History of technicians and other applied chemical technology professionals in ACS

1. History of technicians and other applied chemical technology professionals in ACS Mary Moore 2012 Chair of CTA

2. Early Years An adhoc committee led by William G. Young was charged to explore all aspects of technician relationships to the ACS. “Semi-professional” was the name most used concerning technicians The Committee on Technician Activities (CTA) was established, the first CTA Chair was Dr. LeRoyClemence, the committee charge was to start relevant programming for technicians.

3. Early Years 1966-1969 A complementary committee was tasked to study technician curriculum “Committee on Technician Education” (CTE), chaired by Dr. Carleton Roberts

4. In 1972 Chemical Technicians Were predominantlymen

5. ACS Membership During the ‘70s, CTA led the charge to open ACS membership. There has always been a portion of Society membership who favors a narrow, elite membership policy. This group was at a crest in the early ‘70s. However, the Society was deeply chagrined when the Membership Committee turned down an application from a recent Nobel Laureate and became more responsive to the movement to open membership in the late ‘70s.

6. Committee on Technician Affairs (CTA) • Committee of Technician Activities was established in 1964 (later called Committee on Technician Affairs) • Purpose: established to advance the increasingly professional role of technicians in the workplace • Start relevant programming for technicians • Technicians were unable to be full ACS members • Encouraged Local sections to establish Technician Affiliate Groups (TAGs) so that technicians could become affiliate members • 1st Symposia held at the 1967 Fall ACS meeting in Chicago • Took over the CTE task around 1970

7. National Committee of Chemical Technician Affiliates (NCCTA) in 1969

8. CTAs’ Role Raise public awareness about the value of technicians to the Society Highlight the relevance of ACS to technicians Highlight the relevance of ACS to technicians

9. Division of Chemical Technicians (TECH)

10. Division of Chemical Technicians Enhance communications about applied chemical technology by providing a vehicle for information exchange at national, regional and local ACS level Support and be a resource for Local Section TAGs Administration of the ACS National Chemical Technician Award Main purpose was to program at ACS National meetings

11. History Concerning Technicians Since the 1960s, the role of technicians in ACS has changed considerably. Technicians have gone from not being members, to being Society Affiliates, associate members, and finally, full members. With the enactment of new membership categories in June 2009, more than two-thirds of technicians in the U.S. are eligible for full membership in ACS. As the role of technicians in ACS has changed, so too has the role of technicians in industry. No longer seen as just “pairs of hands,” technicians fill a wide range of positions in industry and are held to a higher level of professionalism than ever before.

12. Community Colleges, 1960 / 2001 American Association of Community Colleges Website

13. “Supporting the Backbone of the Chemical Enterprise” • With all of these changes came a growing concern that ACS was not adequately engaging the applied chemical technology professional. • In 2006, a CTA / TECH task force was assigned to investigate the growing concerns • In 2008, a TECH task force was formed by Chair of TECH to better address how ACS can better serve the Applied Chemical Technology Professionals

14. Anticipated Profile of the 2015 Applied Chemical Technology Profession • As reported from the ACS Applied Chemical Technology Professionals Summit, Dec12-14, 2008.

15. New Look and New Focus • Technicians/Applied Chemical Technology Professionals are well on their way to being integrated into the society • Members of the Division that is more in line with their discipline of interest • Divisions are planning technician and undergraduate events • CTA is working on continuing education courses for technicians • Applied Chemical Technology Professionals are involved in ACS Governance

16. As one of the critical members of the Chemical industry team, technicians bring valuable skills to the development of new products, new material, and process methods. The common thread through the whole technician community is the ability to reduce ideas and theory to practice. Technicians are the link between the theory and ideas and the practical production of finished goods.

17. 2010 Council approves CTA Charter Changes • Coordinate the SOCIETY’s interests in the development and activities of technicians/applied chemical technology professionals; • Facilitate communication between the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, employers, and other technical and professional societies concerning critical issues of common interest in the area of technician/applied chemical technology professionals activities; • Provide continuing support for the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY’s educational programs for technicians/applied chemical technology professionals by assisting in the development, review, and promotion of appropriate ACS education materials; • Enhance the professional image and development of technicians/applied chemical technology professionals.

18. Acknowledgements Ken Chapman John Engelman Michael Mautino Richard “Dick” Cobb