Established: January 24, 1972
Last Updated: November 21, 2000
Class: G
1. General
The Audio-Visual Centre is structured and financed primarily to enhance the preparation and presentation of course materials. Within the limitations of its resources the Centre also provides a service for activities not directly related to classroom teaching. This policy outlines the ways in which requests for service will be handled, and provides a guide for normal operations to the Director of the Audio-Visual Centre, who, it is understood, has the discretion to adopt a more liberal interpretation of the Centre's role at times when the availability of equipment and/or staff permit(s).
2. Teaching
A. Aids (Audio-Visual Equipment, TV, Film Services):
The Centre is financed out of the normal University operating budget in anticipation of a certain level of demand for its equipment and personnel. It is not financed to provide consumables to its users and, therefore, charges are levied for such items as acetates, film rentals, long-term use of TV tapes, audio tapes and cassettes, and other similar items.
B. Use of the Audio-Visual Centre as a Laboratory:
- The Centre does not provide "hands on" experience to students in courses dealing with the media. To do so interferes with the primary objective of the Centre, which is to assist instructors in preparation and presentation of their material. Teaching "techniques" and providing equipment for laboratory use are normally outside the scope of the Centre.
- Occasionally, it is possible for the Centre to be of some assistance to an instructor by demonstrating a technique for a class or securing special materials, but no course should be based on the use of the Centre as a laboratory.
3. Non-Teaching Use of the Audio-Visual Centre
The Centre will provide audio-visual aids for non-teaching uses, within certain limits.
A. It is understood that the primary responsibility remains the enhancement of the instructor's presentation and that all other demands on equipment and personnel are secondary.
B. If the borrower is not a University department, or recognized as such, a rental charge shall be imposed.
C. To protect its ability to deliver its primary service the Centre may insist on providing (and charging for) its own operators and technicians.
D. The Centre is not for the support of commercial ventures. And, normally, the Centre cannot provide service for off-campus community or commercial activities, whether sponsored by University personnel or not. If the Centre is able to provide the service, the full cost of doing so normally will be charged to the user.