This link explains which course policies/information you want to read right away. Ultimately, you are responsible for knowing all the course policies, but there are a few to prioritize as your first-day reading, and we list them below.

1. Read over the policies concerning missing an exam. Above all, make sure you have the number of the emergency dean handy, as it says in those policies. That's a rule to follow in general, not just for this course. Similarly, the various remarks we make in the policies regarding missing an exam (when you know in advance, when it's a last-minute emergency, etc.) are things you should make an effort to learn about for every course, not just this one. We've told you our policies here, but if you are in a course where the instructor has NOT told you the policies for those situations, definitely learn those policies from the instructor.

2. Read over the Programming Assignments policies concerning the labs and lab access. Specifically, you want to attempt to log into your EWS account (and go through the unix tutorial, if necessary) as soon as possible; definitely by Monday you want to have tried this.

3. Read over the policies concerning the course newsgroup, in the Resources section of the policies.

4. Read the "CS296" link on the website.