Equipment Check-out Procedures and Policies
Please read the following before checking out equipment:
ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE RETURNED BY NOON ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY
As a student enrolled in production classes for the current semester you are able to check-out equipment from the communications department in order to complete your assigned class projects. The rules for equipment checkout are to protect your interests as much as to protect the equipment. The following rules and policies are in place so that you understand your responsibilities when checking out equipment from the department:
1. To check-out equipment from the labs, you must first fill out the EQUIPMENT RESERVATION FORM located on the website.
2. When a student checks out audio/video equipment from the lab, it is the student that signs the checkout sheet that is responsible for the use and return of that equipment. In the case of damage (other than that caused by normal wear and tear on the equipment as determined by the department of communications) the student agrees to pay for the cost of repair, including the purchase of replacement parts in addition to any applicable charges for the department engineer’s time. If an outside engineer must work on the equipment these charges will be the student’s responsibility as noted above.
3. When a student checks out audio/video equipment from the lab it is the student's responsibility to return that equipment at the appropriate time. The three categories of checkout time are as follows:
No longer than NOON Next Business Day - Standard checkout time.
No longer than 72hr - Requires lab supervisor permission.
No longer than 7 Days - Requires instructor’s permission.
4. Should the equipment be lost or stolen while checked out, the student whose name is on the checkout sheet is responsible for the full cost of replacing the equipment. (The full cost will be the fair market value after depreciation as determined by the department.)
5. If an Equipment Reservation Form is submitted by 9:00 p.m. CST it may be ready for pickup by 10:00 a.m. (at the earliest) the following business day if the requested equipment is available. There will be a time slot every day when students will be able to book equipment from the labs. Please see the Hours of Operation sign on the website: http://www.ucmdmplabs.com
6. Students collecting the equipment are obligated to check if all the items from the checkout form are included in their order. They will have to initial every item on the form.
7. Students who return equipment late or do not pick up their orders will be subject to the three strike system explained below.
8. Students will not be able to check out any additional equipment for a non-class personal project until the previous equipment for a class is returned in full.
LATE EQUIPMENT RETURN POLICY
The individual whose name is on the checkout form must return the equipment on time, which is specified on the checkout form. If the individual responsible fails to return the equipment on time the three strike policy will be implemented.
The first strike: You are placed at the bottom of the list for the next three orders.
The second strike: No equipment for a week and you are placed at the bottom of the list for the rest of the semester.
The third strike: No equipment checkouts from the labs for the rest of the semester,
plus one strike added going into the following semester.
*Email warning given for the first time a student fails to pick up a submitted equipment order. After that, strikes will be given.*
*Failure to return equipment to the labs on time will result in a strike for every day you are late.*
If you feel an unfair decision was made, you may appeal on the website or in person to the broadcast systems engineer, Darin Plummer. (Office: Martin 73). He will then confer with your instructor and the Department of Communication to make a final ruling. You will know the final decision within 3 business days.