Mr. Paul's WMU Web Page

Office: 3021 Moore Hall; Office Hours: Mondays 5:00 to 6:15 and Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15
Department Phone: 387-4389
Assistant: Micah (Phil 3340; office hours TBA and by appointment)


Reading Lists
Phil 3340 Biomedical Ethics; 12398
Phil 3140 Philosophy / Public Affairs; 16017

Syllabi
Phil 3340 Biomedical Ethics (PDF)
Phil 3140 Philosophy / Public Affairs; (PDF)

Textbooks
Biomedical Ethics: Intervention and Reflection, 9th edition. Ronald Munson
Philosophy / Public Affairs: Moral Matters (2nd edition). Jan Narveson

Expected Grading Criteria (subject to change, may vary by class)
Your grade for the Session will be based primarily on tests and attendance. Check each course’s syllabus for specific information.

Make-Up Work
I will allow a test to be made up in exceptional circumstances only. If you miss a test and your circumstances are exceptional, contact me by email to arrange a make-up. If you know ahead of time that you will miss a test, contact me for arrangements. (Examples of exceptional circumstances: religious observances, death of a family member or close friend, sudden illness, verifiable car accident. Examples of unacceptable circumstances: forgot test date, fight with a friend, job interview, dog ate your book.) Assignments cannot be made up if missed, though in exceptional circumstances, if you know in advance you will miss an assignment, you may be allowed to turn it in late. I really, really do not like to give incompletes—if it's looking like you won't be able to complete the semester, please consider dropping the course and taking it another term.

Classroom Disruptions
Please leave your laptop at home unless it’s mandatory for note taking. Turn off cell phones unless you are an emergency worker. Please don’t fall asleep in class. Feel free to bring a snack or a drink if the building's rules allow for it, but please be tactful. There will probably be a break roughly halfway through class, but if you need to leave the room at another time, please be courteous as you do so. Under no circumstances will iPods or similar devices be allowed on test days.

Cheating
I’ve caught students cheating before. The university demands strict adherence to its policies and I intend to enforce them. The University has rules regarding cheating and explains the rights of accused students. Please visit WMU’s web page on the student code for more information.

http://www.wmich.edu/conduct/academichonesty/faq.html (You have an obligation to understand the school's plagiarism rules.)


Grading Scale
Grade Percent
4.0 ..... 90%
3.5 ..... 85%
3.0 ..... 80%
2.5 ..... 75%
2.0 ..... 70%
1.5 ..... 65%
1.0 ..... 60%

Cancellations
I live about 50 miles away and bad weather or road conditions might force me to cancel class; but I've commuted for more than 15 years and I have an excellent record of attendance so don't bet on it. If I do miss class, a note will be posted on the classroom door.

Disclaimer
I reserve the right to make any changes to the course (content, grading, etc.). Further, I reserve the right to establish fair procedures for grading for students in exceptional cases. All and any modifications to this syllabus (whether online or in a handout) will be in accordance with the rules and regulations of WMU. No version of this syllabus constitutes a contract between any combination of the instructor, the instructor's assistant(s), the students, the department or WMU.

Other
Please feel free to email me with any questions you have. I can usually get information across just as well in an email as I can during an office visit, and my office hours tend to be a bit restrictive for students since I commute.

Accommodation for Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Ms. Beth Denhartigh at 387-2116 or at beth.denhartigh@wmich.edu at the beginning of the semester. A disability determination must be made by this office before any accommodations are provided by the instructor.

Student Academic Conduct
“You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. [The policies can be found at http://catalog.wmich.edu under Academic Policies, Student Rights and Responsibilities.] If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with your instructor if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.”