Equipment Room Policies

WELCOME TO THE SWAIN CHECKOUT ROOM

PURPOSE:

The Purpose of the Checkout Room is to provide certain departmental audio-visual, film, and recording equipment to the students, faculty and staff of the Department of Communication Studies on a timely basis.

AUTHORIZATION:

Each semester faculty will provide to the Checkout Room an alphabetized, printed and signed list of students (undergraduate, graduate, teaching assistants) who are authorized to check out equipment from the Checkout Room. This list will also include a list of what specific equipment the students will be checking out, i.e. - cameras (specific camera models), lighting kits, audio equipment, and so on. Faculty should only authorize the students to check out equipment after they have been trained in the proper use and care of the equipment. No equipment will be checked out to anyone whose name is not on the current lists. The UNC ONE Photo ID Card will be required for the check out clerk to compare to the authorization lists.

The following classes have access to the Checkout Room equipment when taught:

• COMM 130 (ONLY the instructor and T.A.s have access to the equipment to use in Friday labs)
• COMM 230/Audio/Video/Film Production/Writing - Instructors: Ed Rankus, Brian Graves
• COMM 534/Narrative Production - Instructor: Francesca Talenti
• COMM 635/Documentary Production - Instructor: Hap Kindem
• COMM 636/Interactive Media - Instructor: Joyce Rudinsky
• COMM 639/Animation - Instructor: Francesca Talenti
• Comm 639/Experimental Video- Instructor: Ed Rankus
• Comm 639/Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, and Compositing- Instructor: Ed Rankus
• COMM 639/Advanced Audio Production - Instructor: Mark Robinson
• COMM 639/Directed Projects and Technology - Instructor: Mark Robinson

   

  INSTRUCTION:

   

  While the check out personnel will assist where they can, they are not instructors. There is no implication that they are providing anything more than the equipment that is requested of them.

  COURTESY:

  It is expected that check out personnel will at all times be courteous and will be treated with courtesy.

  Check out hours are dependent upon the availability of check out personnel. Hours of operation will be posted on the door of the checkout room. Please note that often the check out personnel must leave immediately at the end of their posted hours; therefore it is recommended that those desiring to check out equipment appear early enough to complete their check out before the closing time.

  CHECKOUT ROOM PHONE NUMBER: (919) 962-4969

  CHECK OUT DURATION:

  Normal check out is two days, with equipment to be returned at least one hour prior to the posted closing time on the day of return. Days when the room is not open do not count against the two day total. From time to time circumstances may necessitate changes from the two day limit but these exceptions can only be authorized by faculty with advanced written authorization provided to check out personnel.

  CHECK OUT IS FOR 2 DAYS, EXCEPT ON WEDNESDAYS. ITEMS CHECKED OUT ON WEDNESDAY ARE DUE BACK ON THURSDAY.
  THURSDAY IS A CHECK IN ONLY DAY! - ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE CHECKED IN ON THURSDAY!
  

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  If you check out an item on Monday, it is due back on Wednesday.
  If you check out an item on Tuesday, it is due back on Thursday.
  If you check out an item on Wednesday, it is due back on Thursday.
  ALL CHECKOUT ITEMS ARE DUE ON THURSDAY. THURSDAY IS A MANDATORY CHECK-IN ONLY DAY.
  If you check out an item on Friday, it is due back on Monday.

  CHECK OUT CONDITIONS:

  Equipment will only be checked out to authorized persons. The person who checked out the item will be responsible for it until it is returned in good condition. In the case of packages such as lighting kits, under no circumstances will anyone borrow from one kit to fill or expand another.

  Only 1 digital camcorder or film camera can be checked out per user.

HOWEVER, if you know that you are going to need more than one camcorder for a shoot, please ask your professor first. If your professor gives you approval, he or she will contact the checkout room personnel. You must then reserve the camcorders in advance. You cannot walk in without a reservation and professorial approval and check out multiple camcorders. The maximum number of camcorder checkouts for multiple camcorder checkouts will be 4.

Key Check Out for Animation Studio:
The use of Swain's animation Studio is limited to currently enrolled COMM 639/Animation students. This studio is to remain locked at all times and is accessible only by key. The lab manager will check out keys as needed to authorize students. Keys will be checked in and out according to the same policies as other equipment. Failure to lock the studio upon leaving will be considered a checkout violation. In addition, key users agree to the following conditions:

- Facilities accessed by this key will be used solely and exclusively for University business and class assignments.

- Key users are personally responsible for all damages or destruction to, or loss of, equipment or facilities accessed by this key, whether or not coverage is secured through an insurance carrier. Any damage, destruction, or loss will be reported to Communication Studies personnel no later than the beginning of the next workday following knowledge of such damage, destruction or loss. All reimbursement for such equipment abuse shall be due and payable to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill immediately.

-In the event that a key charged to me is lost or stolen, I agree to pay all costs to have the appropriate locks re-keyed.

CHECK IN (RETURN) PROCEDURE:

When equipment is returned, it should be in the same or better condition than when it was checked out. For example, light kits should be neatly packed and cables neatly coiled. If a student has experienced trouble with any of the equipment checked out, he or she should request and fill out an equipment repair request in as much detail as possible. The check in is completed only when the forms are filled out and the check out form is signed by the checkout clerk and the student who had the equipment checked out. The person who checked out the equipment is responsible for it until it is returned and properly checked in.

EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY:

The check out personnel are not responsible for equipment availability beyond reporting late check in. Equipment is available on a first come/first served basis and by reservation (see below). If possible, production instructors should try to stagger their equipment needs so that all production classes are not competing for the equipment simultaneously.

RESERVATIONS:

Advance reservations may be made for equipment check out by filling out a Checkout Room Reservation form. These reservations will be made on a first come/first served basis. The same time and return procedures apply as for other check-outs. Reservations may not be made for equipment that is already checked out.

RENEWALS:
The check out period may be renewed for another standard checkout period if there are no standing reservations for the same equipment. Until a renewal is approved by Checkout Room personnel, equipment is due back on its original due date. All equipment is due back on Thursday. Students must contact Checkout personnel in person or by phone to renew equipment; emails are unacceptable. Although equipment is sometimes available for renewal, it should never be assumed that a renewal will be granted.

VIOLATIONS:

Violations include, but are not limited to:

• late return of equipment
• not showing up to get reserved equipment
• failure to properly care for equipment checked out.
• return or check out of equipment outside of posted Checkout Room hours.

   

  • First Violation: Written warning to the instructor stating violation.

     

  • Second Violation: Written report to instructor with further access to check out room withheld until instructor provides written authorization to the Checkout Room Supervisor.

     

  • Third Violation: Details reported to Dept. Chair and instructor. User banned from further use of the facility, with possible negative effect on course grade.

  Note: After three weeks, failure to return equipment will result in the judgement that the equipment is stolen. Theft will be reported to law enforcement authorities.

ALL EQUIPMENT MUST BE RETURNED TO THE CHECKOUT ROOM.

  email lab manager: equipment@unc.edu

  phone lab manager: (919) 843-9263

  phone checkout room (when open): (919) 962-4969

  Swain Production Home Page

  Dept. of Communication Studies Home Page