CE 403 Section 001: Civil Eng. Prj. Bld. Design

Weekly Reports

Weekly project reports are required from each group and submitted electronically to BOTH INSTRUCTORS AND DESIGN PARTNERS.  These reports must be written in a professional manner and include, at a minimum, a list of the week’s accomplishments, problems that may have been encountered during the week, and a plan for the upcoming week.  A Gantt Chart should be included with each weekly group report. The responsibility (authorship) for the report will rotate equally among team members, with the report author clearly identified.  These reports will be used to confirm appropriate progress is being made on the project and will be graded for both technical and grammatical content.  Reports will be graded by the faculty instructor and returned prior to the next report submission.  Report style information for the weekly group reports will be provided separately and must be followed.

Biweekly Reports

In addition to the weekly group progress report, each group member is to submit a biweekly personal progress report electronically to the faculty instructors.  These reports must be written in a professional manner and include, at a minimum, both self and peer evaluations, and specific discussion of your own contributions to the project, including documentation of use of appropriate computer applications to fulfill the design requirements. This report will again be graded for both technical and grammatical content.  Report style information for the weekly group reports will be provided separately and must be followed.

Midterm Reports

Simultaneous to the group’s preliminary report (which will be due at approximately week 9), an individual report is required from each student.  The report will include only original writing of the individual, but may contain graphical and design summaries that are the work of the group.  The content of the report shall focus on the individual contributions of the individual to the team to date, including documentation of use of appropriate computer applications to fulfill the design requirements.  Report style information will be provided separately and must be followed.  This report will also be graded by the instructors and returned.

Final Individual Report

A final report is required from each student.  The intent of the final individual report is to allow each student the opportunity to review their own contributions as an individual to overall accomplishments of the team, as well as the contributions of others.  This is a non-technical report and will be the basis of the peer-evaluations.  This is similar to employee evaluations which may be required of an engineering manager in practice. Report style information will be provided separately and must be followed.

Preliminary Report

Each group will provide a comprehensive preliminary report and present the report to the instructors and an instructor-selected review panel. Report style and specific content information will be provided later and must be followed.

Final Report

Each group will provide a comprehensive final report and present the report to the instructors and an instructor-selected review panel. Report style and specific content information will be provided later and must be followed.

Graduation Portfolio

The CE program requires every student in every CE class to submit a course portfolio.  In CE 401/402/403/404, rather than submitting a course portfolio, each student must submit a graduation portfolio.  The graduation portfolio is different from a course portfolio in that students must provide evidence that they have achieved the entire set of program outcomes (see Student Learning Outcomes section).  Students are expected to draw evidence from many different courses and other officially recognized University co- and extra-curricular activities associated the undergraduate program (e.g., cooperative education, student organizations, and formal internships).

Additional information and tips on preparing a graduation portfolio is available on the department’s website.  A review and help session will be offered during the semester to assist students in preparing their portfolio.  Students are expected to begin assembling their portfolios well in advance of the help session and final portfolio due date.

Grades  The course grade will be determined based on two categories: (1) individual effort (reports completed and submitted as an individual) and (2) group effort (projects and reports complete and submitted as a member of a group.  Grades resulting from the group effort will be adjusted based on both peer and instructor evaluations (i.e., not everyone in a team will receive the same grade for their group effort). See the Exams and Assignments section for a description of the reports)

Individual Effort (see descriptions of each item)

      Weekly and Biweekly Reports¹:                                                     5%

      Midterm Report¹:                                                                            5%

      Final Report¹                                                                                                   5%

Group Effort (see descriptions of each item)

      Preliminary Written Report/Presentation                                        25%

      Final Report/Presentation                                                               50%

      Panel Evaluations                                                                           10%

¹Students must receive a passing grade on the individual reports to receive a passing grade in the course.  Both writing skills and use of appropriate computer applications will be assessed. 

W and C Designations  As noted in the grading policy, students must receive a passing grade from the individual report assignments to receive a passing course grade.  As a W course, the writing of the various reports will be assessed.  As a C course, the use of appropriate computer applications for completion of the project will also be assessed.  “

   a.  A passing grade requires demonstration of writing proficiency.  Such proficiency includes the ability to write coherent, logical, and carefully edited prose.  A student who does not write with the skill normally required of an upper-division engineering student will not be given a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs other course requirements.

   b.  A passing grade requires demonstration of computer proficiency.  Such proficiency includes the ability to use appropriate software to complete the design project.  A student who does not demonstrate the proper use of appropriate software will not be given a passing grade, no matter how well the student performs other course requirements..

   c.  At least two weekly reports will be written by each individual on behalf of the team (ten weekly reports for a team of five, with each member writing two reports).   Report style information will be provided later and must be followed.  At least one of each individual’s weekly reports will be required to be submitted and will be graded and returned by midterm and in advance of the submission of the individual midterm report.  In case of an unsatisfactory performance on the first report, a rewrite may be allowed.  The second report cannot be rewritten.

   d.  Biweekly reports will be written by each individual.  Report style information will be provided later and must be followed.  Prior to the comprehensive midterm report (item d), a rewrite may be allowed in case of an unsatisfactory performance on a biweekly report.  Subsequent reports cannot be rewritten.

   e.  Acomprehensive individual midterm report is required from each student.  The report will include only original writing by the individual as well as specific documentation of the individuals own use of appropriate computer applications to fulfill the requirements of the project. The report, however, may contain graphical and design summaries that are the work of the group.  This report will be graded by the instructor for both technical and grammatical content.  In case of an unsatisfactory performance on the midterm report, a rewrite may be allowed.

   f.  A final report is required from each student evaluating their own contribution, participation and role in the team effort, including documentation of the individuals own use of appropriate computer applications to fulfill the requirements of the project.  The report will also include an assessment of the other team members’ contributions, participation and roles in the team effort.  This is similar to employee evaluations which may be required of an engineering manager in practice.

    g.  These written formal assignments must be individual efforts.  Group effort within the design project is required; however, group writing of these individually authors reports is not appropriate, and will be considered plagiarizing.

Portfolio Grading Each graduation portfolio will be reviewed and evaluated by both faculty and members of the department’s advisory board.  Students MUST demonstrate acceptable achievement of all program outcomes in order to receive a passing grade in this course.