This document provides the syllabus for an undergraduate research course at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus. The course involves students conducting a research project under the supervision of Professor José L. Meléndez. Students will define their research topic, conduct activities like software development or literature reviews, and produce a final report and presentation. The course will use Moodle and Piazza for administration and communication. Students will be evaluated based on a project proposal, final report, presentation, and weekly updates. Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled meetings.

1. University of Puerto Rico
Mayagüez Campus
College of Engineering
Departments of
Computer Science and Engineering
Software Engineering
CIIC 4998/INSO 4998: Undergraduate Research
First Semester 2019-2020
Syllabus of the Course
Profesor:
José L. Meléndez, PhD
Office Hours: By appointment only
Office: Rectoria / S-701
Email: jose.melendez37@upr.edu
Introduction
This course involves the development of an approved research project related to Computer
Science and Engineering or Software Engineering, under the supervision of the noted
professor.
Objectives
Students will work under the supervision of the noted professor to define the research
project, and then conduct related research activities that may include software
development, systems development, experiments, field studies, and literature reviews to
complete report(s), paper(s) and software demonstration(s) on the project outcomes.
Administration of the Course Applying Moodle
During the semester we will be using Moodle for the administration of the course. We will
be publishing materials for the course in the format of presentations and videos. In addition,
we will be using Moodle to record grades, administer assignments and take attendance.
Piazza.com
During this semester we will be using the Piazza platform as the main mechanism to
communicate between the members of the course. Piazza is a discussion forum in which
the questions and discussions of the class are held during the semester so that we can all
benefit from the information that is exchanged among the students and the professor.
Expectations for the Course
1. Be on Time for scheduled meetings (ready to report and participate)
2. Be and Stay Present (physically and mentally)
3. Be Respectful (don't do anything that may interfere with someone else's opportunity to
participate and learn).

2. Attendance and Participation in Course:
This course is face-to-face and during the course the professor will be meeting with
students regularly one-on-one and as a group. At the discretion of the professor, up to 25%
of the course interactions may be conducted on line as need. (See Certification 16-43 below
for applicable UPRM policy). In cases where a face-to-face course meeting session is to be
offered online instead, an announcement will be made in Piazza and/or in a prior meeting.
Attendance to course meeting sessions is mandatory. Attendance will be verified at the
beginning of each course meeting session using the list of students. Anyone who arrives
after having completed initial verification will be granted a tardy, instead of an absence.
However, every two tardies are counted as an absence. Finally, if you have more than 7
(seven) registered absences during the semester, without a valid and approved reason that
can be corroborated, your grade in the course will be F automatically. If you have to leave
the room for the duration of the course meeting session, you must then notify your reason
(without having to go into details) at the end of the course meeting session. Otherwise, the
exit will be counted as an absence. If you have to absent yourself from a course meeting
session for serious reasons, you will have to show evidence during office hours so that the
absence is not counted. Under no circumstances will it be accepted as a valid excuse that
you are absent to any session of our course for having to take an exam (or any activity of
that kind) of any other class at any time that matches those assigned to this course.
Evaluation
The evaluation in this course consists of a project report, demonstration, and weekly review
updates of assignments to deliver. The final grade obtained by the student will be based on
their performance in the different evaluation activities. In each activity the student obtains
a final score of 0 to 100. Each of these final scores per activity is used to calculate the final
average by applying the weight shown in the following table. Late work will receive a zero
(0) without the prior approval of the professor.
Quantity Percent
Project Report Proposal Abstract 1 5%
Project Report (Journal Format) 1 45%
Oral Report (Demo) 1 30%
Other: Weekly Review Updates 10 20%
TOTAL: 100%
Grade Assignment based on Final Average
Final Percent Grade
[90-100] A
[80-90) B
[70-80) C
[60-70) D
[0-60) F

3. Project Report (Journal Format) and Project Report Proposal Abstract
Project Report Proposal Abstract Due Date: Midnight, September 1, 2019
Project Report (Journal Format) Due Date: *Midnight, December 3, 2019
In this course, students will propose a specific topic for their Project Report that must be
approved by the Instructor. Each student must submit an abstract of their proposed Project
Report by the Project Report Proposal Abstract Due Date. The abstract must include a
project title, description, and a detailed schedule noting tasks by week and significant
milestones.
It is important to emphasize that the Project Report must be submitted on time, on or before
the date established. Project Reports submitted after the Final Due Date will not be
evaluated and will receive a zero, unless prior approval is received from the instructor. As
such students are encouraged to submit their Project Reports well in advance of the Due
Date.
Oral Report with Demo (60 Minutes)
Each student must also conduct an Oral Report presented to the professor (to be
scheduled by agreement with the professor) that will include a relevant software
demonstration and presentation of data. The student is expected to clearly summarize the
objectives and findings of their research, including their conclusions and suggestions for
future work.
Weekly Review Updates
Each student must submit a substantive one (1) paragraph project update report to the
professor by way of Piazza at least one (1) hour before the student’s scheduled one-on-one
meeting for the week. The student is not released from this obligation in the event that the
professor cancels a given weekly meeting or the student does not attend.
Item Tentative Due Dates
Proposal Report Proposal Abstract Midnight, September 1, 2019
Project Report (Journal Format) *Midnight, December 3, 2019
Oral Report (Demo) Times TBD, November 21, 2019
Weekly Review Updates Weekly, At least 1h before one-on-one meeting
*Note: The CSE Department Director has determined that CIIC4998/INSO4998 is a,
“curso de seminario de investigación,” and as such is exempt from the academic calendar
deadline for major evaluations. Any student objecting to the noted determination is
instructed to turn in their Project Report (Journal Format) no later than midnight of
November 22, 2019.

