Grad Lab Fall Semester 2020 Student Services

 

In an effort to provide support for alternate means of student production, the Grad Lab will provide curbside equipment checkout services for MICA Graduate Students during the Fall 2020 semester. The following FAQ is designed to help students navigate the curbside checkout process.

 

Is the Grad Lab still checking out equipment?

Yes all MICA Graduate Students still have access to the Grad Lab’s equipment checkout.

 

What Grad Lab equipment is available for checkout?

All Grad Lab equipment is available.

 

What are the Grad Lab’s operating hours?

Check the Grad Lab website for operating hours https://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Hours

 

How do I request equipment?

Use Webcheckout to make a reservation request. All reservation requests must be made at least 1 week in advance of the reservations requested pickup time.

 

Can I get equipment without a reservation?

No. All Grad Lab services are appointment-basis only.

 

Can I get help selecting equipment?

Absolutely just use the form on our website (https://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/contact) to request a consultative appointment. Consultation services are available via phone, email or Zoom.

 

How will I know my reservation request has been approved?

All reservation requests will need to be approved. Once approved you will receive email confirmation.

 

How do I pick up equipment?

Once your reservation request has been approved and your reservation time is set, just come to Lazarus Center 131 W North Ave. Once you arrive call 410.225.4107 and let us know you are here. We will bring your equipment out to you.

 

How long do I have to get equipment when I’m picking up?

Pickups are scheduled every 15min so make sure you arrive promptly at the time specified on your reservation.

 

How do I know when my equipment is due?

Just check your Webcheckout account. It will have a list of all your activity including current checkout and when they are due.

 

How do I drop off equipment?

When you are finished with equipment just come to Lazarus Center 131 W North Ave within 1hour of the return time specified on your reservation. Once you arrive call 410.225.4107 and let us know you are here. We will bring your equipment out to you.

 

Are there still late equipment fines?

Yes. Make sure you return equipment at least 30min before it is due to ensure that it is returned on time and you do not accrue late fines.

 

Can I still make back to back reservations?

No. Once returned to the Lab, all equipment will be held for 24 hours to allow for disinfecting.

 

Can I just come to Lab in person to ask for help or equipment?

Unfortunately, no. Due to current federal, state and local directives regarding social distancing we cannot offer in person services at this time although we look forward to reopening the Lab and returning to normal operations as soon as possible. Currently all Grad Lab services are appointment-basis only and must be made at least one week in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

In an effort to provide support for alternate means of student production, the Grad Lab will provide remote equipment checkout services for MICA Graduate Students during the Fall 2020 semester. The following FAQ is designed to help students navigate the remote checkout process.

 

How will Remote Equipment Checkout Work?

This service will allow students to select equipment from the Grad Lab’s Webcheckout portal and have those items shipped to them for use at home.

 

Is all Grad Lab equipment available?

The vast majority of Grad Lab equipment is available for remote checkout but some items are too big, too fragile or cost prohibitive to ship. Once you have made a reservation Grad Lab staff will contact you and setup a time to talk to about your checkout.

 

How do I select the equipment I want?

First email gradcheckout@mica.edu and let us know you want a remote checkout. Then use the Grad Lab’s Webcheckout portal to select the equipment you want (http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout). Make sure you are selecting items at least one week in advance of their ship date. For example, the start time you select when creating a reservation must be at least one week in the future and will represent the date on which items will be shipped from the Lab (Baltimore MD 21217).

 

What days of the week will the Lab ship items?

The Grad Lab can ship items on most weekdays. MICA Postal is not open on the weekends and is working with reduced staffing and high demand so turnaround times may vary.

 

How long can I keep equipment?

Remote Checkouts are for 2 weeks (14 days). The 14-day checkout period begins when the shipping carrier lists your items as delivered and ends when you put the equipment back into the mail.

 

How will shipping work?

The Grad Lab will ship items to you with return shipping labels included. Simply use these included shipping labels to return equipment to the Lab through the mail before your checkout is due.

 

Who will pay for shipping?

The Lab will provide shipping and insurance estimates once you make a reservation so you can decide if you want to go through with a checkout before you commit to anything. All shipments must have tracking, signature upon receipt, and be insured for the full replacement value of the equipment.

 

How many items can I checkout at once?

Because the Grad Lab’s checkout inventory is built around an in-person 3-day checkout with zero turnaround time, remote checkouts will be limited to 10 items total with no more than one item per an equipment type per patron at any given time. This means that you can have up to 10 items at any given time throughout the semester. Additionally, to allow for shipping, inspecting, and meeting CDC recommendations for disinfecting equipment, turnaround times for equipment are expected to be as much as 2 weeks.

 

Can you ship equipment internationally?

Unfortunately, due a number of complicating factors including cost, insuring items, long and unpredictable shipping times the Grad Lab cannot ship equipment outside of the continental United States.

 

 

 

 

 

In an effort to provide support for alternate means of student production, the Grad Lab will provide both remote and curbside equipment checkout and printing services for MICA Graduate Students during the Fall 2020 semester. The following FAQ is designed to help students navigate the differences between remote and curbside services.

 

Are there differences between remote printing and curbside printing?

Yes but just one really. With remote printing we will ship your prints to you and this has some cost associated with it. Curbside printing does not include any shipping costs as patrons can pick-up prints in person.

 

Are the differences between remote and curbside equipment checkouts?

