Equipment Policy

The Cronkite Equipment Lab provides audio, photography and videography equipment to students enrolled in select Cronkite courses. Permission to borrow gear varies by course, and escalates as students’ coursework and skills advance. Students may not check out equipment for student clubs or student media activities.

All students must complete the Cronkite Equipment Checkout agreement before borrowing equipment. Students must reserve equipment in advance and pick it up from Cronkite Room 608 at an assigned time; details on reserving, borrowing and returning equipment are available on the Cronkite Equipment Lab page. Cronkite Equipment Lab hours are posted on the Building Hours page.

Equipment may be checked out for a maximum of 72 hours. Students must return equipment at an assigned time to Room 608. Equipment checked out on Friday is due back the following Monday.

Students who return equipment late the first time in a semester receive a verbal warning. If students are late a second time, their privileges will be revoked for one day. A third offense results in a seven-day suspension of equipment privileges. And a fourth offense means check-out privileges will be revoked for the remainder of the semester.

All equipment and all content captured by the equipment is the sole property of the Arizona Board of Regents, ASU and the Cronkite School. Equipment must be used for the sole purpose of meeting the goals and objectives of the course(s) in which the equipment checkout agreement was signed, and may not be used for other purposes. Content captured via Cronkite School equipment may not be distributed or sold without the express consent of the instructor or authorized administrator. Any equipment damage, violation of the video usage guidelines, or the Cronkite School Equipment Checkout Agreement is subject to referral to the school’s Academic Integrity Officer for possible disciplinary action. Students assume financial responsibility for the equipment they check out.

Cronkite Equipment Checkout Agreement

Prior to reserving or borrowing equipment, students must submit an Equipment Checkout Agreement, located on the Cronkite Equipment Lab page. Students must submit a new agreement each semester.

Within the agreement form, students must acknowledge the following:

1. The equipment will be used only by me and only for Cronkite School-approved class assignments under the supervision of a faculty member. I may NOT transfer use of this equipment to anyone else without written permission from the equipment checkout coordinator or an authorized administrator.

2. I must present a Sun Card to check out equipment. 

3. All equipment and all content captured by the equipment is the sole property of the Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona State University and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The content captured is intended for the sole purpose of meeting the goals and objectives of this course and may NOT be used or sold for any other purpose without the express written consent of an authorized administrator.

4. All adjustments, maintenance and repairs to equipment are to be performed by Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication authorized personnel only.

5. I am SOLELY financially responsible for any repairs should the equipment be damaged while checked out in my name. My student account will be billed immediately for the full cost of repairs, adjusted accordingly for insurance coverage.

6. I am SOLELY financially responsible for the replacement of this equipment should this equipment be lost, damaged beyond repair or stolen due to my negligence. My student account will be charged immediately to replace the equipment, adjusted accordingly for insurance coverage. 

The Cronkite School reserves the right to notify ASU Police and immediately charge your ASU student account to replace any equipment not returned within 72 hours of the return time.

7. Because I am financially responsible for the equipment, I will protect the equipment from damage and theft. I will not leave equipment unattended at any time, in any location (even a vehicle, etc). 

8. If stolen, I will, within 24 hours of the theft, file a complete police report in the municipality in which the theft occurred. This report must contain the circumstances of the theft, the equipment type, brand and serial number, and show ownership by Arizona State University. A copy of this report must be given to the equipment checkout coordinator.

9. If stolen, I will, within 24 hours of the theft, submit the claim to my insurance carrier and provide documentation of that submission and/or denial from your carrier. If I do not have an insurance carrier or coverage, I will provide documentation of being uninsured.

10. I am aware that, if the equipment is not returned by the date and time specified:

  • First Offense: I will receive a verbal warning.        
  • Second Offense: My checkout privileges will be suspended for one day.
  • Third Offense: My checkout privileges will be suspended for 7 days.
  • Fourth Offense: My checkout privileges will be revoked for the remainder of the semester.

The Cronkite School reserves the right to move a student forward in the offense progression based on extenuating circumstances or student actions deemed detrimental to the equipment, facilities or employee personnel.