Vector Calculus
(Calc. III)
Math 241.002 and Math 241.004
Fall 2026

The Basics

Contacting Prof. Girardi

The best way to contact Prof. G is via Blackboard's messages. You may send her, e.g.: logical questions (needing clarity) or request an office visit outside her scheduled office hours (send her time slots you are available).

If your message includes a file (e.g. .jpeg, .pdf, .png), send the file as an ATTACHMENT (rather than in-line). Feel free to Bb message Prof. G at any hour and please allow sufficient time for a response.

You can always talk to Prof. Girardi before or after class.

Learning Outcomes

Course Topics

Math 241 will cover selected sections from the textbook Sections 12.1-16.4. Taking a (highly recommended) glance through the textbook will give a brief overview of the course.

MyLab Math (MML)

Since homework due dates depend upon where the lecture stopped, sometimes due dates are not known until the end of a lecture. (I do not like to give HW before you are ready for it.)  A MML assignment might be posted early, in which case the assignment is given a 'fake' due date (which will be after the semester is over) and the true due date will be posted when it is known. A MML assignment might not be posted until after the class. If in doubt of what is due when, just ask Prof. G at the end of class.

Thus MML assignments, with due dates, are posted on MML. Your MML current score is also on MML (not Bb).

Sources of Help

For Math 241, USC's Student Success Center (SSC) offers several sources of (free) help.

• Drop-in tutoring (around 9 locations, no appointment needed).  [usually for Math 241 there are many time slots at SWGN]
  For more info (e.g., locations and times), visit SSC → Undergraduate Student Support → Tutoring → Drop-in Tutoring.
• One-on-one peer tutoring either in person or virtual (appt needed).
  To make an appointment, visit SSC → Undergraduate Student Support → Tutoring → Make An Appointment (toward top of page).

Another source of help is Prof. Girardi's office hours. The math department posts a list of (not free) private tutors at the site: Math Tutoring Center.

Collaboration

Academic Honesty in the 2020's

• using generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT)
• using solutions found on the internet
• purchasing work from a company (such as Chegg.com)
• having or hiring another person/entity do the work for you

If you ever have any uncertainty about the ground rules then just ask for clarification from Prof. Girardi, who encourages productive collaboration.

What to do if miss class / Attendance

Attendance and class participation expectations are as stated in the following USC policy (source: https://academicbulletins.sc.edu/undergraduate/ →Undergraduate Policy and Regulations→Undergraduate Academic Regulations→Grading Policies).

Enrollment in a course obligates the student not only for prompt completion of all work assigned but also for punctual and regular attendance and for participation in whatever class discussion may occur. It is the student's responsibility to keep informed concerning all assignments made. Absences, whether excused or unexcused, do not absolve the student from this responsibility.

As long as student class attendance is regular, daily attendance will not be taken. If daily attendance becomes necessary, then there will be an announcement in class.

Excused Absences

Make-up work is provided only for an approved excused absence.

For excused absences, we will follow the University’s policy, which is at: https://academicbulletins.sc.edu/undergraduate/policies-regulations/undergraduate-academic-regulations/ → Attendance Policy.

An excused absence must be approved by the Office of Student Advocacy, whose link contains:

• the circumstances for which a petition for an excused absence will be considered
• the link/form for petitioning for an excused absence.

If you petition for an excused absence

For absences that are known at the beginning of the semester (such as religious holidays or authorized university activities), students need to submit their petition to the Office of Student Advocacy and provide Prof. Girardi a written notice no later than the second week of class.

Course Policies / Common Sense / Courtesy / Integrity

Classroom Environment: Attendance/Timeliness/CellPhones. USC policy states:

Enrollment in a course obligates the student not only for prompt completion of all work assigned but also for punctual and regular attendance and for participation in whatever class discussion may occur. It is the student's responsibility to keep informed concerning all assignments made. Absences, whether excused or unexcused, do not absolve the student from this responsibility.

1. Please feel free to ask questions in class! Questions are highly encouraged since questions help fill in gaps that need filling before starting the HW.
2. I often call on students in class. Please do not let this scare you since, if so needed, I will guide the student to the answer. Look at it as your personal learning opportunity. Also, if one student is unsure, the chances are many students are unsure. We are all here to learn and we can learn from each other!
3. Students are expected to attend the entire class meeting: late arrivals and early depatures disrupt the class. Repeated late arrivals and/or early departures will not be tolerated. If you must leave class early, inform the instructor before the class begins, sit near the door, and gracefully exit. If you must arrive late, discretely find an open seat (and inform the instructor before hand if you know this will happen).
4. During class, cell phones and other electronic devices (such as earbuds or bluetooth but with the discussed exception for electronic tablets) are to be turned off and stored in a closed (e.g., zipped or buttoned) bag (e.g., backpack or purse); they may not be stored in your clothing (e.g., jacket pocket). If you do not have proper storage then you may give the device to the instructor, who will store it on the instructor's table/desk during class.

