Information

Division Descriptions



Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA)
Division Descriptions

Anthropology-Sociology
Typical Annual Budget - $150

This group usually meets only at the October annual meeting and informally at the spring student symposium. Annual funding is rarely used.  The section hopes to share research data among member colleges to attempt to stimulate student research. Through the efforts of Frank Steinhart of North Park College, the section has operated its own listserv with links to each member institution.  Frank Steinhart of North Park University is the 2006-07 coordinator.

Biology
Typical Budget - $4580

The biology section has historically organized fall and spring seminars (held for 10 weeks/semester), and conducted a cooperative botany program with Morton Arboretum and a marine biology program with the Shedd Aquarium. Their major expenses have been the honoraria for each of the 20 seminar speakers. Present seminars are: F05 - Biology of Sex; S06 - Topics in Cell Biology, F06 - Human Ecology. The biologists hold their fall meeting at the Annual Dinner, meet in December at one of the member institutions, and meet in spring after the student symposium.  In the fall of 2005, the biologists were graciously invited to a very successful dinner meeting at the Shedd Aquarium.  Some years the division sponsors special workshops or other events for biology faculty from the colleges.  Clay Runck of Benedictine University is the coordinator for 2006-07.

Business/Economics - This division is inactive.

Chemistry
Typical Budget - $3150

The chemistry section distributes a questionnaire prior to the October dinner to explore spring workshop topics of greatest interest, then selects a specific topic at the dinner. They have also planned a weekly fall course, for which graduate credit is available through Olivet Nazarene University. The fall 2005 course covered Food Science.  The fall 2006 seminar is Forensic Chemistry.   The fall ACCA dinner meeting serves chemistry for its first semester meeting. A spring semester meeting is also held.  The section has often organized a spring workshop for all ACCA chemistry faculty.  The 2006-07 coordinator is Tim Marin of Benedictine University.  Salim Diab, St. Francis University,  has developed a web page for the chemistry section: http://www.stfrancis.edu/ns/diab/acca/acca.htm

Computer Science
Typical Budget - $2650.

The computer science section organizes a series of 10 seminars each year.  The section meets at the Annual Dinner meeting in fall and holds an "annual faculty pizza supper" each winter.  They also hold a programming contest each spring, with lunch, awards, and refreshments. The contest is on February 25, 2006, at Olivet Nazarene University.  John Hayward, Wheaton, has set up a ListServ for ACCA CIS faculty - acca-cs@wheaton.edu.  The coordinator for 2006-07 is Ronald Hansum from Trinity Christian College.

Mathematics
Typical Budget - $2300

In addition to an organizational meeting at the fall ACCA dinner, the mathematics section organizes two divisional workshops per year. Two lectures are presented at each workshop, with a dinner meeting between the lectures.  Mathematics has held a calculus contest in the past. The division changes chairs mid-year.  Margaret Juraco of Lewis University  is the chair until mid-year (2006-07), when a newly elected chair will take over.

Physics
Typical Budget - $400

The physics section meets at the annual fall ACCA dinner and plans occasional seminars for faculty. Physics has occasionally combined with mathematics for workshops and recommends that such collaborations continue in the future, including sharing of upper-division course scheduling. William R. Wharton of Wheaton is the 2006-07 coordinator.

Psychology
Typical Budget - $1075

Psychology develops an informal series of symposia each year, based on member interest.  The section meets at the annual fall ACCA dinner and holds a section meeting each fall at a member school.  Psychology usually holds a graduate fair each fall to educate seniors.  The 2006-07 coordinator is Derrick Hassert of Trinity Christian College..