Providing Opportunities Providing Opportunities for Scholarship and for Scholarship and ResearchResearch Contribution to the Carnegie Contribution to the Carnegie

Initiative on the Doctorate (CID)Initiative on the Doctorate (CID)

Department of ChemistryDepartment of Chemistry

Howard UniversityHoward University

Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

Carnegie Initiatives on the Carnegie Initiatives on the Doctorates (CID): Partial List of Doctorates (CID): Partial List of Partner DepartmentsPartner Departments

Duke UniversityDuke University

Howard UniversityHoward University

The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

University of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of Colorado at Boulder

University of Michigan, Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor

University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin

University of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Department of Chemistry,Department of Chemistry,Howard University (CID Leadership Howard University (CID Leadership Team)Team)

Jesse M. NicholsonJesse M. Nicholson

Paul F. HudrlikPaul F. Hudrlik

Folahan O. AyorindeFolahan O. Ayorinde

D. RaghavanD. Raghavan

Yilma GultnehYilma Gultneh

Charles HostenCharles Hosten

Vernon MorrisVernon Morris

John HarklessJohn Harkless

Josh HalpernJosh Halpern

Robert RosenbergRobert Rosenberg

Helen deClercqHelen deClercq

Jason MatthewsJason Matthews

Oladapo BakareOladapo Bakare

Galina G. TalanovaGalina G. Talanova

Nicole JohnNicole John

Ainsley GibsonAinsley Gibson

Olamide OnakoyaOlamide Onakoya

Ramsey SmithRamsey Smith

Major Programmatic Major Programmatic InitiativesInitiatives

Flexible Curriculum Flexible Curriculum Early transition to research enterpriseEarly transition to research enterpriseStudent-specific curriculumStudent-specific curriculumOpportunity for interdisciplinarity.Opportunity for interdisciplinarity.

Early Assessment of Commitment and Early Assessment of Commitment and Competency (Quality Control)Competency (Quality Control)

Summer Workshop for incoming graduate Summer Workshop for incoming graduate studentsstudentsPlacement ExaminationsPlacement ExaminationsSpecial Courses to Enhance Preparedness for Special Courses to Enhance Preparedness for Graduate StudiesGraduate Studies

Integration of Professional Development into Integration of Professional Development into CurriculumCurriculum

Mission StatementMission Statement

The Department of Chemistry at Howard University has The Department of Chemistry at Howard University has a deep historical commitment to the training of African a deep historical commitment to the training of African Americans and others of African descent. However, we Americans and others of African descent. However, we actively recruit and train talented students from all actively recruit and train talented students from all communities, on both the undergraduate and graduate communities, on both the undergraduate and graduate level. The Department fully dedicates itself to level. The Department fully dedicates itself to developing confident scholars through research, developing confident scholars through research, mentoring, professional development, and networking mentoring, professional development, and networking in order for them to excel in the global community. At in order for them to excel in the global community. At the graduate level, we seek out promising students the graduate level, we seek out promising students who can benefit from the Howard University who can benefit from the Howard University experience by providing training in funded, and experience by providing training in funded, and nationally competitive research projects that will nationally competitive research projects that will prepare them for leadership roles in industrial, prepare them for leadership roles in industrial, government, or university careers.government, or university careers.

Goals of the DepartmentGoals of the Department

To build upon a national recognition as a leading To build upon a national recognition as a leading graduate chemistry program as perceived by peer graduate chemistry program as perceived by peer institutions, the National Research Council , the institutions, the National Research Council , the American Chemical Society, and other relevant American Chemical Society, and other relevant professional organizations.professional organizations.

To develop students who can demonstrate excellent To develop students who can demonstrate excellent theoretical knowledge, think critically, as well as theoretical knowledge, think critically, as well as communicate basic chemistry knowledge and communicate basic chemistry knowledge and research findings to scientists and students through research findings to scientists and students through oral presentations, lectures, peer-reviewed oral presentations, lectures, peer-reviewed publications, communicate effectively, and supervise publications, communicate effectively, and supervise undergraduate and graduate research projects.undergraduate and graduate research projects.