Electronic Tablets. If you use an electronic tablet to take class notes during class, then your tablet must remain flat on your desk (as one does when writing). Otherwise you will lose the privilege of using a tablet in class.

Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty. The first line of USC's Carolinian Creed is As a Carolinian I will practice personal and academic integrity. We expect this of the entire Carolina family. For more information see USC Academic Integrity. If you ever have the least bit of uncertainty about what constitutes academic integrity, just ask for clarification from Prof. Girardi, who encourages collaboration. Below are some basic Academic Integrity Policies we will follow.

• if two or more students from the class chooses to utilize a site/link/platform/group (e.g., GroupMe, Discord) for communication, then Prof. Girardi must be made aware and invited
• no cheating on any assignment or exam
• no use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• no inappropriate sharing of homework solutions
• no inappropriate use of the internet for solutions (eg. solution sites as Chegg.com).
• no electronic posting of the class notes nor other course material without prior written permission from Prof. Girardi
• no improper emailing of students.

ADA. If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Dissabilities Act and you have registered with the UofSC Office of Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC), you need to speak with Prof. Girardi before using an approved accommodation. We will discuss how to best handle your SDRC accommodations as so to meet your needs. We will not discuss of your specific disability.

Gamecock School Supplies. The SSC's Gamecock School Supplies provides free school supplies to all USC students.

Recording of Class. Recording (of any type, including but not limited to: audio, visual) of any part of the class is prohibited without the prior written permission the Prof. Girardi.

Grading Policies (tentative)

There will be 3 standard exams (between the first and last days of classes) along with a cummulative final exam. All exams are closed books/notes. Calculators are not allowed nor needed. No exam grade is dropped. There will be no make-up exams (except with an approved excused absence).

The main type of progress checks are MML homework and in-class quizzes. There could also be other progress checks (e.g., group work, non-MML homework), in which case the score will be put into either the MML HW or in-class quizzes.

No late MML assignments and no make-up exams (except with an approved excused absence). On MML HW, calculators are needed and allowed. On in-class quizzes, calculators are not allowed nor needed.

Your goal is to gain a working knowledge of the material; you have some personal freedom in this pursuit. By the end of the semester, demonstrate that you have mastered the material and your grade will be agreeable. With this in mind, your course grade (tentatively) will be based on your (personal) higher percentage in the below 2 schemes.

Since Bb is unable to calculate grades that take the higher of 2 schemes (with is to your advantage), grades will not be done on Bb. (I'll just do using excel, where it is easy to do). Between MML HW (your overall score is on MML), quizzes (your score is on Bb) and returned standard exams, you will have all the information needed to calculate your grade situation going into the final. Please ask me if you need help doing so.

The baseline score is indicated below. These thresholds may be lowered (at the end of the semester) if appropriate.

If taking daily attendance becomes necessary, the USC 5% rule will apply. Having more than 5% unexcused absences will result in lowering your course grade by one full letter grade. For a 50 minutes (resp. 75 minutes) class that meets 3 (resp. 2) times a week, this translates to 2 (resp. 1) unexcused absence without penalty for the entire semester. Of course, only absences after daily attendance begun will be (can be) be counted.

Your course PIN will be posted on Bb shortly after the last day to drop without a W. Your PIN is a three digit number that helps Prof. Girardi correctly record your scores (the first digit indicates your course/section number and the last two digits indicates your place on the roster within your section). This method is used since double last names habitually can cause problems when submitting grades. In order to receive credit for an assignment done on paper, your PIN must be on the paper. So please note your PIN somewhere you can find it when needed. Bring a photo ID to each exam.

Questions on Returned Work

After an exam or assignment is returned, you are encouraged to look through the feedback. It is important that we identify precisely where your misunderstanding is and clear up the misunderstanding. Just seeing or reading a correct solution is not as helpful. Thus, in her office, Prof. Girardi will gladly discuss your returned work and clear up your misunderstandings. This way you get the personal help you need to be sure you succeed in this course.

Prof. Girardi is glad to answer your questions over the grading of your work but you must ask within 6 days from the date the graded work is returned. Out of respect of your privacy, grading matters should not be done during class time (in front of the entire class).

Workload for University Courses

* This syllabus is subject to change.