Literature Clled 11) Haight, G. P., Jr. J Cham. Edue. 1968.45.420: Holm,J. L.J. Chem. E d u 1974,51, 460: Myen, R. T. J . Cham. Educ. 1976.53, 17; lauley, S. D.: Ragad.de, R. 0. I I Cham. Educ. 1982,59,637. (2) See particularly Onsent, W. E."lnowmie Etmtgeticr"; Cambridge: Cambridge, 1982; 2nd ed.: Johnson, D. A. "Some Thermodynamic A w e d of lnolganic Chemistry"; Cambridge: London, 1982:2nd ed.
(3) Jenkins,H. D.B.;Pratt,K.F.Adu.Inarg.Chsm.Radiochem. 1979.22.1. (a) Kapustin8kii.A. F.Quart. Ran. 1956,10.283: Moody, G. J.: Thomas, J.D. a.J. Cham. Edue. 1965.42.204,
(5) 5mith.D. W. J. Chrm. Edue. 1977.54.540. (6) Jenkin8.H. D. B.:Th&er,K.P. J. Cham.Educ. 1919,56,576. (7) Basolo. F. Coordin. Chom. Re". 1968.3.213. (81 MeDaniel. D. H. Ann. Rmorls Inorg. Cen. Synfheala 1972,293(1972).
cooperative education
Edited by GEOFFREY DAVIES ALAN L. MCCLELLAND
Development of Cooperative Industrial Education at Mississippi State University Eugene Grimley, Leon L. Combs, and Charles U. PMman, Jr. Mississippi State University. Mississippi State, MS 39762 In January, 1982, following discussions with a Mississippi chemical corporation, the Department of Chemistry at Mississippi State University initiated a cooperative education program in industrial chemistry. What hegan on a trial basis at the graduatelevel has evolved into asuccessful, moderateIv sized coon Droeram. Although several undermaduates participate in t i e Gogram, the p;imary objective h i s heen to ureDare eraduate students for careers in industrial research kddevelopment while they are studying for graduate degrees in chemistry. Documentation describing administrative and legal asp& of industrial contracts and proprietary information disclosure agreements have been reported.' Thenrozram is innovative because eraduate students mav " elect to work on applied industrial research projects either at Misvissinoi .. State Llniversitv or at an industrial rorooration by alternating semesters at the chemical corporation and the universitv. Thus. students eain first-hand exoerience in aoplied industrial 'chemistry'while simultaue&sly pursuing advanced degrees in chemistry or chemical engineering. While it is possible to alternate semesters between the chemical corporation and the university, the majority of students have opted to work and study a t the university. The department's philosophy allows the students as much flexibility as possihle in gaining industrial experience while progressing in their academic studies and research. Many benefits are available to students in the cooperative program. A major henefit is financial support for research experience in their major area of professional training. Bringing chemical knowledge to hear on applied chemical problems often rather poignantly brings out strengths and weaknesses in the chemical training of student researchers. Experience in reporting and puhlic speaking, preparation of progress and final reports, preparation of patent disclosures, interactions with chemical engineers and consultants, and exposure to interrelated components gives students a realistic view of industrial chemistry. Participation in the program has been a primary factor in the placement of our students. Two students and two faculty members were involved in the first six months of the program. Support has steadily increased for three and a half years, and the program now involves nine graduate students, two post-doctoral research ~
.
~
,
~
7
~
~~
associates, and five faculty members in the Department of Chemistrv, along with students and faculty from other departmenkin t h i university. These numb& represent approximately 20% of the graduate students and 20% of the faculty in chemistry and approaches the limit judged compatible with the overall graduate mission of the department. Students majoring in analytical, inorganic, and organic chemistry and chemical engineering have participated a t both MS and PhD levels. Among areas of process research are ring and side-chain chlorination, catalytic hydrogenation, nitration, acetylation, and oxidation of anilines, toluidines, nitro-toluenes, and aromatic acids and aldehvdes. Particularlv. i m.~ o r t a n tis the determination of selectivity ratios in isomer production, percentage vields and recoveries, and reagent utilities. The impact i f energy utilization and process time on economic and engineering aspects of industrial chemistry are also involved. Characterization of solution phase properties of polymers used in the paper industry is under investigation. A primary concern in all projects is process safety and waste orodud disoosal. One dediiated and several shared laboratories a t the university are used to conduct the research investigations. Student researchers are encouraged to interact with participating faculty and industrial representatives on a daily basis. Immediate access to industrial chemists and chemical engineers in person or by phone ensures good communication and prevents long delays in project completion. I t is essential to a productive program. Although fixed-orice contracts are negotiated with industries on :yearly basis, the departmentrecognizes the need for long-term commitments because of the time required to comple-te student academic programs. The contracts reflect the proprietary nature of the applied research performed by the students. Positions advertised in Chemical and Engineering News usually result in 30-40 replies, the maiorits of which are students of foreign nationalky. Foreign students account for 50%of those currently participating in the program.
