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Educational Leadership Conference
This year’s 2006 Educational Leadership Conference involved a large section of advocacy related events, with informational sessions for APA members covering advocacy with a multi-faceted approach. Melissa Markowitz, Senior Research and Policy Analyst, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), gave a thought provoking presentation on accessing state funds for higher education highlighting the current complex condition of state advocacy, economies, governance and enrollment.
Later in the conference, Maine State Representative Elaine Makas (D-ME-71st) spoke about the importance of getting involved in local and state advocacy, with tips on how to be heard in the most effective manner. Dr. Nina Levitt, Director of Education Policy, reiterated Rep. Makas earlier presentation, stressing how participation in grassroots activities is a critical component to any legislative success.
The main push for funding centered on two critical, ongoing issues: FY 2007 Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Funding and the FY 2007 Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Suicide (GLSMA) Programs. Levitt proceeded to give a brief overview of the GPE program, including history of GPE, highlights from the GPE survey and the status of current GPE funding. She noted that ever increasing demands on the (shrinking) federal budget have resulted in GPE being reduced to $2 million in FY 2006 and again for FY2007 (eliminating the 7 geropsychology grants and reducing funding for the other 20 grants by 44%). At this very low level, she pointed out that the GPE program is in jeopardy of being eliminated and that members should be asked to support at least $2 million (preferably FY 2005 level of $4.5 million) for GPE FY 2007 during House-Senate Conference. Levitt then pointed out how ELC participants had the important opportunity to rally support for GPE – and possibly even an increase – during their Hill Visits the next day.
Jenny Smulson, Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Official, presented background information on the GLSMA (Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act) Youth Suicide Prevention Programs, which are administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Ms. Smulson began her remarks with a brief “walk through” of this unique and incredibly fast-tracked legislation. She noted that often legislation can take as long as 10 years, yet the GLMA took only a matter of months. Smulson stated that APA and its members were instrumental in drafting many of the key provisions of the GLSMA. She then explained that not all our original provisions from the proposed Campus Care and Counseling Act were included in the GLSMA and that further work was needed to get them added back into GLSMA. In the meantime, she noted that ELC participants should urge their Members of Congress to support full funding for the GLSMA Suicide Prevention Programs. Smulson concluded her presentation stating that “The GLSMA is an important marker for psychology and its impact on national policy and for the health and well being of hundreds of people all across the nation.”
The advocacy related portion of ELC was wrapped up with Hill visits and an initial introduction by Christopher Kush – President, Soapbox Consulting. As in previous years, Kush took the remainder of the afternoon to prepare ELC participants for their Hill Visits the following day. Using a combination of facts and humor, Kush explained the key elements of a Hill Visit and what everyone should expect. His trade-mark “Hook, Line and Sinker” approach, Kush helped everyone understand that each individual actually already had what was most important to their legislator and noted "Remember, you have the kind of information that no lobbyist can bring to Congress."
ELC participants were upbeat about their Hill Visit experiences. Several noted that they had an opportunity to provide detailed, real-life examples of benefits of GPE grants, as well as mental/behavioral health needs on their campus. Several indicated that they had learned more than what they had expected. In the words of one ELC attendee “I thought the [advocacy] training was hokey…until I got up on Capitol Hill.” For more information on our advocacy related events during ELC, visit: www.apa.org/ppo/education/elcpage06.html.
BEA Block Grants In Support of Precollege and Undergraduate Teaching Conferences
To enhance the quality of teaching and learning outcomes, the Board of Educational Affairs reviews proposals for financial support to award $5,000 in BEA Block Grants each year.
Criteria
To be considered for funding, applications must meet the following criteria:
- the conference must advance the teaching of psychology at the secondary,
2-year, and/or 4-year level;
- the conference must be directed by an APA member, associate, or affiliate;
- the grant must be requested by an APA member, associate, or affiliate; and
- the grant must be used to offset travel expenses of selected conference participants, registration fees of conference participants, and/or speaker fees.
It is possible that conferences that have received block grants two years in a row may not be funded or may be funded at lower levels on the third consecutive application to ensure that a variety of conferences receive grants.
Proposals for block grants will be reviewed and evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Conference Goals and Activities. Proposals will be rated on the perceived importance and innovativeness of the conference as well as the clarity and completeness of the description of the conference objectives and activities. (A conference announcement/ brochure should be submitted with the application.)
- Composition of Target Audience. Proposals will be rated on the potential impact and suitability of content for the target audience.
- Budgetary Information. Proposals will be rated on the clarity and completeness of the description of the conference budget, anticipated expenses, as well as confirmed and anticipated sources and amounts of funding.
Following the evaluation of the proposals, the BEA Block Grants Subcommittee will recommend monetary awards based on the availability of funds and on the quality of the applications. *
*Applicants may be awarded up to $1,000 during a given year. If fewer than five acceptable applications are received in a given year, the BEA may award more than one block grant (and more than $1,000) to the same conference in that year.
Deadline:
Funding requests for teaching conferences in 2005 should be postmarked by February 23, 2007. Please send written requests to Martha Boenau, Education Directorate at the APA Address or via Email.
Call for National Conference Site Proposals
The American Psychological Association Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) is developing plans to convene a National Conference on Undergraduate Education in Psychology in June 2008. Through the efforts of a new BEA Steering Committee, a proposal for the conference has been drafted that includes a conference framework and preliminary recommendations for major issues and topics for the conference, presenters, participants, funding sources, and a conference format. Members of the BEA Steering Committee include Diane Halpern, PhD, Chair, Bernard Beins, PhD, Ludy Benjamin, Jr., PhD, William Buskist, PhD, Ladonna Lewis, PhD, and Valerie Whittlesey, PhD. Charlie Blair-Broeker serves as a liaison for precollege psychology and Courtney Rocheleau serves as a liaison representing the early teaching career perspective. Charles Brewer, PhD, and Barry Anton, PhD, are liaisons from the APA Board of Educational Affairs and the APA Board of Directors, respectively.
The Steering Committee invites applications from universities or colleges that would like to host the 4-5 day national conference at their institution. The committee is considering the week of June 21-June 28, 2008 as the tentative date.
Support as the host for the National Conference would include such items as: room and board for approximately 75 to 80 participants, administrative assistance with the production of materials developed on site (computers and photocopying facilities), availability of large rooms for plenary sessions and smaller discussion rooms, accessibility to major airports and/or shuttle transportation, and the identification of a conference site manager at the institution to be responsible for coordination of the meeting rooms and meals, etc. Prior institutional experience in hosting such an event would be a desirable asset.
All applications and inquiries must be received by April 30, 2007 and sent to: BEA Steering Committee for the National Conference on Undergraduate Education in Psychology, c/o Martha Boenau, Education Directorate at the APA Address or via Email.
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