Chemical Education Today
Association Reports: SOCED
Revising the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges: Exploring Changes and Opportunities by John V. Clevenger, Margaret S. Richards, and Jodi L. Wesemann
Shape the Next Edition Before and since making the decision to revise the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges, the Society Committee on Education (SOCED) has sought input from across the chemistry community. Having received feedback about the value of the guidelines, goals of the revision, and a summary of proposed revisions (1), the SOCED Task Force on the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges is now soliciting comments and questions on the draft guidelines.1 Input from faculty and administrators at both two- and four-year institutions is needed by January 9, 2009. Value of the Guidelines The ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges, first published in 1970, are “intended to help faculties provide chemistry students with the best possible education in the fundamental areas of modern chemistry and its relationship to other disciplines and to society” (2). The guidelines provide a framework for reviewing two-year college chemistry programs (either formally or informally) at a range of institutions as well as identifying areas of strength and opportunities for change. An informal survey carried out in 2005 confirmed that the guidelines have been successful in leveraging support from institutions, partners, and external agencies. Based on the recommendation of the Task Force, SOCED decided to revise the current set of guidelines, published in 1997, to increase their value and relevancy. This decision was based on the ongoing needs of programs in two-year colleges, changes in the world of higher education, and community discussions occurring in conjunction with the Committee on Professional Training’s revision of Undergraduate Professional Education in Chemistry: ACS Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs (3). Goals of the Revision SOCED seeks to broaden the impact of the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges. Results from the informal survey, conversations with many constituents, and benchmarking exercises have led to the following goals for the revision:
1. Reflect changes in pedagogy, technology, and accountability
2. Facilitate student transfer a. by aligning with the new ACS Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs b. by calling for communication with receiving institutions
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3. Provide a more useful resource for strengthening programs a. by offering guidance for ongoing curricular change b. by offering guidance for improving the working environment
To ensure that these goals are met, the Task Force engaged representatives from a range of institutions—both two- and four-year—in the revision process. To reflect the wide range of institutions and curricula to which the guidelines apply, the name of the draft guidelines document has been changed to ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs. Explore Changes and Opportunities The chemistry community is once again being asked to comment on the scope and direction of the revisions, this time on the draft guidelines themselves.1, 2 Although they have been restructured, streamlined, and expanded to meet the goals of the revision, the draft guidelines are firmly based on the current document that the community has been using since 1997 (2). A series of supplements is planned to facilitate use of the guidelines. Vision of Excellence The ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges have always sought to maximize the potential of students, faculty, and programs in two-year colleges. This vision of excellence was emphasized in the summary of proposed revisions1 and is the fundamental basis of the draft guidelines. Among the supplements being prepared is one describing this vision and the importance of pursuing it. Increased Emphasis on Professional Development Since “providing a current and effective chemistry program requires an energetic and accomplished faculty”, the draft guidelines specify the many ways in which faculty should be supported. Included among them are policies and mechanisms that foster the pursuit of professional activities and development opportunities. The draft guidelines highlight how scholarly activities—such as the development of curricula and research with undergraduate students—benefit students, faculty, programs, and institutions. Alignment with Guidelines for Bachelor’s Programs The organization and content of the draft guidelines (shown in the list at the right) follow those of ACS Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs (3), as appropriate. Following guidelines with a similar structure and content will facilitate student transfer between two- and fouryear institutions. Raising shared expectations for high quality
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 85 No. 12 December 2008 • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • © Division of Chemical Education
Chemical Education Today
chemistry education across the spectrum of undergraduate institutions will also increase the impact of each set of guidelines.
Draft Version, Section Headings ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs
Send Your Feedback In order for the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs to have the desired impact and for the revision process to meet its goals, feedback is needed from the entire chemistry community. Regardless of whether you are at a two- or four-year institution, please consider these questions:
1. Goals of Guidelines
2. Institutional Environment
3. Faculty and Staff
4. Infrastructure
5. Curriculum
6. Student Research and Scholarly Activities
1. What aspect of the draft guidelines will be useful for your program?
7. Development of Student Skills
8. Student Mentoring and Advising
2. What resources will your program need to implement, or to help other programs implement, the draft guidelines?
9. Program Self-Evaluation and Assessment
Send answers to these questions, along with additional comments and questions about the draft guidelines,1 by January 9, 2009 to
[email protected]. Input will be considered in the final revisions to the guidelines, which are scheduled for release in Spring 2009. Notes 1. Information about and documents associated with the revision are available at http://www.acs.org by following the path: Education > Educational Resources > Undergraduate > Two-Year/Community Colleges > ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges > Guidelines Revision (at the bottom of the page) > draft guidelines (under Revision Process) (accessed Oct 2008). 2. Preliminary versions of the draft guidelines were reviewed by those attending “Using the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges to Enhance Chemistry Programs and Facilitate Student Transfer,” a symposium held at the 20th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education and at the 236th ACS National Meeting. Copies of the presentations are available at http://www.acs.org by following the path: Education > Educational Resources > Undergraduate > Two-Year/Community Colleges > ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges > Symposia on ACS Guidelines (accessed Oct 2008).
Literature Cited 1. Clevenger, John V.; Wesemann, Jodi L. Revising the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges: Shaping the Next Edition. J. Chem. Educ. 2008, 85, 770–771. 2. American Chemical Society, Society Committee on Education. Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges; ACS: Washington DC, 1997; available on the ACS Web site at http://
10. Partnerships
www.acs.org by following the path Education > Educational Resources > Undergraduate > Two-Year/Community Colleges > ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges (accessed Oct 2008). 3. American Chemical Society, Committee on Professional Training. Undergraduate Professional Education in Chemistry: ACS Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs; ACS: Washington DC, 2008; available on the CPT Web site at http://www.acs.org/cpt (accessed Sep 2008). See also Polik, William F.; Larive, Cynthia K. New ACS Guidelines Approved by CPT. J. Chem. Educ. 2008, 85, 484–487.
Supporting JCE Online Material
http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2008/Dec/abs1602.html Abstract and keywords Full text (PDF) with links to cited URLs and JCE articles
John V. Clevenger, Chair of the SOCED Task Force on the ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs in Two-Year Colleges, is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Truckee Meadows Community College, 7000 Dandini Blvd., Reno, NV 89512; jclevenger@tmcc. edu. Margaret S. Richards is Senior Education Associate for TwoYear College Activities and Higher Education Faculty Development, ACS Education Division, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington DC 20036;
[email protected]. Jodi L. Wesemann is Assistant Director for Higher Education, ACS Education Division, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington DC 20036;
[email protected].
© Division of Chemical Education • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • Vol. 85 No. 12 December 2008 • Journal of Chemical Education
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