Geospatial Programming Fundamentals Syllabus (GIS540)

Instructor: Dr. Tateosian, Jordan Hall 5116, 919-515-3435, [email protected], Office

hours--by appointment.

Credit hours: 3

Sections: 001 and 601

Course catalog description: This course provides fundamental skills for geospatial
programming. Topics include calling geographic processing tools, batch processing,
performing file i/o in an external computing language, and building graphical user interfaces
and displays. To support these tasks, students learn basic programming concepts, such as
pseudocode, flow-control, code re-use, and debugging. In the final project, students
streamline GIS workflow and customize GIS user interfaces. Familiarity with GIS software is
required, but no prior programming experience is required.

Extended Abstract: Principles, syntax, and language elements associated with creating
and running Python programs, Python scripting to process and filter data, perform batch
geoprocessing on GIS data, and manipulate map elements, and use script tools to add
custom interfaces to ArcGIS applications.

This course explains the principles of computer programming for ArcGIS Desktop. The
Python programming language is used to demonstrate these concepts. The course
assumes no programming background. We start with Python syntax and language
elements. Python scripting is used to efficiently run ArcGIS tools, read text files of data and
ArcGIS attribute tables, interact with map elements, manipulate batches of GIS data, and
create basic user interfaces. Assignments are performed in Python, ArcGIS Desktop, and
PythonWin. Teaching techniques incorporate hands-on learning with stimulating, interactive
activities. Students completing this course will be armed to streamline GIS work-flow and
build reusable applications.

Prerequisites: GIS510 or PA 541 or SSC 440 --Students are expected to have a good
understanding of ArcGIS Toolbox tools, ArcGIS software, and ArcGIS Modelbuilder. These
skills will not be taught in this course. The student is responsible for independently
reviewing any lack of knowledge in these skills.

Course Structure for Section 001:

● Traditionally, we meet in a classroom two times/week for lectures. Due to current

circumstances, we will substitute synchronous Zoom meetings for on-campus
meetings.
 ● This course delivers learning materials, activities, and assignments, through Moodle, a
secure and easy-to-use online learning platform.
● Outside of class meeting times, student-instructor and student-student interactions take
place primarily on Piazza, a secure, easy-to-use message board that has useful features
for computer programming questions. Zoom meetings can also be scheduled to
interact synchronously.
● Learning activities include reading assignments, lectures, in-class activities, homework
assignments, and timed quizzes. In-class activities provide low-stakes sandbox
experience for active learning. Homework and quizzes are designed to cement the
learning.
● The course materials are organized by week. For example, you will see Week 1--part 1,
followed by Week --part 2, followed by Homework 1, due during Week 1. Most weeks
have two lessons and a homework assignment or a quiz.
● Each lesson consists of assigned readings, one or more lecture/video, and “in-class”
activities. Students are expected to read the assigned readings before attending the
corresponding lecture. Section 001 students do not need to watch the recorded
lectures, unless otherwise indicated in class.
● We will ‘breakout’ into small groups to complete the in-class activities during the
synchronous meetings.

Course Structure for Section 601:

● This online course delivers all learning materials, activities, and assignments, through
Moodle, a secure and easy-to-use online learning platform.
● Student-instructor and student-student interactions take place primarily on Piazza, a
secure, easy-to-use message board that has useful features for computer programming
questions. Zoom meetings can also be scheduled to interact synchronously.
● The course is completely asynchronous, which means that students have no real-time
class meeting requirements. However, 601 students are encouraged to join real-time
class meetings, if possible.
● Learning activities include reading assignments, lectures, in-class activities, homework
assignments, and timed quizzes. In-class activities provide low-stakes sandbox
experience for active learning. Homework and quizzes are designed to cement the
learning.
● The course materials are organized by week. For example, you will see Week 1--part 1,
followed by Week --part 2, followed by Homework 1, due during Week 1. Most weeks
have two lessons and a homework assignment or a quiz.
● Each lesson consists of assigned readings, one or more lecture/video, and “in-class”
activities. Students are expected to read the assigned readings before watching the
corresponding lecture.
● The videos prompt the viewer to complete the in-class activities. When following along
with the video, viewers should pause the video when prompted to complete in-class
activity. Upon completing the activity, the viewer should continue playing the video to
listen to a discussion of the solutions.
Course Schedule: A “Schedule overview” is linked to the course Moodle site. The detailed
course schedule is laid out in blocks on the course Moodle website. Note, the course
schedule may be subject to change with appropriate notification to students.

