We are re-evaluating our lab class size. Historically, we have followed the ACS guidelines. Our General Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry courses hold no more than 25 students per lab and our Organic Chemistry for Science Majors class is generally below the 20 student limit.
Our GOB courses span two semesters. The first is general chemistry and the second is organic/biochemistry combined; both are for the allied health majors. The Office of Two Year Colleges advised the following:
?To the best of my knowledge, there are no specific recommendations for biochemistry labs (certainly not in the Guidelines). However, you are considering a hybrid lab. Because the student/educator ratio is a safety consideration in the laboratory, I would go with the more stringent recommendations for organic labs. In other words, treat the organic/biochemistry lab as an organic lab, and limit the number of students to 20.
True, this course is ?organic chemistry?, however, it is at the GOB level. Our courses are impacted so we hesitate to lower the class size. So, my question is, is the recommendation for organic chemistry for the allied health majors really as strict as the organic chemistry lab for science majors?
Thank you in advance for your information.
Mary Roslaniec, Ph. D.
Chemistry Professor
Modesto Junior College
Science, Math & Engineering
435 College Avenue
Modesto, CA 95350
209-575-6285
209-575-6216 fax
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