POLICIES
Media Lab Access
To Reserve an Editing Room or Production Studio
To Checkout Equipment from the Media Lab
Reserving Equipment
Picking Up Equipment
Returning Equipment
Financial Responsibility/Penalties
Media Lab Access
You must possess a valid UCSD student ID card and be enrolled in an official media production class, or be a graduate student using film and video in your research to use the Media Lab. Access is given to undergraduates on a quarter-by-quarter basis by presenting a copy of your transcript to Media Lab staff.
Completion of Com21 or VA70 is required, without exception, to receive access to both Final Cut Pro and the iMovie editing suites, as well as access to equipment. This requirement is to ensure that rooms and equipment are used properly and remain in working order. Final Cut Pro users are also required to take a two-hour introductory workshop, unless they are enrolled-in or have taken Com100 or VA175 (Advanced Editing).
To Reserve an Editing Room or Production Studio
If you meet the requirements above, you may reserve time in a room by initialing the scheduling board in the hallway between room 239 and 240 at the Media Center. The board is open for scheduling M-F 7am-6pm.
Complete a space reservation request form (kept in a holder by the scheduling board) and immediately stamp it with the date/time stamp machine. Place the yellow copy in the box provided, and keep the white copy as proof of your reservation.
You may schedule time up to one week in advance. Weekends reservations begin on the Friday prior to the weekend you wish to reserve. You may reserve up to 4 hours per day and up to 16 hours per week. The 12am-7am shift counts as one 4 hour shift. Reservations are reviewed to ensure they are made in accordance with the rules. Any reservations in excess of the time restrictions or made more than one week in advance will be erased without notice. If the yellow copy of the reservation form is not left in the box provided the reservation will be erased without notice.
Reservations are held for fifteen minutes after the scheduled time, after fifteen minutes the room is available on a first come, first served basis. Please be on time or you may lose your space.
Users are responsible for any loss, damage due to negligence, or theft of equipment, that may occur while using the facility as determined by an audit of the card reader for that room. Please make sure the door is shut when you leave and don't turn the room over to anyone without making them use their ID card to access the space.
Do not leave any supplies or personal belongings in the editing rooms unattended.
We cannot accept responsibility for lost or stolen items. Absolutely NO SMOKING is allowed within the Media Center building, per UCSD policy (PPM 510-11). An ashcan is provided for your convenience outside by front door on the 2nd floor. No eating or drinking is allowed in any of the rooms of the Media Lab.
To Checkout Equipment from Media Lab
You must possess a valid UCSD student ID card, be enrolled in an official media production class, and have completed the required prerequisite course (either COM21or VA70), or be a graduate student using film and video in your research to check out equipment, there are no exceptions.
Access is given to undergraduates on a quarter-by-quarter basis by presenting proof of enrollment (a transcript or schedule from Triton link is acceptable) to a Checkout worker in the checkout room. Media Lab equipment may be used only by students producing assigned class projects.
Projects must be part of a courses that have been approved for facilities support. Media Lab equipment may not be used for non-class related projects. When you sign the reservation slip, you are agreeing to this rule. Violation will result in loss of checkout privileges.
Reserving Equipment
Reservations are made on a 1st come 1st serve basis. Go to the Checkout room (MCC112) during operating hours and fill out an equipment reservation form. The first time, bring your student ID and proof of enrollment with you (a transcript or schedule from Triton link is acceptable).
You may reserve equipment up to one week in advance for one 24-hour period or over a weekend. You may not reserve the same equipment for consecutive periods. The Media Lab was created to support undergraduate instruction. Graduate students, faculty and SRTV may only reserve equipment up to four days in advance.
Weekend reservations are from Friday PM to Monday AM. Every effort will be made to ensure that equipment will be available to you on your reservation date. If, however, the equipment subsequently breaks down or if a previous user fails to return it on time we may be unable to fill your reservation.
Morning reservations are held until 11:45am. Afternoon reservations are held until 4:45pm each day. After these times your reservation is void and the equipment becomes available to other students.
First priority goes to students that have been unable to obtain reserved equipment due to late returns or breakage. Second priority goes to students whose names are on the waiting list located in the Checkout room.
Students are not authorized to exchange equipment with other students unless that exchange is documented on your reservation form. The person who initially checks out equipment is responsible for that equipment and its prompt return. You can help expedite checkout by completing forms outside the checkout room and by waiting your turn before entering the checkout room. We can only help one person at a time.
Picking Up Equipment
The checkout staff makes every effort to give you the equipment you have requested. It is always advisable to check and test your equipment (on the loading dock) before you leave the area. Be sure to bring a test tape (slug roll of film, minidisc, etc.).
Ask the checkout attendant to make note of any discrepancies on your equipment reservation form before you sign it. When you sign the form, you are assuming complete responsibility for the equipment and affirming that it is all there and in working order.
All equipment must be returned to checkout in the same condition it was in when it left. Pay close attention to how the equipment is packed in its case. You will be asked to rewind any cords and repack any items that are not correctly returned.
If you are not sure how to operate a piece of equipment, ask!!! The checkout staff is there to help you. Also, check out an operating manual for the equipment you are going to use.
Returning Equipment
Monday morning return -- All equipment checked out over the weekend MUST be returned between 8:00 & 10:00am on Monday. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. Inventory and operational checks are done at this time. Penalties for not returning equipment during the 8:00 - 10:00am return period are listed below (see Penalties).
When you bring your equipment back to checkout, the checkout attendant will pull the white copy of your equipment reservation form and check off each piece of equipment that is returned complete, properly packaged and in good working condition.
Allow time on your return day for you and the attendant to inspect each piece of your equipment together. Your equipment return will not be considered complete until you both agree upon the condition of the returned equipment.
Don't leave checkout before your equipment has been inspected and your form has been checked off. Otherwise, it is considered a late return and you will be penalized accordingly.
If a piece of equipment does not work properly or if you even suspect that something may not be working correctly, please notify the checkout staff when you return the equipment. 99% of the time the problem is due to simple wear and tear of equipment and not something for which you will be charged.
If equipment is lost or stolen, report it to the UCSD Police Department immediately!
858-534-HELP (4357).
Financial Responsibility
Students are legally and financially responsible for all equipment they check out. Students will be billed for any loss of equipment or damage due to negligence.
PENALTIES
Because of the high demand for equipment and the fact that late returns often irreparably inconvenience your fellow students' productions, late returns are regarded very seriously.
Notify checkout (858-534-4635) as soon as possible if you are unable to return your equipment on time. But, regardless of notification, if a student is late in returning equipment and another student does not get equipment previously reserved, the student returning late will lose all checkout privileges for two weeks.
If a second infraction occurs, privileges will be suspended for five weeks. A third time will result in privileges being permanently revoked. Additionally, if, on the last two Fridays of a quarter, equipment is not returned in time for weekend checkout, the offending student's access code will be removed from all Media Lab facilities for the remainder of the quarter.
Some penalties will even carry over into a new quarter, and will remain with you for your entire UCSD media career.