Broad ObjectivesBroad Objectives

To maintain and build upon the role of the To maintain and build upon the role of the Department as a leading provider of Department as a leading provider of doctorate education to students of African doctorate education to students of African descent and other groups that are descent and other groups that are underrepresented in the chemical profession. underrepresented in the chemical profession.

Increase graduate student enrollment by 100 percent over a 5-year periodIncrease Howard’s contribution of the nation’s annual production of African American Ph.D.s from its current 10% to about 15% in a 5-year period (this would depend on the national average production remaining constant)

Broad Objectives, cont.Broad Objectives, cont.

To educate and develop students who are To educate and develop students who are capable of future leadership roles as capable of future leadership roles as demonstrated by their ability to formulate demonstrated by their ability to formulate new ideas, expand on existing ideas, as new ideas, expand on existing ideas, as well as having the capacity to propagate well as having the capacity to propagate the vigor and intellectual integrity of the the vigor and intellectual integrity of the chemistry profession and related fieldschemistry profession and related fields ((Developing future Stewards of the Developing future Stewards of the ProfessionProfession).).

Increase the annual production of African American doctorates to 7 by 2010

Broad Objectives, cont.Broad Objectives, cont.

To provide significant opportunities in To provide significant opportunities in graduate education to those students graduate education to those students whose level of preparation may not reflect whose level of preparation may not reflect their true potential.their true potential.

To develop an environment that will foster To develop an environment that will foster scientific integrity, and promote collegial scientific integrity, and promote collegial atmosphere that enables open exchange atmosphere that enables open exchange of intellectual ideas, and good work ethics.of intellectual ideas, and good work ethics.

Following Slides provide Following Slides provide some of the some of the programmatic changesprogrammatic changes

Establishing Core CompetencyEstablishing Core Competency

Introduction of Standardized Introduction of Standardized Placement Examinations in Placement Examinations in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry.Physical Chemistry.

Use ACS exams as placement exams Use ACS exams as placement exams for in-coming graduate students. for in-coming graduate students. Students must pass all 4 exams to Students must pass all 4 exams to demonstrate competency of demonstrate competency of undergraduate material.undergraduate material.

Early assessment (quality control) Early assessment (quality control) of students’ commitment and of students’ commitment and competencycompetency

Failure in any ACS sub-discipline examFailure in any ACS sub-discipline examSpecial graduate courses will be offered to Special graduate courses will be offered to enhance preparedness for graduate studies enhance preparedness for graduate studies in the sub-disciplinein the sub-discipline

Students must pass the ACS exam at the Students must pass the ACS exam at the end of the 1end of the 1stst Semester Semester

Failure to pass ACS exams in the 4 sub-Failure to pass ACS exams in the 4 sub-disciplines at the end of first semesterdisciplines at the end of first semester

Student would be placed in the Master’s ProgramStudent would be placed in the Master’s Program

Flexible and Student-Flexible and Student-specific Curriculumspecific Curriculum

After passing all ACS examsAfter passing all ACS exams15 Hours of Required Advance 15 Hours of Required Advance Chemistry CoursesChemistry Courses

Choice of Interdisciplinary CoursesChoice of Interdisciplinary CoursesBiochemistryBiochemistry

Pharmaceutical SciencesPharmaceutical Sciences

BiologyBiology

Teaching and CommunicationTeaching and Communication

Early Transition to Early Transition to ResearchResearch

Student to join research group end Student to join research group end of 2of 2ndnd Semester Semester

Selection of Advisory Committee Selection of Advisory Committee end of 2end of 2ndnd Semester Semester

Encouraging Group Mentoring Encouraging Group Mentoring through an Advisory Committeethrough an Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee An Advisory Committee consisting of a Research Advisor consisting of a Research Advisor and 2 other faculty, at least one and 2 other faculty, at least one must be from a different sub-must be from a different sub-disciplinediscipline

The Advisory Committee will be The Advisory Committee will be included in the Dissertation included in the Dissertation CommitteeCommittee

Developing Oral Developing Oral Presentation SkillsPresentation Skills

Student to give an “Original Idea” Student to give an “Original Idea” Presentation to the Advisory Committee Presentation to the Advisory Committee in the 3in the 3rdrd Semester. This shall be on a Semester. This shall be on a topic other than the students’ research topic other than the students’ research

Student to give a defense of thesis Student to give a defense of thesis proposal to the Advisory Committee.proposal to the Advisory Committee.

