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Equipment Services

Phone: 646-758-7860

Email: equipment@journalism.cuny.edu

Alistair Wallace, Director of Campus Services

Alistair Wallace

Director of Campus Services
(646) 758-7757 alistair.wallace@journalism.cuny.edu

Team Members

  • Eric Alexander

  • Kieran Delaney

  • Peter Marquez

  • Eric Pilotti

  • Andrew Shepard

  • Andre Ward

  • Sean Williams

Addendum to Standard Equipment Room Policies and Procedures for Remote Learning

The Equipment Room is committed to providing the same high level of service and expertise while we are in a remote learning paradigm as we always have. We have modified our standard operating procedures to accommodate remote learning during the COVID outbreak, but we hope to maintain the spirit of our regular policies and procedures, which we feel are built on a foundation of collaboration, trust, and responsibility between the Equipment Room and the students. Please note the following policies that are relevant to our current situation:

  • Students in the Class of 2021 will receive equipment that will allow them to use their smartphone as the primary device for audio and video reporting. Students are responsible for confirming receipt of these items by sharing part numbers and serial numbers for all items received. Should a student decide to postpone their attendance or withdraw from the school, that student is responsible for immediately returning the equipment to the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Students are expected to return these items to the Equipment Room when classes resume on campus, or by other arrangement.

  • Students in the Class of 2020 are able to make reservations in the equipment checkout portal by appointment only, given that their reporting is in line with school policies regarding safe reporting and they have received authorization. Staff are available Monday thru Friday, 9am-6pm. Please contact equipment@journalism. cuny.edu to arrange an appointment; after a time is agreed upon students will be directed to the portal. We encourage students currently in possession of equipment to use the gear they have, so as not to unnecessarily expose themselves or the staff while in transit. Students are responsible for the return of all equipment currently in their possession to the Equipment Room when they have completed their coursework and no longer have need of it, or by other arrangement.

All other policies stated in this document remain in effect.

Student Policies

The Equipment Room at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York loans a variety of video and audio equipment to help students fulfill their academic studies. These privileges are available to currently registered students in good standing for support of their academic coursework only.

Eligibility for Equipment Services

To be eligible to check out equipment, students must complete an intake process with an equipment staff member during the proper sign-up period. This process includes:

  • providing proof of property insurance that meets or exceeds the rental gear value

  • reading, understanding, and signing the Equipment Checkout Policies form

activating an Equipment Portal account and receiving training on use of the site

An insurance plan specifically tailored to the program has been arranged with Haylor Freyer & Coon Inc. The enrollment, coverage, and claim information can be found at: http:// www.haylor.com/college/cuny-graduate- school-of-journalism/

Equipment Usage Guidelines

Any student eligible for equipment services will have access to making an equipment reservation through the Equipment Portal at https://equipment.journalism.cuny.edu/

Available Equipment

• Equipment kits that support students’ coursework will be determined by faculty. The type of equipment kit available to a student depends on the class, equipment availability, and good standing.

• Reservations must be made or modified online at least 24 hours prior to the desired pickup time; reservations requested by phone or email will not be honored. Should extenuating circumstances require same- day preparation of a reservation, please contact your professor and the equipment room to submit a same-day equipment petition.

• Students may not have more than two active checkouts signed out at any given time.

• Equipment must be returned before 1:30 p.m. on the due date or a late fine of $25 will be assessed.

• Please arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes in advance to allow for processing the return. The Equipment Room closes every day from 1:30 – 1:45 p.m.

• All overdue equipment must be returned before additional equipment reservations can be made online.

Reserved and packed equipment for an upcoming checkout will be held until the end of the pickup day. Equipment not picked up by the end of that business day (6:00 p.m. during standard hours; 5:30 p.m. during summer and extended break hours) will cancel the reservation and incur a $10 “no- show” fine. Any equipment that is part of a canceled reservation will be unpacked and released for other students’ use. Limited-time extensions and Same-day Equipment Petitions are subject to class year, equipment availability, and the approval of faculty and the Director of Campus Services based on need.

For limited-time extensions students should email requests for approval to their Professor with their graduation year, contract number for equipment needing extension, amount of extension time needed, and an explanation as to why an extension is necessary. Faculty will then contact the equipment room with approval. Extensions must be submitted at least two hours before equipment is due, or a standard late fee will apply.

For same-day equipment petitions students should email requests for approval to their Professor with their graduation year, an explanation as to why same-day equipment is necessary, and what type of equipment they need. Faculty will then contact the equipment room with approval. The equipment room will then determine if and when the request can be fulfilled based on equipment availability and schedule.

Fines & Invoices

Students are responsible for the good care and intact return of all equipment borrowed and will be responsible for the cost of the repair and/or replacement of any missing or damaged equipment, in line with University policy.* Students are responsible for covering the cost of the replacement of any lost equipment, or for the repair of any equipment returned broken. For broken or lost items that do not exceed the deductible of their personal property insurance policy, students must purchase a replacement item immediately. Broken equipment with a value of more than the deductible will be sent for a repair estimate from the appropriate repair facility. Upon receiving the estimate, the student is required to immediately submit a claim for the cost of repair or replacement. Upon receipt of the payment, students must submit the payment to the school. Student checkout privileges will be placed on hold until receipt of payment for the cost of repair or replacement is received by the school, or the school receives the replacement item.

All equipment is due back before 1:30 p.m. on the due date. Equipment returned late will incur a fine of $25/day for each day beyond the due date. Checkout privileges are immediately suspended after equipment is overdue one week. Privileges will be reinstated only after review by faculty and the Manager of Equipment and AV services.

A no-show fine of $10 will be assessed for equipment not picked up on the date requested if the reservation is not cancelled before the end of the business day. Cancellations must be communicated to equipment@journalism. cuny.edu before the end of business on the pickup date.

In order to maintain borrowing privileges, students may not have more than ONE outstanding fine for late return or “no show”. Students with TWO OR MORE outstanding fines will be placed on “HOLD” and will not have access to confirm a reservation request or to any checkouts.

If equipment is overdue by 24 hours or more, the J-School reserves the right to contact associates and employers of students in order to locate missing equipment.
Multiple instances of disregard for the policies and procedures as noted here will affect future borrowing privileges.

Students are required to resolve all outstanding fines and/or equipment repairs at the end of the current semester if they wish to begin the following semester with fully instated privileges. At the end of the semester, all outstanding fines or costs will be added to the students bursar account.

*See University policy as outlined in CUNY’s Other-Than-Tuition-Charges document, section B, part 2 :http://portal.cuny.edu/ cms/id/cuny/documents/informationpage/otherthantuition_charges.pdf

Hours of Operation

Equipment Room, Hours

Public Holidays

The Equipment Room is closed on all holidays recognized by the University.

Use of Equipment During Extended Break Periods

Equipment may be reserved for use during any extended break periods only if required for completion of academic classes/coursework- related projects; equipment is not allowed to be booked for personal, private, or commercial projects, including internships.

Students can only borrow equipment with a total value equal to or less than the amount covered by the student’s insurance policy. Extra insurance can be purchased from HF&C.

Students working in the metropolitan area are subject to the usual procedures and policies stated above.

Students working outside the metropolitan area must get written approval from the Director of Campus Services.

Inventory Weeks

Periodically, the Equipment Room needs to account for all equipment, take stock of gear, and maintain and prepare everything for future equipment access and availability. All gear must be returned before these dates, and checkouts cannot occur during this time.

Disclaimer

Policies, guidelines, and regulations are subject to revision or amendment as necessary without prior notification.