MAALACT is a professional association of chemistry teachers from the independent liberal arts colleges of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, the southern regions of New York State, and the District of Columbia. Its purposes are to facilitate the exchange of ideas, enhance professional development, and promote the interests of small college chemistry programs.

MAALACT serves its members in two principal ways.

1. The Annual Meeting:

Since its founding in 1967, MAALACT has annually held a low-cost meeting carefully structured to maximize benefits for the liberal arts chemistry teacher. The meeting, usually scheduled in October or early November, begins on a Friday afternoon and runs through early Saturday afternoon; this format minimizes disruption of academic and personal schedules and is well situated in the school calendar. Friday afternoon is devoted to discussion groups focusing on practical concerns; resource persons are brought in when available. A social hour and dinner on Friday evening are followed by a principal speaker The discussion groups continue on Saturday and a General Meeting is held to conduct the business of the Association. Several short courses, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and Liquid Chromatography, have been offered as part of the annual meeting. A display of audio-visual materials is usually available during the two days.

The size and format of the meeting facilitate professional and personal exchanges that are timely and practical. The nature of the membership assures that there is a common base of experience and style of committment - liberal arts undergraduate teaching.

2. Professional Representation:

Throughout the year MAALACT officers represent the interests of the membership to the American Chemical Society, Chemical Abstracts Service, governmental agencies, and other institutions,groups, and individuals as deemed appropriate. These activities are designed to give a voice to the concerns of the liberal arts segment of the chemical profession and to ensure that these concerns are not overlooked.

Governance:

MAALACT operates under a constitution and by-laws. Officers are elected annually at the General Meeting. The Executive Council, consisting of these officers and representatives elected by members in each district, has the responsibility for planning the annual meeting and representing the interests of the membership.

Membership:

Active membership in the association is open to teachers of chemistry in the independent liberal arts colleges (i.e., schools which are not tax-supported and offer only undergraduate degrees in chemistry) of the East Central region of the United States. Membership is open to others who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Executive Council their interest in chemistry teaching and the purposes of the association.

If you would like to become a part of MAALACT contact:

Jason K. Vohs, Ph.D.
Saint Vincent College
Department of Chemistry
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
jason.vohs@stvincent.edu.