Using ASC Services

The ASC offers COD students many services. Below is all the information you need to access our labs and start getting the help you need!

Topics:

• General Information
• Courses with Required Labs
• Enrolling in Independent Lab Sections
• Rules for Student Use of ASC Labs

Staff:

Chris Nelson
ASC Coordinator

Terri Fleck
ASC Assistant

If you need more help, call (760) 773-2553

Location:   Building E   (College Map)
Contact:	Chris Nelson
Phone:	(760) 773-2557
Fax:	(760) 773-2553
E-mail:	cnelson@collegeofthedesert.edu
Hours:
Monday-Thursday:	8:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday:	8:00 am to 4:30 pm

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General Information

ASC labs offer word processing, Internet access, tutoring, and a variety of video and audiotape instruction, plus Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) in reading, writing, foreign languages, and English as a second language (ESL).   The ASC staff is available in the labs at all times to help students use our services.   No previous computer experience is necessary!  

Students access all ASC services by enrolling in one of the following courses: Eng. 50, Eng. 51, Rdg. 50, ESL 50B, ESL 51, any foreign language course, or a supplemental study, credit/no-credit lab section.   Lab credit is based on the number of hours the student works in the lab during a semester.   To track hours, students are required to log-in when they arrive and log-out when they leave the ASC.   Students may use the labs at any time they choose and stay as long as they wish during regular ASC hours.  

If you are on campus and want information, come visit us!!!

The ASC is located in Building E (College Map)

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Courses With Required Labs:

Several courses offered at College of the Desert have required lab work, that is generally completed in the Academic Skills Center.   Students who enroll in these courses automatically have access to the ASC.   In most cases, these labs require from 1 to 1.5 hours of lab work a week (some instructors may require more hours).   Hour reports and print outs of scores on Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) are sent to instructors every two weeks so that they may keep track of student work.   The following courses have such lab requirements:

• English 50:   Basic Writing Skills
• English 51:   Intro. to Expository Writing
• Reading 50:  Basic Reading
• English as a Second Language 50B:   Basic Communication Skills
• English as a Second Language 51:   Expository ESL Writing
• All foreign language courses
• Most Non-Credit English as a second language courses

(C.O.D. offers other courses with required labs (e.g. business and nursing courses) but these requirements are fulfilled in other computer labs on campus.   For information of these labs, see your instructor for the course in question.)

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Enrolling in Supplemental Lab Sections:

What is a Supplemental Lab Section?

Students enrolled in academic courses other than those with required lab work (Courses with Required Labs), may enroll in supplemental lab sections to use the Academic Skills Center.   Supplemental labs are credit/no-credit courses.   Students must register for these courses just like any other academic course; however, these are “open enrollment” courses, which means that the student may add the course at any time during a semester.  

Students should be cautious about adding these labs too late in a semester.
Credit for these courses is based on hours completed in a semester, and late enrollees will have to complete all required hours (given below) from the date they enroll .

 Supplemental lab sections are available in the following areas:

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Rules for Student Use of ASC Labs:

The Academic Skills Center is a vital, busy center of student activity. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. But we do have some basic rules. Most are designed to protect the computer equipment, software, and networks; to eliminate distractions and disturbances; and to insure an accurate log-in record and fair access to the ASC labs. The rules listed below are posted in every lab and are given out as flyers to students at the beginning of each semester. Students are held responsible for knowing and obeying these rules. Failure to do so can result in being asked to leave or being suspended from using the ASC for a semester or longer. Serious infractions can have more severe penalties. It is not our intention to put unreasonable restrictions on lab use, but the rules help us to protect our equipment and insure that everyone can use the ASC effectively.

General rules for the ASC

ACCESS TO WRITING LAB

• LOG IN AND OUT: Student must log in when entering the Lab and log out when leaving the Lab...even if it is to just go outside for a break!
• You may only be in the lab for which you are logged in. Lab usage is for designated lab class work only. Any students doing activities not directly related to their lab class will be asked to leave.
  Note: Instructors are notified when students falsify hours by remaining logged in when they are NOT present in the lab.  Students lose all Lab hours for that day.

COMPUTERS

• SETTINGS: Do NOT alter Default settings on computers in the ASC.
• DISKS: Students doing word processing must have a floppy disk or Memory stick in the drive.  The ASC does not provide disks.  Purchase them at the Book Store.

PRINTER

• COPIES: Students must print only one copy of a paper written in Word.  For additional copies, use the copy machine in room E6.  Copies are 10¢ each.
• PAPER: Students must supply paper for any printing other than Microsoft Word.

INTERNET

• AGREEMENT: Before using the Internet or laptops, students must read and sign an ASC Computer and Internet Use Agreement card or laptop policy card.
• EMAIL: Internet and laptop use are for academic purposes only.  No personal use allowed.

ASSISTANCE

• STUDENT WORKERS:  Students workers are available to help you in the lab.
• TUTORS: If you wish to work with the Writing Lab tutor...
              -sign up at the Tutoring Desk
                               AND
              -fill out a Tutor Request form

STUDENT CONDUCT

All COD Student Code of Conduct policies apply.

• FOOD AND DRINK: No food or drink is allowed near the computers.
  Water bottles or other drinks must be in the designated area in the Lab.
• NOISE: Excessive noise or talking is not allowed.
• No Cell Phones are allowed in the lab: set phones on silent or turn them off.
• CHILDREN: Campus policies do not allow children in the lab at any time.
• EMERGENCY EXITS: Students may not enter or leave by Emergency Exits.

Students are bound by the College of the Desert Student Conduct Standard as defined under the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” section of the current COD Catalog.

ASC policies related to Internet use  (ASC Internet Services)

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