1. Purpose 

The Campus Coding Support Group provides limited, technical assistance to support learning, research, and instructional activities that involve coding and computational workflows. This policy defines the scope, limits, and expectations of the service to ensure equitable access and long-term sustainability of the service. 

2. Guiding Principles 

  • Enablement over delivery: Our goal is to help users learn, unblock progress, and build skills—not to complete projects on their behalf. 

  • Open and reproducible practices: Support prioritizes open-source tools and transparent workflows. 

  • Sustainability: Services are designed to support researchers and should not be considered a substitute for formal course instruction. 

3. Services We Can Support 

The Coding Support Group can assist with the following: 

3.1 Environment & Tooling Setup 

  • Basic setup of local environments for running open-source code (e.g., Python, R, Node.js) 

  • Installing dependencies and managing virtual environments 

  • Guidance on using editors such as VS Code 

3.2 Version Control & Publishing 

  • Git and GitHub fundamentals 

  • Repository organization and basic collaboration workflows 

  • Deployment of static websites using GitHub Pages 

3.3 Minor Code Troubleshooting 

  • Debugging small, well-scoped issues 

  • Interpreting error messages 

  • Reviewing logic or syntax at a high level 

3.4 Workflow Automation Guidance 

  • Conceptual guidance on automating repetitive tasks 

  • Examples using scripts, task runners, or lightweight automation tools 

  • Best practices for maintainable workflows 

3.5 Responsible Use of AI for Coding 

  • Guidance on using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., code completion, debugging assistance, documentation generation) 

  • Help evaluating AI-generated code for correctness, security, and maintainability 

  • Best practices for integrating AI tools into reproducible research and development workflows 

  • Discussion of appropriate use cases, limitations, and risks of AI-generated code 

4. Services We Do Not Provide 

To maintain sustainability, the Coding Support Group does not provide:  

  • Full project development or long-term maintenance 

  • Writing large portions of custom code 

  • Guaranteed expertise in all programming languages or frameworks 

  • Debugging of complex, large-scale, or production-critical systems 

  • Support for proprietary or restricted software outside our expertise 

  • Homework, assignments, or graded coursework support for students 

5. Time Limits & Engagement Model 

Once the 2-hour limit is reached, users may be referred to:  

  • Additional documentation or learning resources 

  • Workshops or training opportunities 

  • External consultants or campus units, when appropriate 

6. Scheduling & Expectations 

Users are expected to arrive prepared with: 

  • A clear question or goal 

  • Relevant code, errors, or links 

  • An understanding of what they have already tried 

Scheduled consultations should be used for focused, well-defined questions 

7. Expertise & Referrals 

  • Staff members have varying levels of expertise across tools and languages 

  • A single staff member may not be able to resolve every issue 

  • Users may be referred to: 

    • Another staff member within the group 

    • Multiple staff members across sessions 

    • Alternative campus resources better aligned with the request 

8. User Responsibilities 

Users are responsible for:  

  • Maintaining ownership of their code and projects 

  • Backing up their work before session 

  • Following institutional policies related to data, security, and accessibility 

9. Policy Review & Updates 

This policy is reviewed periodically and may be updated to reflect:  

  • Staffing capacity 

  • Emerging technologies 

  • Campus needs 

The most current version of this policy should always be consulted prior to requesting support. 

This policy exists to ensure fair access, high-quality assistance, and the long-term sustainability of the Coding Support Group.