DESCRIPTION

Under the management of Information Services Department, the Academic Computing Lab is designed to meet the computer based instructional needs of the campus community.

ACADEMIC COMPUTING LAB

The central lab facility, located in Cunningham 220, contains a variety of microcomputers. The Faculty Computing Center is connected to the Academic Computing Lab and provides computers exclusively for staff use. It serves as a resource center dedicated to curriculum applications of computer related courseware.

ACADEMIC COMPUTING LAB ACCESS

Students currently enrolled in an active Delta College class, with assignments requiring the use of computers, are welcome to use the lab. Students must provide their student ID number (social security number) at the check-in station. NO EXCEPTIONS!

The Academic Computing Lab will be open during posted times, which may vary by semester. Posted times are conveniently located by the front entrance. It may be necessary to close the lab at various times for scheduled maintenance. There are also times when the lab or parts of it may be reserved for a class demonstration. Any change in hours will be posted 24 hours in advance if possible.

CUNNINGHAM 220 TELEPHONE NUMBER: (209) 954-5350

EQUIPMENT

The Academic Computing Lab has various networked PC's and Macintosh computers.
All computers access laser printers for hardcopy output.

SOFTWARE

A variety of software (including programming languages) is available for student use in the Academic Computing Lab. Word processors, databases, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and tutorials are some of the applications also available.

INTERNET ACCESS

Internet access on campus is available to all currently enrolled Delta students in most computer labs. Please be advised that SJDC does not assume responsibility for the contents of outside networks or transmissions made by users to or from a lab facility. Information Services cannot assume responsibility for the choices made by an individual to view and display images from sites judged offensive by others. However, viewing of or sending materials of an offensive nature as delineated in Board Policies and Procedures (1410 and 1411) and any relevant State and Federal Child Pornography laws will result in a request to discontinue such activities and referral to the appropriate campus agent for resolution. SJDC's policy is to provide a non-hostile campus environment in which students and employees may interact without fear of experiencing discrimination or harassment in an educational and employment situation.

Access to the Internet in the academic computing labs is for course-related assignments and course related research only. If students are assigned by an instructor as part of a course requirement to view graphic materials that appear to violate Board Policy and Procedure 1410 or 1411 or any relevant State or Federal laws, the instructor must provide prior notification to the lab that viewing such images in the lab is a legitimate class assignment.

If an individual seeks information and or resolution to alleged acts of discrimination or harassment please contact:

Director of Human Resources/Affirmative Action Officer Elizabeth Zulueta at 954-5055
or
Paul Guitierrez, Asst. Director of Human Resources/Affimrative Action Officer at 954-5049.

For information regarding student’s rights or regulations related to Gender Equity contact Elizabeth Zulueta, 954-5055.

For information related to student rights and responsibilities, please contact Student Advocate Mark Mekjavich at 954-5650.

Additional information concerning Delta's policies and procedures, and federal laws that may have bearing on campus computer and Internet use are available here.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Students are expected to come in prepared: knowing what the assignment is, the type of computer to use, what should be accomplished (what the overall goal of the assignment is). They should bring or have complete notes, data disk, paper clips, staplers, other items as needed, and to be able to complete their assignments with minimal assistance.

POLICES OF THE ACADEMIC COMPUTING LAB

It is the policy of the lab to provide computer access to all students and staff of Delta College. In order to insure the best possible service to the campus computing community, the following procedures and rules have been established.

All students who use the Cunningham lab understand and agree to abide by the policies stated below.

Failure to comply with the following is in violation of stated policies within the Policies and Procedures Manual for San Joaquin Delta College. Pending the outcome of due process proceedings (Section 5470), users may find their access to the computer lab restricted.

THERE WILL BE NO UNAUTHORIZED, ILLEGAL COPYING OF SOFTWARE IN THE LAB.  No software, manuals, or other materials may be copied for any reason by any user without the express written approval of the originating company. No exceptions can be made. Violators are potentially subject to a $50,000 fine and five years imprisonment under federal law (17 U.S. Code.) 

