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ChemScholars Program

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce the establishment of the ChemScholars Program. This new program is designed to identify talented undergraduates interested in pursuing a degree in Chemistry early in their academic careers and providing them with an enhanced educational experience.

The program will include individualized advising by a member of the Chemistry faculty, undergraduate research/teaching experiences, and a Freshman/Sophomore seminar. The centerpiece of this program is a scholarship providing $500 per year for up to four years to exceptional freshmen.As a member of the ChemScholars program, you will be paired with a faculty mentor when enrolling as a freshman at KU. This mentor will provide advice for academic decisions, including course enrollment, during your first semester at KU.

During your first semester, you will have the opportunity to meet all of the faculty in the Department of Chemistry and to choose an academic mentor to advise you for the rest of your time at KU. In addition, you will participate in research in your academic mentor’s laboratory and be given opportunities to present the results of your research at national scientific meetings, in Chemistry Department Seminars, and at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium sponsored by the University Honors Program.

As a ChemScholar, you will be expected to enroll in the Honor’s program of the Chemistry Department. Upper-level ChemScholars may also be encouraged to assist with instruction in introductory chemistry laboratories as a paid undergraduate teaching assistant.

The criteria for selection as a ChemScholar are:
  1. declaration of a major in Chemistry

  2. excellent academic record in high school

  3. outstanding scores on high school achievement tests (e.g. ACT or SAT)

  4. superb letters of recommendation
The requirements for retaining the ChemScholar scholarship in subsequent years are:
  1. continuous enrollment as a Chemistry major

  2. maintain an overall 3.25 grade point average (GPA)

  3. maintain a 3.5 GPA in Chemistry

  4. enrollment in the Chemistry Honors Courses

  5. participation in research and/or teaching each semester