Yes, a few including the cost of shipping, checkout duration, number and type of items available, and equipment turnaround time.

 

Why are there differences in cost?

There is some cost associated with remote equipment checkout due to the fact that equipment must be shipped. Because curbside pickup does not require equipment to be shipped there are no shipping costs associated.

 

Why are there differences in checkout duration?

The Grad Lab’s equipment stock is based around an in-person checkout with a 3-day duration and a zero turn-around time for equipment. This means that our checkout service is based around quickly turning equipment over form one patron to the next which allows us to maximize equipment availability. With the shift to remote and curbside operation this rapid turnover of equipment is no longer possible due to time spent shipping and disinfecting. In an attempt to ensure equipment availability for all patrons throughout the semester, remote checkouts will have a 14 day duration and curbside checkouts will be for 7 days.

 

Why are there differences in the number and type of items available?

Because remote checkouts can take upwards of a month to complete and shipping some items is not feasible, the number and type of items available for remote checkout is slightly limited. Remote checkouts will be limited to 10 items total with no more than one item per an equipment type per patron at any given time. These restrictions help ensure that all patrons can access equipment over the course of a semester.

 

Why are there differences in equipment turnaround times?

There are turn-around times associated with both remote and curbside checkouts due to shipping and disinfecting. There is an increased turnaround time for remote equipment checkouts due to shipping. Not only does shipping items take time, but also, shipping times are currently unpredictable due to an increased demand being put on shipping providers. Additionally, all equipment must be disinfected when it is returned to the Lab to ensure the health and safety of both students and Grad Lab staff.

 

 

 

 

Grad Lab Curbside Checkout Policies and Procedures

 

·      To access Grad Lab checkout equipment, you must attend Grad Lab COVID Orientation and have signed and returned a Terms and Conditions Form (available here: http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout)

 

·      Reservation requests must be made at least one week in advance of pickup date.

 

·      All requested pickup and drop off times must fall within the Lab’s curbside operation hours listed on our website here: https://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Hours.

 

·      Once a reservation request is made on the Grad Lab’s webcheckout portal, Grad Lab staff will approve your reservation request and or reach out to you to discuss your request as needed.

 

·      Once your reservation is approved come to the front doors of Lazarus Center (131 W North Ave.) at the time/date specified on your reservation. Call 410-225-4107 to let us know you have arrived and we will bring your equipment to the front doors.

 

·      Pickups and drop-offs are scheduled in 15min intervals so make sure you are on time.

 

·      All equipment hand offs are contactless so please give us space and follow directions when dropping or receiving equipment.

 

·      Once you receive your items you are encouraged to inspect them before leaving.

 

·      When your return time approaches come to the front doors of Lazarus Center (131 W North Ave.) at the time/date specified on your checkout. Call 410-225-4107 to let us know you have arrived and we will collect your equipment.

 

·      To avoid late fees return your equipment at least 30min before it is due, more if you have many items.

 

·      A Grad Lab Tech will reach out to you if anything is found to be wrong with your items when they are returned.

 

·      The Grad Lab will continue to fine for late items as outlined in the Terms and Conditions Form (available here: http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout) so make sure you are returning items on time.

 

·      As always the Grad Lab will hold patrons responsible for lost, damaged and or incomplete items as per the Student Replacement Policy (listed on Terms and Conditions Form available here: http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout) so make sure kits are complete before check your equipment thoroughly before returning it to the Lab.

 

 

 

Grad Lab Remote Checkout Policies and Procedures

 

·      To access Grad Lab checkout equipment, you must attend Grad Lab COVID Orientation and have signed and returned a Terms and Conditions Form (available here: http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout)

 

·      Remote checkouts require advanced notice and approval to initiate a remote checkout email gradcheckout@mica.edu.

 

·      Reservation requests must be made at least one week in advance of shipping date.

 

·      All reservation request start times should be 9am and all reservation end times should be 5pm.

 

·      Once a reservation request is made on the Grad Lab’s webcheckout portal, Grad Lab staff will reach out to you to discuss your reservation request and provide a shipping estimate.

 

·      Not all equipment is available for remote checkout you will be notified if any item you selected is ineligible.

 

·      All equipment must be shipped with tracking, signature upon receipt and be insured for the full replacement value of the item shipped.

 

·      Payment info must be taken for round trip shipping before any items can be shipped.

 

·      Once a reservation request has been approved, items will be taken to MICA Postal and print on the day specified by your reservation.

 

·      Your 14-day checkout begins when your items are marked as delivered by the shipping carrier.

 

·      Once you receive your items you have 24 hours to contact the Lab regarding any damaged or incomplete items.

 

·      Equipment return times will be based upon their shipping date/time. In other words, items must be shipped before the day that they are due. We understand that shipping times can vary so we are basing your return time on when the post office receives the items not when they make it back to the Lab.

 

·      Drop us an email as soon as you have shipped your items so that we can confirm and update their status in Webcheckout.

 

·      The Grad Lab will continue to fine for late items as outlined in the Terms and Conditions Form (available here: http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout) so make sure you are returning items on time.

 

·      As always the Grad Lab will hold patrons responsible for lost, damaged and or incomplete items as per the Student Replacement Policy (listed on Terms and Conditions Form available here: http://graduate.mica.edu/newlab/Checkout) so make sure kits are complete before shipping and check your equipment thoroughly when it arrives.