Mission Statement

The Section of Teachers of Chemistry exists to represent pharmacy educators in the development and implementation of programs and policies which facilitate the provision of a sound chemical foundation in professional and graduate curricula. Effective communication networks within the section, as well as between sections, are the basis for free exchange of information on teaching and research activities, and provide a forum for the establishment of collaborative professional relationships. The section has established the following primary goals:

• Develop, distribute and facilitate the implementation of contemporary chemistry-related competencies (educational outcomes) that are expected of all graduates of colleges or schools of pharmacy.
  
• As the drug experts of the healthcare team, pharmacists are expected to possess a thorough understanding of drug action and behavior in biological and pharmaceutical systems. Since drugs and the macromolecules with which they interact are chemicals, it follows that a sound foundation in chemistry is paramount to a true understanding of drug action at the molecular level, drug stability and effective drug product formulation. This extensive knowledge of drug and biological chemistry sets pharmacists apart from all other members of the healthcare team; it is critical to their ability to predict and monitor the activity of therapeutic entities and control therapeutic outcomes. The amount of required chemistry-related coursework varies significantly from program to program. A core nucleus of chemistry-related competencies must be identified so that colleges and schools of pharmacy can ensure that their curricula provide graduates with the chemical knowledge base necessary for the contemporary provision of pharmaceutical care.
  
• Establish effective communication networks within the Chemistry Section and between academic sections of AACP.
  
• Effective communication is essential to the vitality of any group or organization. To achieve the greatest benefit, educational strategies used by members and research generated by individuals within the section must be shared with others through formal and informal networks. Section members can more efficiently accomplish their professional and institutional objectives if they work together and learn from the experiences of one another. In addition to working effectively with each other, chemists must interact harmoniously with colleagues from other disciplines to achieve their educational and research missions. Harmonious interaction requires interdisciplinary understanding and respect, which in turn, requires effective communication between faculty members in the various academic sections.
  
• Promote excellence in teaching as a critical component of pharmacy faculty responsibility. Pharmaceutical and clinical scientists often elect employment in academia because of an interest in, and commitment to, instructing professional and/or graduate students. There has recently been an increased demand by student pharmacists, parents, legislators and university administrators for greater accountability in teaching activities. However, faculty members have expressed concern that the promotion/tenure and merit pay increase processes at many institutions do not place as much value on excellence in teaching as they do on excellence in research and scholarship, even though a significant amount of time and effort must be expended by faculty members to do a competent job in teaching. There is also concern that young faculty members who perceive that the rewards for successful research will dramatically outweigh those for effective teaching will neglect to develop effective pedagogical skills. Barriers that impede the development, implementation and sharing of innovative teaching techniques must be eliminated so that faculty members may be maximally productive, professionally satisfied and appropriately rewarded when carrying out their academic responsibilities.
  
• Implement programs that assist members in cultivating the skills and attitudes in students that promote problem solving and critical thinking capabilities, intellectual independence, the ability to interact effectively with others and the desire to be lifelong learners.
  
• Both professional and graduate students must be efficient problem solvers to be successful in their chosen careers. Science and practice-oriented graduates of pharmacy and advanced-degree programs will be expected to think critically about complex pharmaceutical issues, work effectively in teams to solve scientific and therapeutic problems, be familiar with the resources available to assist in problem solving and sufficiently motivated to utilize those resources independently. A persistent desire for knowledge will be essential to competence, as rapid advances in basic and applied science will continue to date current knowledge.
  
• Investigate mechanisms to encourage and facilitate the enrollment of pharmacy educated students in Ph.D. programs in the pharmaceutical sciences.
  
• The number of pharmacy graduates electing to pursue graduate study in the pharmaceutical sciences has declined over the past several years. Pharmaceutical scientists with pharmacy backgrounds are desirable as pharmacy faculty members since they understand the educational needs of professional students, and have the academic credentials to be both professional and scientific role models. Forced to compete with other potential employers for a dwindling number of Ph.D. graduates, not all of whom are pharmacy educated, academic pharmacy is facing an imminent manpower crisis. It has been proposed that the national move to a six-year Pharm.D. curriculum will discourage basic science-minded students from pursuing the time-intensive Ph.D. degree unless flexibility in the professional program structure is maintained.
  
• Implement membership initiatives that will provide the section with the critical mass required to be effective in accomplishing its strategic goals and objectives.

The Section of Teachers of Chemistry is among the smaller academic sections of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. There are pharmacy faculty classified as medicinal, pharmaceutical or natural products chemists who are not currently members of the Association. The section needs the support of as many chemistry faculty as possible to most efficiently accomplish the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan, and to have maximum impact on Association programs, policies and activities.

Standing Rules and Procedures