APAGS' Specialized Subcommittees

Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA) is the subcommittee of APAGS that represents and advocates for the perspectives and concerns of ethnic minority graduate students within the discipline of psychology. APAGS-CEMA’s main goal is to ensure that the specific interests and needs of ethnic minority graduate students are given a voice within the large domain of APA. APAGS-CEMA attempts to achieve this goal by increasing the membership and participation of ethnic minority graduate students within APAGS through the development and advertisement of various educational and training opportunities for ethnic minority graduate students in psychology. CEMA promotes cultural competency and sensitivity, and encourages the recruitment and retention of ethnic minority students in psychology by developing ethnic minority student resources, providing small grants for regional student-organized multicultural training events, and engaging in other advocacy activities to increase awareness of multicultural issues.

Advocacy Coordinating Team (ACT) is composed of psychology graduate students who primarily engage in legislative advocacy work on behalf of the science and profession of psychology, in the interest of individuals studying, researching, and practicing psychology, and on behalf of individuals who are the recipients of psychological services. ACT members promote the welfare of graduate students and the vigor of the profession by their participation in legislative lobbying efforts. APAGS-ACT represents all sub-fields of psychology equally in its legislative and advocacy efforts. Members and designees of the ACT committee assist with the recruitment, organization, and administration of the Campus Representative network to help facilitate the flow of communication between the APAGS Board and its constituents.

Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns (CLGBTC) represents and advocates for the unique concerns and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students in psychology. By providing relevant resources and programming, CLGBTC promotes the recruitment and retention of LGBT students within APAGS. CLGBTC ensures that LGBT students are aware of opportunities and resources available to LGBT students. CLGBTC facilitates communication among LGBT students by providing forums to discuss common issues or difficulties with the goal of empowering students in confronting heterocentrism and homophobia. CLGBTC also helps to educate faculty and students of the concerns and needs of this diverse group.

APAGS Convention Committee Each year, graduate students have the opportunity to chair and present APAGS convention programs at the annual APA Convention. The APAGS Convention Committee works closely with APAGS Central Office and staff to plan student programs and events for the annual APA Convention to provide APAGS members with the opportunity to present their research, ideas or work at this prestigious national convention. The Convention Committee reviews and rates proposals, selects programs, and plans special activities, student social events and networking opportunities for convention. The Convention Committee selects programming to ensure that timely, relevant, and cutting-edge information is made available to students each year. The Convention Committee collaborates with other APA Boards and Committees, APA Offices and Directorates, and allied groups to plan convention programs that address important and emerging broad professional development issues for graduate students in psychology.