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“
ance enjoys teaching,
ACU's sense of communit
When confronted with a question about why he
prefers ACU to other institutions where he has
taught, Dr. Robert Hance, professor of chemistry,
did not hesitate to answer.
"There are three main factors -the students, the
fellow faculty and the CChristianD purpose of the
school," Hance replied.
Dr. Hance, known to most as "Cotton," has been
with ACU since 1970. He has stayed because he had
a preference for, and a commitment to, ACU's
Christian perspective that he said overshadows and
permeates the academic purpose.
"There's a sense of communityf, Hance observed.
ACU students donit have uthat selfish, looking out
for No. I" attitude, he explained. "They're nice
people."
ACU chemistry faculty members are also
superior to those at other institutions, he said.
"They,re as neat a group of men as you can work
with. Very considerate, helpful and understanding.
There's a sense of mutual help rather than
competitionf'
Dr. Hance was dedicated to education and en-
joyed teaching. And he said the university lifestyle
afforded him opportunities that industry could not.
"I like new startsf' he said of the opportunity to
begin each semester anew, with new students. "If a
semester isnit going well, you know it will soon be
over."
He also said he appreciated the freedom of mak-
ing his own research decisions. "In industry," Hance
said, "there is a pressure that preselects what pro-
blem is to be researched - there is no freedom of
choice."
In talking about his research endeavors, he was
modest about taking all the credit for his ac-
complishments. He pointed to a picture in his office
of a man in a white lab coat standing in front of
some electronic equipment.
"That,s Isidore Amdurf' he said, giving Amdur
credit for the assistance he gave Hance during his
research as a graduate student. He ran his finger
down a long list of publications.
"These are some of the things I've had published.
And the important thing to note is how many other
names are on heref, he explained, indicating that
research is not a one-man job.
He pointed to the names on the covers of some of
his publications. "You can't tell the PHD's from the
undergraduates. That's what's so great," he said. "If
you work on something, your name goes on it. That's
the policy heref,
Hance was sold on the helpful, understanding at-
titude of ACU faculty and his attitude reflected
those same characteristics.
Trying to explain in layman's terms his research
project for 1982 involving the catalytic activity of
the element rhenium, he struggled for simple terms
with which to explain it more clearly.
"It falls within the area of surface chemistry," he
said. "And it deals with various electron spec-
troscopic techniques."
Unsatisfied at his attempt to explain, he ran into
another room and returned with a 16-page research
proposal detailing the project. After a brief explana-
tion of the proposal, he asked Eric Hardegree, a
graduate student of chemistry, to explain the techni-
que and show the equipment used in the research.
Hardegree said, "He's very willing to answer
questions." As a teacher, Hardegree said Hance was
thorough as well as interesting.
"His tests are difficult, but informative," he said.
"You learn from themf,
"Dr, Hance has a good sense of humor and the
helpful attitude that he finds so unique in his col-
leagues," he said. W Lucy Hererra
Opposite page: Dr. Robert L. Hance
174 Faculty Feature
”