Current Program

Chemical Laboratory Technician (CLT) occupations are one of the fastest growing occupational categories in the University of California system. The chemical technician generally performs laboratory work in wide variety of biological and physical science settings such as water and air pollution testing, quality or grading studies of materials, and quality control of industrial chemicals. Training is provided in chemistry, physics and mathematics as well as instrumental and computerized analysis and quality control. Chemical technicians are employed in aerospace, medical, petroleum, electronics, environmental testing, food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical, hazardous waste and quality control of industrial chemicals. Most students enroll in Chemical Technology / Chemistry classes to obtain the A.S. degree, but some enroll to obtain a Certificate of Completion, for personal enrichment, or for retraining or upgrading of employment skills. Several factors have affected the program in recent years, including changes in technology, the increasing use of technology, facility needs, the college's budget condition, students' basic skill levels, and changes in the environment, the population and economic conditions.

Degrees and Certificates - An Associate in Science degree and a Certificate of Completion in Chemical Technology are offered.

Personnel - Two full-time faculty teach in the Chemical Technology / Chemistry program, with one part-time classified employee and four student workers also employed in the program.

Teaching Methodologies - Lecture/lab, lab and computerized instruction are the most widely used teaching methods in the department. Lecture, lecture/demonstration, self-paced learning and service based learning also are used.

Technology - No online courses are offered at this time.

Equipment - Several pieces of equipment need repair or replacement at this time, including computer printers, an atomic absorption (AA) instrument, a gas chromatograph/mass spec detector, pH meters and electrodes, and gas chromatographs for the high school program. There is an immediate and urgent need for gas cylinders and appropriate set-up, an additional fume hood for a classroom, appropriate instrument tables, a refrigerator for lab samples, computers and printers and a vacuum pump or vacuum system. It is essential that computers specifically designated for the program be kept current.

Facilities - "K" Building labs are adequate but could use refurbishing. At this time no large lecture rooms are available for the program, as all lecture is done in labs.

Future Program

The program will need to adapt to several changing conditions over the next ten years or so, including changes in technology, teaching methods and curriculum development, and changes in student academic preparation, college recruitment strategies and facilities. It is projected that in the mid term (five years) and long term (ten years), program enrollment will grow at the same rate as the overall college enrollment. See Program Projections.

Degrees and Certificates - No changes are planned in the degrees or certificates offered.

Personnel - See Projected Faculty and Staff Needs.

Teaching Methodologies - It is projected that more computerized instruction will be available for students, as well as distance education systems such as interactive video.

Technology - In the future, alternative delivery systems including online and interactive video will play a major part in the technology used to help students be successful. Certainly the lecture portions of classes may be delivered in new and exciting ways.

Equipment - Within five years there is a need to replace gas chromatographs and provide maintenance service agreements for those and other pieces of equipment and instrumentation. The program needs new ICPs, gas chromatographs, AA instruments and other equipment that will be needed to keep the program current with industry standards. More computers

are needed to accommodate new grant work that is currently being managed from an instructor's home computer.

Facilities - More lab space will be necessary as enrollment grows. Large lecture classrooms equipped as "electronic classrooms" will be needed as the program grows so that all lectures do not need to take place in labs. This would allow the use of the latest presentation software and teaching materials in the classroom. A larger office space to meet with students and counsel them is needed.

Staff Development - Instructors in the program need to return to work in the industry for short refresher breaks and to learn about new techniques and methods.