Thesis proposal to be written in form of a Thesis proposal to be written in form of a grant application, which could be used grant application, which could be used as a basis for the application for as a basis for the application for candidacy.candidacy.

Encouraging greater participation Encouraging greater participation in Friday’s Seminar Seriesin Friday’s Seminar Series

Replacement of Comprehensive Replacement of Comprehensive Exams with Cumulative ExamsExams with Cumulative Exams

The cumulative exams will be based The cumulative exams will be based on suggested literature topics and/or on suggested literature topics and/or topics from departmental seminars.topics from departmental seminars.

Brown-bag, Coffee, Snacks get-Brown-bag, Coffee, Snacks get-together prior to seminar to foster together prior to seminar to foster collegial interaction between students collegial interaction between students and facultyand faculty

Developing Oral Developing Oral Presentation SkillsPresentation Skills

Workshop on business Workshop on business presentation to be sponsored and presentation to be sponsored and offered by an Industry Partner offered by an Industry Partner (Monsanto, Colgate-Palmolive (Monsanto, Colgate-Palmolive were past sponsors)were past sponsors)

Oral Presentation SkillsOral Presentation Skills

Resume PreparationResume Preparation

Interview SkillsInterview Skills

Professional Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

Each student must enroll in a Each student must enroll in a Professional Development Course that Professional Development Course that includes workshops inincludes workshops in

Responsible Conduct of ResearchResponsible Conduct of Research

Ethical Case StudiesEthical Case Studies

Oral Presentation SkillsOral Presentation Skills

Library ResourcesLibrary Resources

Writing ProposalsWriting Proposals

Writing ManuscriptsWriting Manuscripts

Preparing Future FacultyPreparing Future Faculty

Students will be encouraged to Students will be encouraged to enroll in Howard’s Preparing enroll in Howard’s Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) ProgramFuture Faculty (PFF) Program

Teaching and Learning as a Scholarly Teaching and Learning as a Scholarly Activity (GPFF 403)Activity (GPFF 403)

A series of Lectures and Activities A series of Lectures and Activities focusing on the Pedagogies of Teaching focusing on the Pedagogies of Teaching and Learning and Learning

Academic Enhancement Academic Enhancement to Enable Early Quality to Enable Early Quality ControlControl

Summer Academic Enhancement Summer Academic Enhancement Workshop for In-coming Graduate Workshop for In-coming Graduate StudentsStudents

4 weeks of Academic Enhancement 4 weeks of Academic Enhancement in the Core Chemistry Sub-in the Core Chemistry Sub-disciplinesdisciplines

Preparation for the Placement Preparation for the Placement ExamsExams

RectruitingRectruiting

Pro-active Recruiting in Collaboration Pro-active Recruiting in Collaboration with the Alliance for Graduate Education with the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP)and the Professoriate (AGEP)

The goal is to increase the graduate student The goal is to increase the graduate student enrollment from the current 34 to 60 over a enrollment from the current 34 to 60 over a 5-year period, and consistently produce over 5-year period, and consistently produce over 5 African American Doctorates per year5 African American Doctorates per year

On-Campus Visitation by Prospective StudentsOn-Campus Visitation by Prospective Students

Campus Visitation by Chemistry Faculty and Campus Visitation by Chemistry Faculty and StudentsStudents

Significant transitions to be Significant transitions to be completed in 2 yearscompleted in 2 years

Completion of Completion of placement examsplacement exams

Affirmation of basic Affirmation of basic knowledgeknowledge

Completion of required Completion of required coursescourses

Broad and basic Broad and basic knowledgeknowledge

Completion of Completion of cumulative examscumulative exams

Exposure to current Exposure to current research literatureresearch literature

Presentation of Original Presentation of Original IdeaIdea

Demonstrate ability to Demonstrate ability to formulate new ideasformulate new ideas

Research Experience Research Experience Beyond the Beyond the “technician” stage“technician” stage

Oral defense of Research Oral defense of Research ProposalProposal

Depth in knowledge Depth in knowledge basebaseContribution to Contribution to knowledge baseknowledge base

Application for Ph.D. Application for Ph.D. CandidacyCandidacy

Professional developmentProfessional development