In a space that contains over 60 computers and houses dozens if not hundreds of students on a given day, it can sometimes be difficult to strike a good balance between privacy and collaboration. On the one hand, the Student Computing Center is a collaborative space. We want students to help one another out, to be free to speak with their peers, and to feel comfortable when they come through our doors. On the other hand, our lab space is meant for individual study, too, which requires some measure of quiet so that students can concentrate on their work. How to navigate this tension?
Well, there’s no easy answer to that question. In general, we leave it to students to self-regulate, trusting that the SPSCC population is responsible and considerate enough to know what is appropriate or inappropriate behavior in a shared space such as the lab. Sometimes, though, it’s easy to forget that our space and resources are not only limited, but are shared with others.
In order to more clearly define the kind of space that we envision for the Student Computing Center, we have created a Values and Policies document. You can see the sheet posted in each of the computer lab rooms, and it mentions three simple values that we seek to uphold:
1. Promote cleanliness.
2. Use resources wisely.
3. Maintain a respectful learning environment.
Promote cleanliness. No one likes working in a dirty environment. The last thing I want to do when I visit a public computer lab is have to sweep someone else’s crumbs off the table or wipe someone else’s food stains off the keyboard. That’s we ask that people refrain from bringing food into the Computing Center. (Drinks are allowed as long as they have lids.) If you have trash, throw it away or put it in recycling.
Use resources wisely. Did you know that all of the paper we use in the lab has been donated by current and former SPS students? This second value mainly translates into our printing policy, whereby we ask people to limit printing to a maximum of 30 pages per visit. “Resources” also refers to the computers and all their hardware, too, as well as our printers, tables, chairs, and any other material things in the lab. Please take care of the lab’s stuff; it doesn’t belong to you, after all.
Maintain a respectful learning environment. There’s no hard rule here, just a general principle. Common courtesy is probably your best guide when it comes to this one. If the person next to you is clearly trying to study, don’t play your music so loud that it bleeds out your headphones. If you want to speak with a classmate or group member, try to do so at a reasonable level of sound. If you’re watching a video that others might find offensive, save it for another time and another place.
Will these values and policies make the lab a perfect space? Of course not. No matter what we do, we’ll still be somewhat constrained by the space and resources given to us. But with some simple guiding principles, we hope to share those resources well.