Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 10:36:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: Bill Chapman and Dr. Ray Winton
Subject: Lab Responsibilities

TAs,

As much as possible, we would like to keep all of these labs in order,
not just once in a while, but every day.  In order to keep the labs in
good order, I am requiring the following of each lab instructor.

    1.  At the end of each lab session, run a check and
organize/straighten what the students have not.  If you have laid words
on them about keeping things in good order (Rules of Engagement) and
costing of damages incurred by them, then you should not have much to do.

    2.  Push the stools under the workstation against the foot rest.  Or
have the students do so.

    3.  Clean up the workstations and the floor of debris and dust.  If
there are parts that have fallen to the floor that still appear to have
value, collect them and put them aside.

Yes, you now have cleaning responsibilities.  If this is beneath your
dignity, or you don't have time, keep in mind that a senior professor has
been doing so periodically, and he is tired of doing so.

No dust bunnies on the floor, and certainly not any on the tables.  And
it is not necessary to have super cleaning materials.  I have cleaned up
labs with little more than a piece of cardboard to wisk the dust and
scoop it up for the trash can.
 
For the self-paced labs, these ordering actions should be taken at least
once per week.

Why do I want this done?  Because if the labs are kept clean and in good
order, then the students will react better, and will comply better, and
there will be fewer abuse problems.  

This can be done provided that the lab instructor is doing his/her job. 

I will be checking up periodically, and if a lab is not in good order,
will assume that the shortcoming was due to the immediate previous lab
instructor.

In the case of the labs, cables are being broken in almost every lab.
You must determine who breaks them, and charge the students, or you will
be required to pay for them.

In addition, we are spot-checking the electronically-submitted files that
you have graded.

In the case of the graded files, you need to review the requirements,
especially pp. 4 - 7 of the Standard Policy for lab submissions at
http://www.ece.msstate.edu/~reese/common_policy.pdf .  These are strict
guidelines, but your grading, in general, has not been conforming to them.
It is your responsibility to grade according to the guidelines.

Note that it is your duty to check the equipment and cables; 
the course instructor should not have to do it.  

Remember that we will not keep TAs who do not adhere to the requirements.
Do your part to keep our program of instruction improving.

Thanks,
Bill
--
Bill Chapman       http://www2.msstate.edu/~wcc1
Building and Laboratory Manager   :   Electrical and Computer Engineering
Box 9571 : 222 Simrall Hall : Hardy Street : Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS  39762 :  Phone (662) 325-2042 : Fax (662) 325-2298