| The American Chemical Society's Chemical/Environmental Laboratory Technology Program Approval Service (CTPAS) confers the American Chemical Society's approval on chemistry-based technology programs. The approval signifies to industry that a college's program has met quality standards similar to those of the most effective chemistry-based programs in the United States. Graduates of a CTPAS-approved program receive an official certificate indicating that they have completed an approved program. The benefits of CTPAS approval are numerous.
The Chemical/Environmental Laboratory Technology program at Texas State Technical College Waco is one of only six programs in the country, which meet these quality standards. Graduates of TSTC Waco have over 85 percent placement rates within Texas industry either before or shortly after graduation. Texas industries actively recruit the graduates of the program. The program was recently reaffirmed by the ACS and is rated as an exemplary program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Since 1991, CTPAS has been approving two-year Chemical/Environmental Laboratory Technology programs. The CTPAS process focuses on institutional self-evaluation and development. Most recently, the CTPAS guidelines for approval have been broadened to include all chemistry-based technology programs. CTPAS, as a subcommittee of the ACS Society Committee on Education, nurtures and approves Chemical/Environmental Laboratory Technology programs through a three-phase process consisting of
1) program review,
2) creation of a program development plan, and
3) implementation of the program development plan.
Successful completion of these three phases results in program approval and membership with other approved programs.
To assist colleges with program review, CTPAS has developed a document entitled "Guidelines for Development and Evaluation of Chemistry-Based Technician Programs."
The following list contains comments by current ACS/CTPAS approved programs.
- It provides a greater respect for the program on the part of employers and immediate understanding by future employers of graduates as to the preparation of the students.
- Increased employment opportunities for graduates and the promotion of program graduates to better jobs within the workplace.
- An improved understanding by colleges/universities for what the industry expects from their future potential employees.
- An opportunity for the college/university to assess their program to determine if their curriculum is effective and if their laboratories are compatible with industry standards.
- Provides an outside expert in the Chemical/Environmental Laboratory Technology area to evaluate the program.
- Helps enhanced respect for the program on the part of potential students, thus increasing enrollment.
- A strengthened sense of pride by the graduates in the education they have received.
- Greater respect for the program on the part of the college's accrediting agency.
- An improved awareness for all program faculty, of what other faculty are doing and of what the goals of the program are.
- Brings a clearer understanding by program faculty and administrators as to what constitutes a quality program.
- Helps increase satisfaction on the part of students, graduates, faculty, and administrators in the various roles that they play.
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