Textbook: Python for ArcGIS Hard-back book is available for purchase online.
Electronic version available for free to NCSU students through the library:
http://catalog.lib.ncsu.edu/record/NCSU3565981 (PDF recommended over eBook)
Data and sample scripts to accompany textbook downloadable here:
http://go.ncsu.edu/gispy

Recommended Python tutorials:

● Codecademy (interactive)
● TheNewBoston (videos)
● Python Tutorial (reading)

Additional resources:

● Python Standard Library (online)

● ArcGIS Help

Sofware used and the technology requirements

NC State’s Online and Distance Education provides additional technology requirements and
recommendations for computer hardware that you may find useful. If you need access to
additional technical support, please see the NC State Libraries Technology Lending program.

Software used: You will need:

GIS Software: ArcGIS Desktop 10.* and ArcGIS Computer with Windows OS (Desktop or Laptop)
Pro with adequate RAM and memory.

Programming software: PythonWin, PyScripter, Follow the homework 1 instructions to install

PyCharm these.

Python itself is installed with ArcGIS. Do not install

an additional version.

Moodle Computer and reliable Internet access

PlayPosit and Panopto recordings

G Suite tools

Zoom Computer and reliable Internet access with

adequate bandwidth.
Image capture/video recording software Web camera (desired, though not required),
 (TechSmith Capture recommended for headphones, and microphone
screenshots or informal videos; Loom Chrome
Extension recommended for more formal videos)

Minimum Computer and Digital Literacy Skills:

● Obtain regular access to a reliable internet connection.
● Proficient typing and word processing skills (MS Word, text editors, Google Docs).
● Ability to use online communication tools, such as email (create, send, receive, reply,
print, send/receive attachments), discussion boards (read, search, post, reply, follow
threads), chats, and messengers.
● Download and upload attachments.
● Knowledge of copy/paste and use of spell check (Grammarly is recommended).
● Use computer networks to locate and store files or data.
● Internet skills and the ability to perform online research using various search engines
and library databases. Visit Distance Learning Services at NC State Libraries for more
information.
● Properly cite information sources.
● Proper username and password management of online applications.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify and explain basic Python code elements and syntax (comments, modules,
indentation, keywords, data structures, exceptions).
2. Write and run Python scripts in an integrated development environment (IDE) and
IDE debugging functionality to debug code.
3. Construct Python code that manipulates data with core data structures (strings, lists,
tuples, sets, dictionaries, file objects…).
4. Navigate and explain the ArcGIS tool and arcpy object help pages.
5. Invoke ArcGIS tools with Python.
6. Consume user input with Python.
7. Write code that produces different outcomes depending on user input or data.
8. Process batches of data (records, files, folders, databases) with Python code.
9. Read and modify text files with Python.
10. Read and modify GIS proprietary-format data records with Python.
11. Create graphical user interfaces to run GIS applications.
12. Describe a workflow at a high level using pseudocode.
13. Fetch data from the web using Python.
14. Parse and construct HTML and KML data using Python.
15. Manipulate maps with Python.
16. Summarize the capabilities of the arcpy package.
 17. Identify real GIS data processing and mapping needs that can be automated and
implement them in Python.

Message Board:

We are using Piazza for class discussion. Classmates, teaching assistants (TAs), and
instructors can view your public posts. Participation in discussions of lectures, in-class
exercises, lecture notes, and related current events are encouraged. Public posts can also
be used for clarification of homework question instructions.

