The two-tier locker with smart padlocks, situated next to the Equipment Room door in DC-055, serves a specific purpose. It allows students to conveniently return any equipment they've checked out, whether before or after the Equipment Room's operating hours.
For instance, imagine a scenario where a student has equipment checked out to them, and the equipment is due back when the equipment room opens at 2:00 PM. However, the student has a class at 1:30 PM and won’t be able to make that 2:00 PM return time. In such a situation, the student can place all their equipment in one of the two lockers, close the door, and lock it with the smart padlock hanging from the locker’s door. This functionality allows students to have an additional layer of flexibility when managing the time in which they can return the equipment.
In this event, even though the student was not present when their equipment was checked back in, their equipment will not be considered late, and no penalty will be given to the student.
Note, however, that a student should never leave equipment sitting out in front of the Equipment Room door or in front of the return locker. Equipment should always be in the possession of the student who checked it out or locked in one of the two return locker compartments. If a student intends to utilize one of the two return lockers to return their equipment, but upon approaching the locker, see that both compartments are currently being used. That student will need to keep their equipment with them until they can return to the Equipment Room during operating hours as students cannot drop off equipment on the ground in front of the Equipment Room or return locker.