You want to see a well-staffed University department? Visit Brigham Young University's department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. I received an email from my proteins lab teacher (who is also my honors thesis referee) who had looked over my ORCA grant proposal and honors thesis proposal and made suggestions early this morning. I received a second email from him mid-morning (he sent this one to the whole class) that was reminding us about and clarifying our assignment due tomorrow.

Early afternoon I met with the department secretary to straighten out a computer glitch that was going to push my graduation date back to December. She got it straightened out in about 5 minutes flat and stated that she'd remind the College Advisers (a bunch of people that use up air people could use to do useful things) that they need to refer all declared Chemistry and Biochemistry majors to her because they were incompetent.

Mid-afternoon I sat down with my Chem 391 professor to go over my 10-15 page review paper final project. He had some great ideas on how to fix a paragraph that's been driving me up the wall.

As I walked out of that appointment I got an email from another professor who was responding to some questions I had asked him about some of the research he had done that related to my research.

And, I just finished writing a lengthy email to my thesis adviser asking him a handful of questions and sending him my ORCA proposal and honors thesis proposal to read over for me. I'd be amazed if I don't hear back from him within 24 hours.

I've either visited face to face or been in email contact with 4 people who hold PhD's to further my research or academic career, on an individual basis, in the last 24 hours. I highly doubt you can find better anywhere in the world.