university policy on excused absences will be observed see REG 02.20.03.

Group Discussion

Each class, we will have an open discussion on the day’s topic. You are encouraged to share and join in on the discussion.

Volunteering

N/A

Minimum Grade Requirement

To summarize to pass CSC801, you must:

  • Attend at least 12 lectures

Course Policies #

Professionalism

Students are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and professionally at all times. Students are expected to act professionally both in person and electronically with all members of the teaching staff and their classmates. Written and verbal communication should be respectful and should never include derogatory comments about yourself or others. All criticism (of yourself, the course, the instructor, fellow students, resources, etc.) should be constructive. In this class, people may express themselves in more vulnerable ways, so respect, professionalism, and compassion are especially important.

Students should be aware that their behavior impacts other people, even online. I hope we will all strive to develop a positive and supportive environment and be courteous to fellow students and your instructor.

Electronic Communication

The class will use Piazza for class communications.

Homework Late Policy

We will have no graded homework.

Grade Appeals

Your attendance and homework will be tracked in topHat. If you feel the tracking has an error, notify Dr. Williams within two weeks of the error.

Prerequisites #

PhD standing in the Computer Science department.

Required Materials #

None

Academic Integrity #

Students are required to comply with the university policy on academic integrity found in the Code of Student Conduct found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01

Honor Pledge

N/A

Privacy and Confidentiality #

Students may be required to disclose personally identifiable information to other students in the course, via digital tools, such as email or web-postings, where relevant to the course. Examples include online discussions of class topics, and posting of student coursework. All students are expected to respect the privacy of each other by not sharing or using such information or comments made in class outside the course.

Statement on transportation
N/A

Disabilities #

Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with the Disability Resource Office at Holmes Hall, Suite 304, Campus Box 7509, 919-515-7653. For more information on NC State’s policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG 02.20.01).

Trans-Inclusive Statement To affirm and respect the identities of transgender students in the classroom and beyond, please contact me if you wish to be referred to using a name and/or pronouns other than what is listed in the student directory. Basic Needs Security Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing or has other severe adverse experiences and believes this may affect their performance in the course is encouraged to notify the professor if you are comfortable in doing so. Alternatively, you can contact the Division of Academic and Student Affairs to learn more about the Pack Essentials program https://dasa.ncsu.edu/pack-essentials/

Non-Discrimination Policy NC State provides equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts, and prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation (“Prohibited Conduct”) that are based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, or veteran status (individually and collectively, “Protected Status”). Additional information as to each Protected Status is included in NCSU REG 04.25.02 (Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Complaint Procedure). NC State’s policies and regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at POL 04.25.05 or https://oied.ncsu.edu/divweb/. Any person who feels that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 919-515-3148.

Health and Wellbeing; Supporting Fellow Students in Distress: #

These are difficult times, and academic and personal stress is a natural result. Everyone is encouraged to take care of themselves and their peers. If you need additional support, there are many resources on campus to help you:

Counseling Center (https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/)

Health Center (https://healthypack.dasa.ncsu.edu/)

If the personal behavior of a classmate concerns or worries you, either for the classmate’s well-being or yours, we encourage you to report this behavior to the NC State CARES team: (https://advising.dasa.ncsu.edu/resources-for-advisors/advisors-toolkit/cares/)

If you or someone you know are experiencing food, housing or financial insecurity, please see the Pack Essentials Program (https://dasa.ncsu.edu/pack-essentials/).

As members of the NC State Wolfpack community, we each share a personal responsibility to express concern for one another and to ensure that this classroom and the campus as a whole remains a safe environment for learning. Occasionally, you may come across a fellow classmate whose personal behavior concerns or worries you. When this is the case, I would encourage you to report this behavior to the NC State Students of Concern website: http://studentsofconcern.ncsu.edu/. Although you can report anonymously, it is preferred that you share your contact information so they can follow-up with you personally.

Course Evaluations #

ClassEval is the end-of-semester survey for students to evaluate the instruction of all university classes. The current survey is administered online and includes 12 closed-ended questions and 3 open-ended questions. Deans, department heads, and instructors may add a limited number of their questions to these 15 common-core questions.

Each semester, students’ responses are compiled into a ClassEval report for every instructor and class. Instructors use the evaluations to improve instruction and include them in their promotion and tenure dossiers, while department heads use them in annual reviews. The reports are included in instructors’ personnel files and are considered confidential.

Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two weeks of the semester for full semester courses and the last week of shorter sessions. Students will receive an email directing them to a website to complete class evaluations. These become unavailable at 8am on the first day of finals.