Equipment Access Policy

Access: 
Equipment is available for loan only to University at Buffalo SUNY students currently enrolled in a Media Study production class to which a lab fee is attached. The lab fee of $125.00 is charged to the student’s account and will show up as "DMS Lab fee". Equipment is to be used for production classes or production-oriented independent study projects only. In order to borrow equipment you must:

• be in good standing in the department and university;
• have paid all lab fees for past semesters;
• use equipment for course-related projects only; the equipment may not be used for commercial or non-curricular jobs or activities.

Reservations: Equipment and Labs may be reserved online from the link below. Please read and understand the terms of the equipment access policy prior to borrowing equipment:

• https://cast-dmsreserve.caset.buffalo.edu

Loan Restrictions:

When borrowing equipment from the Equipment Room ("ER"), borrowers ("you") accept that:

• The equipment is in good, functional condition at the time received. It is your responsibility to check the equipment at the time of checkout and to notify the ER of damage and/or missing items.
• You may not reserve more than one item/kit of certain types of high-demand equipment (including, but not limited to, cameras, camcorders, audio recorders, lighting kits) for the same checkout period without written approval from the student's current faculty and the Technical Director.
• You will promptly pick up and return equipment at the scheduled time.
• You will take good care of equipment while it is signed out under your name. (Use common sense -- do not leave equipment unattended.)
• You will not loan DMS equipment borrowed under your name to others.
• You take full financial responsibility for any loss or damage that may occur to the equipment or keys while checked out under your name. You will reimburse the department for the cost of any missing items or the cost of repair or replacement of equipment if damaged or lost. If such a fine is levied, your access privileges will be suspended until such reimbursement is paid.
• You will return equipment neatly organized. Please be aware that when returning equipment, you must wait until ER staff checks through the gear and gives you an "all clear" acknowledgement before you leave.

Violations and Fines:

Habitual or repeated disregard for equipment and the equipment access policy will result in the loss of access privileges.  Anyone who receives three infractions during one semester will have their access privileges revoked for a period of two weeks. Continued infractions beyond that will be cause for access suspension for the rest of the semester.

ANY OUTSTANDING FINES MUST BE PAID IN ORDER TO HAVE ACCESS PRIVILEGES RESTORED. ALL FINES MUST BE PAID BY CASHIER'S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER made out to “UNIVERSITY at BUFFALO.” If you have incurred a fine, you must talk to the Director of Equipment & Facilities before remitting. Violations that may result in fines or revocation of access include, but are not limited to:

• Equipment/Keys returned late;
• Smoking, food or drink in editing suites or labs;
• Removal of equipment from one workspace to another without permission;
• Leaving a workspace unlocked after hours;
• Leaving borrowed equipment unattended;
• Failure to cancel a reservation you do not claim;
• Giving access to DMS spaces to suspended students, students not qualified for equipment loan, or non-students.

Grievances:

Grievance procedures are in accord with the Bulletin of Undergraduate Education and the Graduate School Policies and Procedures. Written grievances must be submitted to the Equipment Manager and the Chair of Media Study. If a resolution is not reached, the grievance may be taken to the DMS Faculty through the DMS Chair.

If you have any questions regarding DMS equipment policy, please contact the Director of Equipment and Facilities.

Director of Equipment and Facilities:
Carl Lee
CFA 239
716 645-0928
cl62@buffalo.edu

Equipment Room: 
237 Center for Arts
716 645-6904