• All users must obey the policies set by Tompkins-Cortland Community College. Failure to comply with a staff request or policy can result in removal of equipment privileges

 

• The cage equipment is only for Communication & Media Arts (including Digital Cinema) majors only.

 

• All users must present their valid TC3 ID number when making a reservation. Users must present their valid TC3 ID Card when checking out any equipment from the cage. Attempts to deceive staff in order to gain access to equipment by using another student’s TC3 ID Card will result in removal of equipment privileges for the remainder of the student’s time at TC3.

 

• You may reserve equipment up to 14 days in advance and a minimum of 48 hours in advance. Equipment can only be checked out for no longer than 24-hours Monday-Thursday. Checkouts on Fridays or the day before a college break begins are due back when the cage reopens on Monday (or when the college reopens).

 

• Major equipment (cameras, tripods, lights, microphones, etc) require a reservation to be checked out. Only walk-up checkouts can be made for accessories like XLR Cable, Grip Equipment, Firewire Cables, etc.

 

• A passing camera test is required to check out any camera from the cage. To schedule a camera test, email the cage at eca@tc3.edu or contact your course instructor.

 

• Only reserve equipment for as long as you need it and not for as long as you can “keep it.”

 

• There is a minimum 24-hour turn around time between reservations for like equipment. For instance if you have a JVC HM100 camera due back at 10:00am on Thursday, the earliest you may take out another JVC HM100 camera will be Friday at 10:00am.

 

• If you are late returning equipment, you will be put on probation for five full weeks. During a probation period, if a user returns equipment late again, their equipment privileges will be removed for the rest of the semester. Example: Your equipment was due back at 10:00am Monday morning and you return it at 10:30am. It is late and sometimes will result in someone else having missed their equipment reservation that you did not return.

 

• The user is responsible for any and all damages to equipment while checked out under their name. “It was this way when I got it” is not an acceptable excuse. Users must check their equipment over for any damages before completing a checkout. If a problem is found, we will make every effort to fix, replace and/or note condition on the checkout before a user completes a checkout. Our equipment has been used for several semesters and current damages or faults to equipment have already been noted. If the user does not take the time to test or check their equipment, they are assuming responsibility for any damage found when it is returned. If damage is discovered the user’s equipment privileges will be suspended and will remain suspended until they meet with the Cage Manager and Communication & Media Arts Program Chair. Agreements will be made for restitution for parts, repairs, or for the replacement of the damaged equipment. The length of the suspension will be determined by the Cage Manager and Communication & Media Arts Program chair. Honesty by the student plays a crucial part in this decision. Attempts to deceive staff about the conditions or circumstances of the damage could result in additional penalties.

 

• Users are responsible for equipment checked out under their name at all times. Students must keep equipment with them at all times when they are on campus. Equipment found in the editing labs or news room that is unsupervised at any point in time will result in removal of cage equipment privileges for 3 weeks and put on probation for 5 weeks (even if it is while you get lunch or go to the bathroom). Students who live in the dorms shall keep equipment in a safe location. In the event that equipment is missing or stolen, contact Campus Police and the Cage Manager immediately.

 

• Equipment reservations are non-transferable. This means if you reserve it under your name, you do not under any circumstances loan it to a classmate, room-mate, relative, or anyone else. You are financially responsible for any damage or loss to the equipment. Violating this policy will result in loss of equipment privileges in-definitely.

 

• Equipment must be picked up and returned by the person who initially reserved the equipment. Other arrangements can be made by contacting the Cage Equipment manager first.

 

• All equipment must be picked up within one hour of reservation start time. After 1 hour the system cancels the reservation and returns the equipment to active circulation for others to reserve or check out.

 

• Users who wish to travel with portable equipment beyond 100 miles must obtain authorization from the Cage Equipment Manager.

 

• In the event that you do not pick up your reservation and do not notify the cage ahead of time, you will be placed on probation for two full weeks.

 

• The cage does not supply easily found store-bought items like AA or 9v batteries for equipment. Users must supply their own record media for cameras and audio recorders. The cage will not supply memory cards.

 

• Interns at the cage are to be given the same respect and have their instructions followed the same as if they were full time professional staff.

 

Modified: 8/15/16