Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
UNG Logo
  • Info For...
    • Accepted Students
    • Current Students
    • Parents & Family
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Business & Community
    • International Students
  • Quicklinks
    • Directories
    • myUNG
    • Academic Catalogs
    • Athletics
    • Banner
    • Bookstore
    • Calendars
    • Campuses & Maps
    • Continuing Education
    • D2L
    • Employment / HR
    • IT Service Desk
    • Libraries
    • UNG Foundation
  • Admissions
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Academics
  • Cost & Aid
  • Student Life
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • About Us

Find the most up-to-date information on the Presidential Search site.

Newsroom
  • All Articles
  • Media Relations Contact
  • Expert Guide
  • Points of Pride
  • Magazine
  • Social Media
    1. UNG
    2. News

    Chemistry department awarded $30K grant

    January 30, 2023
    Dr. Lori Wilson, associate professor of chemistry at the University of North Georgia, helped land a $30,000 grant to fund open-access materials for undergraduate courses.

    Article By: Denise Ray

    The University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry was awarded a $30,000 grant to fund open-access materials for undergraduate courses.

    Dr. Lori Wilson, associate professor of chemistry at the University of North Georgia (UNG) and Myles Sedgwick, lecturer of chemistry, were looking for ways to provide students will more economical class materials and improve student outcomes.

    "Lori Wilson and her team deserve a lot of credit for this endeavor and we are very excited for them, Patricia Todebush, interim department head said.  "This is a great team effort and I am excited for our students to be able to benefit from this work."

    The switch to open-access and specifications grading will bring great benefits to students.

    "There are several advantages for students," Wilson said. "The first is the lower cost. Our students were paying over $200 for their course materials. Now both courses will be completed for less than $50.  Also, with specifications grading, the students and faculty can quickly identify gaps in learning because they are testing one learning objective at a time."

    The grant allows the four faculty teaching the course to redesign the lecture and laboratory including Wilson, Sedgwick, lab manager Kaylee Todd, and Ana Rumbao.

    Our students were paying over $200 for their course materials. Now both courses will be completed for less than $50.

    Dr. Lori Wilson

    UNG associate professor of chemistry

    Open-access materials for the Survey of Chemistry I laboratory were authored in-house by Dr. Gil Katzenstein, a retired UNG faculty. Dr. Theresa Butori and Dr. Irene Kokkala at UNG's Distance Education and Technology Integration (DETI) will support the move to the cloud.

    UNG will host a free interactive lab manual with engaging videos and quizzes on the cloud, Wilson said.

    Open-access materials are available for all subjects and are covered by an open copyright license, making them available freely to students, teachers and the public. The open-access movement began in the 1990s and has grown in popularity in chemistry education, Wilson said.

    "At the end of 2023, we will know if the students are learning from the low- and no-cost materials and specifications grading," Wilson said. "Paying less money is important, but are they getting the same quality education, and are the course outcomes better? Once we have the answer to this question, the next step will be to communicate what we have learned to other chemical educators at a regional or national meeting of the American Chemical Society."

    Contact the Author

    Cadets grateful for experience at Capitol

    Cadets grateful for experience at Capitol

    UNG cadets were thankful for the chance to take part in a review by Gov. Brian Kemp on March 7 in Atlanta in honor of UNG's 150th anniversary.
    Chemistry lab added to Blue Ridge Campus

    Chemistry lab added to Blue Ridge Campus

    UNG's Blue Ridge Campus made history as the spring 2023 semester began by holding its first chemistry class.
    Cronan gains research opportunity in Canada

    Cronan gains research opportunity in Canada

    UNG junior Anna Cronan has been selected for the summer 2023 Fulbright-MITACS Globalink Program, where she will conduct cover crop research.

    UNG Logo
    • Contact Us
    • Request Information
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus Maps & Directions
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Campus Safety
    • Emergency Information
    • Employment/HR
    • UNG Policies & Procedures
    • UNG Alumni Association
    • UNG Foundation
    • Ethics & Compliance Hotline
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Equal Empl. Opportunity

    © 2023 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

    UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.

    Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    • Accreditation
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    Establishing Connection...
    AskNigel