' Combs. L. L. Issues Higher Educ. 1984, 13.577. Volume 63 Number 3 March 1986
235
Graduate students in the coop program must satisfy the same requirements for advanced degrees as do regular graduate students. Mutual aereement between the universitv and the corporation supporting a specific project is required in the selection of student researchers. Manv of the research projects are not directly suitable for theses-or dissertations and their use as such requires approval of the participating corporation. Suitability for thesis and dissertation inclusion may arise when the corporation determines that the projected economics of industrial processes based on an investigation preclude its further development. The end product of research performed in the program is its application in industry and all participating researchers benefit through coauthorship of patents. Successful patent2 applications made through the legal department of the corporation supporting a coop project are jointly owned by the university and the corporation. Publication of nonpropriet a r s results in scientific iournals is encouraged hv" sunnort.. ingchemical corporation^. Students are encouraged to present results of their work a t scientific meetings when anproved by the supporting corporation, to atten; workshops and symposia relevant to their projects, and to make site visits to industrial plants of supporting chemical corpora-
.......
tinn. " .
Student reiearchers are required ta, sign nondisrlosure agreements and to work 20 hours per week, with t'i\.e dnjs annual lenvr and universitv holiduvs. 'l'hev rereive monthlv compensation with annual stipends3 increasing with increased experience in industrial research and with good progress in their academic program. Student researchers are required to present their results a t tri-weekly, semiformal progress review meetings held in the department. Most of the coop students and faculty advisors and a representative from the corporation are present. Brief written and oral progress reports given by each researcher are followed by an open discussion of results and problems associated with particular projects. Students benefit from presenting results and justifying conclusions while "on their feet." Results are discussed from basic science and applied perspectives of material and production costs, engineering principles, market projections, and profit margin. It is important to match the background and skills of students with particular research projects to ensure a modest chance of success along with the development of new skills. In many instances the team approach is used to solve difficult problems by combining several researchers with different skills. Inherent in this process is learning to work with others. Suggestions and directives agreed upon for future work are summarized in specific task statements for each project, confirmed in writing, and mailed to each stuTWO disclosures have been made, and the legal department of
the
First Chemical Corporation is preparing patent applications for submission in the near future. Beginning annual stipends. depending on the supporting corporation. are from $8.000 to $10.000 for undergraduatesand students with BS degrees and $10.400 for students with MS degrees. 'Mitchell. F. J. Chern. Educ. 1985, 62 403. McAuley, A. J. Chem. Educ. 1984, 61,155.
238
Journal of Chemical Education
dent researcher by the industrial representative. Final reports of completed studies are prepared iointlv. h.s the supervising professor and the student r&earcher. Coordination, teamwork, and open lines of communication are essential to the program. Students benefit by learning how to do a job, how to relate to co-workers and bosses, how to live in a non-student-centered world, how to handle the pressures of performance and productivity, and how to oreanize their nersonal schedules and finance^.^ Chemical iniustries haveAhenefitedfrom the development of commercially important processes through the cross-fertilization of knowledge in both basic and applied chemistry. The chemistry department has benefited from the acquisition of gas chromatographs, high pressure reactors, and ice machines that are used by all students in the department. Most importantly, the synergistic interaction between the university and industry that results in high levels of interest in new chemical knowledge stimulates undergraduate and graduate students and faculty throughout the department. Several steps must he taken t o ensure the welfare of both students and industry and thereby guarantee the longevity of any cooperative educational program. The program must be well managed, keeping participating students' best interests foremost in mind, particularly as regards the placement in positions commensurate with academic training and industrial experience. Progress report meetings and periods of high research activity just prior to and during examination weeks should be avoided. It is important to emphasize the value placed on high quality performance in all aspects of the program. Recruitment and retention of high caliber students is of utmost importance to the supporting corporations. One fear of industrial leaders is a high turnover of students that discover, after being trained for 6-12 months, that they prefer another avenue to their advanced degree. This option must always remain open to students. A kev ingredient to the success attained in our coonerative education program has been the hard work by both supporting chemical corporations and by faculty and students in the university. The program needs the enthusiastic support of both faculty and employers if students are to feel that their contribution is worthwhile and if i t is to succeed as an educational tool. We are considering the inclusion of more undergraduate students in this after studying structured curricula similar to those employed at this university and elsewhere.5 Students find that the work is challeneine and worthwhile, in that experience gained greatly enhances their attractiveness as employees. We find that participating in the industrial coop program definitely enhances graduate attractiveness in the industrial job market.
--
Acknowledgment Primary support and substantial encouragement for the initiation and continuation of the coop program has been received from the First Chemical Corporation in Pascagoula, MS, a subsidiary of the First Mississippi Corporation. Support has also been received from the Weyerhaeuser Corporation in Columbus, MS, and Triad Chemical Corporation in Donaldsonville, LA. We are grateful for this support.
