Frequently Asked Questions
last updated: September 7, 2008
  1. Who should I ask about a question not included below?


  2. How do I get AP credit? Which course should I take?


  3. Where and when are exams? What can I do if I have to miss an exam or if I have a scheduling conflict?


  4. How do I register for recitations?


  5. Why is registration for recitation necessary?


  6. Do I have to go to recitation?


  7. How do I know where and when my recitation takes place?


  8. Are there make-up quizzes?


  9. What software requirements are there to effectively use the Courseworks website?


  10. Is there graded homework?


  11. Is there any way to get extra credit?


  12. Where can I go for help with email and with using the internet?


  13. 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?


  14. Who can I turn to for help on chemistry topics?


  15. Who can I turn to for help on non-chemistry (i.e. administrative) issues?


  16. 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)?


  17. Are there any online study aids?


  18. How do I go about finding laboratory research opportunities?


  19. How do I get access to the network from off campus?


  20. What are some important university and course-related dates to keep in mind?


  21. Is the General Chemistry Laboratory course (C1500 or F1500) required to be taken concurrently with the lecture?


  22. Can I go to another recitation section not assigned to my instructor?


  23. Will all general chemistry sections cover the same material?


  24. Will all general chemistry sections take the same exam?


  25. Can earlier editions of Zumdahl's Chemical Principles be used for this course?


 

 

 

 

  1. Who should I ask about a question not included below?

  2. 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.
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  3. How do I get AP Credit? Which course should I take?

  4. 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:
    Note: Usually the AP credits will appear on your transcipt in late spring.
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  5. Where and when are exams? What can I do if I have to miss an exam or if I have a scheduling conflict?

  6. Please refer to the 'SYLLABUS' section of Courseworks and to the course homepage for announcements regarding exams.
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  7. How do I register for recitations?

  8. Registration for Fall 2008 will be done through Student Services Online.
    The deadline to register for classes for Fall 2008 is Friday, September 12.
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  9. Why is registration for recitation necessary?

  10. Registration is necessary to ensure that recitation sections are not overcrowded.
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  11. Do I have to go to recitation?

  12. 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.
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  13. How do I know where and when my recitation takes place?

  14. 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.
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  15. Are there make-up quizzes?

  16. 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.
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  17. What software requirements are there to effectively use the Courseworks website?

  18. 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.
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  19. Is there graded homework?

  20. 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.
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  21. Is there any way to get extra credit?

  22. Opportunities for extra credit are given at the instructor's discretion.
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  23. 12.Where can I go for help with email and with using the internet?

  24. 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.
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  25. 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?

  26. 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.
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  27. Who can I turn to for help on chemistry topics?

  28. 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.
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  29. Who can I turn to for help on non-chemistry (i.e. administrative) issues?

  30. 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.
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  31. 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)?

  32. 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).
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  33. Are there any online study aids?

  34. 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.
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  35. How do I go about finding laboratory research opportunities?

  36. Research opportunities are available to undergraduates. For more information, please contact 340 Havemeyer.
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  37. How do I get network access from off campus?

  38. 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.
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  39. What are some important university and course-related dates to keep in mind?

  40. University Calendar
    For dates specific to General Chemistry, please see the 'SYLLABUS'.
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  41. Is the General Chemistry Laboratory course (C1500 or F1500) required to be taken concurrently with the lecture?

  42. 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.
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  43. Can I go to another recitation section not assigned to my instructor?

  44. 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.
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  45. 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.
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  46. Will all general chemistry sections take the same exam?
    No. Though the material may overlap, each section will have a different exam.
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  47. 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.
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last updated: September 7, 2008