Use the following guidelines for help with homework-related questions:

● Post homework-related questions as private messages on the board to all

instructional staff. Rather than sending an email, we prefer that you post your
questions on Piazza. Teaching staff will not respond to questions sent via email.
● Private questions that could benefit the entire class may be made public by the
instructional staff, unless you specify otherwise.
● For code-related questions, formulate a concise explanation describing the part of
the code that appears to be causing problems. The speed and helpfulness of
responses are tightly linked to the specificity and clarity of the question. Posting an
entire script with a note like "I can't figure out why this isn't working", will not yield
helpful results.
● If a script is throwing an error, copy and paste the complete error in the question.
● Use the 'code' button to preserve code format.

If you have any problems with Piazza or feedback for the Piazza developers, email
[email protected]. Find our class page at: https://piazza.com/

Late assignments policy: The assignments are due at 10pm EST on the due date. Moodle
submission closes at 10:15pm; The 15 minute grace period is given on Moodle, to allow for
last-minute blunders, but the assignment is due at 10pm. Assignments submitted at
10:16pm are 16 minutes late. For assignments turned in after the due date, a late penalty is
applied to the grade based on the following equation:

penalty = 10*2(r-1)% where r is the number of 24-hour periods late.

The first 24 hour period begins at 10:15pm on the day it is due. If, for example, an
assignment is submitted at 10:16pm on the day it was due, 10% will be removed from the
grade for that assignment (10*2(1-1) =10*20 = 10*1 = 10%) .
If you have some issue submitting late homework, notify the instructors via a private note on
Piazza. Mark the post with the homework number folder and the 'late' folder. ***No email
submissions are accepted.***

The only exceptions to the late submission policy are afforded to those with personal
emergencies (e.g., illness, death, or medical emergency in the immediate family) with
documentation.

Homework guidelines:
1. All submission deadlines are given in terms of Eastern Standard Time (EST).
2. Name script file submissions exactly as specified in bold at the beginning of the
exercise in the book. Points will be deducted for incorrectly named scripts. E.g., if the
name in bold is foobar.py, and you submit a script named 'foobarr.py' instead of
'foobar.py', points will be deducted.
3. The header comments of each script submitted must include the student name and
unity ID. The unity ID is the alpha-numeric code (e.g., jkrowlin). The student ID
number (e.g. 300335468) is not used in this class. The naming instructions are
designed to streamline the grading process, so this is important for running the class
--This means that points will be deducted for not following instructions.
4. See the "Academic Integrity" section of the syllabus regarding acceptable forms of
help on homework.
5. Points for homework assignments vary depending on content. Generally, scripts are
worth 10 points each and short answer questions are worth 1 or 2 points per part.
6. Don't zip submissions. Moodle creates a directory for each homework submission.
Inside this directory, it automatically creates one folder for each student. All the files
submitted by jkrowlin for an assignment are automatically placed in a jkrowlin
directory. So, files are already grouped by unity ID.
7. If you complete an assignment and want to submit it before the Moodle submission
for this assignment has opened, post a private message for the instructors on
Piazza. This request will be handled as promptly as possible. (No email submissions
are accepted.) Submissions are generally not permitted prior to one week before the
due date.
8. In case of tardiness, see the "Late policy for homework" section of the syllabus.

Grading policy:

Timed Quizzes 30% These quizzes will cover the required readings and lectures to
reinforce the concepts therein. Individual quiz instructions indicate the book chapters to
which they correspond. Quizzes are open-notebook, but timed, so plan to review before
taking the quizzes so that you are able to complete them in the time available. Each timed
quiz has an accompanying practice quiz. Practice quizzes can be used to test yourself
before taking the real quiz. Practice quiz questions are not the same as those on the actual
timed quizzes, but they will give you a sense of question style and the pacing you will need
to complete the timed quiz.

