Frequently Asked Questions
last updated: October 13, 2008
- Who should I ask about a question not included below?
- How do I get AP credit? Which course should I take?
- Where and when are exams? What can I do if I have to miss an exam
or if I have a scheduling conflict?
- How do I register for recitations?
- Why is registration for recitation necessary?
- Do I have to go to recitation?
- How do I know where and when my recitation takes place?
- Are there make-up quizzes?
- What software requirements are there to effectively use the Courseworks
website?
- Is there graded homework?
- Is there any way to get extra credit?
- Where can I go for help with email and with using the internet?
- I need to register for a recitation, but I don't have a computer
in my room. Where on-campus can I access a public computer?
- Who can I turn to for help on chemistry topics?
- Who can I turn to for help on non-chemistry (i.e. administrative)
issues?
- Where can I see my grades? Where and when can I pick up my exams?
To whom do I address my questions about exams (i.e. grading)?
- Are there any online study aids?
- How do I go about finding laboratory research opportunities?
- How do I get access to the network from off campus?
- What are some important university and course-related dates to keep in mind?
- Is the General Chemistry Laboratory course (C1500 or F1500)
required to be taken concurrently with the lecture?
- Can I go to another recitation section not assigned to my
instructor?
- Will all general chemistry sections cover the same material?
- Will all general chemistry sections take the same exam?
- Can earlier editions of Zumdahl's Chemical Principles be used for this course?
- What will be on this week's quiz?
- How can I see what I got wrong on my quizzes and exams?
- I need more time on Exams and Quizzes because I have a disability, who should I talk to?
- Who should I ask about a question not included
below?
Please first contact your teaching assistants (TAs) before directly contacting
your instructor with day-to-day course issues. Know that other students may
have the same question; if so, an answer will be posted here (FAQ) or to the
Courseworks website
to which others can refer. Only after contacting your TAs should you consider
contacting the course instructor.
back to the top
- How do I get AP Credit? Which course should I
take?
To receive AP credit, you must contact the College Board (Princeton, New Jersey)
and request that your scores be sent to Columbia University. Once this has
been done, contact your academic advisor to confirm
that your scores were received by the University.
The majority of first-year students should register for General Chemistry,
C1403. If you scored a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Chemistry Exam, or
feel that you have a strong background in chemistry,
you should take the Chemistry Department's placement test (given during orientation).
Based on your placement test scores, it will be recommended that you take
one of the following three courses:
- General Chemistry: C1403
- Intensive General Chemistry: C2407
- Intensive
Organic Chemistry for First-Year Students: C3045
Note: Usually the AP credits will appear on your transcipt in late spring.
back to the top
- Where and when are exams? What can
I do if I have to miss an exam or if I have a scheduling conflict?
Please refer to the 'SYLLABUS' section of Courseworks and to the course homepage
for announcements regarding exams.
back to the top
- How do I register for recitations?
Registration for Fall 2008 will be done through Student
Services Online.
The deadline
to register for classes for Fall 2008 is Friday, September 12.
back to the top
- Why is registration for recitation necessary?
Registration is necessary to ensure that recitation sections are not overcrowded.
back to the top
- Do I have to go to recitation?
Recitation is not required, but it is extremely highly recommended that
you attend, as there will be occasional quizzes given in recitations which
count for up to
20% of your grade. There will be discussion of concepts, problems, and other
aspects of the course, including materials that may have been incompletely
covered in lecture or some that were not covered at all.
back to the top
- How do I know where and when my recitation takes
place?
Recitation times and places are posted on the online
bulletin of classes and are listed as chemistry C1405, C1407, C1409, and
C1411. To check your recitation time and place, use Student
Services Online. All recitation locations and times are posted on the
Courseworks 'SYLLABUS' page.
Note: Recitations begin the week of September 8.
back to the top
- Are there make-up quizzes?
In general, there are no make-up quizzes. The best four out of five quizzes
will count, so you are allowed to miss one quiz without penalty. It
is, however,
in your best interest to take all quizzes and drop your lowest one.
back to the top
- What software requirements are there to effectively
use the Courseworks website?
You will need: a web browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape
Navigator, etc.). You may also need to download programs to view files posted
to Courseworks. The most important is Adobe Acrobat Reader. Others will be
noted where applicable.
back to the top
- Is there graded homework?
No. Homework is 'graded' on Courseworks only to give you feedback about your
progress, but its completion is highly recommended. Please see the SYLLABUS
page for more
information about the calculation of the course grade.
back to the top
- Is there any way to get extra credit?
Opportunities for extra credit are given at the instructor's discretion.
back to the top
- 12.Where can I go for help with email and with
using the internet?
The CUIT support
center is located in 102 Philosophy Hall. In addition, they have a help line
open to all students. During orientation, CUIT will be holding information
seminars on how to use web browsers and how to register ethernet
connections.
