General Policy on Space Allocation for ISRL Projects

The overall objectives of ISRL space policy are to optimize the
effectiveness of projects working under the ISRL umbrella, to promote
collaboration both between and within ISRL research projects, to
facilitate and incubate the generation of new projects, and to promote
the funding of ISRL services over the long term.

Third floor east wing space allocations for ISRL projects are intended
to be both stable and flexible.  Projects should be able to count on
stable space for extended periods. However, some spaces will
necessarily be reallocated from time to time as project and School
needs and opportunities become evident. Space assignments for ISRL
projects are reviewed at least yearly.

Several areas are available for use by all. These include the large
common area (the "playroom"), the seminar room in 350, and the general
lab area in Room 341 ("the fishbowl").  Combined, these areas provide
meeting space, access to video conference and teleconference
equipment, and access to shared workstations, printers, scanners, and
CD burners, etc.  Additional space is set aside for servers and a
workshop.

The remaining 3rd floor east space is generally allocated to funded
GSLIS-based projects run under the ISRL umbrella.  Funded ISRL
projects making use of this space are expected to contribute resources
in the form of computing services and equipment costs, in a manner
that is under development. Funding is not necessarily a prerequisite
for placing a project under the ISRL umbrella, for having lab space,
or for access to ISRL servers and other resources. It is the intention
of ISRL to support seed projects as well as fully funded,
funds-contributing ones. A long term goal is to have ISRL projects
collectively support ISRL resources, and funded projects are most
often higher in space allocation priority (below).  As time goes on
and more projects acquire funding, ISRL-related labs may have to
diversify or spread out into other areas of GSLIS in order to
accommodate both funded and unfunded researchers.

Space is allocated to ISRL projects by a committee currently
comprising Martin Wolske and Les Gasser, with consultation and input
from all ISRL-interested GSLIS researchers. Space is allocated using
the following priority scheme, in order of priority:

1) Full-time staff such as project managers and lead researchers;

2) Ph.D. students whose assistantships and dissertation research are
focused on an ISRL project and are essentially full-time on the
project;

3) Reduced-time (e.g. 1/2 time) support staff (GAs, undergrad
hourlies, etc.) who spend a significant amount of their employment
working on an ISRL project within the ISRL wing;

4) Additional support staff who spend a significant amount of their
employment working on an ISRL project within the ISRL wing;

5) Seed and startup projects. 

6) Students and staff who are tangentially involved with ISRL.

As the demand for research lab space grows, it is increasingly likely
that ISRL researchers will need to share room, desk and workstation
access.  Space assigned for ISRL research is assigned to projects, not
to individuals.  Projects assigned lab space are free to utilize the
space as they see fit.  If multiple projects are sharing a given lab
area, they will be expected to coordinate use of that space on their
own.