Mission Statement of the Department of Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry fosters the development of chemical literacy, intellectual curiosity and laboratory skills so that its students will apply chemical science in a morally responsible way to understand the natural world.

Vision
Believing in the fundamental compatibility of faith and reason, the Department of Chemistry is committed to the overall goals of the mission of the University of St. Thomas.  The Department is particularly committed to the development of students within the framework of the liberal arts to which the science of chemistry belongs.  We believe that chemistry is central to understanding the natural world and is a vital component of an education in the liberal arts.  The Department strives for excellence in teaching the chemical sciences in both the classroom and laboratory.  We intend to promote literacy and intellectual curiosity in science and to make connections with other disciplines in science, engineering and mathematics.  

Priorities
We strive to educate all of our students in the honest application of observation and reason in understanding natural phenomena.  For majors in chemistry, the Department fosters independent inquiry in science and development of the skills needed to practice science at a high level of competence.  We extend the pursuit of knowledge to that of new discovery through research experiences for our undergraduates.  Towards this end we are committed to providing our students with access to state of the art instrumentation in our advanced level laboratory courses and our research laboratories.  Our goal is to prepare our students for further professional development regardless of their chosen career path.
 
Interdisciplinary learning
The Department of Chemistry promotes connections between chemistry and the other sciences and mathematics.  The inter-related nature of the disciplines is apparent in the teaching of principles in the classroom, in presentations in our seminar program and through investigations in our laboratories.  We welcome opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and other fields in teaching as well as research.

Moral responsibility
The Department of Chemistry fosters in its students the values and sensibilities necessary to be morally responsible scientists and members of their communities.  Such values include personal integrity, thorough and honest consideration and communication of data, careful and safe handling of potentially hazardous materials, respect and concern for co-workers, a concern for the environment, thoughtful consideration of how one’s actions might affect others, and an interest in applying one’s special talents and knowledge appropriately for the common good.

Scholarly endeavors
The Department of Chemistry enriches the intellectual and creative life of the University community through the scholarship of its faculty and students.  Both faculty and students engage in a study of the scientific literature and laboratory experimentation. The purpose of our research is both education and discovery. This research includes investigations of chemical reactions, structure, or material composition, the synthesis and characterization of new materials, the development of new methods of measurement, and new ways of teaching science.