At the Executive Committee meeting on June 19, 2009, six new chapters were approved. We welcome the following new chapters to the Beta Beta Beta Biological Society.
California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University is located in the city of Thousand Oaks, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. It is a private University offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Biology Department, under the College of Arts and Sciences, is one of 27 departments, with approximately 125 majors. The department offers a wide range of courses from virology, biochemistry and vertebrate physiology, to marine biology and ecology. Emphasis is placed on doing, rather than passive listening, involving observation, interpretation, experimentation, and analysis. Students majoring in biology will be involved directly with the scientific process in the laboratory and in the field. Through their work, they will understand how new ideas are generated and how new knowledge is gained. Research projects range from physiological and ecological in the first semester to those involving molecular biology and biochemistry in the second semester. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills in scientific writing, understanding experimental design, and incorporating the proper use of statistical methods.
Clayton State University
Clayton State University was established in 1969 as a junior college, Clayton College. Currently, it is a four-year university and offers four master's degrees. It was one of the first “Notebook Universities,” whereby students are required to have a notebook computer and are provided with the necessary support for that requirement. Clayton State University is part of the University of Georgia System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Biology is part of the Natural Science Department, which also includes chemistry and physics. The biology major was first established at Clayton State in Fall 2000. The number of biology majors has grown rapidly, and the department is currently graduating about 50 students a year. The biology curriculum has emphasis areas in biomedical applications, pre-veterinary medicine, forensic science, and environmental science. In addition, Clayton State has emphasis areas that provide preparation for graduate school, physical therapy, and physician assistant programs. One of the aspects of the curriculum is the requirement for experiential learning. Four different experiential learning experiences are currently offered. The university also offers off-campus and on-campus internships, introductory research, and biology research practicum. Through these opportunities, many students have gone on to present their findings at academic conferences and meetings.
Morehead State University
Morehead State University was founded in 1887 under the name Morehead Normal School. The current mission of the university is “academic excellence, research, community engagement and life-long learning” with an emphasis on “preserving the unique cultural heritage of East Kentucky”. The College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The College of Science and Technology at Morehead State has recently finished construction of a 2300 sq. ft. molecular biology research facility. The facility houses a dedicated cell culture room with four incubators and two laminar flow hoods and a microscopy room containing an inverted fluorescent microscope. Bench space is dedicated to various applications such as Western analysis, Southern analysis, PCR, DNA sequencing, and real-time PCR. This core facility will be utilized by undergraduate fellows as well as graduate students within the college and will benefit approximately 20 students per semester. The department has 16 total faculty, with 15 holding a Ph.D. and 10 with greater than 10 service years. Morehead State University has also recently implemented an Undergraduate Research Fellow program in which undergraduates receive mentorship in a laboratory under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
University of La Verne
The University of La Verne, in La Verne, California, was established in 1891. The University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and includes a variety of regional and satellite campuses across California. The Biology department focuses on general studies. The department offers a wide range of courses which prepares for upper division classes. This department focuses on laboratory and research experience. Professors are attentive to students' needs for class and specific passions that relate to professors' field of expertise. The mission of the department is to provide a biological foundation in theory, applications, and values that will enhance the quality of life and ensure the opportunities that will fulfill our student's professional aspirations. The Biology department strives to contribute to this mission through teaching, research, and action. The Biology department strongly encourages faculty and student research, as well as educational breadth and hands-on training with the offering of laboratory and field experiences of optimal quality. The University of La Verne believes in four core emphases that affirm a positive and rewarding life for its students: a values orientation, community and diversity, lifelong learning, and community service.
Utah State University
Since its founding in 1888, Utah State University has evolved from a small, agricultural college to one that is nationally and internationally recognized for its intellectual and technological leadership in land, water, space, and life enhancement. Student-centered, hands-on learning opportunities are plentiful as Utah State attracted more than $186 million in research revenue last year. These research dollars, along with stellar faculty mentors, have inspired more than 1,000 students to pursue their own research projects every year.
The Department of Biology is the largest department in the College of Science and one of the largest on campus. With over 800 undergraduate students, almost 70 graduate students, and over 40 faculty, the Department offers abundant undergraduate research opportunities and an excellent prehealth professions program. The Department offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Master of Science (M.A. S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology; B.S. and B.A. in Composite Teaching Biological Science, B.S. in Public Health; M.S. and Ph.D. in Ecology; M.S. and Ph.D. in Toxicology is available through the Interdepartmental Program in Toxicology. Undergraduate emphases include Biology, Cellular/Molecular, Ecology/Biodiversity, Environmental, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health, and Public Health Education.
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a highly ranked national institution with strong liberal arts, science, business, journalism, and law programs. Located in Lexington, Virginia and founded in 1749, W&L is the nation's ninth oldest institution of higher learning. Interdisciplinary courses are common at W&L and employ the latest technology and research techniques to create a rich and varied curriculum unmatched by other institutions of its size.
The Biology Department offers the B.A. and the B.S. degrees. Forty-one of the junior and senior majors are working toward the B.S. The department has its own chair, and there are eleven biology faculty members who hold the Ph.D. and one faculty member who holds the M.S. There is space for research, and many students are already active in research projects. The biology building has recently been enlarged and houses a three-floor biology library.
