This course is different from many other courses: to begin with, it only meets once a week, it will also only meet until November 6, after the date of the field trip to the ACM Programming Contest (unless we win the contest; if we win the contest, we can decide what we can do about further training sessions for the finals, next year. One possibility would be a special elective at the 40000 level for the Spring that would work similarly to this course).
The field trip will take place on November 2nd, we will leave in the afternoon, for Youngstown we will return on November 3d, after the contest, which concludes at 6:30 or so. Only six people will get to go, those six people to be determined by mid-October.
Since I am shortchanging you on the contact hours by cutting the course short on November 6, I will hold longer sessions starting October 1, eventually as long as 10:30, to simulate the 5 hours of a real contest. We may also schedule a contest tryout on a Saturday from 10 to 3. To alleviate hunger pangs, food will be made available during these longer class periods.
Also, you can always send email with questions and/or to set up an appointment. Usual turnaround will be a few hours during the day. Email use is to be preferred over voicemail, which will not be checked as often.
This syllabus may be changed during the semester if necesary: changes will be announced in class; they will also show up on the instructor's website.
The last day to withdraw is November 4, 2012.