Homework 40% Homeworks generally consist of Python scripts, Python tutorial lessons,
and Moodle exercises. Each Python script is worth 10 points. Python tutorial lessons are
generally worth 4 points each. Moodle exercise points range between 10 and 50 (median
21 points), depending on the number of questions in an exercise. Individual questions are
scored based on the number of question parts. Moodle refers to these as “quizzes” but we
refer to these as Moodle “exercises”, because they do not need to be completed in one
sitting and the time to work on them is only limited by the opening date and the due date.
They become available 4 days before the homework deadline. For Moodle exercises, you
can start them, save your work and return to continuing working on a different day. Moodle
exercises just need to be submitted by the homework deadline. The project proposals
(preliminary and revised) are also part of the homework points, 10 points each.

Project 25% For the project, you'll apply course topics in GIS programming in Python to a
geospatial application area of your choice (or select a predefined project). The final
submission will include:

● A short write-up describing the project.

● Map files, scripts, toolboxes, and data and any other supporting files needed to test
the code.
● Two short project presentations (5 min. concept video + 5 min. demo. video). Videos
must be in mp4 format. (Use any video capture software tools you like. E.g., Loom
is free and easy to use).

Design development will occur incrementally over the course of the semester. First, you will
identify an application domain and target dataset that requires Python manipulation.
Second, you will be required to develop a clear proposal describing your input/output and
methodological workflow. As part of your outline, you will be required to articulate how
Python will be used to automate batch processing. Third, you will submit a revised proposal.
This proposal must be updated based on the previous feedback and must include additional
details on how mapping, file reading/writing, and functions will be used. At this point, you
will also submit a piece of code and a working graphical user interface to show your
progress. Finally, the project culminates with a refined presentation delivered via videos at
the end of the semester. At this point, you will submit all final projects (a report, slides,
videos, the map document, toolbox, Python scripts, data, etc.). Your final project will be
judged on functionality, programming style, documentation, portability, and efficiency.
Details project instructions and the grading rubric are available in Moodle.

The project allows students to apply what they've learned in the course to a problem that
has arisen in their workplace or research. The projects often involve filtering raw data,
performing geoprocessing analysis on it, and visualizing the data. Students may choose a
project that is relevant to their area of interest and use their own data or they may opt to
select one of the predefined projects provided with the course. The project must require
Python scripting to perform data processing and build ArcMap GUIs.

As an example, suppose your research routinely requires you to download spatial data that
comes in a CSV format that can't be loaded directly into ArcMap. You have to open it,
delete the header, remove dashes from the field names, and delete extra columns. Then it
takes several additional steps to add it to a map (choose the x, y fields, project it, save it as
a layer) so that you can display it. You may also need to break the map into separate layers
using one of the attributes, resulting in numerous and then you need to add each of these
layers to a map, capture a screenshot of each map and post the images on a website to
share with collaborators. If you only had to do this once or twice, it's no big deal, but since
you have to do it all the time, writing some scripts to automate the process would save a
great deal of time in the long run. This would be a typical project for the course.

Participation 5% Participation will be based on Piazza message board usage (3 points),

participation in help sessions (3 points) and lecture questions (4 points). Participation in
these will be measured as follows:

● Piazza message board usage: Students must pose at least one question or post a
contribution for each of the 9 homeworks.
● Participation in help sessions: Participation in at least one class help-session during
the semester.
● Lecture questions: Most of the course videos have embedded questions. DE
students must complete all of these questions. So long as earnest attempts are
made, wrong answers do not result in point deduction, rather, points are awarded
based on participation. (*Students in the 001 section will be attending synchronous
class meetings. These students must participate in “in-class” activities to fulfill this
requirement, but are not required to review the recorded videos.)

Letter Score
Grade

A+ >= 97.0

A 93 - 96.99

A- 90 - 92.99

B+ 87 - 89.99
 B 83 - 86.99

B- 80 - 82.99

C+ 77 - 79.99

C 73 - 76.99

C- 70 - 72.99

D+ 67 - 69.99

D 63 - 66.99

D- 60 - 62.99

F <= 59.99

Grade Changes

Students should review grades and comments when they are posted. If a mistake is
discovered in any grade received (for example, a correct answer was marked wrong or a
score was summed incorrectly), the student should post a private Piazza message to the
instructors. The note should indicate which assignment grade is under dispute and explain
which part of the work seems to be graded incorrectly. The message must be submitted
within one week of the date on which it was returned. After one week, grades are final.

