Changes to Microphone Provision
Rolling out from the autumn term 2026, the way microphones are provided and managed in centrally timetabled teaching rooms is changing – with some microphones now available by advance booking rather than being kept in rooms by default.
What's changing?
- Handheld microphones will no longer be available by default in lecture theatres. If a handheld microphone is required, it will need to be booked in advance.
- Lecture theatres will continue to have a standard provision of two lapel microphones.
- You can check which additional microphones are available in each lecture theatre, and how to book them, on the Microphone booking page here.
Why are these changes being made?
Following a number of microphone thefts during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years, stock will now be managed more closely to help ensure the availability of equipment for teaching. As replacing stolen microphones can be costly and may be delayed by supply chain lead times, managing access to stock more closely will help reduce disruption and support reliable microphone availability in teaching spaces.
What else is changing?
Handheld and lapel microphones in all Centrally Timetabled Teaching Rooms are now engraved with the name of the room they operate in. (Mics from one room cannot be used in another.)
In suitable spaces, lapel microphones have been replaced with ceiling microphones as part of the scheduled upgrade process. These are on by default when the system is on, and can be switched off/on using the 'Lecturer Mic' button on the bottom-right of the touch panel control.