4. Sexual Harassment: Certification 130-2014-2015 states:
Sexual harassment in the workplace and in the study environment is an illegal and
discriminatory act and is against the best interests of the University of Puerto Rico. All
persons who understand they have been subject to acts of sexual harassment at the
University of Puerto Rico may file a complaint and request that the institution investigate,
where necessary, and assume the corresponding action by the university authorities. If the
complainant is a student, he or she must refer his or her complaint to the Office of the
Student Ombudsperson or that of the Dean of Students.
Hostigamiento Sexual: La certificación 130-2014-2015, indica:
El hostigamiento sexual en el empleo y en al ambiente de estudio es una práctica ilegal y
discriminatoria, ajena a los mejores intereses de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Toda
persona que entienda ha sido objeto de actuaciones constitutiva de hostigamiento sexual
en la Universidad de Puerto Rico podrá quejarse para que se investigue, de ser necesario,
y se tome la correspondiente acción por parte de las autoridades universitarias. Si quien
reclama fuera estudiante, deberá referir su queja a la Oficina de la Procuradora Estudiantil
o al Decanato de Estudiantes.
Certification 06-43 of the Academic Senate states, "The academic guidelines for
offering online courses," defines:
Traditional face-to-face courses are those that have less than 25% of the course's regular
contact hours via the Internet. Therefore, a three-credit course will be considered "face to
face" if, of the 45 hours of regular contact, 11 or less are taught via the Internet.
The following should be included in all syllabi:
According to certification 16-43 of the Academic Senate, a course may include up to 25%
of its total contact hours via the Internet. The objective of this is so that all professors have
this alternative in the case of any unscheduled eventuality.
La certificación 06-43 del Senado Académico indica “Las guias académicas para el
ofrecimiento de cursos en línea”, define:
Cursos presenciales son aquellos que tienen menos de un 25% de las horas contacto regular
del curso a través de la Internet. Así, un curso de 3 créditos, será considerado “presencial”
si, de las 45 horas de contacto regular, 11 o menos son a través de la Internet.
Se debe incluir en los prontuarios lo siguiente:
De acuerdo a la certificación 16-43 del senado académico, el curso puede incluir hasta un
25% del total de horas contacto a través de la Internet

5. Law 51:
The Comprehensive Educational Services Act for People with disabilities states that after
identifying with the instructor and the institution, the student with disabilities will receive
reasonable accommodation in their courses and evaluations. For more information contact
the Department of Counseling and Psychological services at the Office of the Dean of
Students (Office DE 21) or call 787-265-3864 or 787-832-4040 x 3772, 2040 and 3864.
Ley 51:
Ley de Servicios Educativos Integrales para Personas con Impedimentos: Después de
identificarse con el profesor y la institución, los estudiantes con impedimento recibirán
acomodo razonable en sus cursos y evaluaciones. Para más información comuníquese con
el Departamento de Consejería y Servicios Psicológicos en el Decanato de Estudiantes
(Oficina DE 21) o a los teléfonos 787-265-3864 ó 787-832-4040 x 3772, 2040 y 3864.
University Regulation on Academic Integrity
Article 10 of the General Student Regulations of the University of Puerto Rico contains 15
points that are considered "infractions of the essential norms of order and university
coexistence and result in disciplinary sanctions." Here is one of the points. The obtaining
of grades or academic degrees using false and fraudulent simulations, or posing as another
person, or by trick or deception, or copying all or part of the academic work of another
student, or copying totally or partially the answers of another student to the questions of an
exam, or doing or obtaining that another takes in its name any test or oral or written
examination. Violations of these points may entail some of the following sanctions:
1. Admonition
2. Probation for a defined time during which another violation of any rule will result in
suspension or separation
3. Suspension from the University for a defined period of time. The violation of the terms
of the suspension will entail an increase in the period of suspension or definitive separation
of the University.
4. Definitive separation from the University.
The student who violates this regulation will obtain F in the class and his case may be
brought before the disciplinary board of the Campus.
Prontuario subject to change as deemed necessary.