HOURS OF OPERATION
The Visual Communication Lab (VC Lab) is open 14.5 hrs/week.
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 made online at: <a href=”https://www.concordia.ca/finearts/cda.html?utm_source=redirect&utm_campaign=facilities”>https://www.concordia.ca/finearts/cda.html?utm_source=redirect&utm_campaign=facilities</a>. On the landing webpage, scroll down to the <strong>Fine Arts (banner)</strong> look for <strong>“Pay Your Fees Now”</strong>, 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 6 persons at any one time.
In order to reserve a time slot contact the Visual Communication Lab Assistant via email at visual.communication.lab@concordia.ca or in person. Each person will be allowed to reserve a time slot for a period of up to four hours a day, with the maximum of two days in a row. A reservation will be held for a 15-minute grace period. After 15 minutes, the session will be given to any student(s) waiting.
Check the Visual Communication Lab Calendar – Refer to the “VC Lab Open Hours” calendar. If there is space available – please email visual.communication.lab@concordia.ca, and inform the lab assistant of the date you would like to reserve.
AFTER HOURS ACCESS:
After hours access to the Sensor Lab is privilege based, and will be decided upon by your Professor and Sensor Lab 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 materials and specified equipment for the realization of their academic projects. Students are therefore encouraged to consult the Visual Communication Lab Assistant early in their project development to get an overview of technologies vs cost vs availability vs complexity.
BORROWING:
Students who have paid The Departmental Fee can borrow certain equipment or books from the Visual Communication Lab. Borrowed equipment must be returned the following school day morning, unaltered and in working order.
LIABILITIES:
Students are liable for the repair or replacement cost of any equipment they borrow from the Visual Communication Lab, which has been lost or damaged whilst in their possession.
STUDENTS MUST LEAVE THEIR I.D. CARDS WITH THE LAB ASSISTANT IN ORDER TO BORROW ITEMS FROM THE LAB.
SAFETY
NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN THE VISUAL COMMUNICATION LAB. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND THE LAB ORIENTATION SESSION IN ORDER TO MAKE USE OF THE LAB.
POWER TOOLS:
The use of power tools is not permitted in the Visual Communication Lab.
CHEMICALS:
The ventilation in the Visual Communication Lab is not designed to clear the air of toxic chemicals. For anything that could be hazardous, please go to the ventilation rooms on the 9th floor.
DON’T USE THE VC LAB EQUIPMENT TO MANIPULATE TOXIC OR PERMANENT MATERIALS THAT MAY CAUSE HEALTH HAZARDS OR EQUIPMENT DAMAGE. NO PAINTS OF ANY KIND.
CLEAN UP
CLEAN UP STARTS 30 MINUTES BEFORE CLOSING:
All Visual Communication 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 Visual Communication Lab and you leave, put all tools away whether you took them out or not. This includes all hand tools, and any paper trimmings or other mess made.
IF YOU STAY LATE (AFTER HOURS ACCESS), CLEAN UP IS YOUR JOB.
BACK UP ALL YOUR FILES:
The computer in the Visual Communication Lab will be cleaned on a regular basis, so please back up all important files before leaving.