Business Database Systems
The University of Akron
Graduate
ISM 641-801 (3 Credits)
In-Person
Term: 2026 Fall
Location
Wednesdays: 6:00-8:30 PM; August 24-December 6, 2026. Regular Classroom: CBA 176 (Computer Lab).
Instructor Qualifications
Ph.D. in Business (Artificial Intelligence), The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Master in Systems Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Bachelor in Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Bachelor in Applied Mathematics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Course Description
Introduction to issues underlying the analysis, design, implementation, and management of business databases. (Formerly 6500:641)
Required Texts and Materials
-
Database Systems
Subtitle: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and Management
ISBN: 978-0132943260
Authors: Thomas M. Connolly and Carolyn E. Begg
Publisher: Pearson
Edition: 6th
- Liping Liu, Lecture Note on Data Management, available on ecourse.org
Assessment and Grading
Grading Scale
Final Grade Calculation
Description of Assessments
Makeup: Each student with appropriate excuses may have at most one chance to makeup homework or quiz. Note that it is your privilege but not right to have this special favor. Also, all makeups must be completed within one week of due date and before answer key is released.
Exams: This course will have two major exams as scheduled above. Each exam includes both hands-on and written problems.
Weekly Assignments: Homework is assigned once a week for 12 weeks; each consists of conceptual questions and hands-on projects classified into three grading categories: correctness, closeness, and completeness. The correctness problems will be graded by ecourse.org, and closeness questions are graded and/or commented by instructors. Students will earn points automatically for each completeness question if it is finished (it has to be deemed complete). Assignments are due at the beginning of each class meeting. No late homework will be graded. In addition, a semester-long project is assigned at the beginning of the course and due in the last class. Please show your work in a neat and orderly fashion. If it is a written assignment, write or type your work on one side and in every other line. Use standard size paper (8 1/2'' by 11''). Do not use spiral notebook paper.
Your final grades will be calculated by the following formulas:
40% (HW) + 50% (Tests or Projects) + 10% (Attendance)
A = 93-100%; A– = 90-92%; B+ = 87-89%; B = 83-86%; B– = 80-82%; C+ = 77-79%; C = 73-76%; C– =70-72%; D = 60-69%; F = 59% and less
University Policies
What Students Need to Know
You can find detailed information on the University of Akron's policies on the What Students Need to Know page. including the Student Code of Conduct, academic misconduct rules, ethical use of AI tools like ChatGPT, add/drop/withdrawal and refund policies, inclusive excellence, Title IX, sexual harassment and violence policies, disability accommodations, support programs like ZipAssist, and first-day course materials fee.
Accessibility Services
Pursuant to University policy #3359-38-01, The University of Akron recognizes its responsibility for creating an institutional atmosphere in which students with disabilities have the opportunity to be successful. Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility at 330-972-7928 or access@uakron.edu. The office is located in Simmons Hall Room 105.
After your eligibility for services is determined, their instructors will be provided a letter which will outline the student’s accommodations.
Religious Accommodations for Students
The University prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion and welcomes individuals from all different faiths, philosophies, religious traditions, and other systems of belief. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 3345.026 (aka “The Testing Your Faith Act”) you may request a religious accommodation to be excused from class up to three (3) days for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system to participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or other religious or spiritual organization. You will not be penalized as a result of any of these excused absences.
The request for excusal must be made, in writing, during the first fourteen (14) days of the semester and include the date(s) of each proposed absence or request for alternative accommodation. The request must clearly state that the proposed absence is to participate in religious activities. The request must also provide the particular accommodation(s) you desire. For example, you may request to be excused from class to participate or observe a religious holiday or you may request an alternate examination date. An alternative examination date may be established, which may be before or after the time and date the examination or other academic requirement was originally scheduled.
The following is a link to the Policy: https://uakron.edu/hr/eeoaa/religious-accommodations.
Course Policies
Emergency Contact
In the unlikely event that you are unable to reach your instructor based on the guidelines outlined using the above contact and expected response time, please contact the department chair for this course via email at [deptchairemail@uakron.edu].
Attendance Policy
Attendance is MUST and will be 10% of your final grade. Attendance will be managed by ecourse.org system. The formula for computing your attendance grade is non-linear. It will take 3 points off for the first absence and 7 points off for second absence. If you missed the equivalent of three-week classes, you fail the course automatically. Under special situations, you can take some classes online with the following guidelines:
- You must obtain permission from the instructor at least one day ahead of each online session
- Follow the lectures or recordings to perform all in-class hands-on exercises and take notes. Within one day from the class submit your notes and the finished exercises to ecourse.org as Proof of Attendance.
- All weekly assignments are due at the same time as in-person classes. All exams must be onsite.
AI Policy
In this class, I allow students to use AI tools to help their learning. However, submitting AI generated work for credits is a violation of academic code. If a submitted work is suspected to be AI generated, the student will be asked to reproduce the submitted work in front of the instructor.
Other Policies
Misconduct: Academic misconduct by a student shall include, but not limited to: disruption of classes, giving and receiving unauthorized aid on exams or in the preparation of assignments, unauthorized removal of materials from the library, or knowingly misrepresenting the source of any academic work. Academic misconduct by an instructor shall include, but not limited to: grading student work by criteria other than academic performance or repeated and willful neglect in the discharge of duly assigned academic duties.
Collaboration: All for-credit assignments, except for those designated as group projects, must be done independently, and collaboration in providing or asking for answers to those assignments constitutes cheating.
School Rule Cited: For graduate students that have been caught cheating: First offense = either a zero on the exam or assignment, or an F in the course; Second offense = Either an F in the course or expulsion (depending upon the punishment of the first offense)
Students must join the class team in MS Teams to download class lecture recordings, data sets, and software and must sign up an student account with ecourse.org (go to https://www.ecourse.org) (if not have one yet), via which they can manage assignments, download course materials, take exams, track performance, and access a lot of learning resources.
After signup and login, use Xess code (Y0V51HNIZ6 for SIM 641) to connect to your course using the link "Enroll Directly" (see below)
After you signup, I will verify your request and approve your signup. Then, you can access course materials by going to "Download Courseware" page (see screenshot below).
Here is a list of required software tools to be covered by the class.
University Resources
Academic Support
Find resources to help you succeed in every course here, including registration, academic advising, tutoring, testing services, library access, and course materials.
Student Support
Explore services that support your academic, personal, and professional growth here. Learn about programs designed to help all students thrive including Zip Assist, career services, student perks, counseling, and more.
Technical Support
Learn how to get technical support for the technologies used in your classes here. This includes links to the Help Desk, technology requirements, privacy policies, and an online orientation course. Not sure who to contact? If you need help with course content (for example, writing a paper), contact your instructor. If you need help submitting that paper or logging in, contact the IT Help Desk.
|
