14 Days to have your say

I'll try to hit all of the concerns that were raised in this and other laptop related threads posted to 14 Days.  Here we go:

1) Grace Period - As I wrote in my post which closed the 14 Days blog back in May there has been a long standing grace period for overdue laptops.  We allow 20 minutes between the time a laptop is due and when the first hour's fine kicks in.  This was intended to keep those who run the laptop down to the last minute and still need to print something, or save, or whatever from getting fined.  Anyone receiving a laptop fine has returned the unit MORE than 20 minutes late.  The current grace period will remain.

2) Pop-up-warning - The idea of a pop-up-warning that alerts you that your two hours is ending was suggested.  Something we actually have previously discussed.  Technically we've never figured out how to make this work.  Realistically, if it could be done, it would be tied to the start-up of the laptop.  So only if you started the laptop immediately upon checking it out and it did not crash or get shut off would this be an accurate reflection of when the unit was due because the clock would restart with every boot.

Yep, we give you a timestamped reciept and, as noted in your posts, a friendly, "Due in 2 hours."  From there on it is each users responsiblitliy to figure out how best to keep track of when the laptop is due.  Stopwatch?  Set the alarm on one's cell phone clock?  Other ideas...

3)  $10 Laptop Fines - We really did hear loud and clear the concerns blogged about laptop fines.  The existing fine structure is tough and was put in place with the guidance of previous AS Board members and the Student Tech Fee Committee.  This summer we took the laptop fine issue back to the sitting AS Board for comment and guidance.  After much discussion with and research on the part of board members (checking laptop fines at peer instituions) they voted unanimously to keep the laptop fine as it stands - $10 per hour or any portion of an hour. 

The board felt that while the pool of laptops campus-wide has grown over the years demand has as well.  Your representatives felt that there were still far too many periods when laptops were all checked out leaving none available to students in need.  Their concern was that any reduction or softening of the laptop fine would lessen its value as an incentive for timely return and not be in the best interest of students as a whole.

The board did also recommend that there be a maximum laptop fine of $100.00 which is reached at 10 hours past due.  The library has put that recommendation in place.

4) Protesting a Lapto Fine - Bloggers complained of not being able to protest a laptop fine.  You should always have this right - period.  If you aren't getting it demand to talk to the area manager.  That said, I am most often the one who hears complaints about fines and reasons for lateness and I'll tell you right here that I rarely waive a whole fine.  But yes.  We can certainly talk about it.

5) More Flexibility & Longer Checkout - Some wrote that they haved had extenuating circumstances such as injuries, class presentations, etc. and been denied the ccomodation of an extended loan period.  Some also wanted the ability to renew units or have consecutive checkouts indicating 2 hours was often not long enough when working on a paper.  We expect to bring online several laptops Fall Quarter which will be specifically for a longer loan periiod - 4 Hours. 

Frank Haulgren
14 Days Coordinator

Last year, I cut my thumb open badly and could not use my right hand to write (the bandage was too think to grip anything). I had an anatomy class I desperatly needed to take notes in and went to check out a laptop (could type with 9 fingers..) - I begged them to allow me to have it for 1 hour and 10 minutes so that I could take it to class and come back and return it on time.

Could not be done, I was told.. either have it back in 59:59 sharp or pay ten bucks!

I don't think I was asking for anything extraordinary or unreasonable. This service is to help students succeed in school, and guidelines should be flexible in extreme circumstances.

...the current situation is absolutely unreasonable.

Two hours can pass very quickly when working on an assignment, group project, or a presentation. The computers provide no reminder or warning about when due. There should be a grace period of 10 minutes.

Fines should be more reasonable. Fines should be the hourly fine times the actual time overdue. If a laptop is returned 1 hour and 6 minutes late, it is the fine should be 1.1 times the hourly rate not 2 times.

The current fine is unreasonable. Fines should be sufficient to encourage prompt return. However, $10/hour is excessive. Reduce the fine to $1/hr or $2/hr. A minimum fine of $1-$2, after the grace period, might be reasonable. Laptops can only be returned during library hours; fines should ONLY accumulate during library hours.

Why are People are going over the 2 hour limit?? BECAUSE 2 HOURS ARE'NT ENOUGH!! Who can write a paper in 2 hours? People are'nt just facebooking! they are actually studying! and you also have to wait for half an hour and waste your time before you can check it out for 2 more hours!

I entirely agree with you that the $10 fine is a bit stiff. Since your account freezes once you reach $15 in fines anyway, turning in a laptop two hours late is more than just a fine; it means not registering or getting transcripts or checking out other materials.

I think a lesser fine should be implemented for overdue laptops.

I've never had to use the campus rental lappies, but that sounds really harsh. Such a big turn off! It would really be worth considering some other options. Maybe a pager/timer that goes off when you have five minutes left? The scaled finage is also a good idea.

The fine for laptops is really harsh. Nothing hurts more than getting a $10 fine for returning something a minute late(after the third time I bought a cheap laptop). Students should at least be able to state their case and possibly get the fine waved.

It would be nice if the laptop would post a warning on the screen after being turned on for 1 hour and 45 minutes. If it did you would have an even better reason to have the fine.

i agree that the ideas implemented should be reported back to students.

this way, we will know what to look for next school year and we can keep the staff honest to their word ;)