Committee on Divisional Activities

What We Do

The Divisional Activities Committee (DAC) empowers ACS technical divisions to successfully advance the chemical enterprise. DAC provides guidance, support and resources to the technical divisions that enable them to accomplish their goals.

  • Enhance communications with and between divisions
  • Enhance collaboration and networking between divisions
  • Increase the number of new ACS members who belong to a division
  • Improve the retention rate of division members

Council Committee on Divisional Activities Responsibilities

The Divisional Activities Committee (DAC) has responsibility for oversight and coordination of activities of divisions of the Society to ensure that the fields of interest, as they evolve, are served. The Committee also recommends policies to Council and the Board of Directors that enhance the effectiveness of the divisions and the Society.

DAC produces and approves resource documents that guide members as they carry out their roles as division leaders. The subcommittees of DAC oversee activities that provide revenue for the divisions, such as defining the allocation formula that details how funds from the member dues pool are distributed and reviewing proposals for financial support through the Innovative Project Grants program.

Working closely with the divisions, themes for each meeting are selected and special programming is developed around the theme. 

DAC Subcommittees 

Governance Subcommittee

Reviews Divisional annual reports to assess Divisional health in terms of governance, membership, finances or other issues; identifies and shares best practices; appraises DAC of petitions coming before C&B and the Council; and presents official DAC positions on C&B matters to that Committee.​

Grants & Recognition Subcommittee

Assists ACS Divisions meet their objectives by providing financial support for innovative divisional activities through Innovative Project Grants and recognizes excellent divisional activities through ChemLuminary Awards​.

Strategies, Operations, & Program Enhancement Subcommittee

Maintains a divisional allocation formula that supports divisional activities that enhance member experiences, develop strategies to promote and sustain the well-being of the divisions taking advantage of transformations in technology, membership and community activities.

Runs a pilot Convergent Chemistry Communities Grant program for divisions.

Multidisciplinary Program Planning Group (MPPG) 

The Multidisciplinary Program Planning Group (MPPG) selects and plans Society-wide thematic and multidisciplinary programming for ACS National meetings. It also evaluates new programming formats that will enhance multidisciplinary interactions in as well as outside the ACS. Every division has the opportunity to participate in selecting representatives, providing input and suggestions to the MPPG,. The MPPG also participates in the selection of the Fred Kavli Innovations in Chemistry Lecturers for each ACS Meeting, as well as selects the Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry Lecturer for each of the ACS Meetings.


Contact Us

Send an email if you have questions or need more information about the Divisional Activities Committee.