CS104c: Competitive Programming

• Spring 2024: 50635
• 16 Jan - 29 Apr 2024

Lectures

• F 2 pm
• GDC 1.304

Help Sessions

• F 3 pm
• GDC basement

Instructors

TAs

Getting Started

• We expect each student to abide by the University of Texas Honor Code: "As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the university's core values and uphold academic integrity." Therefore, plagiarism is taken very seriously at UT. In this class, we permit discussing problem solutions with other students, asking others for conceptual help with a problem, looking online for tutorials explaining how to solve a problem, or getting help from a classmate debugging code you wrote. However, all code you turn in must be your own. The penalty for copying code (either from another student or the Internet) is an F in the course.
• Sign into Canvas and confirm your registration for the course. Check your grades regularly.
• Sign up for a Codeforces account to access the problems.
• Confirm that you have access to Ed Discussion on Canvas to post class questions.
• If it involves something personal, like your grade, please make a private post on Ed Discussion.
• Sign up for a GitLab account and clone the class repo to access the slides.
  • git clone https://gitlab.com/gpdowning/cs104c.git
• Sign up for a CSES account.
• Sign up for a Zoom account. You must use your UT EID credentials. Ensure that you have the latest version of the app: 5.17.2.

Lectures Online

• This class is using the Lectures Online recording system. This system records the audio and video material presented in class for you to review after class. Links for the recordings will appear in the Lectures Online tab on the Canvas page for this class. You will find this tab along the left side navigation in Canvas.
• To review a recording, simply click on the Lectures Online navigation tab and follow the instructions presented to you on the page. You can learn more about how to use the Lectures Online system at https://sites.la.utexas.edu/lecturesonline/students/how-to-access-recordings/.
• You can find additional information about Lectures Online at: https://sites.la.utexas.edu/lecturesonline/.

Topics

• graphs, search
• shortest path
• binary search
• greedy algorithms
• dynamic programming
• number theory
• segment trees
• max flow
• union find
• string algorithms
• geometry

Grading

• We will compute your grade with an innovative approach called specifications grading.
• We will evaluate each assignment on whether or not it meets the stated specifications.
• Here's the EMRN scale:

• The Canvas grade book uses a numerical scoring system and therefore we will map the EMRN scale onto a numerical scale:
  • E (2) [Excellent/Exemplary]
  • M (1) [Meets Expectations]
  • R / N (0) [Revision Needed / Not Assessable]

• In this class, an E will not affect your final grade. Instead, it will just be a recognition that you went above and beyond what we expected. Additionally, you will have only one week to revise an R to an M/E.

Grades (number of E's or M's)

• Note: Your course grade will depend on the number of assignments you complete with an E or an M. It will then be the lowest grade in all of the assignment categories.

BeVocal

• BeVocal is a university-wide initiative to promote the idea that individual Longhorns have the power to prevent high-risk behavior and harm. At UT Austin, all Longhorns can intervene and reduce injury. To learn more about BeVocal and how you can help to build a culture of care on campus, go to BeVocal.

Communication

• Please use Ed Discussion for all of your communication with the staff.

Counseling and Mental Health Center

• Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep, and taking some time to relax. That lifestyle will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.
• All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources available on campus, and an essential part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful.
• Please seek support at the Counseling and Mental Health Center if you or anyone you know experiences academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression.

Disability & Access (D&A)

• The university is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive learning environment consistent with university policy and federal and state law. Please let me know if you experience any barriers to learning so I can work with you to ensure you have an equal opportunity to participate fully in this course. If you are a student with a disability or think you may have a disability and need accommodations, please get in touch with Disability & Access (D&A). Please refer to the D&A website for more information: https://community.utexas.edu/disability/.

Prerequisites

• Computer Science 311 or 311H with a grade of at least C-, and registration or credit in Computer Science 314 or 314H with a grade of at least C-.

MOSS

• We will compare your programming assignments with MOSS. You may share design ideas with your fellow students. You may not share code in any way.

Sanger Learning Center

• Did you know that more than 1/3 of UT undergraduate students use the Sanger Learning Center each year to improve their academic performance? All students are welcome to take advantage of their classes and workshops, private learning specialist appointments, peer academic coaching, and tutoring for more than 70 courses in 15 different subject areas. For more information, please visit or call 512-471-3614 (JES A332).

Title IX Reporting

• Title IX is a federal law that protects against sex and gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating/domestic violence, and stalking at federally funded educational institutions. UT Austin is committed to fostering a learning and working environment free from discrimination in all its forms.
• When sexual misconduct occurs in our community, the university can:
  • Intervene to prevent harmful behavior from continuing or escalating.
  • Provide support and remedies to students and employees who have experienced harm or have become involved in a Title IX investigation.
  • Investigate and discipline violations of the university's relevant policies.
• Texas Senate Bill 212 requires all employees of Texas universities, including faculty, to report any information to the Title IX office regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking that you disclose to them. Texas law requires that all employees who witness or receive any information of this type (including, but not limited to, writing assignments, class discussions, or one-on-one conversations) must report it. I am a responsible employee and must report any Title IX-related incidents that you disclose in writing, discussion, or one-on-one. Before talking with me or with any faculty or staff member about a Title IX-related incident, be sure to ask whether they are a responsible employee. If you would like to speak with someone who can provide support or remedies without making an official report to the university, please e-mail advocate@austin.utexas.edu. For more information about reporting options and resources, visit Title IX, contact the Title IX office via e-mail at titleix@austin.utexas.edu, or call 512-471-0419.
• Although graduate teaching and research assistants are not subject to Texas Senate Bill 212, they are still mandatory reporters under Federal Title IX laws. They are required to report a wide range of behaviors we refer to as sexual misconduct, including the types of sexual misconduct covered under Texas Senate Bill 212. The Title IX office has developed supportive ways to respond to survivors and has compiled campus resources to support survivors.

Zoom

• We reserve the class recordings for students only, and FERPA protects them. You are not allowed to share the class recordings outside of class in any form. Violation of this restriction by a student may lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.

Copyright © Glenn P. Downing, 2014-2024
Updated 27 Jan 2024