SCS Classroom Policy

Policy Summary

This policy addresses the management, scheduling and general use of the SCS computer classroom. The Local Systems Committee (LSC) will mediate in situations where there are disagreements regarding the interpretation of the following policy and will clarify an existing policy and/or develop new policy as needed. Questions or concerns regarding the following policy should be sent to the LSC lsc@csit.fsu.edu.

Guidelines

SCS has one computer classroom in Dirac Science Library. The room is equipped with 18 Intel-based workstations running LINUX and Microsoft Windows XP, a general image server, an instructional-use workstation, a visual presenter, and two ceiling mounted projectors. A complete list of the hardware and software available in the classroom can be viewed at the classroom twiki.

Priority

The primary function of the SCS computer classroom is to serve as an instructional computing facility for classes and workshops taught by SCS faculty and staff members. Subject to availability, other uses of the classroom may include: scheduled computing laboratory sessions assigned and monitored by SCS faculty and staff, SCS training sessions, group meetings and seminars, and open computing laboratory sessions for students to work on class assignments that supplement regularly scheduled class periods taught by SCS faculty and staff. Courses and workshops taught by non-SCS faculty or staff members may also be scheduled in the computer classroom, however, they will be given lower priority. The following list gives the priority in descending order of acceptable uses of the CSIT classroom.

1. Scheduled classes and workshops taught by SCS faculty and staff
2. Scheduled laboratories taught by SCS faculty and staff
3. Scheduled training sessions, group meetings, and seminars organized by SCS faculty and staff
4. Open laboratory sessions
5. Courses and workshops taught by non-SCS faculty and staff
6. Unscheduled training sessions and group meetings organized by SCS faculty and staff

Scheduling

Scheduling the computer classroom is arranged on a semester-by-semester basis. Classroom availability is based on the priorities listed above and then on a first come, first serve basis. Courses taught in the computer classroom and listed in the University Course Catalog must be scheduled according to the timeframe advised by the registrar. All other acceptable uses of the classroom (see above) must be scheduled and posted online at least 24 hours in advance of the event so that students have time to plan for open laboratory periods. Unscheduled use of the classroom by CSIT faculty and staff during the open laboratory sessions is permitted, but only in deference to students who may wish to use the classroom during that time.

The following information is required to schedule use of the CSIT computing classroom:

• Name of person making the request (e.g., course instructor)
• Days of the week or dates, if the event is nonrecurring
• Time of day
• Software required (if it is not part of the standard system image)
• Classroom configuration (if the configuration is different from the standard setup)
• If a course or workshop -- names of the students enrolled in the course. If student names are not known when making the reservation, then give the approximate number of students you expect to enroll in the course or workshop.
• Whether students are to be given access to the computer classroom during open laboratory sessions.

Note: Instructor must submit the names of the students enrolled in the course or workshop so that student key cards can be activated to permit access the computer lab (see Security and Access for more details). (Any idea how long will it take to activate student IDs to open card key access door?)

Security & Access

The computer classroom is secured by a card key entry system on the door of the classroom, and another card key entry system on the door to the first floor suite. The door to the first floor suite automatically locks after 5 PM and reopens again at 8 AM. The door to the classroom is locked at all times except during scheduled courses, laboratories, workshops, and seminars when a responsible faculty or staff member is present. The responsible faculty or staff member is the person who scheduled the room during the relevant event.

Open laboratory access periods are allowed during non-scheduled hours for students to work on coursework and class assignments that supplement regularly scheduled class or workshop periods taught by SCS faculty or staff. A student may access the computer classroom during nonscheduled hours provided the following conditions are met:

• The student is registered for a course or workshop that is taught in the computer classroom.
• The student's ID has been activated to open the card key entry system on the computer classroom door.
• The course or workshop instructor has introduced the student to the relevant classroom operating procedures.

Note: Laboratory supervision and technical assistance will not be available in the classroom during open access periods; therefore, students must know how to work independently on classroom equipment during open access sessions.

Classroom workstations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis during unscheduled open access periods. Students enrolled in a schedule course or workshop taught in the computer classroom may also use the classroom workstations via remote access 24 hours a day - 7 days a week (except during scheduled and unscheduled system repairs and maintenance).

Classroom workstations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis during unscheduled open access periods. Students enrolled in a scheduled course or workshop taught in the computer classroom may also use the classroom workstations via remote access 24 hours a day -7 days a week (except during scheduled and unscheduled system repairs and maintenance). All workstations in the classroom are password protected. To logon to a workstation a user must have a CSIT account (http://www.csit.fsu.edu/systems/userapps.php). Users are required to logoff of the main console when they leave the workstation unattended. Interactive sessions will be automatically terminated after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Workstations and Classroom Configuration

The primary operating system running on the classroom workstations is LINUX. Windows XP is also available on each workstation, however it is run under VMware on top of LINUX. Workstations are maintained according to a "standard system image" which is decided on by the faculty and staff who use the classroom for their courses. The standard system image contains core system configuration files, application software, and data files used for instructional purposes. A limited "scratch" space is also provided on each workstation where instructors may place transient files that are not part of the standard system image. The "scratch" space is designed primarily as a way for an instructor to make files available to students during the allotted event period. Files saved to the "scratch" space may not be available from one class period to the next. Classroom workstations are regularly "re-imaged" according to the "standard system image"; therefore, files saved by students to the local disks will not be retained after a system is "re-imaged." Home directories are mounted on classroom workstations and can be used to store user-specific data files.

If a course requires the installation of specialized software that is not on the "standard system image", the course instructors must coordinate this need with the Systems Manager at least one week before the software is required. Please note that more time may be required if it takes over a week to acquire the requested software because of vender related delays. All software installed on the "standard system image" must be legally licensed. The Systems Manager must have a copy of the license and the installation media for all software installed on the standard system image during the period when it is in use on the classroom workstations.

Classroom desks and equipment are maintained in a standard configuration, which is agreed on by the faculty and staff who use the classroom for their courses. The room is maintained in the standard configuration unless other arrangements are made with the Systems Manager. Priority is given to meet the configuration requirements of scheduled courses and workshops. No equipment will be removed from the classroom without prior consent of the Systems Managers.

Systems Maintenance and Repairs

Scheduled system maintenance and repairs will be made outside of scheduled periods and between the hours of 5PM and 8AM.

Last changed: 04 Mar 2005

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