Jodi Wesemann Assistant Director for Higher Education American Chemical Society

1. American Chemical Society How Pursuit of a Goal Became a Digression: Lessons from the ACS Chemical Technology Program Approval Service Jodi Wesemann Assistant Director for Higher Education American Chemical Society BIO Community College Program Day May 2, 2010

2. Lessons • Leverage the investments to establish the approval program with resources to maintain and grow it. • Focus continuously on increasing participation. • Articulate and demonstrate the benefits, to both the participating programs and the beneficiaries. • Consider the landscape carefully. American Chemical Society

3. Landscape • Existing approval program for bachelor’s degree programs • Fosters high-quality education • Prepares students for the workforce and graduate school • Benefits all students taking chemistry • Increasing interest in supporting two-year colleges • Improve student transfer • Attract diverse range of students • Increasing awareness of chemistry-based technology programs • Offer degrees • Have fairly uniform curriculum • Use skill standards American Chemical Society

4. Timeline 1991 – Chemical Technology Program Approval Service established 1993 – Voluntary Industry Standards developed 2000 – NSF-ATE grant received 2000 – Skill standards updated and put on-line with gap analysis tool 2004 – NSF-ATE supplement received 2004 – Critical Issues and Effective Practices Conference held and survey conducted 2006 – Skill standards expanded 2007 – Chemical Technology Program Approval Service reviewed 2009 – Program review process updated 2009 – Chemical Technology Program Approval Service ended American Chemical Society

5. Criteria for Approval • Partnership with local/regional industry, academia, workforce organizations, and community • Clear mission and goals • Adequate equipment, students, and support • Work opportunities for students and graduates • Growth opportunities for faculty • Strong assessment tools American Chemical Society

6. Benefits of ACS Approval Approved chemistry-based technology programs: • Improved industrial workforce development • Developed process of continuous improvement • Enhanced their credibility with financial sources, academic community, and students • Obtained national promotion • Became part of an instant network of chemistry-based technology programs • Coordinated efforts on specific topics In a 2008 survey, 100% of approved program coordinators • Planned on maintaining approval • Recommended ACS approval for qualified programs American Chemical Society

7. Benefits of ACS Approval ACS: • Was considered responsive to two-year college and industry needs • Increased involvement of volunteers • Developed relationships with coordinators of programs In a 2007 program review, concerns were raised • Low number of approved programs In 2009, the ACS Board of Directors reallocated funds • Terminated support for chemical technician education • Increased support for two-year college chemistry education American Chemical Society

8. Assessment Aspects that worked: • Self-evaluation process combined with 3rd party evaluation • Criteria that accommodated differences across industry • Simultaneous development of skill standards and customizable platform • Publication of directory of chemistry-based technology programs • Compilation and dissemination of effective practices Areas for improvement: • Time commitment required to apply for approval and renewal • Promotion of ACS approval • Interest of industry • Level of sustained commitment American Chemical Society

9. Lessons • Leverage the investments to establish the approval program with resources to maintain and grow it. • Focus continuously on increasing participation. • Articulate and demonstrate the benefits, to both the participating programs and the beneficiaries. • Consider the landscape carefully. American Chemical Society

10. Acknowledgements • Blake J. Aronson, ACS Senior Education Associate • NSF-Advanced Technological Education Program • Chemical Technology Program Approval Service Members • Jack T. Ballinger • Roger Bartholomew • Nathan Beach • Jan Berntson • John Clevenger • Richard Cobb • Edward Fisher • Donna Friedman • Onofrio Gaglione • Harry G. Hajian • Gary Hicks • Kirk Hunter • Glenn Johnson • Donald Jones • Bill Killian • Fritz Kryman • Robert J. Maleski • Craig Michael • Connie Murphy • Terri Quenzer • Scott Reed • Joan Sabourin • Jack Spille • Tamar Y. Susskind • Thomas Whitfield American Chemical Society

11. Acknowledgements ACS-Approved Chemistry-Based Technology Programs • Brazosport College (Lake Jackson, TX) • Community College of Rhode Island (Warwick, RI) • County College of Morris (Randolph, NJ) • Delaware Technical and Community College (Newark, DE) • Delta College (University Center, MI) • Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI) • Ivy Tech Community College (Lafayette, IN) • Lansing Community College (Lansing, MI) • Mesa College (San Diego, CA) • Miami University, Middletown (Middletown, OH) • National Technical Institute for the Deaf (Rochester, NY) • New York City College of Technology (Brooklyn, NY) • St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley (St. Louis, MO) • Southeast Community College (Lincoln, NE) • Texas State Technical College, Waco (Waco, TX) • University of Cincinnati, College of Applied Sciences (Cincinnati, OH) American Chemical Society