Also, you can ask your Residential Computer Consultant for any additional
help.
back to the top
- I need to register for recitations,
but I don't have a computer in my room. Where on campus can I access a public
computer?
There are Macintosh and Windows computer labs located in a variety of residence
halls and buildings throughout campus (notably Butler Library). Most first-year
residence halls contain computer labs. There is also a Macintosh lab in 211
Havemeyer.
back to the top
- Who can I turn to for help on chemistry topics?
After class, you will have the opportunity to ask any course-related questions
to your instructor. During your recitation, you can ask questions to the
teaching assistant (TA). In addition, TAs will have office hours at which
time you can present any questions you have. Another alternative is to use
the Courseworks 'DISCUSSION BOARD' to discuss topics with your fellow students
and TAs.
back to the top
- Who can I turn to for help on non-chemistry (i.e.
administrative) issues?
Depending on the nature of your concern, you may first access the Discussion
Board which is available through Courseworks. Once logged in, follow the link
to the 'DISCUSSION BOARD'. If you are not
satisfied with your answer, you can email your TA and/or your professor directly
for help.
Note:There is an extensive support system throughout the university
for additional non-chemistry problems; speak to a TA, a residential advisor,
the instructor, a dean, etc. to put you in touch with this network.
back to the top
- Where can I see my exam grades? Where and when
can I pick up my exams? To whom do I address questions about exams (i.e.
grading)?
Exam grades will be available online via Courseworks shortly after all exams
have been completed (see 'GRADE BOOK'). Copies of the exam may be made available
at the instructor's prerogative. Any questions concerning exam regrades
should be addressed to the TAs or 340 Havemeyer Hall (Undergraduate Chemistry
Office).
back to the top
- Are there any online study aids?
Yes. Old exams and any links to additional problems will be provided via Courseworks.
In addition, the 'DISCUSSION BOARD' will contain answers to commonly asked
questions that arise from student inquiries.
back to the top
- How do I go about finding laboratory research
opportunities?
Research opportunities are available to undergraduates. For more information,
please contact 340 Havemeyer.
back to the top
- How do I get network access from off
campus?
CUIT provides dial-up service to current students, faculty, and staff.
To connect to the dial-up service provided by CUIT, you should follow the connection
guides provided here.
Please note that you must first have a valid UNI and password and that your
computer must have a modem.
back to the top
- What are some important university and course-related
dates to keep in mind?
University
Calendar
For dates
specific to General Chemistry, please see the 'SYLLABUS'.
back to the top
- Is the General Chemistry Laboratory course (C1500
or F1500) required to be taken concurrently with the lecture?
No, the laboratory course is seperate from the C1403 lecture course.
It may be taken either concurrently with general chemistry or at a later time.
back to the top
- Can I go to another recitation section not assigned
to my instructor?
It is highly recommended that you attend a recitation section assigned
to your instructor because of the difference in some of the material covered
by the different instructors. Furthermore, you must attend a recitation assigned
to the correct instructor so your quiz grades will be appropriately attributed
to your overall grade - it is not possible to translate or transfer quiz grades
from one instructor's recitations to another.
If you need to switch recitation sections (taught by your own TAs) due to
extenuating circumstances, you must make those arrangements with your TA directly.
It is at their discretion to allow you or to not allow you to
change sections.
back to the top
- Will all general chemistry sections cover the
same material?
With the exception of one or two chapters at the instructor's discretion,
each section will cover largely the same material.
back to the top
- Will all general chemistry sections take the
same exam?
No. Though the material may overlap, each section will have a different exam.
back to the top
- Can earlier editions of Zumdahl's Chemical
Principles be used for this course?
The material in earlier editions of Zumdahl will probably be similar, but not
necessarily identical to the 6th edition. Reading assignments will refer to
the 6th edition only and optional problems will come from the 6th edition.
So the bottom line is the 5th
edition can be used to read about the content of the course, but students who
purchase the 5th edition will have the responsibility of figuring out how
to translate reading assignments and optional problems from the 6th edition.
back to the top
- What will be on this week's quiz?
Recitation quizzes are based on all material discussed in lectures prior
to the quiz week (i.e. they are not based directly on either the homework assignments
or the textbook). While emphasis will generally be given to the more recent
material, earlier material may also be included.
back to the top
- How can I see what I got wrong on my quizzes
and exams?
Graded quizzes are returned during your recitation section, and the bubble
sheets for the three mid-term exams are returned in recitation sections following
the exam. You should compare your answers to those on the Detailed Answers
distributed via Courseworks. Arrangements will also be made to distribute bubble
sheets following the Final Exam.
back to the top
- I need more time on Exams and Quizzes because
I have a disability, who should I talk to?
You should contact the Office of Disability Services (http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/services/ods/index.html)
and they will guide you through the necessary process to apply for and receive
additional time depending on the nature of your disability.
back to the top
last updated: October 13, 2008