Early Career Psychologist Network
Charter and Terms of Reference

 
I.  Mission Statement

The Early Career Psychologist Network provides a forum for early career leaders in APA Divisions and State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Associations (SPTA's) to discuss and collaborate on early career initiatives, programs, and strategies to increase recruitment, retention, and involvement of early career psychologists in professional associations.

II.  Membership of the ECPN

A.  Membership is comprised of one (1) early career representative from each APA Division and SPTA. Although some Divisions and SPTAs choose to have more than one early career position within their governance structures, we ask that only one early career person be appointed to the ECPN. The ECPN representative is responsible for ensuring effective communication with other early career and non early career members of the Division or SPTA they represent.

B. Members must be approved by the Executive Director of the Division or SPTA. If the association does not have an Executive Director, then we ask that the President or Chair of the Executive Board approve the appointment to the ECPN. (Note: Early career psychologists cannot join the ECPN without explicit approval from a member of the Executive Board of the Division or SPTA they are being appointed to represent. The ECPN designee form should be completed and forwarded to the CECP staff liaison by the President or Executive Director.)

C. Members must be APA members within seven years of receiving the doctoral degree at the time of appointment to the ECPN . Members appointed to the ECPN during the 7 th year out from graduate school will be allowed to serve a complete two year term, and thus be nine years out from graduate school when they rotate off the ECPN.

D. All six members of the Committee on Early Career Psychologists (C ECP ) are also members of the ECPN.

E. A member may be removed by CECP or APA staff with or without cause, on its own volition or upon request of the ECPN Steering Committee.

III. Term of Appointment

Representatives serve a two year term, renewable at the discretion of the representative's APA Division or SPTA. Organizations represented on the ECPN are encouraged, but not required, to select new ECPN representatives every two years in order to promote growth in ECP leadership and advancement of representatives rotating off the ECPN into other leadership positions in APA Divisions, SPTAs and the APA. [Note: CECP also recommends creating a specific ECP position within the governance structure of divisions and SPTAs; however, if there is already an early career psychologist in another leadership position, it is acceptable to appoint them to the ECPN. Designation of an ECP specific position ensures that the association is providing adequate attention to the unique needs of early career psychologists and incorporating this view throughout all the workings of the board or committee.]

IV. Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the Early Career Psychologist Network is to facilitate collaboration and exchange of ideas between APA Divisions, SPTAs and the APA. In fulfilling its responsibilities, representatives will advise and assist the CECP in serving the interests of early career psychologists and maintaining effective and accurate communications across APA Divisions, SPTAs, and the APA. Additional specific functions may include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

A.  Enroll and actively participate in discussions on the ECPN listserv

B. Assist in the promotion and publicizing of opportunities and resources for early career psychologists

C. Inform ECPN members of early career programming and activities in APA Divisions and SPTAs.

D. Share information about early career programs and activities from APA and the C ECP with APA Divisions and SPTAs.

E. Collaborate with CECP and members of the ECPN to identify areas of concern and make recommendations on how to address the interests of early career psychologists in APA Divisions and SPTAs.

F. Representatives are strongly encouraged to

 i. discuss and clearly delineate how they will provide input and receive feedback from the APA Division or SPTA that they are representing on the ECPN.

 ii. attend APA Convention to participate in the ECPN Business Meeting (however, no funding is available from APA for travel).

V.  Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall consist of four individuals: the Division and SPTA members of the CECP, one ECPN member representing APA Divisions, and one ECPN member representing SPTAs.

A. Elections: Representatives from the ECPN shall be elected in October with a simple majority of the current ECPN membership. Nominations for the ECPN representatives on the Steering Committee shall be solicited by September 15 th and elections shall occur by October 15th.

B. Term of Steering Committee Members: Representatives from the ECPN shall serve one year terms, with eligibility to be elected for two consecutive one year terms. The terms of the Division and SPTA members of the CECP shall coincide with their full terms on the CECP (i.e., typically for three years).

C. Functions of the Steering Committee include the following:

i. Preparing an Agenda for the ECPN Business Meeting at Convention

ii.  Initiating discussion topics on the ECPN listserv

iii.  Assisting CECP to develop programming and resources for the ECPN and ECPN members.

VI. Business Meeting

There shall be an annual closed business meeting at APA Convention. Although attendance from ECPN members cannot be mandated, attendance is expected and strongly encouraged. The Steering Committee is responsible for developing an agenda and related programming for the ECPN Business Meeting, which may include review of activities of the previous year, annual reports from ECPN representatives, and leadership programming to promote professional development and advancement of ECPs with governance associations.