Academic Facilities currently includes the Metalshop & Foundry, Model shop & Digital Fabrication Lab (CNC/rapid prototyping, and laser cutting), and the Wood shop. These are a group of individually budgeted & managed shops or departments that operate under the Academic Facilities umbrella. The Director reports to the Provost of the College. There is a lateral reporting structure for the technical staff for the departments of Craft and Foundation.
Academic facilities maintain consistent open shop hours to facilitate the needs of the students, faculty, and staff. Hours are posted at the beginning of each semester and are aligned with the building hours posted by Campus Safety.
Currently the educational structure for students to be able to work in the shops is to complete the Foundation course – DFN 116 – 3D Design Techniques. Students who pass with a C (2.0) or better are allowed access to the shops during their tenure at the college. This provides for entry-level access and does not mean they can use every tool in the shop. Permission to use certain tools must be obtained from the Director or shop manager(s).
- The Digital Fabrication Lab, Foundry, Metalshop, Model shop, and Woodshop are not instructional facilities. All faculty are responsible for teaching their students how to utilize the tools and techniques they expect their students to use in the construction of finished projects.
- Faculty must notify the shop managers if they wish to instruct their classes in any of the shops at the beginning of each semester. An Academic Project Form is required with a copy of the course syllabus, a complete timeline, and support materials. These forms are necessary for any class project that needs to utilize the shop and will help us to schedule and communicate more effectively. These documents need to be turned in to your Department Chair and to the appropriate Academic Facility Manager at the same time syllabi are due. The reason for this is three-fold;
- Timelines & appointments let the shop be better prepared for your class and identify potential overload. There are usually 12+ classes that are scheduled in the shops as a classroom and have priority.
- Identify potential training, supplies, equipment, staff & budget needs.
- Faculty Training. Because faculty understand how to use the shop equipment does not mean they are teaching consistent and proper safety techniques to students or know the limitations and requirements of our individual facilities.
- Classes that wish to be held in the classroom within the metalshop or
wood shop for the entire semester need to be scheduled appropriately through Colleague. - If faculty are not capable to teach the techniques needed to complete an assigned project the project should be modified to accommodate the skills of the instructor, or the instructor should give themselves ample time to learn the skills they wish to pass on to the student.
- Shop technicians and work-study are not necessarily qualified to teach faculty and students how to use
equipment . Nor are they allowed to complete work for students or faculty during working hours. - Mandatory Safety Orientation for each individual shop area is required for all faculty and staff of the college that would like to use the shops in their course curriculum or would just like to utilize the shops. There is at least one orientation session at the beginning of each semester. Contact the appropriate shop manager for scheduling.
- Forms are required for: Academic projects, Individual projects, & Independent student projects. Hold Harmless Waivers are required for any visiting artist or
any one that is going to be in the shop working in any capacity that is not enrolled or in the college payroll system as they are not covered by any liability insurance.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we look forward to working with you!