Fairness, Explainability, and Accountability for Machine Learning

Important Announcements and Statements

Wellness This semester is unlike any other. We are all under a lot of stress and I know that attending Zoom classes and meetings all day can become overwhelming. Please make sure to take frequent breaks and move regularly, get enough sleep, eat well, and reach out to your support system or me if you need to. In addition, please take advantage of the many excellent resources that the university offers to support your overall health and wellness during these challenging times (see, for example, Counseling and Psychological Services).

Diversity. As the title of the course suggests, one of our key goals will be to promote fairness, diversity, and inclusion. We all come from different backgrounds and life circumstances and our diverse paths shape the perspectives we bring to the classroom. This diversity is extremely valuable as we engage with difficult topics such as unfairness and discrimination through the use of ML. While I expect there to be rigorous class discussion, I ask that you engage in discussion with care and empathy for the other members in the classroom. This is particularly important in handling disagreements. Remember: every one of us has a role to play in creating a more inclusive environment.

If any of our class meetings conflict with your religious events, please let me know so that we can make alternative arrangements for you. If you have a disability, I encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with me as early in the semester as possible. I will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate.

Technology. This semester involves the regular use of technology during class. Research has shown that divided attention is detrimental to learning, so I encourage you to close any windows not directly related to what we are doing while you are in class. Please turn off your phone notifications and limit other likely sources of technology disruption, so you can fully engage with the material, each other, and me. This will create a better learning environment for everyone.

Textbook. We will not be using any particular textbook. I will make sure the references cited in the course are uploaded (or made accessible otherwise) in a timely fashion. If you encounter any problem accessing any of the course-related resources, please let me know.

Class presence and participation. Class presence and participation points are given to encourage your active class participation and discussion. You will be rewarded with a perfect score as long as you frequently come to class and actively contribute to the class discussion during recitations and lectures.

Academic integrity. For a clear description of what counts as plagiarism, cheating, and/or the use of unauthorized sources, please see the University's Policy on Academic Integrity. In particular, the policy states that assistance from campus resources (Academic Development, the Global Communication Center, and the Academic Resource Center at CMU-Q) is permitted, but no collaboration is allowed unless specifically permitted by a course instructor.

Late/Make-up work policy. Due dates for the exam, your class presentation, and the written project reports will be announced on this website. If you experience circumstances that prohibit you from submitting your work on time, please let me know as soon as you can. I will evaluate these instances on a case-by-case basis.