Who can check out a hotspot?
Only currently enrolled and registered for-credit TCC students are eligible to check out lendable technology. And only one hotspot at a time. Enrollment verification will take place and a TCC Student ID must be presented. (See ‘what are the steps for checking out hotspots’ below)
How many hotspots can a student check out at a time?
Only one hotspot can be checked out to a student at a time.
What is the loan period for hotspots?
Hotspots are loaned for the semester. See below chart for loan periods.
Hotspots are not available for loan during the intersession between semesters.
- Spring 2025 available on Monday, January 13th and are due on Friday, May 9th.
- Summer 2025 available on Monday, May 19th and are due on Friday, August 1st.
- Fall 2025 available on Monday, August 25th and are due on Friday, December 12th.
Can holds be placed on hotspots?
No. These items are part of the reserve collection and are first come-first serve.
- Please report number of turn aways to your coordinator via email or established procedure at your campus.
Can hotspots be renewed?
No. Hotspots are due on the last day of the semester.
What are the steps for checking out hotspots?
A valid TCC Student ID is required and must be shown at the time of taking possession of the hotspot.
- Verify enrollment and registration by checking the student's status date in Alma. Currently enrolled students have a status date of the current day.
- Check for notes in the Alma record to ensure there are no blocks.
- Verify student's phone number and email, adding a note in Alma for changes and advising the student to update SIS if necessary.
- Check out hotspot and change the due date to the last day of the semester (see chart above).
- Remind the student that hotspots are to be returned in person to the campus from which they were borrowed.
Additional Things for Staff to Keep In Mind
- All items checked out together are returned together (3 pieces: Hotspot, charger, laminated quick start guide). Peripherals are not to be checked out separately.
- Charge hotspots fully before loaning items out again.
What if a hotspot is overdue?
After one day late: Call student. Block student in SIS. Add a note in student's Alma record that they have an overdue hotspot and a phone call was placed.
After two weeks late: Call the student a second time. Add a note in the student's Alma record that a second call was placed.
After three week late: Hotspot is considered lost. Delete the item from the loan record. Put the item in missing status. Add a note to the student's record that the hotspot was removed and the student is banned from Checking out lendable tech for two semesters.
- Circ Supervisor or designated campus staff submits a library tech ticket indicating which hotspot needs to be disabled by OIS (include the hotspot number and barcode.)
- Cataloging staff will be notified it/when to withdraw the deactivated hotspot from the catalog.
- The SIS block remains until the student 1) returns the hotspot, or 2) explains the situation (e.g., the device is lost/claimed return, etc.)
Who do I contact for help with a hotspot?
Put in a Library Tech Ticket here or contact Stephanie 'Missy' Comer at the Portsmouth Campus Library: scomer@tcc.edu or 757-822-2143
If a student reports that the connection is lost, try these steps:
- If the hot spot will not allow devices to connect or says “no service” area found, turn the hotspot off and back on again by holding down the power button. The power button should flash green, notifying you that devices may be connected. You should see an indicator on the display screen that reads LTE, with three white bars lit up to the left of it. If this is the case, you are good to go.
- Hold the power button down for five seconds, then let it rest for five seconds, then turn the power on again to restart the device. Make sure your hotspot is fully charged.
