Lab Usage Rules

In accordance with its mission, IITS goal is to maintain a safe and quiet environment in computer labs and to ensure an atmosphere conducive to study in all computing facilities on campus. It is expected that UTSC students will use the computing facilities responsibly and with respect to the fellow students and to the UTSC property. The use of the computing facilities also requires compliance with the appropriate university's IT policies.

Student Conduct in Computer labs

Public computing facilities must be used for academic purposes and any other use is limited or outright prohibited. All students registered for courses at UTSC have right to use the facilities providing that they obey the rules and policies in place. Students may lose their privileges to use computer facilities if they violate any of the specified policies. In addition, they may be subject to University-imposed penalties as well as subject to criminal prosecution or other legal action.

Consumption of Food and Beverages

A recent update has been introduced to the Food and Drink policy. It is important to remember that eating and drinking in the labs pose threat to the computing equipment and have potential of damaging UTSC property. In addition, eating and drinking in the computer labs undermine IITS mission by creating litter and a work environment that is not in accordance with an academic institution. The current Food & Drink policy is clearly displayed in all computing labs. 

Students using workstations in the Library Commons, 4th floor of Bladen Wing or the Instructional Center (IC) may be allowed beverages in sealable containers, but food is strictly prohibited. There is seating available in the Bladen Wing 4th floor and the Library (away from the workstations) where the food policy is more relaxed, provided students clean up after themselves and are not disturbing others.

Students that violate this policy may have their account suspended.

UTORid & Workstation Usage

Due to the limited availability of workstations, students are limited to use one workstation at a time. Students are not permitted to save or reserve workstations for their friends or colleagues - there must be an individual present & using the workstation. In many areas, such as the Library Info Commons, workstation availability can be very limited. 

Students are also required to use their own UTORid account when logging into the workstations. Using someone else's UTORid or sharing your UTORid are serious offenses - students are not permitted to share their account credentials with anyone else. 

Workstations are also designed to automatically logout after 30 minutes of inactivity, in order to clear login sessions that are no longer being used. Students that actively bypass this inactivity mechanism may incur an infraction. 

Students that violate this policy may have their account suspended.

Copyright Infringement

IITS reserves the right to infract or suspend accounts that are engaged in intellectual property theft or copyright infringement. Students are forbidden from using lab workstations to circumvent software, file or material copyrights including pirating, sharing, steaming or installing unlicensed or 'unlocked' software, file sharing, transferring, storing, casting, streaming or hosting files that are copyrighted. Student personal devices may also become flagged & blocked from wireless access if engaging in Copyright Infringement. 

Disruptive Behaviour

Disruptive behaviour cannot be tolerated in the computer labs. Any behaviour that is not in accordance with the primary function of the computer labs will be deemed disruptive. Examples of such behaviour are:

  • Abusing, threatening or intimidating IITS staff or patrons
  • Excessive noise or behaviour that creates commotion
  • Playing music, audio files or talking on a phone
  • Soliciting goods, services or donations

IITS staff will call in campus police where deemed necessary.

Damage to IITS' property

It is strictly prohibited to deface IITS facilities and/or to misuse the computing equipment. The IITS property is private property protected by The Criminal Code of Canada and any violation of IITS' property may have criminal persecution as a consequence.

Criminal Behaviour

Campus police will be called immediately if there is any criminal activity on premises. Some examples are:

  • Physical or verbal abuse
  • Damage to the propetty
  • Intentional misuse of the equipment in the labs

Use of mobile phones

The computer labs are intended for research and quiet study, and therefore the use of mobile phones is not allowed. Mobile phones can be used only in hallways and outside of computer labs.

Personal property

IITS is not responsible for theft, damage or loss of personal property. Students are solely responsible for the safety of their property. Any personal property items found on premises will be handed over to Campus Police.

Failure to comply with the IITS policy will result in suspension of access to the lab computers.

Contact IT support

If you have timely or urgent request, you can call us or submit a ticket on ServiceNow or visit us in person at one of the locations below. Find us on the Campus map.

Service Desk

helpdesk.utsc@utoronto.ca

AC200

Hours of Operation

In person and remote

  • Monday to Friday - 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday - Closed

Student Help Desk

askshd.utsc@utoronto.ca

AC200|BV487|IC35

Hours of Operation

In person and remote

  • Monday to Friday - 8:45 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Saturday - 8:45 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Sunday - 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Classroom and AV Support

av@utsc.utoronto.ca

AC200|IC35

Hours of Operation

In person only

  • Monday to Thursday - 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Friday - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday - Closed