You must have your instructor's signed permission on an equipment reservation form before you can check out equipment. The Code of Student Conduct in the Student Handbook applies to equipment, especially item 20 on page 51. The instructor also considers abuse of equipment or equipment privileges a serious matter with consequences for lab or project grades. Abuse includes late return of equipment, taking equipment without following procedures, or false information in equipment checkout records. The instructor believes a B is an appropriate grade for a student who performs well and completes all course requirements, but an A requires excellence.
Excellence reflects ingenuity and performance beyond requirements.
Sometimes excellence requires risk because it can be ambiguous. Don't assume that excellence requires more time and effort. Often it does, but sometimes excellence reflects simplicity, elegance, or efficiency. Excellence points make up the top ten percent of a grade of an A. You can potentially excel to a level even above an A. Excellence points in a limited way, serve as opportunities for extra credit, too. We are all human and experience setbacks.