Field Research Equipment

The Geography Department has a limited collection of research and support equipment used to support the Geography Field Methods Class. This equipment may be made available to faculty and students conducting research in the field. Field class support has priority over research use.

Contact staff to make all arrangements for equipment use.

USE REQUIREMENTS

This equipment is available solely for instructional support, educational research or in support of department sponsored events.

The borrower must take full responsibility for the damage or loss of equipment in their care.

RESERVATION POLICY: HIGH VALUE EQUIPMENT

Equipment that has a high value by department standards (over $500), excluding vehicles, is available to faculty and students as long as the equipment is insured by the campus at the standard ($1000/$5000) deductible rate.

The borrower must first make a case for the use of this equipment over similar but cheaper equipment. They must then demonstrate a proficiency in the use of the equipment.

Faculty and graduate students must sign for the equipment, agreeing to pay a minimum of $500 for equipment that is lost, stolen or damaged to a level that requires insurance. Previous loss or damage may be considered grounds for denying further equipment use.

Undergraduate students must sign for the equipment and have the form co- signed by a supervising Geography faculty member. The student must agree to pay a minimum of $500 for equipment that is lost, stolen or damaged to a level that requires insurance. Previous loss or damage may be considered grounds for denying further equipment use.

The supervising faculty member agrees to review the student’s request and help them determine if they have legitimate need of the equipment. By signing the form they are also demonstrating that in their judgment, the student will treat the equipment responsibly. If the department judges that it has suffered significant financial loss from students supervised by a particular faculty member, all students of that faculty member may lose access to high value equipment in the future.

LOW VALUE EQUIPMENT

Low value equipment will be made available faculty and students with educational need should their use not impinge on needs for a department field coarse. The borrower must take responsibility for the equipment should it be damaged, stolen or lost.

SURVEY EQUIPMENT

The Geography Department has a limited collection of survey equipment used to support the Geography Field Methods Class.

To borrow the equipment, the user must demonstrate a basic proficiency in its use. Training may be arranged from the department on use basics, but the user must allow sufficient time for the training to be arranged. Alternatively a user may look to someone who has the appropriate expertise to aid in their project.