THE COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIANS OR COORDINATORS, MAY PERIODICALLY EXAMINE THE CONTENTS OF USERS DIRECTORIES OR DISKETTES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SYSTEM SECURITY AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THESE POLICIES AND COLLEGE REGULATIONS.  Any person who seriously degrades system performance, damages disks or manuals, jeopardizes system security, or interferes, by any means, with the access to resources by other users is in violation of the Student Conduct and Discipline policy in the San Joaquin Delta College Handbook. All information gained during such an examination will be held in confidence providing no violations are observed. 

INFORMATION SERVICES DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, EXPOSURE, OR DAMAGE TO DATA ON ANY OF THE SYSTEMS.  You are encouraged to backup your data files for your own protection. 

THE COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE IN THE LAB ARE TO BE USED ONLY FOR COURSE RELATED ASSIGNMENTS.  Users agree to respond honestly when asked about the nature of the work they are pursuing on the computer if asked to categorize it. Policies stated here regarding acceptable uses and priorities must be observed. 

USE OF THE LASER PRINTERS IS LIMITED TO DELTA RELATED CLASS WORK.  Policies to use the laser printers are strictly enforced by the Computer Support Technicians. Documents are generally limited to 20 pages. Draft copies should be sent to the dot matrix printer. If multiple copies of a document are needed, please use copiers. USER PROVIDED PAPER IS NOT ALLOWED. 

VISITORS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE LAB.  STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE COURSE WORK TO DO ON THE COMPUTERS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.  This includes individuals who are in the lab for non-class related reasons. (Tutors must be authorized by the Tutor Center). Appropriate college regulations regarding unauthorized personnel will be followed should this occur. 

NO CHILDREN, FOOD, DRINK, SMOKING, BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, OR UNAUTHORIZED ANIMALS ALLOWED IN THE LAB.

NO PLAYING OF GAMES FOR ENTERTAINMENT IS PERMITTED.  Game-playing is generally defined as use of the facility in such a manner as to not lead toward an end result of significant value. A Computer Support Technician or Coordinator has the right to determine what constitutes a game. 

KEEP TALKING TO A MINIMUM AND AT A LOW LEVEL.  The lab is a classroom, therefore please respect others. There will be no profanity allowed. 

ONE STUDENT PER MACHINE, EXCEPT FOR INSTRUCTOR-APPROVED GROUP PROJECT OR INSTRUCTOR RESERVED LAB TIMES.  (Reservations posted 24 hours in advance.) 

DO NOT ABUSE THE LAB OR EQUIPMENT.  If you are having a problem with the equipment or a program, ask a Lab Assistant for help. 

PLEASE CHECK YOUR WORK AREA BEFORE LEAVING.  Lab staff are not responsible for lost, stolen or misplaced items including student data disks and books. 

STUDENT SERVICE REQUESTS WILL REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS TO PROCESS, AND ARE DONE ON A FIRST COME BASIS.  All service requests must be approved by the CST on duty. This includes: disk repair, VAX account requests, password changes, etc.

SOFTWARE REQUIRING SOUND, CALLS FOR THE USE OF PERSONAL HEADPHONES, PROVIDED BY THE STUDENT.  The lab is a classroom, therefore please respect others.

ALL USERS ARE ASKED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUESTS OF THE LAB ASSISTANTS WHEN THEY ARE ARE IN THE ROLE OF ENFORCING RULES OR POLICY.  Lab Assistants are often responsible for the security of the Computer Labs, as well as the assignment of resources to individual users. It is understood that the student staff have not been responsible for the creation of the policies outlined here, but are often responsible for the enforcement of these policies. If questions or concerns about their conduct arise, please consult a Computer Support Technician or the Lab Coordinator. 


PERSONNEL

The staff structure of Information Services Department as it relates to the Academic Computing Lab and a general statement related to responsibilities of each position follows.

CHIEF INFORMATION SERVICES OFFICER (CISO)

The Chief Information Services Officer is ultimately responsible for the lab. The CISO will establish and execute policy and procedures in the Academic Computing Lab.

DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC INFORMATION SERVICES

The director is primarily responsible for the curriculum related aspects of the lab. These include issues related to providing software for instruction, coordinating instructional activities within the lab, and assisting with the design of training for lab assistants. Curriculum areas include all academic disciplines.

ACADEMIC LAB COORDINATOR

The Academic Lab Coordinator is responsible for the direct coordination and implementation of policy, services, staffing, and instructional activities in the lab. The Lab Coordinator provides line of sight supervision of the Lab Assistants and students. This individual reports to the Director of Academic Information Services.

NETWORK COORDINATOR

The network coordinator provides the technical support necessary for the technical coordination and operation of the computer labs.  The Network Coordinator is responsible for the reliable operation of the lab network, hardware and software.  This individual reports to the Director of Academic Information Services.

COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIANS

The Computer Support Technicians are responsible for overseeing the operation of the lab as directed by the Academic Lab Coordinator and the Director of Academic Information services. CST responsibilities include: maintaining equipment and software, overseeing the lab to insure proper operations, providing direction for Lab Assistants, assisting in maintaining the smooth operation of the lab, and enforcing all policies and procedures.

LAB ASSISTANTS

Lab Assistants are usually students at San Joaquin Delta College who have been hired to assist in the operation of the Computing Lab. The Lab Assistants are hired based on their experience in any one or more of the following: Software applications, computer languages, operating systems, and hardware technology. The Lab Assistants' primary job is to assist but not tutor users in the lab with software, computer languages and general operation of the equipment. [Some Lab Assistants are students in CS75-Applied Data Processing. Their responsibilities are the same as those assistants hired by Information Services Department.] Only persons authorized through the Tutor Center are permitted to tutor students; no exceptions.

COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN AND LAB ASSISTANT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES.

The Coordinators and Computer Support Technicians provide guidance and leadership for the Lab Assistants. Computer Support Technicians and Lab Assistants will provide assistance to the user on any problem related to the use of the computer equipment or software in the lab. It is recognized that lab workers cannot be experts in all software, languages, or systems, but they should demonstrate initiative in learning about software, languages, and hardware with which they are not familiar. If a Lab Assistant cannot help a user with a specific problem then s/he will try to find someone who is qualified to help. All lab users are asked to understand that lab personnel will try at all times to be helpful, but some specific problems may be beyond their current expertise. Lab Assistants will try to provide assistance to all students in the lab. However, should a lab user cause problems for the Lab Assistants, the instructors will be notified of the problem. Instructors are responsible for taking appropriate action with a student if a referral is received from Information Services Department. Information Services reserves the right to restrict the lab privilege of those students who have been referred to an instructor for a problem which is not satisfactorily resolved or who have been removed from the lab by Campus Police.

Specific Duties of Lab Assistants

1. Performing sign-in/sign-out procedures. 
2. Facilitating but not tutoring students in the use of the equipment, software, and languages. 
3. Monitoring to insure legal use of software and maintaining security of all systems. 
4. Maintaining the printers, replenishing paper as needed, attending to paper jams, replacing ribbons, keeping discarded paper boxes neat. 
5. Reporting equipment malfunctions to the Computer Support Technicians. 
6. Monitoring general operations and environment of the Lab, including compliance with Lab Policies and Procedures. 

Miscellaneous Information

• Loading or running outside software on lab computers is prohibited. Assistance for individually-owned computers and software is not provided. 
• Lab telephones are available for making on campus calls. Only calls of an emergency nature from Campus Police will be forwarded to students. 
• Cellular phones and beepers are allowed on the condition that their use is occasional and for emergency purposes only. Use of portable laptop computers is accepted in stand-alone mode; however, individuals are responsible for troubleshooting their own hardware and software difficulties.  
• Connecting to any lab printers, networks, or other peripherals is not permitted. 
• Except for student data disks, all Lost & Found items are turned in to Campus Police within 24 hours.