Media Lab Use Procedures and Policies

Please read the following before using the media labs:

 

            As a student currently enrolled in a digital production class, you have three hours per day to use the media labs (except for periods of high demand, in which case you will be limited to 2 hours per day and a total of 6 hours for the week). The following rules have been put into place to prevent any misunderstanding as regards to media lab usage.

 

• Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in the laboratories.

• When you sign up to use a laboratory audio/video edit suite you are responsible for the equipment in that edit suite.

• If you are using an audio/video edit suite during another student's allotted time and that student requires the edit suite, you must leave the edit suite or be prepared to move to another edit suite if available.

• When you sign in to use the edit suites you must leave your UCM ID with the student worker at the front desk. They will add you to the calendar.

• If a student fails to show up 30 minutes after their allotted time the audio/video edit suite then becomes available on a first come first serve basis.

• Please remember that the student workers are not trained in the use of the lab audio/video equipment or software. If you have trouble with the equipment or software contact a lab supervisor or instructor for assistance.

• Should you encounter any damage or malfunction of the equipment or software please report this promptly to the student worker so it can be repaired.

 

Media Laboratory Hours and Sign Up

Once you have signed up for your hours please note the following:

 

• Should you change your mind and want to reschedule your hours please contact a student worker. They will change your hours in the calendar.

• Should you decide you no longer need the hours you sign up for, please let the student worker know so he or she can make changes to the calendar.

 

What to do if the Equipment is not working?

 

• Inform the student on duty at the front desk.

• Inform your instructor and obtain written permission for additional time to complete your assignment.

• See the lab supervisor to have the additional approved time scheduled.

 

What happens if you break the rules of the lab space?

 

• First Offense: Either the lab supervisor or the student worker on duty will give a verbal warning. This will be recorded for future reference.

• Second Offense: A lab supervisor will issue a written warning, and your instructor will be informed of the infringement.

• Third Offense: Will result in loss of lab privileges for at least two weeks to the entire semester and your instructor will be informed of the infringement and permanent suspension.

• Fourth Offense: Will result in the loss of lab privileges for the entire semester and your instructor will be informed of the permanent suspension.

 

If you feel an unfair decision was made you may appeal, in person, to the broadcast systems engineer, Darin Plummer. (Office: Martin 73)  He will then confer with your instructor and make a final ruling letting you know the final decision within 3 business days. 

 

 

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 graduate assistants 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 will be ready for pickup by 10:00 a.m. the following business day, pending equipment availability. (If cinema equipment was checked out the previous day it may not be ready until 2 pm.) 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 until the previous equipment 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.

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. .