Dear Students,

In just under 1 week, we will begin the Fall 2015 semester course PHYS
1308, "Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism." You are receiving
this because you are presently enrolled in my course. I am very excited
to have the chance to work with all of you as we explore together this
second course in introductory physics and assess the relationship
between physics and the everyday world.

This email is "Bulletin #1", the first in what will likely be a few
email bulletins over the first weeks of the course. Below you will find
some information that will make your life more pleasant ahead of the
very first day of class.

COURSE WEBSITE
=======================================

The course website is available at all times from this location:

http://www.physics.smu.edu/sekula/phy1308/

The main page has general information about the course, including a link
to the syllabus, homework policy, and information about other major
components of the course including the "Grand Challenge Problem" (see
the syllabus and Grand Challenge Problem document for more information
about this).

This material will be discussed on the first day of class, but it would
be good to peruse it at your leisure before the first day of class so
you can come prepared with questions.

COURSE SEQUENCE AND MATERIAL
========================================

http://www.physics.smu.edu/sekula/phy1308/notes.html

The course plan is already available at the above web address, which is
linked as a button labeled "Class Material" from the main course
website. All the reading and lectures are already laid out. As we
explore material in the class periods, more documents will appear on
this class material website.

WILEYPLUS
========================================

This semester, as in previous semesters, we will use WileyPlus for most
of the homework assignments and grading. Our WileyPlus site is linked
from the main course website, and you can get to it from this link:

http://www.wileyplus.com/class/466422/

If you already have a WileyPlus account, go ahead and log in and sign up
for my course. If you have not yet bought an account, it's fine to wait
until the first day of class and ask about how to do that.

As always, I recommend you buy the all-electronic offering from Wiley -
WileyPlus + digital textbook.

FIRST DAY OF CLASS
=========================================

Unfortunately, I will miss the first day of class due to my
participation as an organizer of an international particle physics
conference, "The 23rd International Conference on Supersymmetry and
Unification of Fundamental Interactions"
(http://particle.physics.ucdavis.edu/workshops/susy15/index.php). I will
return in time for our second class.

My colleague, Prof. Jodi Cooley, has graciously offered to cover the
first day of class and walk you through the structure and purpose of the
course. She will take attendance that first day, of course, so I can
have a picture of participation in the introductory lecture. Please make
sure to attend class and give Prof. Cooley your full attention. She will
appreciate your questions, and if she cannot answer them she will direct
them to me to address by email or in class on Thursday.

OUTLOOK
==========================================

I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you to learn
and apply electricity and magnetism this coming semester. Please don't
hesitate to contact me with questions before the first class.


Sincerely,
Prof. Sekula