Multimedia Lab Policies

WELCOME to the Swain Multimedia Lab

LAB HOURS:
The Swain Multimedia Lab is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to production class students in the department of Communication Studies who have authorized UNC One Card access for the semester they are in a production class.

LAB ACCESS/UNC ONE CARD ACTIVATION:
To have your one card activated, go to the ATN office in the basement of Swain Hall. There is a desk there where UNC One Cards are activated for the lab. This desk is open between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You will have access to the lab during the semester you are in a Communications Production class that uses the lab.

COMPUTER RULES:

• Do not install your own software onto the machines. 

   

• Please do not save files onto the desktop, system or application drives. Files saved in any of these places will be deleted. Please save your work onto drives labeled MEDIA only.

   

• All folders must have your name on them. If this is a group project you will designate a group leader whose name will appear on your project folder.

   

• All students are responsible for backing up their work. You can talk with your instructor in more detail about how to manage your project files. If youare working on a Final Cut Pro project, a good backup method is to printyour project periodically out to tape - even if it isn't finished yet. OR buy a portable hard drive - see Lab Director for recommendations. Drive Specifications and Suggestions 2008

   

• Please recognize that computers aren't perfect. You will face challenges with the computers, so please afford yourself enough time to address these difficulties when doing a project. Computers do crash and lose data. Recognize that problems will happen and give yourself enough time to do your work. Do not print out to tape your Final Cut Pro project the day it is due. You should be printing it out at least a few days before it is due, as the print to tape process is not perfect and can be time consuming. With any project, give yourself at least two days before it is due to finalize it. (printing to tape, burning to CD, DVD, etc.)

   

• ANTICIPATE THAT COMPUTER PROBLEMS WILL HAPPEN AND LEAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS.

   

FOOD AND DRINK:

In the common area of the Swain Hall Lab there is a lounge area with couches, chairs and a coffee table. You may have food or drink here but NOT in any of the computer rooms.

COMPUTER SIGN UP:

You are permitted to sign up to use a lab computer for a maximum of four hours in one sitting and a maximum of two(2) four-hour blocks per 24-hour period, reserved at non-consecutive times (eg: 12-4 and 8-12).

Please recognize that many students need to use the machines. If no one else is present to use the computer after your four-hour block, you are welcome to work longer. However, if another student needs the computer after you have been on for four hours, you must give up your seat to them. Please plan accordingly. Sign up for a computer in advance. Plan your time wisely. Give yourself more time to do a project than you think you will need. Do not leave your project until the last minute.

In room 200A, there is a calendar by each computer for sign up purposes. For all other lab rooms, there is a calendar on the door of the room. Please specify on the calendar which computer you are signing up to use. Each computer either has an identifying name or number on it.

LAB ROOM ASSIGNMENTS/ COMPUTER ASSIGNMENTS:

Each class is assigned certain rooms to use in the lab. You are to only use the lab room to which your class has been assigned. In some cases, students will be assigned to specific computers. If that is the case, you are to only use the computer assigned to you.

LAST DAY IN LAB:

Each student is responsible for his/her data at the end of the semester. All Data in the lab must be backed up by the posted "last day in lab" or the data will be erased. (Date is posted on schedule page)

Good luck with your projects and have a good semester.

email lab director: mrobin@email.unc.edu

phone lab director: (919) 843-6519

Swain Production Home Page

Dept. of Communication Studies Home Page