Academic Advising Resources of the TCNJ Department of Chemistry
The TCNJ Chemistry Department is dedicated to providing chemistry majors with the best possible academic advising. This advising takes two forms: prescriptive and developmental. The purpose of prescriptive advising is to provide accurate advice about what classes students must take and when they should take them so that our majors can graduate in a timely manner. But there is much more to an undergraduate education than passing a set of classes in the correct sequence. The purpose of developmental advising is to help students learn about themselves (i.e., their goals, values, and skills) and to enable students to know what they can do with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and how the classes they take and the activities they choose to engage in (e.g., participating in research, serving as a peer tutor, or participating in chemistry organizations) can enable students to develop the knowledge, skills, and characteristics they will need for success after graduation (i.e., admission to graduate school or entrance into the job market). The combination of these two types of advising is essential for the success of our students.
The Department provides its majors with many sources from which they can obtain academic advising. The following list describes these sources.
Orientation
- The Chemistry Department provides its entering students with an official orientation program prior to their first registration. This program takes the form of a thorough presentation on the department’s undergraduate program.
- Each new chemistry major who participates in orientation receives a copy of The TCNJ Chemistry Handbook. This contains detailed (mostly prescriptive advising) information on the department’s graduation requirements, degree options, courses, and faculty.
Advisors
- Each chemistry major is assigned an faculty academic advisor. Students must meet with their faculty advisor at least once per semester. During these on-on-one sessions, students are provided both prescriptive and developmental advising. Those students who are having difficulties in maintaining the department’s academic requirements will be required to participate in further discussions with both their faculty advisor and the chair, and to develop a performance improvement plan.
- The peer advisors serve as valuable sources of information because they have actually taken many of the classes students are considering. All incoming students are assigned a peer advisor.
- During the semester, the Department coordinates several social activities that provide students the opportunity to meet with their peer and faculty mentors.
Electronic Sources
- The Chemistry Listserv is an electronic bulletin board where the Department posts messages about upcoming events (speakers, social events, and club activities) and opportunities (research, jobs, and internships).
- The Chemistry Department’s website is the resource for advising-related information. It contains information about the department’s undergraduate programs such as course descriptions and syllabi, degree requirements, faculty research areas, and departmental news and events. It also includes links to other websites that contain information about professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society, and technical resources that are useful for chemistry majors.
- The Chemistry Department’s publishes a biannual Advising Newsletter. This publication describes information that is useful for course registration and planning.
Events
- The department sponsors Friday Happy Hours and various other social events. Peer and faculty advisors are available in an informal setting (including a dinner buffet) to advise students.
- Gamma Sigma Epsilon (GSE) and the Student Chemists Association (SCA) host several events each semester, including faculty research talks and career panel discussions.
- The department sponsors a seminar series that includes lunch opportunities for students with the seminar speakers. In this way, students are able to learn about internship, career and graduate school opportunities from a professional outside of the college.
Classes
- The Chemistry department provides 3 seminar courses, CHE 099 Orientation to Chemistry, CHE 316 Sophomore Seminar, and CHE 317 Junior Seminar. These courses provide formal activities and workshops related to prescriptive and development advising. The courses are taught by faculty, but also include talks from the TCNJ Career Center, the TCNJ Center for Global Engagement, and outside chemistry professionals.
Research
- Students who enroll in CHE 493 are assigned a faculty research advisor. The faculty advisor is responsible for training students in proper laboratory techniques, research laboratory safety, notebook and report writing, data analysis, project management, and experimental design. Students gain experience in working in teams and in presenting their work. The research advisor also functions as an additional faculty developmental advisor.