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Postsecondary Education

NCES 2006-160
May 2006

4.2.5 Determining Actual Use Prior to Coding

An accurate determination of the actual use of a space and its contained equipment should be made prior to coding. A space’s actual use must meet the stated definition before an accurate coding can be made. For example, a “learning laboratory” may be either an Open Laboratory (220) or a Study Room (410), depending on whether the space contains discipline-restrictive equipment or configuration, as stated in the introduction to the Laboratory Facilities (200) series. If the learning laboratory contains computer stations, for example, the machines must be restricted by installed software or accessory devices to a particular discipline or discipline group before the space can qualify as a laboratory. If the machines are configured for general use by students in a variety of course subjects, the computers become synonymous with books as basic study tools and the Study Room (410) code is more appropriate.