Digital Course Components: Students will interact with the following digitally-hosted
FERPA-compliant course components: Moodle, Zoom, and Piazza. Additional materials will
be hosted on Google Drive or GitHub.
Class meetings for lectures and help sessions may be recorded in a way that could also
record students. These recordings will not be used beyond the current semester or in any
other setting outside of the course.
Python scripts may be run through Stanford’s MOSS tool.
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 outside the course.

Course Continuity: To ensure course continuity, changes made to the method of

instructional delivery, course structure, course schedule, number of assignments, grading or
other aspects of the course after the start of the term will be communicated to all students in
written form by dated syllabus revision or syllabus addendum when course changes are
implemented.

Mailing list and website: Student NCSU email address will be added or deleted from the
course mailing list automatically based on registration status in the course. Instructors can
not add a non-NCSU address to the mailing list. Students are responsible for
announcements sent to the NCSU email address. Set up mail forwarding, if necessary.

Updates to the online schedule will be made during the semester. Students can subscribe to
updates of the course site.

Academic Integrity

Professional student conduct is required throughout the course. Read the NCSU policy
overview and Section 8 (including the Pack Pledge) and Section 9 of the Code of Student
Conduct (NCSU POL11.35.01). Violations of academic integrity will be handled in
accordance with the Student Discipline Procedures (NCSU REG 11.35.02). Note the Pack
Pledge and read the following course-specific instructions:

1. Academic honesty and homework assignments

We know the material can be challenging, so you should take advantage of the
teaching staff help. Use office hours and the message board to interact with the
teaching assistants and instructor when you are struggling with the homework.
Beyond this, however, students are required to do homework assignments
individually. Study groups may discuss code from in-class exercises, code from the
course reading, and code from the course slides, but they may not do the homework
together. Plagiarism detection software will be used on programming assignments to
identify students who have copied code from one another. Copying will not be
tolerated. The work you submit must be your own.

Examples of cheating are: looking at another student's code, writing your program
while talking to someone else about it, talking another student through the solution
code, allowing others to look at your solution code, obtaining code from a student
who is taking GIS 540 or took GIS 540 during a previous semester, and obtaining
code from family, friends, colleagues, or others. Code snippets from the examples
provided for class and the ArcGIS Resources help pages may be used; However,
copying code from other Internet sources is also considered cheating. Sharing code
on the message board or in other ways is a violation of the NCSU Code of Student
Conduct. If you have any doubts about what is allowed when completing homework
 assignments, ask the instructor.

2. Academic honesty and projects

All students must complete the project alone. Students must not post their code in
public notes on the message board or obtain, copy, or look at another student's or
former student's pseudocode or source code unless otherwise specified by the
instructor. Questions that are deemed useful for the entire class may be converted to
public posts.

Projects are designed to use concepts and skills learned in the class for the bulk of
the work in the project. However, a class project may occasionally require a student
to solve a problem that goes beyond the scope of the materials taught in the course.
In this situation, students may conduct research online to solve these out-of-scope
questions. If a code snippet is used for a project, the student must do two things:
1. Insert comments within the code to cite the source of the code, and clearly
indicate which lines of code are from this online source.
2. Research the unfamiliar components of this code and modify the code so that
each step can be clearly explained in terms of concepts learned in class.
Then, insert comments within the code to explain the purpose of each line of
code.
3. See the 'Citing a project found code snippet' box below for an example. Citing an
outside online source for code that is part of the course material is considered cheating.
Code from outside sources should only be used when necessary and should not constitute
a large portion of the project code. Also, students should not use code that they can't
explain. If you have any doubts about what is allowed, ask the instructor.
 Citing a project code snippet

