Technology Access Fees Database

Frank C. Bailey

frank.bailey@mtsu.edu

David Nelson

Biology

Discipline specific equipment

SCI 2038

N/A

N/A

MTSU’s Forensic Science Program (181 majors Fall 2025) is one of only 31 Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) accredited undergraduate programs in the country and draws students from around the US. To maintain accreditation, one aspect of training for our students must be through hands-on education in comparison sciences taught by practicing professionals. To this end, the Forensic Science Program looks to buy a comparison microscope to replace the current ones which are decades old and are no longer usable nor serviceable. It is likely that almost all the ~180 Forensic Science majors will use this instrument at least once during their program of study and possibly multiple times in the courses highlighted below. In order to continue to produce skilled graduates who are most attractive to employers, it is critical that they gain relevant skills on industry standard equipment such as the requested comparison microscope, which is identical to the instruments currently used by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime laboratory. Forensic classes that will use the instrument include: Firearm and Toolmark Analysis - FRSC 4040 (~15-20 students/year; first offered Fall 2026), Forensic Anthropology - ANTH 3650 (~30 students/year), Forensic Taphonomy – BIOL 4375 (~ 25 students/year), TOPICS: Advanced Forensic Anthropology Methods- ANTH 3710 (~10-15 students/year) and a proposed Biology course: Human Skeletal Biology (~25 students/year). The requested equipment will thus enhance training, promote research, and boost the ability of our graduates to be hired in forensic laboratories.