Scott Handy

shandy@mtsu.edu

Earl Pearson

Chemistry

Discipline specific equipment

Davis Science Building

N/A

N/A

The Chemistry Department serves over 5800 students each semester - both majors as well as pre-health students and those from other disciplines. An integral part of this education is the use of labs. Within these labs, the use of fume hoods is absolutely critical to safely handle many of the chemicals that are used. Nearly three years ago, roughly half (16 out of 35) of the fume hoods in the Davis Science Building were sealed shut as they did not function. This has created a situation in which we cannot offer certain classes and cannot conduct research (which is a critical part of a quality undergraduate and graduate education in Chemistry). Further, it has placed our accreditation with the American Chemical Society in jeopardy and we could become the first TBR institution to not be accredited. As the scope of this project is too large for one TAF proposal cycle, for this proposal, we are seeking the replacement of 6 fume hoods in the Biochemistry and Instrumental Analysis areas. This would impact roughly 500 students (undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D.) each year in a variety of classes and majors (including every pre-health student). Courses include CHEM 4230 Instrumental Analysis, CHEM 4500 and 4510 Biochemistry I and II, CHEM 3530 Principles of Biochemistry, CHEM 4550 Biochemical Techniques, Elementary Organic, as well as graduate and undergraduate research courses.