Problem: Given a date, I need to find the next day's date in my project code. We didn't go over this in
class, so I searched online. I search online and find the following example on the Stack Overflow
website:

date = datetime.datetime(2003,8,20,12,4,5)
for i in range(5):
date += datetime.timedelta(days=1)
print(date)

This code does two steps at once in the third line of code. I separate these lines of code. Next, I read the
datatimemodule documentation to understand the timedelta function. My code only deals with the date
(2003, 8, 20), not the date and time (2003,8,20,12,4,5), so I use only the date in my code. I add a
comment to acknowledge that the code is not my own. Last, I add a code comment to explain each line
of code I use from this source:

# Thanks to http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3240458/how-to-increment-the-day-in-datetime-python
# for the following code: ***
# Create a datetime object.

theDate = datetime.date(2014, 8, 20)

# Use the timedelta function to create a

# timedelta object containing 1 day.
day = datetime.timedelta(days=1)
# Add a day to the given date.
theDate = theDate + day
# End of Stack Overflow code snippet ***

Accommodation of students with 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, 2751
Cates Avenue, 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 (NCSU REG 02.20.01).

Attendance policy: This is a very intensive course as you will be learning highly technical
skills and learning new ways to conceptualize and analyze GIS problems. Therefore, I am
taking very seriously your instructions to be at every class. If you must miss a class, it is
your responsibility to make up the material. For extenuating circumstances, contact the
instructor about excused absences via private to ""instructors" messages on the message
board. See also university attendance regulations and university definitions of excused
absences.

Class evaluations online: Online class evaluations will be available for students to
complete during the last week of class. Students will receive an email message directing
them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID and complete evaluations. All
evaluations are confidential; instructors will never know how any particular individual
student responded to any question, and students will never know the ratings for any
particular instructors. For additional information write to the student help desk:
[email protected]

Audit: Audit students must complete all homework assignments and quizzes with a 70%
total average score. That is, they do not have to complete the project.

“Withdrawal” and “Incomplete” Policies: Any student who enrolls, but does not complete
the course work or process a withdrawal form before the end of the University’s official drop
period for the semester will receive a 0, unless they initiate one of the following options:

a. The student is passing and officially drops the course after six weeks. In this case the
student will be given a “W”. Passing this course is defined as having earned an average
grade in the course of a C or above on the date of the student’s request for the “W”. This
option will only be available in keeping with the current NCSU policy.

b. The student receives an “I”. This grade will be given only in special documented
circumstances when a student, for some serious reason, cannot complete the course by the
required deadline. An “I” will be given only if the student has completed at least 80% of the
course. An “I” cannot be used to simply avoid a 0 grade. All work to complete the course
must be finished by the end of the next semester or the “I” will be changed to a 0 grade.
This option will only be available in keeping with the current NCSU policy.

Withdrawal for Behavior that Interferes with the Instructional Process: Interactions in
this class are expected to be professional and courteous. Disruptive behavior, which
impedes the teaching/learning process for other students, will not be tolerated. An instructor
may withdraw a student for disruptive behavior that is interfering with the instructional
process (such as students using portable phones or radios, or harassing faculty or other
students on forums or in-person). For further information see “Students Rights,
Responsibilities, and Conduct” in the NCSU catalog.
Please make sure you fully understand this agreement as you will be held to the entire
policy as stated above.

Transportation: This course has no transportation requirements.

Safety and Risk Assumption: This course does not require laboratory, physical activity,
field trips, studios or other special activities that would impact safety.

