Most of our researchers are also active teachers, joined by a strong team of instructors and teaching assistants. Enrollments have grown 20-30% in the past decade, reflecting the large number of pre-professional students that we teach. In 2016-2017, we introduced a new format for General Chemistry Labs that includes a one third online component, enabling us to simultaneously enhance student learning and increase our capacity to 1,120 students per semester. Our faculty and students are supported by a team of dedicated research associates and staff.
We have a small number of postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, along with undergraduates, engaged in cutting-edge research. We take diversity seriously in all our endeavors but are particularly proud of being ranked number one in the US for percent female and percent underrepresented minority PhD graduates from 2005-9 (Laursen & Weston, J. Chem. Ed. 2014, 91, 1762-1776). In Fall 2017, slightly more than half our incoming graduate students are women and slightly more than 40% of the domestic students are from underrepresented minorities. Our international graduate students come from all over the world, including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Trinidad and Vietnam. Our graduates go on to a range of fulfilling careers, as our alumni spotlight page shows.
We have three very active student organizations based in our Department: the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS), the Chemistry Graduate Student Council (CGSC) and the National Organization for Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE).