2003 Annual Reports for Boards and Committees

Committee on Division/APA Relations 2003 Annual Report

In 2003, Keith O. Yeates, PhD, chaired the Committee on Division/APA Relations (CODAPAR). Members included Martha E. Banks, PhD; Gary R. Brooks, PhD; Angelo S. DeNisi, PhD; Lisa L. Harlow, PhD and Ilene Serlin, PhD. The Board of Directors’ liaison was Paul L. Craig, PhD.

CODAPAR activities in 2003 were significantly impacted by the association’s financial situation. Reductions in the budget brought about the cancellation of the 2003 Division Leadership Conference, the Interdivisional Grants Program and one of CODAPAR’s two business meetings. Also, due to scheduling difficulties for its fall meeting, CODAPAR decided to meet by telephone rather than a face-to-face meeting. CODAPAR did, however, hold a 2-hour business meeting during the APA convention and made good progress on its ongoing activities.

In 2003, CODAPAR developed two procedural guidelines and approved them as part of its official operating procedures. One covers CODAPAR activities in requesting and reviewing division annual reports and the other describes the process for the 5-year review of divisions. (Divisions are reviewed in a 5-year rotation with approximately 10 divisions reviewed each year.)

This is the second year that CODAPAR has conducted a 5-year review and filed its report with the APA Board of Directors. Divisions 2, 8, 14, 19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44 and 49 were reviewed in 2003.

CODAPAR has developed and implemented a strategy to encourage division compliance with the annual review process, the 5-year review of divisions, and with APA bylaws, rules and policies. Divisions that have successfully completed their 5-year reviews and have been found to be in compliance with APA bylaws, rules and policies are eligible to be featured in the APA Monitor on Psychology. A Monitor reporter contacts the eligible division to discuss possible storylines. The reporter writes the article, which appears under the heading “A Closer Look at Division #…” Information on the division’s mission and benefits, along with contact information about joining is included in the “Div. # at a Glance” sidebar. CODAPAR believes that this will draw additional interest from APA members in becoming active in the divisions.

At the August 2003 convention, CODAPAR hosted a breakfast meeting for division leaders. Nearly every division came to hear remarks from APA’s new CEO Norman Anderson, PhD on his views about the importance of APA divisions. The meeting also focused on issues surrounding the changing format of the convention and evaluating the success of cluster programming. Board of Convention Affairs’ Chair Brian Wilcox, PhD participated in the breakfast meeting and explained the BCA’s next steps in exploring alternatives to the current convention model.

In fall 2003, CODAPAR developed plans for the 2004 Division Leadership Conference, which was held from January 30-Feburary 1 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. CODAPAR decided to extend the invitation to division presidents as well as presidents-elect since there was no leadership conference in 2003. Divisions were invited to send an additional participant if the division was willing to cover the cost of their attendance.