Introduction
ACCA | BEA | CDIP | CoA | Application Information
Each spring the projected openings for liaison positions are broadly advertised via gradPSYCH, on the APAGS Web site, on relevant APAGS listservs, and other avenues as appropriate. General Requirements for all APAGS Liaisons include:
Knowledge of and willingness to learn and represent the issues that are important to various education communities and settings (for example, students, universities, programs, faculty, training directors, internship sites and other training sites).
Strong communication, presentation and organizational skills.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and communicate with APAGS and your assigned committee in a timely manner about areas of mutual concern.
Ability to attend the required Board meetings (as specified in each description below). please note that funding is provided for all travel, hotel and per diem expenses to attend meetings.
APAGS Liaison to the APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance (ACCA)
Description/Function of Group/Committee:
ACCA is an advisory committee to APA’s Board of Professional Affairs. The mission of ACCA includes: (1) investigating the unique needs of psychologists for colleague assistance; (2) promoting the development and continuation of state-level colleague assistance programs and peer assistance networks; and (3) developing relationships between state ethics committees, boards of examiners, and colleague assistance programs. Through the APAGS liaison to ACCA, the committee collaborates with APAGS to address issues of student self-care, students with competence problems, student colleague assistance, and interventions with students.
Time Commitment and Responsibilities:
The APAGS Liaison to ACCA will attend two face-to-face meetings per year in Washington, DC, work on individual projects, and participate on conference calls and email discussion lists. In-person meetings occur on a Friday, Saturday and half of Sunday.
Preparing for meetings and communications involves: (a) reading the agendas beforehand and discussing items that are of interest and relevance to students with APAGS leadership, (b) informing ACCA of APAGS activities, initiatives and priorities, (c) collaborating on projects of mutual interest as determined in consultation with APAGS’ leadership, (d) representing students and APAGS to ACCA, and (e) communicating regularly with APAGS members (over the APAGS listservs) and APAGS’ leadership about issues related to colleague assistance.
The APAGS Liaison to ACCA is expected to keep the APAGS Committee and staff informed of their work and the activities of ACCA by submitting a report after each meeting, and more frequently as necessary. The APAGS Liaison is expected to represent APAGS in his/her role with ACCA, consulting with APAGS as necessary to ensure accurate representation.
Eligibility:
Graduate students with a particular interest or experience in working with impaired or distressed students and professionals, occupational health programs, forensics issues, prevention/program development, and/or the effects of delivery system changes are encouraged to apply, as well as those who have worked with an ethics committee and/or state-level psychological association or APAGS.
Applicants must be:
A doctoral candidate in good standing in an APA or regionally accredited program.
An active member of APAGS at least 2 years away from graduating at the time of application.
Knowledgeable about issues related to self-care, prevention, and students with competence problems.
Committed to advocacy and representation, as well as dedicating the necessary time to sufficiently prepare, participate, and provide follow-up.
Able to work effectively and cooperatively with others.
Able to represent the diverse viewpoints and experiences of students and APAGS.
Willing and able to initiate regular communications with APAGS leadership and staff.
Application Materials for APAGS ACCA Liaison:
A cover letter (no more than 2 pages) reviewing your interest in the position, eligibility and qualifications for the position, ability to commit to the responsibilities, and any other information you deem important.
Curriculum Vitae including current mailing and email address, as well as phone numbers.
One letter of recommendation from a faculty member. (The letter should verify that you are a student in good standing in an APA accredited or regionally accredited doctoral program.)
APAGS Liaison to the Board of Educational Affairs
Description/Function of Group/Committee:
The Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) has a general concern for educational and training affairs, which transcend more than one Division or group of psychologists. Members of BEA are selected to represent the range of interests characteristic of psychology in all its aspects.
BEA Mission and Purpose:
Recommend educational policy for APA to the Board of Directors and Council of Representatives.
Recommend to the Board of Directors and Council of Representatives changes to its programs and operational priorities which would allow APA to take a leadership role for the nation in the educational arena.
Serve consultative and advisory role with respect to ongoing planning and operations of the Education Directorate, in consultation with its Executive Director.
Ennsure importance and commitment to diversity in education and training in all of its activities and initiatives.
Time Commitment and Responsibilities:
BEA meets two times per year (Fall/Spring) at the APA consolidated business meetings, which usually take place in the Washington, DC area. The APAGS-BEA liaison serves a 2 year term beginning in August.
The APAGS BEA liaison (a) attends meetings to represent APAGS’ views to BEA members, (b) works collaboratively with BEA members, APA Education Directorate staff, the APAGS Committee and APAGS staff on special projects related to education in psychology (for example, convention programming, new publications and resources for students, internship and accreditation projects, etc.), (c) prepares agenda items for the BEA agenda that represent student issues, (d) prepares agenda items for the APAGS Committee on issues related to BEA activities, as well as liaison reports to APAGS, (e) contributes to the education/training section of the APAGS Web page to inform APAGS members about BEA activities and initiatives, and (f) advocates for student needs in relation to training at the undergraduate, graduate, internship and postdoctoral levels.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
A master’s or doctoral candidate in good standing in an APA or regionally accredited program.
