Lab Assistant Responsibilities
While one of the major advantages of working in our computer labs is the fact that you generally have a lot of time to work on homework or other things, we do occasionally need you to take care of something. Here is a list of what we expect from our lab assistants:
Opening
If you open the lab, try to get there a few minutes early. Turn everything on, load the printer(s) with paper, and then take a good look around the room. Is there paper scattered on the desks or the floor? If so, pick it up and put it in either the trash or the recycling bin. Push in all the chairs, and make sure the keyboards, mice, and mouse pads are where they are supposed to be at each station; people like to move them around sometimes.
Attentiveness
It's fine if you work on homework or play games while on duty, but try not to get so engrossed that you don't notice a lab user trying to get your attention. It's generally a good idea if you check the room every few minutes. Take a quick look around; does someone look confused or lost? Ask them if you can help them. It takes a little effort on your part, but you'll probably save yourself the aggravation of helping a someone who's confused, lost, and ANGRY ten or fifteen minutes later. People are more inclined to work WITH you if you meet them halfway. If lab users feel like they have to track you down and make you help, they can become resentful. Also, get up and push in chairs every once in a while. This makes the lab look better and also makes it easier for students to walk around.
Printers
Check the printers every fifteen minutes or so. There are small indicator bars on the lower front of the paper trays which show roughly how much paper is left. If a printer is low, go ahead and fill it; this will save you the embarrassmet of having a user inform you that the printer is out of paper. Also, when you fill the printer, FILL the printer. If you only put in twenty or thirty sheets each time, you'll be hopping up every five minutes to refill it.
Printer Paper
Do NOT let anyone print on paper other than what we provide. Kindly tell them that they will have to print elsewhere. They will probably counter with several (to them) very good reasons why they should be allowed to print on 40# Rubberized Canvas for their resume. Just tell them that you're very sorry, but other types of paper can damage our printers and it simply isn't allowed.
User Activity
When you scan the room periodically, look at what people have up on their monitors. If someone is looking at the Playboy homepage or something, tell them to stop looking at that or they'll have to leave. Give them one warning; if they don't listen, ask them to go.
Disturbances
This brings us to handling disturbances. Every once in a blue moon, someone will become angry at you and create a disturbance. This is upsetting, but it must be dealt with. Let's say someone is talking loudly enough to disturb other users. Kindly ask them, as nicely as you can manage, to keep their voices down. They persist; tell them again, more firmly this time, and mention that they will have to leave if they continue. They continue, or worse yet cop an attitude with you; tell them in no uncertain terms that they have to leave. If they refuse to leave, your job just got easier. Tell them you're calling Public Safety. Then go to the phone and call Public Safety at 5-3333. Explain that there is a disturbance at whichever lab you're in, and give them whatever information they request. They should have someone there shortly. Now, before you get all nervous about going into work tomorrow, you should know that we have NEVER had to contact Public Safety about a disturbance (I once called them about a homeless guy trying to dismantle a water fountain in the hallway, but technically that wasn't a lab problem!) Generally, even the rudest user will realize they are pushing things and will either settle down or leave. This was simply to illustrate the worst thing you are LIKELY to face.
Faculty Problems
Occasionally, a faculty member will come to you with a problem on the machine in their office. Can you take a look? No, you may NOT. Now, if you are friends with the professor and would have taken a look anyway, that's your business. But if some anonymous professor comes to you with a problem, tell them to contact their departmental computer liaison; every department has one. Faculty computing is not your responsibility. If it was, we'd be paying you a heck of a lot more than we do right now. You are only responsible for the machines contained within the four walls of whichever lab you're working in.
Breaks
If you're in the middle of a seven hour shift and you want something to eat, feel free to walk to Bruegger's or The Golden Dragon to get some food. First, check the printers to make sure they have plenty of paper in case some grad student starts printing her thesis just as you walk out the door. Also, take a quick walk around the room pushing chairs in and stuff. This will give anyone with a question a chance to ask it before you split for ten minutes. Finally, when you go for food GET TAKEOUT! We don't want you to starve, but we also don't want the lab unattended for 45 minutes. A helpful tip: You can order takeout from Two Guys and Amici, and then just walk up the street and pick it up. This cuts down on the time you're gone, AND you can have a tasty calzone for lunch (or dinner, or breakfast.)
Closing
As a service to our users, please make an announcement about 30 minutes before the lab closes. Then make another at 15 minutes, then 10, five, and then start turning off machines to let people know that, yes, this is actually happening. It's sometimes helpful to close the door halfway at 15 minutes; this discourages more people from coming in. If people do come in during that last 30 minutes or so, be sure to tell them that their time is limited. DO NOT let people stay past closing, no matter how persistent or upset they are. After everyone is gone, shut everything down. Then take a look around. Is there paper scattered around the room? If so, pick it up. Push all the chairs in. Yes, I also ask whoever OPENS the lab to do this, but I'd like both people to take an interest. This way, there's no excuse for the lab to look like a pigsty at 9:00 am the next morning. No matter what, the lab should look good when it opens in the morning. After you've cleaned up, lock up and go home.
This all looks like a lot, but after a few days it becomes routine. We may add tasks every once in a while, or ask you to do specific tasks not on this list, but this is a basic rundown of what being a lab assistant is all about.
