Graduate Labs

Note: - Our graduate labs operations are subject to change along with alert levels due to Covid-19. See below for information on what access will be at different alert levels.

Alert Level	Lab Operations
4	Labs are closed to all students
3	Permission to use labs needs to be granted. Everyone is encouraged to work from home.
2	Alternating active desk days will be in operation. Oly those with an assignmed desk can use the labs on their active desk day. If possible students are still encouraged to work from home.
1	Labs operating as normal. Maintain contact tracing and sanitization of desks.

Alternating Active Desk Days

At level 2, there will be an alternating active desk days system in operation. All desks are numbered 1 or 2. Over a 2 week cycle, lab days will alternate between being 1 days or 2 days. On a 1 day, individuals with desks numbered 1 will be able to access the office and use their desks. On 2 days, Individuals with desks numbered 2 will be able to access the office and use their desks. A calendar identifying active days will be displayed and distributed to students. The 14 day cycle has been chosen to ensure equal opportunity for access to the office. This system allows social distancing to take place. All desks will need to be sanitized before and after use during this time.

All labs have hygiene packs available. These packs contain masks, gloves, sanitiser and wipes. Please make use of these items as needed. If anything starts to run low, please email the office to have it replaced. From level two upwards, you must santize your desk before and after use. At level one, you are encouraged to sanitize your desk.

Please make use of QR codes for contact tracing throughout all alert levels.

The School of Mathematics and Statistics currently has two graduate labs that are available for postgraduate students to use.

• CO437: For our mathematics students
• CO540: For our statistics and data science students

While all postgraduate students have access to these labs, only MSc by Thesis and PhD students have workstations assigned to them. All other postgraduates need to make use of the hot-desking system. Hot-desks are marked with a sign stating that they are available for use. The number of hot-desks available will vary as the number of thesis students varys throughout the year. Respect others space - please keep noise, smells and general disruption to minimum in these rooms.

Please familiarise yourself with the rules and etiquette of the lab below.

Graduate Noticeboards

In the lobby outside each graduate lab, we have noticeboards containing various information that may be useful to you. These noticeboards are updated frequently. If you have naything you would like added to the noticeboard, feel free to enquire at the School Office. Notices include:

• Job Opportunities
• Scholarship Opprtunities
• Upcoming conferences
• Upcoming events

Printers

There is a printer in the lobby outside each of the graduate labs. To use the printer you will need your Student ID card to swipe in to your account. There is paper to refill the printers located nearby each machine. If there is no paper available, please contact the School Office. If there is a problem with the machines, email ECS Jobs. Make sure to include the Machines ID number, the location of the machine, a specific description of the problem - along with your contact details incase our techs need to follow up with you.

Lockers

There are lockers available for use in the labs. You will need sign up for a locker using the application form or the QR codes on display near the lockers. This registration will set your lcker use for the duration of your current qualification. If you finish using your locker before this time you will need to complete the deregistration form (also accessible using the QR code on display near the lockers). Otherwise, you will be contacted close to the end date of your enrolment to confirm if you will be finishing with your locker or wanting to extend the registration for another qualification or research position.

CO437 has a total of 12 lockers, CO540 has a total of 20 lockers.

You will need to provide your own padlock.

Rules of the lab space

The laboratories of the School of Mathematics and Statistics are provided to enable postgraduate students in completing their course work. As such, we have rules in place to ensure everyone can do their work in a productive environment with minimum disturbance.

These rules supplement the University-wide Student Conduct Statute and the Acceptable Use of Information System Statute

1. All users must be authorized to use this lab. They must be enrolled in a Math or Stat course or authorized by a school staff member to use lab. You will need to have an active office booking to enter and use lab resources. See the School Office if you need access extended.
2. Lab users must identify themselves when requested.
3. Keep noise to a minimum – NO excessive, loud or offensive talking, playing of audio from computers, music players or other devices (USE HEAD PHONES), Keep volume low
4. No unauthorized visitors! This includes students looking for tutor support. Please book one of the seminar rooms.
5. There is to be no playing of games in the labs.
6. Only University provided furniture is permitted. Strictly NO beds, sofas, refrigerators, microwaves, bikes, furniture etc.
7. Lab users must NOT use someone else’s computer login.
8. Hot desks must only be used for SMS related work only.
9. Use computers for course work ONLY. Printers can be used occasionally for personal and non-SMS related tasks (no excessive print jobs). Printing will incur a fee of 10c for black & white, 20c for colour – this will be charged to your university account.
10. Put mobile phone on silent (vibrate) and hold mobile conversations outside of the lab spaces.
11. Lab users must not attempt to subvert laboratory security (i.e.: running password cracking or network snooping programs, unless authorised by a school staff member).
12. Users must not interfere with computer or instrument hardware except as part of an organised laboratory or experiment authorised by staff.
    1. Do not unplug cables
    2. Do not try to clear paper jams in printers yourself. (Send a message to printers@ecs.vuw.ac.nz.)
    3. Do not switch off any machines
13. Locking the display of a computer is permitted (and is encouraged) during brief absences from the laboratory. However, lab users are not allowed to lock a machine for a longer period (e.g. a class) as a way of reserving hot desk computers.
14. Users may not distract others who are doing coursework. Collaboration is encouraged but where a conversation may disturb other lab users please move to a social area outside the lab or book one of the seminar rooms.
15. The Acceptable Use of Information Systems Statute prohibits users from:
    1. Perpetrating fraud or harassment by email or similar means
    2. Obtaining offensive material over the network
    3. Incurring unauthorized network costs.
    4. Accessing computer accounts belonging to others, or allow others to access your account(s).

Additional health and safety rules may apply to different labs around campus (such as in the electronics labs). A tutor or school staff member should explain these rules to you before you are granted access to use the space.

Breaches of Lab Rules and Etiquette

All breaches of rules will be noted on your record. Each time there is a breach noted, you will be notified and advised on what needs to be done to address the matter.

First Offence: Offence logged on record, verbal warning issued

Second Offence: Offence logged on record, verbal and written warnings issued

Third Offence: Offence logged on record, meeting with Head of School

Fourth Offence: Offence logged on record, formal university disciplinary procedures initiated, access to the lab revoked

Having problems in the lab?

Do you have a question about the labs? Is someone disrupting the learning space? Or do you have general feedback?

Let us know here.