Laptops, cameras loaned to students

Students can borrow audio and video equipment through the office of technology services at this college.

The OTS lends Dell laptops and MacBooks, cameras, projectors and multimedia carts to students on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This semester the OTS has 29 laptops and four MacBooks currently checked out to students. There is a waiting list for students wanting to borrow laptops and MacBooks.

“The demand is higher than what we have right now,” Usha Venkat, director of information and communication technologies, said Sept. 24.

The OTS plans to purchase more laptops.  It is looking at grants or other types of funding sources to replenish the equipment, Venkat said.

Typical programs available on laptops are Microsoft Office or Adobe Reader. 

QuickTime plug-ins, Flash Player and Java are also available, Venkat said.

The office cannot guarantee every type of software a student might need will be available.

“Now, we have to address that based on need,” Venkat said.

If a student has software or other trouble with a borrowed laptop, they can contact the office of technology services for help. 

Students can call the help desk at 210-486-0777 for technical assistance.

The student can also return the laptop and exchange it for another, if another is available.

If the student needs some assistance learning to use the laptop or software, walk-in assistance is available at the student technology center Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. in Room 542 of Moody.

The procedure and location for reserving equipment can be found at the OTS website at www.alamo.edu/sac/ots.Click on equipment checkout.

Students can print the loan forms from this site.

There are two forms, audio and video equipment loan agreement form and inventory control off campus equipment form.

The inventory control off-campus equipment form requires signatures from both a department chair or director and dean or vice president.

Two forms of identification are required to reserve equipment, a student ID and a valid state ID.

Completed forms are then brought to the office of technology services temporarily located in room 400D of Moody Learning Center.

Verifying student information can take some time. Allow for a 24-hour notice to reserve equipment. 

Audio and video equipment is reserved for five business days at a time. 

Students are required to check in with equipment every five business days. 

“That way we keep very close tabs on these assets,” Venkat said.

For this semester, equipment reservations can be renewed at the time of check-in if the student needs the equipment on a long-term basis.

Since the demand is increasing, starting next semester, students wanting to recheck equipment will not be able to automatically renew their equipment reservations. They will be placed back on the waiting list, Venkat said Oct. 15.

“So that way, the people who have been waiting will get an opportunity,” Venkat said.

Students should also be aware of and follow the Alamo Colleges acceptable use policy that governs use of equipment, which specifies reserved equipment is for Alamo Colleges related projects or events only. 

The acceptable use policy can be viewed on the equipment loan website.

Reservations for personal use are not allowed, according to the website.

Students assume full responsibility for all checked out equipment and are liable for replacement costs.

If a student fails to return equipment, the OTS will make several attempts to reach the student.

In an effort to reach the student, the OTS may also contact the department chair, whose signature also appears on the inventory control off-campus form.

If unable to reach the student, the OTS will then contact the police department.

Audio and video equipment reservations is temporarily located in Room 400D of Moody, or call 210-486-0586.