Additional NC State Rules and Regulations: Students are responsible for reviewing the
NC State University Policies, Rules, and Regulations (PRRs) which pertain to their course
rights and responsibilities, including those referenced both below and above in this syllabus:

> Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy Statement

https://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-05 with additional references at
https://oied.ncsu.edu/divweb/policies/

> Code of Student Conduct https://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures continue to be implemented across
campus. Students should stay current with these practices and expectations through the
Protect the Pack website (https://www.ncsu.edu/coronavirus/). The sections below provide
expectations and conduct related to COVID-19 issues.
Health and Participation in Class
We are most concerned about your health and the health of your classmates and
instructors/TAs.
● If you test positive for COVID-19, or are told by a healthcare provider that you are
presumed positive for the virus, you should not attend any face-to-face (F2F) classes or
face-to-face component of a hybrid class. Work with your instructor on any adjustments
necessary; also follow other university guidelines, including self-reporting (Coronavirus
Self Reporting): Self-reporting is not only to help provide support to you but also to
assist in contact tracing for containing the spread of the virus.
● If you feel unwell, even if you have not been knowingly exposed to COVID-19, please do
not come to a F2F class or activity.
● If you are in quarantine, have been notified that you may have been exposed to
COVID-19, or have a personal or family situation related to COVID-19 that prevents you
from attending this course in person (or synchronously), please connect with your
instructor to make alternative plans, as necessary.
● If you need to make a request for an academic consideration related to COVID-19, such
as a discussion about possible options for remote learning, please talk with your
instructor.
Health and Well-Being Resources
These are difficult times, and academic and personal stress are natural results. 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 (NCSU Counseling Center)
● Student Health Services (Health Services | Student)
● If the 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: (Share a Concern).
● If you or someone you know are experiencing food, housing, or financial insecurity,
please see the Pack Essentials Program (Pack Essentials).
Community Standards related to COVID-19
We are all responsible for protecting ourselves and our community. Please see the community
standards and Rule 04.21.01 regarding Personal Safety Requirements Related to COVID-19
RUL 04.21.01 – Personal Safety Requirements Related to COVID-19 – Policies, Regulations &
Rules
Course Expectations Related to COVID-19:
● Face Coverings: All members of the NC State academic community are expected to
follow all university policies and guidelines, including the Personal Safety Rule and
community standards, for the use of face coverings.
● Course Attendance: NC State attendance policies can be found at: REG 02.20.03 –
Attendance Regulations – Policies, Regulations & Rules. Please refer to the course’s
attendance, absence, and deadline policies for additional details. If you are quarantined
or otherwise need to miss class because you have been advised that you may have
been exposed to COVID-19, you should not be penalized regarding attendance or class
participation. However, you will be expected to develop a plan to keep up with your
coursework during any such absences. If you become ill with COVID-19, you should
follow the steps outlined in the health and participation section above.
● Technology Requirements: This course may require particular technologies to
complete coursework. Be sure to review the syllabus for these expectations, and see
the syllabus technical requirements for your course. If you need access to additional
technological support, please contact the Libraries’ Technology Lending Service:
(Technology Lending).
Course Delivery Changes Related to COVID-19
Please be aware that the situation regarding COVID-19 is frequently changing, and the delivery
mode of this course could change accordingly, including from in-person to remote. Regardless
of the delivery method, we will strive to provide a high-quality learning experience.
NO LONGER AVAILABLE - Grading/Scheduling Changing Options Related to COVID-19
Two policies, enhanced S/U Grading Option and Late Drop, put in place at the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic have been discontinued.
In some cases, an option may be to request an “incomplete” in the course. If you are
experiencing difficult or extenuating circumstances, you should discuss possible options with
your instructor and your academic advisor.
Need Help?
If you find yourself in a place where you need help, academically or otherwise, please review
these Step-by-Step Help Topics. (Insert information or links for college or departmental level
support programs, if available.)
Other Important Resources
● Keep Learning: Keep Learning
● Protect the Pack FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions | Protect the Pack
● NC State Protect the Pack Resources for Students: Resources for Students | Protect
the Pack
● Academic Success Center (tutoring, drop in advising, career and wellness advising):
Academic Success Center.
● NC State Keep Learning, tips for students opting to take courses remotely:
Keep Learning Tips for Remote Learning
● Introduction to Zoom for students:
https://youtu.be/5LbPzzPbYEw
● Learning with Moodle, a student’s guide to using Moodle:
https://moodle-projects.wolfware.ncsu.edu/course/view.php?id=226
● NC State Libraries Technology Lending Program