Abstract
Chemistry programs in 87 predominantly Black institutions were compared by questionnaire survey. Advanced undergraduate courses were offered for chemistry majors by 86% of these schools, but only 28% offered research and independent study for undergraduates. Although there were extremes, most of the faculty taught 15 to 18 contact hours and their median salaries were below the national median. Library support seemed adequate with 1 to 1.5% of the total library materials being chemistry books, texts and reference, and the libraries of most schools had holdings of 15 principal chemistry-related journals. More than 90% of the schools were well-equipped with laboratory instrumentation for the undergraduate program. One-third of the schools were recipients of current grants, but less than 50% of these grants were for research. At the time of the survey there was a median of 13 chemistry majors in the schools, but this has been increasing since. On the basis of 45% response from individual faculty members of these schools, all faculty members had post-baccalaureate degrees, with 2/3 holding the doctoral degree. Only about 2/3 of the respondents indicated professional activity via scientific meeting attendance and/or recent publication. Most respondents (92%) were members of the American Chemical Society, but membership in other professional societies was much less common. Responses by these faculty members indicated that up-to-date instructional methods were generally being used.
Recommended Citation
Wear, James O. and Shastri, Nirmal K.
(1974)
"Chemistry Departments in Predominantly Black Institutions,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 28, Article 27.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol28/iss1/27