An active member of APAGS at least 2 years away from graduating at the time of application.
Committed to advocacy and representation, as well as dedicating the necessary time to sufficiently prepare for meetings and provide follow-up.
Able to work effectively and cooperatively with others.
Application Materials for APAGS BEA Liaison:
A 1-2 page cover letter that includes your interest in the position, qualifications for the position, a description of previous leadership experience that attests to your ability and potential to represent APAGS and student concerns, and a statement about your ability to meet the responsibilities of the position.
Curriculum Vitae including current mailing and email address, as well as phone numbers.
Brief letter of support from your Advisor, Department Chair or Program Director confirming your student status, anticipated graduation date, and a statement regarding your leadership potential.
APAGS Liaison to the APA Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology
Description/Function of Group/Committee:
CDIP addresses all areas of disability issues in psychology. The mission of CDIP is to (a) promote the psychological welfare of people with disabilities, (b) promote the development and implementation of psychological services and delivery models responsive to the needs of people with disabilities, (c) promote the awareness of disability issues in psychological research as well as specific research activity in disability areas, (d) promote inclusion of knowledge about disabilities and disability issues in education, training programs, and professional development of psychologists.
Time Commitment and Responsibilities:
The APAGS Liaison to CDIP will participate in the fall and spring consolidated business meetings, which usually take place in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The APAGS CDIP liaison serves a 2 year term beginning in the Fall.
The APAGS liaison to CDIP participates in periodic conference calls, and email discussion lists as needed. Preparing for these meetings and communications involves (a) reading the agendas beforehand and discussing items that are of interest and relevance to students with APAGS leadership, (b) informing CDIP of APAGS activities, initiatives and priorities, (c) collaborating on projects of mutual interest, (d) advocating for and representing students and APAGS to CDIP, and (e) communicating regularly with APAGS members (over the APAGS listservs) and APAGS leadership about issues of importance to students with disabilities or those who work with individuals with disabilities.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
A master’s or doctoral candidate in good standing in an APA or regionally accredited program.
An active member of APAGS at least 2 years away from graduating at the time of application.
Knowledgeable about issues related to students with disabilities and those working with individuals with disabilities.
Committed to advocacy and representation, as well as dedicating the necessary time to sufficiently prepare for meetings and provide follow-up.
Able to represent diverse viewpoints of students with disabilities.
Note: The APAGS liaison need not be a student with a disability, but students with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply for the position.
Application materials for the APAGS CDIP Liaison:
A cover letter (no more than 2 pages) reviewing your interest in the position, eligibility and qualifications for the position, ability to commit to the responsibilities, and any other information you deem important.
Curriculum Vitae including current mailing and email address, as well as phone numbers.
One letter of recommendation from a faculty member. (The letter should verify that you are a practitioner student in good standing in an APA accredited doctoral program.)
APAGS Representative to the Committee on Accreditation
Description/Function of Group/Committee:
The Committee on Accreditation (CoA) evaluates doctoral, internship and postdoctoral programs in professional psychology, such as clinical, counseling, and school, in accordance with published criteria and procedures. The committee consists of twenty-one members appointed by the Board of Educational Affairs, including an APAGS member.
Time Commitment and Responsibilities:
The APAGS-CoA representative serves a 1 year term beginning in January. After being appointed to the CoA, the APAGS member will participate in a one-day training/orientation session in Washington, D.C. (usually early in Jan/Feb) to learn accreditation criteria and how to conduct program reviews. Preparing for three annual 4-day (Thurs-Sun) CoA meetings (usually taking place in Oct/Nov, Mar/April, and July) will require substantial work beforehand to review program applications and policy issues. Meeting agendas include (a) program review and (b) developing policy. The APAGS member is a full voting member of CoA with the same responsibilities as the other members of CoA.
Eligibility:
Applicants for the Committee on Accreditation must be:
A doctoral candidate in good standing in an APA accredited program that prepares students for practice and eventual licensure.
An active member of APAGS at least 2 years away from graduating at the time of application.
Knowledgeable about student training issues and concerns.
Committed to the process of accreditation and able to dedicate a significant amount of time outside of CoA meetings to sufficiently prepare.
Able to represent diverse viewpoints of students.
Application materials for the APAGS CoA Representative:
A cover letter (no more than 2 pages) reviewing your interest in the position, eligibility and qualifications for the position, ability to commit to the responsibilities, and any other information you deem important.
Curriculum Vitae including current mailing and email address, as well as phone numbers.
One letter of recommendation from a faculty member. (The letter should verify that you are a practitioner student in good standing in an APA accredited doctoral program.)
Application Information
In the spring, the projected openings for liaison positions are broadly advertised. Keep an eye on the front page of the APAGS website for the call for applications.
Hard copy or electronic applications will be accepted (although electronic applications are preferred). If recommendation letters are sent via email, they should be emailed directly to APAGS from your faculty member. Original, signed, hard-copy recommendation letters may be enclosed in your application packet.
Application materials (as outlined in the descriptions above) should be mailed to:
American Psychological Association of Graduate
Application for (CDIP/BEA/CoA)
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Or emailed to:
APAGS
