LPC Chemistry Program Review 2006 Page 10
Las Positas College Program Review 2006
Discipline: Chemistry
Division: III
Contact Person: Michael Ansell
Full-Time Faculty: Michael Ansell
Section I: Program Description, Mission, and Relationships
A. Description of Chemistry Program
The Chemistry program serves three diverse groups of students at Las Positas College:
• Transfer students majoring in the sciences, engineering, or preparing for careers in medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry.
• AA/AS and Certificate students enrolled in programs requiring knowledge of chemistry, for example, nursing, dental hygiene, etc.
• Students completing general education course requirements.
Two full-time tenured faculty members maintain the program with assistance from 3 to 7 part-time faculty and the support of two full-time and one half-time laboratory technician shared with the Biology program. One of the full-time faculty positions is currently vacant. This position and a third new full-time position are to be filled by Fall 2006. Details are included in Section II, part B.
Courses:
Seven courses are regularly offered in the program. Each course or group of courses is briefly described below along with its purposes:
Chemistry 30A and 30B, Introductory and Applied Chemistry
This is a two-semester sequence that provides a survey of the areas of general and inorganic chemistry (30A) and organic and biological chemistry (30B). These courses support A.A. and A.S. degrees and certificates in Allied Health (Nursing, Dental Hygiene) and in other technical programs such as Vacuum Technology, and the Enology Program. Chemistry 30A is also an excellent course to provide general education in the physical sciences along with laboratory experience.
Chem 30A—7 sections per year; Chem 30B—2 section per year.
Chemistry 31, Introduction to College Chemistry
This is a one-semester course whose primary goal is to prepare students to be successful in General Chemistry. In addition, several transfer institutions accept it for general education.
Chem 31—6 sections per year.
Chemistry 1A and 1B, General College Chemistry
This is the traditional one-year sequence in General Chemistry. As such, it is a required course for students majoring in Chemistry and Biology. All Engineering majors and most Computer Science majors are required to complete the first semester of General Chemistry and many Engineering majors are required to complete both semesters. Pre-professional students, i.e., those planning to enter medical or dental schools, are also required to complete both semesters of General Chemistry.
Chem 1A—5 sections per year; Chem 1B—4 sections per year
Chemistry 12A and 12B, Organic Chemistry
There are several flavors of Organic Chemistry. This two-semester sequence is commonly known as the Major's course. It is a rigorous course required of Chemistry, Biology, and pre-professional students.
Chem 12A and 12B—1 section each per year.
B. Program Mission
Our Mission is to serve the three diverse groups of students at Las Positas College:
• Transfer students majoring in the sciences, engineering, or preparing for careers in medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry
• AA/AS and Certificate students enrolled in programs requiring knowledge of chemistry, for example, nursing, dental hygiene, etc
• Students completing general education course requirements
We strive to provide an outstanding set of classes taught by great teachers in small classes with high standards, with an attention to safety, and a focus on student success.
C. The Program’s Relationship to the College’s Mission.
The Mission of the Las Positas College states as one of our primary missions, “to foster growth and success, both in its students and in its community. The College strives to fulfill this Mission by offering high-quality, comprehensive educational programs.”
Chemistry strives to be one of those high-quality, comprehensive educational programs that will foster growth and success, both in its students and in its community.
D. How does the Program help to fulfill the College’s Mission?
Many professional careers require the knowledge and training obtained in Chemistry courses. This includes careers in science, engineering, medicine, and technology. Chemistry provides the backbone for training in biotechnology, dental hygiene, and many other fields that do not require a Bachelor’s Degree. In addition, there is a Chemistry course for students who come to the college with inadequate preparation for the traditional first year course in General Chemistry. Chemistry offers baccalaureate-level courses directed primarily for student transfer in science, engineering, and medical fields. We also offer courses for students completing programs in nursing, dental hygiene, viticulture, and other A.A./A.S. and certificate programs, or who are seeking either employment or training for jobs in water quality control.
E. What is the Program’s Connection to other programs?
Chemistry is an integral part of our Science/Engineering/pre-professional (i.e., medicine, dentistry) program. We recognize that transfer institutions want students to complete their science and advanced mathematics courses before transfer. We work closely with our science, mathematics and engineering colleagues to schedule classes to avoid conflicts among the courses required for engineering and biology majors so that they may transfer successfully in as short a time as possible.
The nursing program is growing in response to the urgent need for new nurses. The Chemistry 30A/30B sequence serves the needs of these students. It also provides the necessary training for dental hygiene students and for students in some of the college’s other A.A./A.S. degree and certificate programs. One of the newest programs requiring completion of Chemistry 30A and 30B is the viticulture program. In addition, Chemistry 30A satisfies a general education science requirement.
Chemistry 31 prepares students to enter the traditional first-year General College Chemistry. Some high school chemistry programs are not very strong. Some students don’t realize while in high school that they are interested in a field that requires Chemistry. Other students discover that they want a science major after being in the workforce in another capacity. Yet other students have very weak math skills. Such students need the background and learning provided in Chemistry 31 in order to be successful in Chemistry 1A.
Section II: Program Function and Assessment
A. Program Access
The Chemistry program has tried to increase access for all the students we serve. We have added additional sections of Chemistry 30A, a nursing program prerequisite, in response to the international nursing crisis. We now have day and evening sections available each semester and during the summer. We have added a day section of Chemistry 30B in the spring. We have also added a section of Chemistry 1B each fall and an additional section of Chemistry 1A in the spring. We will continue to add sections as enrollments increase and schedule them with access in mind.
