For many University of Memphis students, finding a computer ineither of the superlabs is actually harder than doing thehomework.
"I have a theory," sophomore David Skonhovd said. "Just go tothe lab at 3 a.m., and then you don't have to worry about it."
For some students, that may be a viable alternative, but formost, this late-night approach is not on the short list ofpriorities.
Luckily, there are other options available.
According to the Client Support Services Web site, there are 51Technology Access Fee (TAF) labs on the various U of M campuses.These labs were purchased in part through student fees that make upa portion of tuition. Of these labs, more than 20 of them are partof the Tigerlan network, which give students access to software notavailable in other labs.
All but a handful of these labs are located on the main campus.The labs vary in size and availability, but most of them areavailable to all students. The trick is trying to find them andfinding out when they are open for student use.
"The labs in Smith, McWherter, engineering and business are ourbusiest labs," said Valeria Wiggins, Tigerlan lab coordinator. "Alot of students don't think they can use the other labs, but thatis a big misconception."
Knowing where to find the smaller labs can help students avoidthe noisier, more crowded labs.
Wiggins said students should try the labs in Patterson Hall,Dunn Hall or Ball Hall as possible alternatives, but there are manyothers.
Some labs even have weekend hours.
Along with the superlabs in Smith Hall and at the library, whichare always open, computer labs in Dunn Hall, Ball Hall and theFogelman School of Business have limited weekend availability.
For students who arrive at one of the superlabs and realize theywill have to wait, an alternative is to ask the lab attendant tocall another lab to see if there is availability elsewhere oncampus, but Wiggins said most of the time, students should juststay put.
"Most of the time, the turnover (in the superlabs) is prettyfast." Wiggins said. "(The wait) is normally less than fiveminutes. It would take students that long just to walk to adifferent lab."
For students willing to be creative and flexible, there are someother, more effective alternatives.
Go to the superlabs at off times. While the labs may always bebusy, there are times when computers are more readilyavailable.
"The worst time to come is between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.," saidMcWherter computer lab attendant Heather Trusby. "Come around 2:30p.m. or 3 p.m. after most of the classes have finished."
Using the Client Support Information Web site as a guide,students can also find alternative labs early in the semester. Thenwhen the finals rush begins, students will have a backup plan ifthe superlabs are packed.
"The lab hours should be posted on the doors (of each of thelabs)," Wiggins said. "So it should not be too hard to find outwhen they are open."
While finding a lab may seem like tedious detective work, theDivision of Information Technology is in the process of doing mostof the hard work itself.
If all goes well, a Web site will show the hours Tigerlan labsare open, the volume of people, the number of PCs available and anyequipment problems each lab might have.
Wiggins acknowledges there are many variables that must besettled before the Web site will work, but she remainsoptimistic.
"It's a work in progress, but by the spring it should be a veryuseful tool," Wiggins said.
In the meantime, there are options other than a 3 a.m. wakeupcall.
For a complete listing of available labs, visit http://support.memphis.edu/trl/complete.php.
