Colby Videoconferencing Services

Media Services in ITS is now able to offer videoconferencing services to the Colby community. For more information, please contact Sam Atmore (x3305, slatmore ) or David Pinkham (x3510, dpinkham) at Media Services.

What is videoconferencing?
Videoconferencing technology allows interactive, real time audio and video communications between two or more sites nearly anywhere in the world. Colby¹s systems allow communication with up to three sites simultaneously in addition to Colby. There are international standards for videoconferencing so as long as equipment at other sites is compliant with those standards; we are very likely to be able to videoconference with them.

There two types of videoconferencing communication technology, IP and ISDN. IP uses the internet and ISDN uses telephone lines. Colby supports both technologies. Please note that there may be costs associated with some videoconferencing calls. College funds may be available to assist when videoconferencing needs are directly related to the curriculum.

Media Services maintains two videoconference facilities: the videoconference room in Miller Library 20 and a portable system that can be set up for IP communication just about anywhere that has a network port and is suitable for the camera and display.

Use and Scheduling
We recognize two categories of videoconferencing use; instructional and non-instructional. Instructional use is defined as having students participate directly in a videoconference as part of a regular course or project for which they are receiving academic credit.

Non-instructional use is all other applications; faculty research, administrative meetings, etc. Personal use is not permitted and these facilities are not available during the academic year for use by individuals not members of the Colby community unless they are among Colby participants. Requests for videoconferencing facility use by participants in summer programs must be approved by Special Programs in consultation with Media Services. If you are a student and have the opportunity to participate in a job interview by videoconference, please contact Career Services (x3343) to schedule. Please note that Colby will accept only incoming videoconferencing calls for interviews.

Instructional use is given priority in scheduling; however, no scheduled video conference will be automatically ³bumped² if a higher priority request is received. Media Services may try to work with people to adjust schedules to meet all needs.

In order for a videoconference request to be considered scheduled, Media Services must have the information at least two weeks in advance. For videoconferences involving only Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin Colleges, we must have the request at least one week in advance. While Media Services may be able on occasion to accommodate shorter notice, limitations in time for resolving technical configurations, testing, and staff availability may make it impossible.

Necessary videoconferencing scheduling information:
Colby information
1. Name of the person making request.
2. Name(s) of person(s) participating (if different).
3. Date of conference.
4. Beginning and ending times of conference.

Information needed from the other site (s).
1. Name, phone and e-mail of primary contact person (s).
2. Name, phone and address of technical support person (s).
   (Not necessary for Bates and/or Bowdoin requests.)

You are now able to check dates in advance to see if our facilities are available when planning future videoconferences. When you request a videoconference you should expect to see it appear on system by the end of the next business day at the latest.

Please note that you cannot schedule conferences using the system. To do so, please e-mail to mediasrv@colby.edu or call one of the three main Media Services numbers; 3510 (David Pinkham), 3306 (Vickie McTague), or 3305 (Sam Atmore).

To view the videoconferencing room schedule, follow the link below. The availability of both our room installation and portable system are shown.
http://www.colby.edu/calendar/building_list.cfm