General Policies

 Lab Environment.  It is expected that all computer labs will maintain a quiet, library-like atmosphere so the patrons can use their time productively and with few distractions.  Although students are sometimes required to work in groups for some class projects and need to talk among themselves, this must be done in a controlled manner.  If there are groups in the lab doing projects, enforcing the quiet policy may be more difficult, but still needs to be done.  In addition, groups of students are not allowed to remove chairs from operational workstations in order to gather around one computer. 

 Academic vs. Personal Use.  Patrons may use the computers to check e-mail and to browse the Internet for personal use as long as computers are available for academic use.  If computers are needed for academic use, patrons doing personal work will be asked to leave.

 Student Accounts.  All students are required to open a student account in order to use any academic computer lab.

 Entrance Policy.  A Nicholls Faculty/Staff/Student ID is required for entrance into all open labs (Cenac, WAC, and Ayo). No exceptions will be made.

 Lab Assist WorkStation.  The lab assist workstation is to be used only by the lab assistant on duty. Only lab assistants are allowed behind the lab assist desk.  Visitors or Computer Lab patrons are not allowed.

 Audio Distractions.  Listening to the radio, cassettes, or audio from CDs, with or without headphones, in any lab is strictly prohibited.  The only exception is with regard to multimedia software on multimedia computers directly assigned by a Faculty member.

 Food, Drinks, Tobacco Products.  No food, drinks, or tobacco products are permitted in the labs at any time.

 Telephones.  The phones are not for the use of the general public or patrons except in emergencies or to call for a ride (especially after dark).

 Internet Relay Chat (IRC).  IRC or Internet Relay Chat is not an appropriate academic usage of university resources and is prohibited in the academic computer labs.  Anyone using IRC or any variation of IRC in an academic lab will be required to discontinue the activity.  Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

 Game Playing.  Game playing is not an appropriate academic usage of university resources and is prohibited in the academic computer labs.  Anyone playing computer games in an academic lab will be required to discontinue the activity or vacate the lab. Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

 Excessive Network Usage.  Playing real-time video or audio that is not directly assigned by a Faculty member is not an appropriate academic usage of university resources and is prohibited in the academic computer labs.  Anyone playing real-time video or audio not directly assigned by a Faculty member in an academic lab will be required to discontinue the activity.  Further disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

 Patron composition.  No children shall be allowed in any of the academic computer labs, as these labs are considered an “extension of the classroom.”

 

Lab Printing Policies

Patrons are allowed to print up to 20 pages of any one document in the labs.  The printers in the labs are not copiers and should not be treated as such.  Patrons are allowed one printout of any one document.  For copies, patrons must go to a copy machine or to a local copy company.  Enforcing the printing policies listed below ensures patrons will receive their print jobs in a timely and efficient manner and that the printers will remain in good working order for longer periods of time.

 

General Printing Policies

·        Patrons are allowed to print a maximum of 1 printout of any one document.

·        The maximum length of any one document is 30 pages.

·        Patrons wanting to print longer documents require permission of the lab assistant on duty.

·        Transparencies cannot be printed anywhere.

·        Labels cannot be printed anywhere.

·        Manual feeding of special paper (legal size or high quality bond) is to be done only by the lab assistant.

Non-academic Use.  Computer Labs are not to be used for printing nonacademic related materials. You will be informed of the academic nature of the labs and asked to stop. The lab attendant will retain your printed material and forward it to the ITS staff for documentation. Further action will be taken as deemed necessary by the ITS Director.

Computer Supplies.  Under no circumstances will any Patron be allowed to leave with supplies.  Supplies are to be handled only by ITS employees.

Safety Policies

General Policy. Patrons are to help maintain a safe environment in the computer labs by not placing their book bags in the aisles.

Accidents.  In the case of accidents that result in injury, regardless of how insignificant the injury may appear, patrons should contact the lab assistant immediately.

Unsafe Actions.  Patrons shall not engage in any unsafe actions like horseplay or fighting. Patrons engaging in such unsafe activities will be asked to leave, or University Police will be called.

Alarms.  Patrons should be able to recognize and evaluate the situation in relation to all alarms.  If a fire alarm goes off or a bomb threat is reported, patrons will be asked to immediately stop working, to gather belongings, and to evacuate the lab immediately. Everyone must remain outside until told by someone in charge that it is safe to re-enter the building.