The Department of Communication affiliated students, staff, and faculty have the unique resource of checking out gear from our Equipment Checkout Program such as cameras, audio recorders, lighting, and more.
Location
Our Equipment Checkout location is on the third floor of the Communication (CMU) building just north of the Husky Union Building “HUB”. (For an example map, see figure 1.1) Checkout is located in the Tech Hallway in room 318-E
Please note: Equipment Checkout is closed during UW holidays so you will have to plan around such days.
We would like to continue providing this free service to students, staff, and faculty. To help us do so, please take responsibility for the individual items and kits you reserve for your time slot. This includes taking care of items in your possession to ensure their safe return at the end of your reservation. This also means that you pick up and return the gear at the allotted time you schedule to pick up and return.
Our Equipment
Students, faculty, and staff have access to the following:
- Smartphone Accessories
- Camcorders
- Tripods (big and small)
- Monopods
- Video and Photo Lighting
- Audio cables and adapters
- Lavalier mics, shotgun mics, and other assorted mics
- Digital recorders
- Headphones
- DSLR Cameras and lenses
- GoPros
- More…
Have a suggestion for new gear? Tell us about it!
Equipment Checkout Process
Reserve Equipment
- Reserve equipment using the Student AV Equipment Checkout system. By clicking the ‘I Agree to These Terms’ button, you are entering into a legally binding contract and are responsible for returning the equipment on time and in good working order.
- We recommend that you make your reservations 4 hours in advance to allow our student workers to process your equipment in a timely manner. We allow immediate checkouts but staff may not have time to process your checkout if they have too many reservations.
Pick-up Equipment
- On the day you are scheduled to pick up your equipment, go to the Equipment Checkout Office (CMU 318-E) where you will sign it out.
- If you notice any problems with the equipment, please tell the IT staff.
- Provide your Husky ID or other photo identification during checkout.
- DISCLAIMER: Because we cannot guarantee that an item will be returned to us on time and in perfect working order, we cannot guarantee that the items you’ve reserved will be available on the day they’re scheduled for pick up.
Return Equipment
- On the day you are scheduled to return your equipment, return it to the CMU’s Equipment Checkout Office.
- Our Student workers will check that the equipment and all accessories are present and that everything is in working order and in good condition.
FAQ Below
Q. When is the Equipment Checkout office open?
A. The hours of operation vary depending on the quarter and the student workers we have on site. Please refer to the current hours posted on our Reservation Website. Our hours are also posted on the whiteboard outside the equipment checkout room. (318-E)
The EQ Checkout office is closed during all major UW holidays.
Hours are reduced during breaks between quarters.
Q. When is my reservation due?
A. Your reservation’s due date can be found by logging into the reservation website. You will be on the tab that says COMEQ Home. Scroll down to the blue box that says Your Current Reservations and refer to the information provided.
See Example below
Figure 1.1
Q. Do I have to pay for this equipment rental?
A. No. Equipment Checkout is offered as an additional service provided by the Department of Communication.
Q. What happens if I don’t return the equipment on time?
A. Because of the legally binding contract you signed, we reserve the right to…
- 1. Suspend your Equipment Checkout account (Timeframe: From two weeks to an entire quarter)
- 2. Terminate your Equipment Checkout account (Permanently)
- 3. Charge you a fine as a result of the breach of contract
NOTE: Continued unapproved usage past your return date or disregarding our attempts to contact you may lead to us reporting our equipment as stolen. This will land you into legal trouble with UWPD and potentially bar you from graduation for serious infractions. (Please be responsible!)
Q. Can I reserve equipment and pick it up now?
A. Please make your reservations at least 4 hours in advance to allow our student workers to process your equipment in a timely manner.
Q. Can I extend my reservation?
A. We DON’T offer reservation extensions as this impedes other students’ ability to reserve the same kind of gear during busier times of the quarter.
See “back-to-back reservations” question below for an alternative option.
Q. Can I make back-to-back reservations?
A. You MAY make a reservation back-to-back with a current one if you make the reservation on the date your current reservation is due. You still need to stop by the checkout room with the gear.
We reserve the right to cancel reservations that are outside of a reasonable reservation request.
Q. How many days can I check out the equipment?
A. Refer to the details on our Reservation Website.
Q. What can’t I reserve?
A. We do not supply tapes, minidiscs, mini-DVDs, or any other consumable media.
Q. What about batteries?
A. We do not supply non-rechargeable batteries. Students checking out items that require disposable batteries are responsible for supplying their own.
Items that take disposable batteries include Flipcams, Voice Recorders, Canon Powershot cameras, and microphones.
NOTE: Please allow sufficient time for yourself to charge or acquire batteries as needed.
Q. What about memory cards?
A. Most gear is provided with SD cards or internal memory. It is your responsibility to clear the memory card of information you do not want passed to the next user.
Q. How do I know what I am reserving?
A. If you click the individual item name within the “Create Reservation” categories, a pop-up will appear showing what the equipment looks like inside the kit.
Q. Is there a limit to the items I can reserve?
A. Please reserve what you believe is needed for your project or event. Staff may adjust reservations if necessary.
We limit advanced camera equipment to 1 camera kit per student.
Q. How do I gain access to UWCOM’s advanced equipment?
A. Students must complete the Advanced DSLR Training Video and pass the competency quiz. Upon successful completion, access to higher tier DSLR equipment will be granted.
Advanced Camera Equipment List:
- Canon Mark II
- Canon Mark III
- Canon Mark IV
- Canon EOS R
- Panasonic GH5
- Comm Lead Audio/Video Kit (Only available for those who have taken Jacob Christensen’s Video Storytelling class)
Q. How do I cancel my upcoming reservation?
A. Click on the ComEQHome page and scroll down to view “Your Upcoming Reservations”. Choose “Make Changes?” or “Cancel Reservation”.
If you need help, stop by the Equipment Checkout Office 318-E or email comeq@uw.edu.
Q. How do I set up an account with UWCOM’s Equipment Checkout Program?
A. Follow the link below and fill out the account request form. Processing may take a few business days.
Have additional questions about our Equipment Checkout Program? Send us an email at comeq@uw.edu