Mentor Program for CS 180 Students - Spring 2009

In the following you will find information regarding the Mentor Program running at the Computer Science Department of Purdue University for the CS 180 course during the Spring 2009 semester. If you have additional questions, please email Debbie.

What is the Mentor Program?

This program aims at providing additional help for students attending what is perhaps the most important course in the Computer Science Department. All CS 180 students are invited to it. The Mentor Program focuses on helping students overcome any difficulties they may find on their way to satisfying the course requirements.

Students can get help by participating in a weekly study group meeting and by contacting the mentor on an individual basis. During the study group meeting, the students and the mentor will discuss questions and concerns about the course. They will also have the opportunity to go over old exam questions, or any other topic relevant to the course material.

Moreover, the mentor will follow the students' progress to make sure all students have the chance to get the help they need.

Who is the mentor? When and where can I find the mentor?

Mentor: Debbie Perouli Email: depe@cs.purdue.edu

Office locations and phone numbers: LWSN B116J (49-69435), HAAS 266 (49-49165)

Study Group Meeting: Tuesday, 5:00-7:00pm, in LWSN B131.

Office Hours: Thursday, 5:00-7:00pm, in LWSN B116J. You are also welcome to schedule an appointment or stop by her office (please take a look at Debbie's schedule).

Mentor or TA?

• You feel you are getting behind and would like to catch up on your studying.
• You would like to study together with other classmates and listen to their questions in a group discussion led by a graduate student.
• You need somebody to spend more time with you individually, or you are not sure how you should study.
• You doubt that your question is worth asking, and you would rather ask it to someone who does not grade you! (At any case, please keep in mind that there are only stupid answers.)
• You want to get advice on the course from someone who is like a big sister to you :)
• You just feel that you need more help with the course.

There will be credit for anyone coming to the mentor's office hours or the study group. This will be 1/3 of a percentage point of extra credit per meeting attended applied to your final grade in the course. That means you need to come and see the mentor at least three times to get one point. At any case, the maximum extra credit allowed is 5 percent (applied to your final grade).

The extra credit does not apply to cases where the mentor asks a student to come to a meeting. For instance, Debbie may invite you to schedule an appointment with her, if she would like to discuss with you your progress in the course.