The Program has enjoyed rapid growth in the last few years. The academic year 2005-2006 seems to be a time where growth is leveling off, but not dropping. We will add one afternoon section of Chemistry 30A in the fall, but otherwise we do not plan on adding any more sections at this time. Eventually, the Program needs to add a section of Chemistry 30B in the fall, a section of 1A in the summer and a second set of 12A and 12B sections. Our current enrollment does not compel us to add these sections at this time.
Courses Offered 2002-05 and number of sections
Course / F 2002 / S 2003 / F 2003 / S 2004 / F 2004 / S 2005 / F 2005 / S 2006Chem 1A / 3 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 2
Chem 1B / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 1 / 2
Chem 12A / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0
Chem 12B / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1
Chem 30A / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3
Chem 30B / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 2
Chem 31 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 2
Total / 9 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 9 / 12 / 11 / 12
Day / 6 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 9 / 8 / 9
Evening / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3
B. Program Resources
1. Human Resources
The program is maintained by two full-time tenured faculty members with assistance from 3 to 7 part-time faculty and the support of two full time and one half-time laboratory technician shared with the Biology program. One of the full time positions is currently vacant. This position and a third new full-time position to be filled by Fall 2006. We are also supported by Dr. Neal Ely, Dean of Academic Services in Division III who has a doctorate in Chemistry his two Administrative Assistants, Lilia Camino and Jennifer Real.
Full time Faculty:
-Dr. Michael A. Ansell (2002); Ph.D. and M.S., in Materials Chemistry, University of Oregon, B.S., California State University, Chico major in Chemistry and minor in Mathematics. Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego.
-Hiring for two positions in progress.
Adjunct Faculty:
- Dr. Richard Grow (1990), B.S. in Organic Chem. from Cal State Hayward, M.S. in Physical Organic Chem from San Francisco State, Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chem from Univ. of Cal. Riverside.
- Dr. H. Allan Peoples (1996); B.Sc., University of Strathclyde; M.Sc., University of Calgary; Ph.D., University of Utah.
- Dr. Beverly Symmank (1998), Ph.D. Stanford University in Organic Chemistry
B.S. Southern Oregon University.
- Mr. Robert Schmidt (2002), M.S., Chemistry, Oregon State University, B.S., Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (retired).
- Dr. Matt Fitzgerald (2004), B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State in 1994, Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Texas A&M in 1999.
- Dr. Edward Brennan (2005), B.S. in Soil and Water Conservation at Colorado State University, M.S. at Colorado State University, Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry at Colorado State University, Fulbright Fellow.
- Dr. Michael Heying (2006), Ph.D. Purdue University, Chemical Engineering.
Laboratory Technicians:
- James Adams (1978), Science Education Technician, retired 2005, temporarily rehired, hiring in progress.
- Giovanni Duldulao (1999), Laboratory Technician II
- Gerry Gire (2005), Laboratory Technician II, half time
2. Physical Resources
The Chemistry Program is located entirely within the first floor of Las Positas College’s Science Building, Phase I. The Program has two dedicated teaching laboratories, a shared balance room, a shared chemistry/biology stockroom and a shared chemistry/biology instrumentation/workroom for students. The program also shares two traditional classrooms shared with other science programs. One teaching laboratory is designed for use by the General Chemistry Labs (Chemistry 1A and 1B) and the other is used by all of the other chemistry courses including Organic Chemistry. Both have all of the modern safety equipment expected in a teaching laboratory as well as individual fume hoods for each student that puts safety at LPC a level above most other chemistry programs. The balance room contains eight digital analytical balances for use by both labs and storage for other equipment and supplies. The stockroom contains all of the glassware and chemical stock needed to support the chemistry and biology labs. Our physical space is likely to increase in the next several years after Phase II of the Science Building is built.
3. Technology
The Chemistry Program is fortunate to have a strong technology component.
1.) Our General Chemistry Laboratory contains 25 new laptop computers. There are Logger-Pro interfaces for each computer that allow us to measure pH, temperature, light absorption, humidity, gas pressure, and other parameters and have each student record the data directly on the computers. This allows students to see the results of experiments in real-time and use the techniques used in real-world environments. The computers are also used for molecular modeling, informational searches via the Internet, and for data analysis and calculations. This is a powerful tool that few colleges or universities have at the lower division level. The laptop computers and interfaces were originally acquired in 1998, but the computers were replaced with new ones in the Summer of 2005. Many computers are available in the other labs as well.
2.) All of our teaching labs and classrooms are “smart classrooms” with modern data projectors, DVD and VCR capabilities, and stereo sound.
3.) Our Organic Chemistry laboratory includes both micro-scale and macro-scale glassware so that our students can learn all of the laboratory techniques taught at the sophomore organic level.
4.) Our Instrumentation room contains a Perkin-Elmer FT-IR (infrared) spectrometer, three fully operational Gas Chromatography instruments, two microwave ovens (used for organic synthesis), two traditional ovens, three digital melting point instruments, and a HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) that was recently donated to our department. We will be acquiring two rotary evaporators in the spring of 2006.
--We have received approval to acquire the technology to upgrade our non-operational 60-MHz NMR to a fully operational Anasazi NMR that will be PC controlled and will be able to perform 1H, 13C and 2D NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). This is a major development in the chemistry department. Most CSU programs do not accept transfer of organic chemistry courses from community colleges because our students do not have hands on training with this technique. LPC Chemistry will be in a minority of CC programs that do.