Senate Document Number 2699S

Date of Senate Approval 2/11/99

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

Effective Date: Fall, 1999

Delete on page 84 the title and course description for CHEM 316.

Add on page 83 after the course description for CHEM 144 the following

190 Introduction to Research I (1-2)

Directed laboratory research and independent study designed to introduce specialized research techniques and methodology that are necessary in the early stages of professional development and appropriate in the first year of study. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (An IP grade may be awarded although all work must be completed by the end of the academic year.) Fall and Spring.

Add on page 83 after the course description for CHEM 233 the following

290 Introduction to Research II (1-2)

Directed laboratory research and independent study designed to introduce specialized research techniques and methodology that are necessary in the early stages of professional development and appropriate in the second year of study. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (An IP grade may be awarded although all work must be completed by the end of the academic year.) Fall and Spring.

390 Introduction to Research III (1-6)

Directed laboratory research and independent study designed to introduce specialized research techniques and methodology that are necessary in the early stages of professional development and appropriate in the third year of study. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (An IP grade may be awarded although all work must be completed by the end of the academic year.) Fall and Spring.

Impact Statement No concurrences are necessary since this change does not affect the requirements of any other department or program. Staffing needs and course offerings will also not be affected by this change since it is designed to more accurately document what is currently being done. Chemistry faculty routinely offer independent research courses in addition to their required teaching load.

Rationale Because the time needed to complete research in chemistry is highly variable (depending upon the nature of the project, experience of the researcher, material availability, instrumentation status, the success of individual stages, etc.), flexibility in both the credit given to students and ability to utilize an in-progress (IP) grade is essential. The variable credit option allows the student to commit to a level of research that is consistent with their goals, the research advisor's expectations, and their ability to meet all of their obligations. The IP grade option allows projects that need to be extended past the scheduled date of completion to proceed with a minimal amount of administrative paperwork for both the student and the research advisor.

One of the major principles that drives the department's curriculum (adopted in the Fall 1996) is that students must " do chemistry" if they expect to learn chemistry. However, doing chemistry means more than taking laboratory courses, it means actively participating in the research process. Unlike many other disciplines that can successfully utilize a research methods course for preparing students for research in their field, chemistry functions best when an apprenticeship approach is employed. However, since students elect to enter the research arena at different times in their educations, different levels of research courses with different expectations are needed. This is particularly true at UNCA since the students interested in research are so diverse. In addition to traditional full-time chemistry majors, part-time students, biology majors, environmental studies majors, post-baccalaureate chemistry and biology students, and pre-health students have all participated in research within the department. The different research courses, coupled with a variable credit-hour option, allow each student to create a unique research experience.

None of these courses are required, either explicitly or implicitly, for the major. They will function as electives for students who are interested in positioning themselves in the best possible light for either graduate programs or employment after graduation. Since enrollment in any of the courses can only occur once and requires the permission of the instructor, the nature of the research, the level of credit to be earned, and the time-frame for completion (part or all of the academic year) will be agreed upon prior to the student's registration for the course. The latter aspect is facilitated by the IP-grade option.

In addition to all of the pedagogical reasons discussed above, it is very important administratively to provide official research courses for students doing research. First, students fundamentally should be given credit for any research that they do. Not only is it fair, but it allows for persons external to UNCA to have an official record and evaluation of the student's performance Secondly, it is absolutely imperative for liability reasons that students be officially enrolled in a course when working in the laboratory . While we make every effort to maintain the highest level of safety, the nature of research and its inherent journey into the unknown means that the unexpected can happen. Therefore, it is in the best interest of all parties that the students be officially registered for a research course.

Delete on page 85 The title and course description for CHEM 416, 417

Replace with the following

416, 417 Chemical Research I, II (1-3,1-3)

Directed laboratory research and independent study in a specialized area of chemistry which results in a comprehensive, written research report. CHEM 416 prerequisite: permission of instructor. CHEM 417 prerequisites: 416 and permission of instructor. (An IP grade may be awarded.) CHEM 416, Fall; CHEM 417, Spring.

Delete: on page 81 under the heading "Major in Chemistry for the Bachelor of Science Degree"; in part I "Required courses in major" the phrase

"45 hours"

Replace: the deleted phrase with

45 -49 hours

Delete: on page 81 under the heading "Major in Chemistry for the Bachelor of Arts Degree"; in part I "Required courses in the major" the phrase

"36 hours"

36-38 hours

Delete: on page 81 under the heading "Teacher Licensure in Chemistry"; in part I "Required courses in the major" the phrase

"36 hours"

Replace: the deleted phrase with

36-38 hours

Rationale Because the time needed to complete research in chemistry is highly variable (depending upon the nature of the project, material availability, instrumentation status, the success of individual stages, etc.), flexibility in both the credit given to students and ability to utilize an in-progress (IP) grade is essential. The variable credit option allows the student to commit to a level of research that is consistent with their goals, the research advisor's expectations, and their ability to meet all of their obligations. The IP grade option allows projects that need to be extended past the scheduled date of completion to proceed with a minimal amount of administrative paperwork for both the student and the research advisor.

GERM 110 and 120

Replace: the deleted phrase with the following

GERM 115 and 125

Rationale: The addition of German 115 and 125 to the foreign language curriculum allows chemistry students a general education option that better suits their needs.