Priority of use
The MacLab and Linux Lab is open to all affiliates of the University of Chicago with access to the Regenstein Library. However, due to the lab's nature as an instructional facility, we ask that users yield to others with higher priority in this order:
- Students in the Department of Computer Science attending a lab session
- Students in the Department of Computer Science doing academic work
- Other users doing academic work
- Any users doing non-academic work
If you are using a scanner or media Mac but don't need that machine's special functionality or software, we ask that you yield to users who do need it. If you leave a computer unattended for longer than 15 minutes, you may be logged out so that another user can use it.
Printing
Beginning Winter Quarter 2010:
- All printing at the Computer Science Instructional Lab (MacLab) will migrate to the pay-for-print Unified Printing Solution (UPS) at the start of Winter Quarter. The Lab will cease to provide any free printing.
- The UPS is in use at the Library, Residence Halls, NSIT computing clusters, and Harper Commons. For more information about the Unified Printing Solution, see https://printing.uchicago.edu/. Lab staff will be happy to assist you.
- If you have any questions or concerns please send them to canon@lists.uchicago.edu. They will be responded to promptly.
The larger context for these changes is that free printing surfaced as unsustainable around the year 2000 for universities across the nation when a vast repository of documents became available online. This led to an exponential surge in demand for printing that far exceeded available university funds. The higher demand became a "tragedy of the commons" wherein the community resources were quickly depleted. Universities were generally constrained to move to fee based printing in order to provide any printing services at all. Our attempts to limit printing to user created documents was an alternate solution. The Lab's more limited solution has now become obsolete.
The computer Science Instructional Lab is migrating to the UPS solution on January 4th, 2010.
Courtesy
The lab is a public space intended for work. We ask that users keep that in mind and limit noise. If you need to listen to audio content, please use headphones, a number of which are available at the front desk for checkout.
We also ask that users clean up their trash before leaving and maintain a tidy work environment. Do not leave your belongings unattended or infringing on the workspace of others.
Lost and found
Unattended items, including flash drives, are kept at the front desk. To retrieve them, see a tutor. The lab is not liable for misplaced valuables.
Tampering
Please do not attempt to fix printer or computer malfunctions yourself, no matter your level of expertise. If paper or toner run out, or if there is another problem, come to the front desk and see a tutor.
Modifying files outside of your home directory is not allowed. If you require administrative privileges in order to install a specific piece of software, font, etc. please see a tutor at the front desk so that we may assist you.
Software on the lab machines is either licensed to the CS Labs or to the university, or is freeware. Any illegal copying of software will not be tolerated and may result in the loss of usage privileges, in addition to any action taken by the university or licensors.
Other
Users will be held liable for all damages caused by food or beverages. Smoking is not allowed, nor are pets. The regulations of the Regenstein Library all apply in the CS Labs, and we reserve the right to change our policies without notice.
Have questions or suggestions about our policies? Let us know.