Belhaven University is a small liberal arts university located in Jackson, Mississippi with a student body reflecting the diversity of an urban city, with many non-traditional students, students with off-campus jobs, commuters, and student athletes. A major challenge our ACS student chapter faces is a lack of student participation due to our busy, modestly-sized student body. To combat this, we have modified how our chapter operates. We have changed event structure by replacing chapter meetings with events, such as speaker presentations, workshops, and community-building functions. We have also abolished membership fees, as this opens up events to any student who wants to be involved, rather than creating an atmosphere of exclusivity. Another change that we have implemented this year is partnering with other student organizations for larger events, as this encourages attendance from a variety of majors and backgrounds. Increased communication and social media presence has also bolstered awareness of our ACS student chapter activities. Our changes have resulted in a rise in student involvement and a greater feeling of community within the chemistry department, as well as within the student body as a whole.

Overcoming the challenges of ACS student chapter event participation in a diverse liberal arts setting

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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