Sign-up and Cancellation Policies

Sign-up is required for the use of EMCF shared equipment.

Only users who have been approved by EMCF staff may sign up for and operate an instrument. Approval is based on satisfactory completion of training on the instrument.

Reservations are assigned to individual users and are not transferable. The person who makes the reservation must be the person who operates the instrument during that session.

Users must log in using only their own authorized account and credentials. Usernames, passwords, and instrument access credentials may not be shared or used by another laboratory member.

The reservation, login record, and actual instrument user must accurately identify the individual operating the equipment. This is important for accurate usage records, billing, reporting, equipment accountability, and traceability in the event of an instrument issue, damage, or other problem.

Lateness and Cancellation

If a user does not arrive within 30 minutes of their scheduled start time, they may lose the reservation to another user.

Due to heavy use of EMCF equipment, reservations must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Failure to cancel within this period will result in the user or PI being billed for the entire scheduled duration.

For completed or partially completed sessions, charges are based on actual instrument usage time. Late cancellations and no-shows are billed according to the cancellation policy.

Briefly logging into an instrument without actually using the reserved session does not constitute use of the reservation and does not waive the late-cancellation or no-show charge.

Users who no longer need a reservation should cancel it promptly so the time can be made available to other users.

Repeated violations of reservation, login, or cancellation requirements may result in suspension or revocation of instrument privileges.