Revised: December 18, 2001

Prepared by Jeanette Bravo, Assistant Dean of Faculty

Policy and Procedure for Development of Instructional Labs:

  1. When planning an instructional lab, assessment is more effective when the analysis is based on curricular goals and available resources.
  1. The cost of the lab should be assessed and included in the campus budget. All costs attached to the creation of a lab, such as peripheral hardware, wiring, furniture, lighting, installation, carpeting, operating costs, required remodeling/construction and staffing, should be considered.

An estimated budget should be created to include all costs. The offices of ETU, Telecommunications, and Maintenance, should be part of the process to determine cost more efficiently. Evaluate lab location for lighting, Internet connectivity, environmental controls and security.

  1. If possible, future support of the lab should be determined early on. For example, who will support a lab after the original funding is depleted?

Supplies such as paper, ink cartridges, replacement bulbs for projectors can be costly and should be part of an ongoing budget. Also, repairs to unsupported college equipment, like color laser printers, should be part of the budgetary plan.

When designing a lab, consideration should be given to emerging technologies. For example, capacity that allows the use of images, voice, video, and text data. “Designing a lab that not only fits the needs of today but those of five years in the future.” Labs should be designed with excess power and network connections in case computers are moved or added to the facility.

  1. Staffing needs are important and should be part of the cost analysis. Will the lab require a full-time PA, or a part-time PA? What will the impact be on ETU? Will staff need additional training?
  1. Departments are responsible for budgeting and purchasing desktop security to protect equipment from vandalism, theft and breaches in network security.
  1. Guarantees of capacity, priority use, shared lab time, and access during peak time. Labs are not disciplined based. A non-proprietary use analysis should be developed that spell out what is the primary and secondary use of the lab.
  1. When designing a classroom environment, ensure that students can easily focus on their instructor. There should also be adequate space between students, room for books, back packs, etc. In addition, the instructor should be able to view all of the students without any difficulty. Classroom design should adhere to the recommended ADA requirements. This includes not only adjustable-height tables but also software for the visual and hearing impaired student.
  1. Departmental representatives should verify the compatibility of any software with the current operating system and virus protection. Software must be legally purchased. Neither the ETU nor any other college department will install any software that has not been obtained in accordance with copyright law.

9. Consideration should be given to “open lab time.” The ETU will need time to prepare the labs for the new semester. Labs need to operate within a timeframe dictated by the academic calendar. Installation of new equipment and/or software must be scheduled in advance and should generally occur during intersession and summer periods.