Faculty Guidelines  

We strive to support all courses and welcome all inquiries. Some faculty have specific activities planned and require our space or expertise to execute the lesson. Others have vague ideas about how Fimbel Lab might support their course learning goals and would like a brainstorming session to explore possibilities.

As a shared resource, please contact us as soon as you are ready to talk or know you would like to bring your class to the space. 

• Email FimbelLab@mtholyoke.edu 

     or

• Use our Class Engagement Request form. 

We’ve posted descriptions of a few past engagements here for inspiration. 

Do you need Fimbel Lab’s resources for up to 4 engagements?

Email FimbelLab@mtholyoke.edu to discuss plans with our professional staff. If this is a new engagement and you’re uncertain about what you’d like to do, please contact us early. If you are a regular user and this is a familiar engagement, we appreciate early communication that you plan to return. We can discuss specific dates once you have organized your syllabus.

We can typically find an available date for a single engagement, especially if you are flexible. For 3 or more, it will depend on the 

timing and support you need. For more five or more, or a sustained project, see below. We are always happy to brainstorm ideas. 

What if the dates you request are not available?

We do our best to work out any schedule conflicts that may arise. We ask all our users to be flexible when possible. You may need 

to adjust your plans if we cannot accommodate both. 

We may also be able to help one of the engagements relocate, whether by bringing the lesson to your classroom or identifying 

another space on campus that meets your needs. 

Conversely, you may receive an email from us asking whether you can be flexible with a previously scheduled engagement, though 

we understand you may not be able to. 

Do you need Fimbel Lab’s resources for 5+ engagements?

You may ask to meet regularly in one of our classrooms. Please make this request before the deadline for submitting courses to the Registrar. We will give full consideration to requests that we receive at least one week before courses are due to the Registrar. 

We often receive conflicting requests. Courses with the highest need to meet regularly in the space will take priority over those that can meet elsewhere and come to Fimbel Lab occasionally. You may need to adjust your class time. 

We cannot realistically support more than 4-5 courses that regularly meet in the space. When determining which courses will meet regularly in the space, we consider:

• Are the tools and space of Fimbel integral to the course on a regular basis?

• Will the course reach students from a wide range of backgrounds? (Are there prerequisites that prevent most students from enrolling?)

• Are the set of classes that we support likely to attract a wide range of majors? We try to represent a range of disciplines and strike a balance between introductory and advanced courses. 

• How big is the course? We typically cap at 18 students in the Multipurpose Room, our main classroom space.

• Is there another space on campus that could meet your needs? 

We'll do our best to work out any schedule conflicts that may arise. Please be flexible and responsive to our inquiries as we work through requests. Even if you only anticipate teaching in Fimbel Lab on a handful of dates, please communicate your expectations to us as early in the course planning process as you can. This helps us avoid potential conflicts before the course schedule is posted for registration. 

Remember, you may need to adjust when you teach, or even how often and how long you meet, so we can accommodate all our users. Asking first does not guarantee you a slot in the schedule; however, asking late makes it much less likely that we can accommodate your class. 

Are you assigning a project that will require students to use Fimbel Lab? 

Please tell us what the project and deadlines are as soon as you’ve decided! If too many courses have the same deadlines and require the same tool(s), we will contact the instructors and alert them to this conflict. Knowing your deadlines in advance helps us allocate resources equitably. 

Assign a deadline for students to brainstorm and propose their idea, ideally two weeks or more before the project is due, and ask for a completion timeline. Students often underestimate how much time or assistance they will need. If you are not certain a student is being realistic, we are happy to consult on the proposal. The more we know, the better we can help and keep stress levels low. (For the student, and for us!) 

We recommend that project due dates fall before the last day of class, when lab hours become limited. Student shifts end when classes end; we are closed evenings and weekends during finals.

If students continue working on their projects during reading days, be sure they understand we are only open during regular business hours. 

Can students use Fimbel Lab outside of staffed hours?

Students in classes that meet regularly in the space will be granted 24-hour access to the general workspace, excluding the metal and woodshop. Otherwise, please consult us if you assign a substantial project and believe our staffed hours are not sufficient. If a student is pursuing an independent study with you, we will consider granting access after understanding their needs and establishing clear expectations. 

Who pays for the materials?

This varies among classes and departments. Some departments pay for materials; in that case, we need to know whether to bill the department instead of the student and whether students have an expense limit. For some classes, students pay for their own materials. 

We also have scrap bins that students can use at no cost. 

Is there a cap on the number of students that Fimbel Lab can accommodate? 

We typically cap course engagements at 18 students. Please discuss with us if your class is larger. 

How do I use Fimbel Lab for my scholarship?

You can always email FimbelLab@mtholyoke.edu to set up a meeting or learn more about our resources. 

We will teach you or your students to use our tools and can collaborate with you as you think through your design. 

Fimbel Lab provides tools and guidance. You must pay for the materials, unless our scrap bins meet your needs. 

If you have a substantial design and fabrication project that requires our staff to regularly meet with your student, please inquire about our independent study proposal process. If approved, one of our pro staff will meet weekly with your student, and we can provide a few hundred dollars of funding. 

Fimbel Lab is not a production lab. The Science Center Machine Shop is a shared facility that may be able to do custom fabrication to meet your needs. We may also be able to point you to third-party companies that offer relevant services. 

How do I get trained on the equipment or reserve time?

• First, sign our values and waiver. 

• Visit our Training & Ability Badges page to book training sessions or request an optional Ability Badge.

• Visit our resources website to reserve equipment and view training material.

      *Please note, equipment is reservable between 5 pm-10 pm on weekdays and when we are open on weekends.  If you would like to             reserve time during the day, please email FimbelLab@mtholyoke.edu

Can I use Fimbel Lab for personal projects? 

Yes! While we prioritize academic projects, all members of the MHC community are welcome to pursue any interests in the space. Please remember that you cannot sell objects made in our space - no Etsy businesses running off our equipment and support! We do not support personal projects over the summer.