COMPUTER LAB NARRATIVE:

The GC Computer Lab offers FIU students a pleasant environment for study groups to collaborate in class projects, as well as, quiet areas for individual work. The lab is equipped with Windows and Apple computers, laser printers, scanners and provides the following services: software support, laser printing, laser color printing, scanning, technology assistance, website support, Kaplan Test Preparation software and electronic message boards.

Students have access to a variety of discipline-specific software for Windows and Macintosh. The following software are provided according to FIU’s standards and students’ requests: Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Studio, NET, JDK 1.4, J.Creator, WSFTP, Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat Reader, Internet Explorer, SPSS, McAfee Antivirus and DeepFreeze.

The GC lab staff provides students with very responsive and attentive assistance, one-on-one technical support and makes the GC Lab the students’ number one choice.

Mission

The Graham Center Computer Lab is committed to providing state-of-the-art computing resources, hardware, software, and knowledgeable staff, to help students excel in their academic endeavors.

SCHEDULE OF OPERATING HOURS:

SERVICES AVAILABLE:

Hardware

• 65 - Dell Optiplex GX 620, 3.2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, DVD/RW, 17" LCD Monitor
• 6 - Apple iMac G5 17" 2.0 GHz, 1 GB RAM SuperDrive
• 6 - HP 8250 scanners  
• 2 - HP Black/white Laser printer
• 1 - Dell Color Laser printer

Software

• Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007
• Office for Mac 2004
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2003
• Adobe Creative Suite Premium 2 (Photoshop, In Design, Image Ready, Illustrator, GoLive)
• Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0
• Macromedia Studio 8
• JDK 1.4 and JCreator
• SPSS 15
• McAfee Antivirus
• Deep Freeze

Laser Printing

Both black/white and color laser printing are available*. A PantherCard Debit Account or Library Copy Card is required to pay for printing.  To open a PantherCard Debit Account visit the ID Office, GC 1210; this debit account is accepted everywhere on campus for payment.  
*Laser print charges: B/W: $0.06/page – color: $0.50/page.

Scanning

The GC Computer Lab provides scanners free of charge.  The lab staff assists students on how to operate the scanners for quality work.

Study Area

The GC Computer Lab offers two study rooms. One is equipped with software for Kaplan students enrolled in the Kaplan courses for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, etc. A second room is available for quiet studying and offers 18 PCs.

Wireless Internet Access

All areas in the GC computer lab have wireless access for students to use their own laptop in our optimal environment. The lab staff will assist you in accessing the university’s wireless system and will advise on the importance of Windows security updates and the active Antivirus program.

Technical Support

The GC Computer Lab staff provides technical support to the Graham Center Offices, Division of Student Affairs and students at large.   

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• Who can use the GC Computer Lab? Only currently registered students have access to the GC Computer Lab and its services.
• What do I need to do to use the GC Computer Lab?  Students need to sign-in and present a valid student ID.  The lab assistant will assign a computer to the student or place your name on a waiting list, when necessary. 
• Can I save my documents to the lab computer?  Students are responsible for saving their work to their own media - CD, DVD or diskettes. Files may be saved temporarily on the T:\ drive; however, files saved anywhere else on the computer will be automatically erased when the system is restarted.
• Can I print in the GC Computer Lab?  Yes, both black/white and color laser printing are available.
• Is there a fee for printing?  Yes, black/white printing is $0.06 per page and color printing is $0.50 per page.
• How do I pay for printing?  Students may pay with their PantherCARD Debit Account or a copy card with funds to print in the GC Computer Lab.
• Are there any time restrictions while using the computer lab? No, but during peak hours and finals week, recreational use of computers is not allowed, to accommodate the educational needs of students.
• Can I bring food and/or drinks into the lab? Food or drinks are not allowed inside the lab.
• Can I leave advertisements in the lab? Only FIU related departments and organizations are allowed to leave advertising material in the lab. Material must conform to Posting Policy.
• What size papers can be used to print in the lab? The lab printers support the paper sizes listed below. However, the only paper available at the lab is letter size (8.5 in x 11 in).

Black and White Laser Printer supports the following media types: cards, labels, envelopes, bond paper, plain paper, recycled paper, transparencies.
Media sizes include:

• A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in)                          LEGAL (8.5 in x 14 in)
• A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in)                          JIS B5 (7.17 in x 10.12 in)
• B5 (6.93 in x 9.83 in)                         EXECUTIVE(7.25 in x 10.5in)
• FOLIO (8.5 in x 13 in)                        LETTER A size (8.5 in x 11in)

Color Laser Printer supports the following media types: cards, labels, envelopes, plain paper, transparencies.
Media sizes include:

• A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in)                         LEGAL (8.5 in x 14 in)
• A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in)                         EXECUTIVE (7.25 in x 10.5 in)
• B5 (6.93 in x 9.83 in)                         LETTER A size (8.5 in x 11 in)

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All lab staff and students agree to follow the UTS Code of Computing Practice, Academic Affairs Policies & Procedures Manual and the FIU IT Security Policy. Those who fail to comply with the policies and procedures may be dismissed from the lab.

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