The mission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is to carry out and disseminate the results of research in fundamental and applied areas of chemistry, to provide excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels to a diverse student population, and to provide service to the campus, the community and society.
The mission of the department is fulfilled through the research, teaching and service activities of its faculty, staff and students. The department is committed to the pursuit of original research by faculty and research associates, and through the research training of graduate and undergraduate students. The department expects its faculty members to disseminate the results of research in peer-reviewed publications and at scientific meetings, and to secure external funding for the work. Teaching activities encompass the training of research students, in-depth education at the Ph.D. and M.S. levels, and undergraduate programs leading to the B.S. (following either a chemistry or biochemistry track) and B.A. degrees. The department provides for the needs of professional chemists by providing a non-thesis M.S. degree option, with courses taught entirely in the evenings, as well as providing regular evening offerings at the undergraduate level. The faculty and staff are active in professional activities at the local and national levels, including the holding of offices in a number of organizations, such as the American Chemical Society, and serving on editorial boards.
The department views diversity of all its members as a strength and as an enrichment for the scientific process. Diversity includes among others race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or place of origin. The department celebrates diversity through an inclusive and respectful environment, through supportive interactions with individuals, through recruitment and retention strategies and through outlining training opportunities and support material available on campus. The goal of these efforts is the well-being of all members of our community by providing a harassment-free environment and respecting and valuing diverse individual experiences.
November 2021