Responsibilities of a Lab Assistant

• Duties

  As a lab monitor, you are to perform the following duties:
  • Opening the Lab
    
    1. Arrive 15 minutes prior to the opening of the lab.
    2. Disarm the alarm system; if it is not properly armed, notify the System Administrator (sprague@cs.fsu.edu) immediately.
    3. Enter (swipe) yourself into the lab entry log.
    4. Check that all users are logged out and that all monitors and computers are on and functioning properly.
    5. Check the supply of printer paper.
    6. Generally straighten the lab (if necessary).
    7. Open on time.
  • Ongoing Duties
    
    1. Strictly monitor access to the lab; allowing access ONLY to students having an FSU ID card.
    2. Monitor the lab, keeping an eye out for theft and/or vandalism, disruptions of any kind, and the proper functioning of the lab equipment.
    3. Contact the System group if any services are required (additional paper, equipment or software failures, etc.).
    4. Keep the lab clean; contact Systems if janitorial services are required.
    5. Make sure no food or drink is consumed in the lab
    6. Assist (within reason) the users of the lab. Reasonable requests concerning the operation of the lab and the system should be honored, if possible (see below on the required knowledge). Requests to assist with homework, debug code etc. may be honored (at the discretion of the lab monitor) if such does not interfere with the duties of the lab monitor.
    7. Be aware of emergency numbers (911) and the proper method of notifying systems and the system administrator (see below).
    8. *NEVER* leave the lab unguarded (except for short restroom breaks). If a monitor is forced by serious emergency to leave the lab and another monitor cannot be found to substitute, close the lab and notify systems and/or the system administrator.
  • Closing the lab
  
  
  1. Straighten the lab
  2. Turn off all monitors
  3. Check the paper supply and email systems if necessary
  4. Swipe yourself out, after all users have departed.
  5. Arm the system and turn out the lights.
  6. Close on time (or later, at the discretion of the monitor).
  
  

• Knowledge

  You are responsible for knowing how the lab equipment operates and how to correct minor problems (printer jams, machine reboots, etc.). You should endeavor to become knowledgeable with the software running on lab machines, as you will be asked about same. If you feel your knowledge is inadequate, ask other lab monitors or the system administrator for help.
  
  

• Punctuality

  Punctuality is critical; repeated tardiness is grounds for dismissal. Lab openers should arrive 15 minutes early in all events; other monitors are asked to arrive a few minutes early to allow the easy transition of shifts.
  
  

• Professionalism (including appropriate dress)

  You represent the Computer Science department while working in the lab. For many people, this means that their first and only impression of our department will be based solely on how professionally you conduct yourself. Dress should be reasonable for the situation. Monitors should be courtious at all times.
  
  

• Systems Contact Information