Lubbock Christian University (LCU) hosted its 12th annual CHEMTeach Academy, a resource for area chemistry teachers, in the Ling Science Center.
Professor Jessica Rogers, Assistant Professor of Chemistry in LCU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been a champion of the initiative for years.
“High school chemistry teachers do a difficult job in a tough situation, so we want to provide them with as many resources as we can. I was a high school chemistry teacher,” she added, “and because of that, I'm super passionate about giving them resources.”
Each year, the LCU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry welcome area chemistry teachers to the Ling Science Center, offering them practical tools and exercises they can take back to their own classrooms. The event also brings networking opportunities with peers and LCU faculty. This year, dozens of area teachers attended the event.
“Every chemistry professor gets involved,” added Dr. Rogers. “Dr. Byron Rogers, Dr. McGilton, Dr. Whitefield, and Anna Patty were all a part, and Dr. Marshall has helped every single year—it’s always a team effort.”
The professors who host this event for high school educators are the same professors who actually teach LCU students who are preparing to become veterinarians, doctors, dentists, and physical/occupational therapists. 72% of LCU students who apply to vet school are accepted—that’s nearly seven times the national average. For dental school, the number is 65%—more than 23% above the national average. LCU graduates’ acceptance into physical therapy school is 89%—46% above the national average; for occupational therapy school, the admittance rate is nearly perfect at 97% (120% above the national average). And for physician assistant school, LCU’s acceptance rate of 88% is nearly triple the national average. These successful LCU graduates were mentored by the professors leading the CHEMTeach Academy.
Dr. Daniel Whitefield, in his first semester as Assistant Professor of Laboratory Sciences, was able to share the chemistry doctoral research that he and several other Ph.D. students worked on, and he certainly felt the impact of CHEMTeach.
“It benefits everyone,” he shared. “LCU gets to say, ‘This is what we’re doing, this is who we are,’ and we share resources and give them new ideas about how to present material and help them get their own continuing education hours.”
Learn more about LCU’s Chemistry and Biochemistry programs.