Equipment Policies

The Chemistry Department has adopted regarding laboratory equipment.  These policies are strictly enforced and there are no exceptions (so don’t ask).  It behooves all students to read and understand these policies as ignorance of them is no excuse.

 

BROKEN ITEM POLICY

A student who breaks any item of laboratory glassware, or equipment, whose replacement cost is less than $100 will be billed for the full replacement cost of the item. A student who breaks any item in a chemistry laboratory whose replacement cost is $100, or higher, will be required to pay $100 or 15% of the replacement cost, whichever is higher, but not to exceed $500 per course per semester.

When breakage occurs, you must inform either the laboratory instructor, a laboratory TA or the Chemical Stockroom. Complete an Item Replacement Form found in the binder located in each laboratory.  Either the instructor, TA or stockroom attendant will then sign the form once they have checked that the form has been properly completed and give you a replacement for the broken item.  The cost associated with replacing the broken item will be directly charged to your account.  Click here for a current price list of common chemistry equipment.

 

MISSING ITEM POLICY

Glassware left out after a laboratory session will be confiscated by the stockroom or instructor, unless other arrangements have been made before the end of the session.  In the introductory chemistry laboratories (CHEM 100, 130 and 131) students may check to see if a missing item has been found and reclaim for $1.00, payable to the Stockroom when he or she reclaims the item. Note that the Stockroom will not accept IOUs!  Policies in upper-level courses vary by instructor and students are referred to the syllabus for their course for their instructor’s policy.  In all chemistry courses, if missing glassware is not found, you will be charged the full replacement cost, just as if you had broken it.

Some important things to remember:

Nobody goes through your drawers searching for items to steal. Only items left on the bench top or in the hood at the end of lab because students failed to place back in their drawers will be picked up.

There is no guarantee that we will have your missing glassware! Many times, glassware left out may be claimed by a student in the next lab, or put in someone elses drawer in your lab. It is the students responsibility to make sure they put away their glassware!!

If you are missing items, its because you left them out. No one else has the combination to your lab drawer and no one is breaking into your drawer unless you left it open/unlocked or gave the combination to someone else. Please be responsible about locking your lab drawer; neither the Stockroom nor your instructor are not responsible for items in an unlocked drawer. If your drawer has a malfunctioning lock, please let us know NOW NOT at the end of the semester!!

You can keep checking back to see if it has been turned in, but neither the Stockroom nor the instructor will hold a specific item.

LAB DRAWER POLICIES

CHECK-IN At the beginning of the semester, you must check-in to a lab drawer. You will be responsible for all of the contents in that drawer until the end of the semester. Do NOT change lab drawers without the permission of your instructor and the Chemical Stockroom!

CHECK-OUT The Chemical Stockroom, your instructor or TA will conduct drawer check-out. Everything that was in the drawer at the beginning of the semester must be present at the time of check-out. You will be fined for all missing items. NO check-outs will be conducted once finals begin. IF YOU DROP THE COURSE, YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING OUT OF YOUR LAB DRAWER! This can be done any time during the semester before finals begin. Failure to check-out for whatever reason will result in a $25 fine being charged directly to your account.

MISSING ITEMS You are responsible for everything in your lab drawer and you will be charged for any missing items. The Chemical Stockroom, your instructor and your TA are not and will not be responsible for:

Items left on the lab bench at the completion of lab. These will be replaced at your expense!

Items loaned to others.

Items left in an unlocked drawer.

DRAWER COMBINATION You are responsible for knowing your combination and the following policies apply in CHEM 100, 130 and 131 (policies in the upper-level courses vary by instructor).

Any assistance required from the Chemical Stockroom to open your drawer (unlocking your lock, looking up your combination, etc.) will cost you $1.00, payable at the time of service (no IOUs are accepted). It is, therefore, wise to write your locker combination in your laboratory notebook so that you bring it to lab every week!  Do not assume that your lab partner will remember it.

In the event you leave your drawer unlocked the stockroom will assess a $1.00 fine and a slip will be placed in your drawer.

STOCKROOM FINES

In the event the Stockroom enforces a fine and you are unable to pay the fine immediately, a Stockroom Fine Slip will be issued. All stockroom fines must be paid before the Stockroom will conduct your drawer check-out. Failure to pay stockroom fines before the beginning of finals will be considered failure to check-out and the policy regarding such will apply.

 

GOGGLES

You are responsible for supplying proper lab goggles. If you need to rent goggles for any reason, you will be charged $1.00 fine which must be paid BEFORE you are allowed to borrow the goggles. NOTE It is CHEAPER to buy your own goggles and keep them in your drawer than to rent from us!!!