Effectiveness of the undergraduate chemistry laboratory has been the subject of research for several decades. However, it has proven difficult to measure the effectiveness of the chemistry laboratory curriculum without an extensive understanding of its purpose. This research investigated the goals of chemistry faculty at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum via telephone interviews. The findings of this qualitative inquiry formed the basis for future quantitative studies that will measure a more extensive understanding of the purpose for the chemistry laboratory. Manuscripts were published in Chemistry Education Research and Practice, the Journal of Chemical Education, and The Science Teacher.