HOURS OF OPERATION
The Visual Communication Lab (VC Lab) is open 14.5 hrs/week.
WINTER 2023OPEN HOURS
MONDAY 10h00 – 15h30
TUESDAY 13h30 – 14h30
WEDNESDAY CLOSED
THURSDAY 10h30 – 13h30
FRIDAY 13h30 – 14h30
DEPARTMENTAL FEE
Students must pay an annual fee of $50 at the beginning of the fall semester and this applies to each year of study in the DCART program, ideally The Departmental Fee must be paid within the first two weeks of the fall semester. The Departmental Fee covers access to DCART Labs (Sensor, Computation, Visual Communication, Soft Surface and Documentation Labs), the acquisition and maintenance of new or current equipment, along with the replenishment of consumable resources.
Payments can be completed online, HERE. On the landing webpage, scroll down to the Fine Arts (banner), look for “Pay Your Fees Now”, click on the link will guide you to the Student Hub. Some workshop-based studios may require a minimal materials fee, which will be announced during the first class. In all other courses, professors will provide a detailed list of any materials that are required for projects, to be purchased by the student at their expense.
Non-payment of Department Labs Fees will disallow access to the Sensor/Surface/Visual Communications, Computation and Documentation Labs, furthermore students’ will not be permitted to borrow department-owned audio-visual equipment.
ACCESS & RESERVATIONS
The Visual Communication Lab can accommodate a maximum of 10 persons at any one time.
In order to reserve a time slot contact the VC Lab via email or in person.
AFTER HOURS ACCESS:
After hours access to the Visual Communication Lab is privilege based, and will be decided upon by your Professor and Visual Communication Coordinator. All the cabinets will be locked and access to certain tools will have to be negotiated in advance.
STUDENTS
PROJECTS:
Students are expected to bring or buy their own equipment and materials for the realization of their academic projects. Students are therefore encouraged to consult the VC Lab assistant.
BORROWING:
Students who have paid The Departmental Fee can borrow certain equipment (weekends only) from the VC Lab. Borrowed equipment must be returned on time, unaltered and in working order.
LIABILITIES:
Students are liable for the repair or replacement cost of any equipment they borrow from the VC Lab, which has been lost or damaged whilst in their possession.
STUDENTS MUST LEAVE THEIR I.D. CARDS WITH THE VC LAB ASSISTANT IN ORDER TO BORROW ITEMS FROM THE LAB.
SAFETY
NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN THE VC LAB. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND THE VC LAB ORIENTATION SESSION IN ORDER TO MAKE USE OF THE LAB.
POWER TOOLS:
The use of power tools is not permitted in the VC Lab.
CHEMICALS:
The ventilation in the VC Lab is not designed to clear the air of toxic chemicals.
IF IT SMELLS BAD, DON’T USE IT HERE.
CLEAN UP
CLEAN UP STARTS 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING:
All VC Lab users are expected to help clean when they make use of the lab.
PUT THINGS AWAY THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT:
All equipment should be put away and the lab left neat. If you are the only person in the VC Lab and you leave, put all tools away whether you took them out or not.
IF YOU STAY LATE (AFTER HOURS ACCESS), CLEAN UP IS YOUR JOB.
STORAGE
The VC Lab is a common workspace shared amongst DART & CART students with a limited capacity for long-term storage i.e. all semester. Ask if it possible to store your items in the lab. If permitted, store only what is absolutely necessary and label everything with your name, email and phone number. Anything that is not labelled (or collected by a set date) will be transferred to CUCCR or will be made available to the VC Lab community (end of semester).
When setting up or cleaning up, take note of all your possessions and where you put them.
STORE IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE:
Never block the exit or the flow of traffic.
DISPOSE OF IT APPROPRIATELY:
Look for appropriately marked containers: a donation (free) bin, junk shelf, recycle bins etc.
TAKE THINGS HOME:
There is limited storage space in the lab. So, ask if it possible to store your items in the lab. If so, store only what is absolutely necessary for your active project.