Email me early and often! However, please note that I cannot respond to email outside of normal business hours.
Meeting with me
I’m always happy to meet with you. Please use my appointment-booker to grab a slot. Generally, I’m available on Fridays. If you absolutely can’t find a time on my calendar, please email me so we can work something out.
Attendance and participation
Because knowledge is something we create together, regular attendance is mandatory for this class, with reasonable exceptions for serious life disruptions like illness or family emergencies. Though our gradebook doesn’t include a separate line item for attendance, you cannot pass this class without attending the majority of our class sessions.
I do take attendance, but only for my own records; you’re not graded on it. Occasionally, students stop showing up for class and, because I have trouble recognizing faces, I don’t catch it as quickly as I should. Taking attendance helps me keep tabs on who might need me to reach out.
Especially in a PhD seminar, engaged participation is the expectation. I expect everyone to contribute to our class discussions.
Late work
Please let me know ASAP if you suspect a deadline won’t work for you. We can talk about it. There are a few things we’ll need to take into consideration, including whether this has become a pattern that we need to address, whether it’s realistic to meet a later deadline in addition to all other upcoming deadlines, and whether I can work a later deadline into my grading schedule.
Recording
In our current environment, an audio or visual recording of class lectures or discussions is dangerous for everyone. Please do not record our class. The exception is for students who have a need documented with CAE. However, any circulation of that recording will result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
Syllabus changes
I want to keep the class relevant to your needs and interests as they evolve, so there is some possibility that the readings or assignments may change over the course of the quarter. I will always let you know about changes as soon as I possibly can.
AI
I’ve designed all of the assignments for this class very deliberately so that you learn something from them and/or use them to check your own progress. Using an AI tool to complete an assignment defeats the purpose of the assignment. I assume that you understand this relationship between effort and reward.
Use of LLM-based tools is acceptable (if not particularly encouraged) for spelling/grammar checks and for ideation (again, not really recommended). Using an LLM-based tool to construct an outline or draft any part of your written work is unacceptable.
As a teacher, my inclination is to avoid punitive or surveillant policies as much as possible, but if I have concerns about your work, I’ll speak with you. If I think it’s necessary, I’ll ask you questions about your research and request that you produce documentation of the progression of your work, including research notes and drafts. If I think it’s warranted, I will refer your case to the Office of Student Conduct, which will make a final decision.
Accessibility
I take accessibility seriously. I am by no means an expert (I may need your help), but every time I teach I learn something new about how best to accommodate students. I aim to teach in accordance with universal design principles, which treat accessibility not as an add-on, but as a core function that makes the experience better for everyone.
Here is UCLA’s recommended accessibility statement, which I endorse: Students needing academic accommodations based on a disability should contact the Center for Accessible Education (CAE) at (310)825-1501 or in person at Murphy Hall A255. When possible, students should contact the CAE within the first two weeks of the term as reasonable notice is needed to coordinate accommodations.
In addition to CAE accommodations, I am willing to work with you to accommodate other accessibility needs. I will likely need your help to co-design accommodations, but I am happy to do so; just get in touch.
Life stuff
You don’t need me to tell you that these are incredibly stressful times. UCLA maintains a centralized list of resources available for students in need. UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services is open and providing all services through telehealth. You may also wish to be aware of free crisis counseling hotlines. For financial emergencies, UCLA can offer short-term loans as well as a range of other services for students experiencing economic crisis.
Many of my students have experienced crisis while in my class; you would not be the first and you don’t need to feel ashamed! I am not trained to, and cannot, provide counseling. But if something in your life is interfering with your ability to complete your work for me, it is very helpful if you tell me that this is the case. Together, we can develop a plan to help you successfully complete the class.