Lab Policy

Welcome to Skagit Valley College academic computing labs. These labs are for your use to do work related to your studies, not for recreation.

As a user of computing services, you share in the responsibility to maintain a productive, reliable, and secure lab environment. You are required to read and understand the material presented in this document. If you have any questions after reviewing these procedures, you may direct your questions to the lab tech on duty or the lab manager.

To ensure that the lab is available for all SVC students, faculty, and staff, the procedures below are strictly enforced.

Lab Usage

• The labs may be used only by these members of the Skagit Valley College community: students who have paid the access fee, faculty, staff, and faculty emeriti.
• Computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Lab staff may ask users to follow reasonable time limits so that all users are accommodated fairly.
• Some labs may be reserved or used for class instruction.
• Academic work takes priority over nonacademic work.
• If you experience any problems or observe inappropriate behavior while using SVC's computers, please report the problem to the lab tech on duty or the lab manager.

Guidelines

• Your login name and password are set up for your exclusive use. Do not share this information with others. You will be held responsible for all actions taken by anyone using your account.
• Display your student ID card at the computer. You need not display a Social Security Number.
• Software may not be copied to or from any computers.
• Do not reconfigure or tamper with machines.
• Do not attempt to infiltrate or "hack" into any computer, computing system, or network.
• Students may not attach any personal equipment to any network or SVC equipment.
• Refrain from activities or use of computers which may interfere with the ability of other students to do academic work.
• Children are not allowed in the labs.
• No food, drink, or tobacco are allowed in labs.

E-Mail 

• Student e-mail is intended for effective personal communications between individuals or to reach small groups of individuals.
• Do not use e-mail to send campus-wide, blanket communications.
• E-mail is not intended to serve in place of campus bulletin boards; it is intended for direct, person-to-person communications.

Lab Staff

Lab techs are available to assist with lab operations. The degree of help which a tech can give a student is limited. Students who use the facilities are expected to be, for the most part, self-sufficient in their computer usage.

Lab techs are typically able to help with commonly used software such as MSWord, MSExcel, and Netscape. However, this does not mean they possess an extensive knowledge of all the software available to students.

It should be noted that there are several special purpose software packages installed on the lab computers which the lab techs are not trained to support. Students should consult with the instructor for assistance with class specific software.

Lab techs may assist in removing viruses on floppy disks.

Lab techs maintain a lost-and-found box as a courtesy, but they are not responsible for lost materials.

SVC staff are not responsible for problems caused by computer viruses, improper use of the equipment, or loss of data due to equipment malfunctions or any other reason.

IMPORTANT NOTES: While using lab computers, SAVE your work to a floppy disk and SAVE to a floppy disk frequently. The use of two back-up disks for valuable work is suggested.

Student work, which may reside on SVC lab computers, is subject to erasure.

Regulations

Computing resources are subject to the policies and regulations of the college and any state or federal laws which apply. Alleged violations will be processed in accordance with college guidelines outlined in the Student Handbook or SVC’s Policies and Procedures manual.

The following types of activities are examples of behaviors which are unacceptable, and which, in some cases, may violate state or federal law:

• Altering system software or hardware configurations;
• Accessing someone else’s account, directory, private files, or e-mail without permission of the owner;
• Misrepresenting one’s own identity in electronic communication;
• Violating copyright and/or software agreements;
• Using computing resources to threaten or harass others;
• Using the College system for commercial or profit-making purposes;
• Violating lab and system policies, procedures, and protocol.

Interested In Working as a Lab Tech

The average industry salary for a network manager is now $75,000.

Working as a paid lab tech is a great step in that direction! While the salary may be a little less, serving as a lab tech is a great beginning and provides real-world experience that employers desire.

If you are interested in working with the Info Tech team, please visit with a lab tech, Betty Anderson or one of the SVC Computer Lab Managers.

The qualities desired in a lab tech are:

• Desire to learn
• Ability to work well with people
• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Familiarity with DOS and Windows OS
• Familiarity with general computer programs such as, Microsoft Office Suite, Internet Explorer, Netscape, FireFox, Safari.