In Brief
APA has initiated a program that allows undergraduate and graduate psychology departments to purchase a package that includes subscriptions to APA's many teaching and advising publications and promotes access to its varied education resources.
The initiative--the Psychology Department Program--seeks to bolster APA's support to psychology departments by providing a one-stop opportunity to tap APA's education benefits, says Maureen McCarthy, PhD, APA's director of pre-college and undergraduate psychology.
"We are trying to strengthen our outreach to psychology programs and support them in teaching psychology as a science," says McCarthy. "The benefits offered through this program are excellent advisement tools for faculty and great department resources."
Departments that participate in the program receive a one-year subscription to APA's Monitor on Psychology and gradPSYCH magazines and a copy of APA's "Careers in Psychology" video, which highlights diverse psychology careers. They also get an up-to-date copy of APA's Publication Manual and Graduate Study in Psychology, which provides entrance requirements, APA accreditation information and application deadlines for U.S. graduate psychology programs.
Also included is a copy of the reference handbook "Resource Guide for Departments," which lists information on student scholarships and awards, securing small grants and financial support for teaching conferences, and undergraduate research opportunities.
The program also provides annual subscriptions to:
Psychology Teacher Network, a quarterly newsletter that offers tips on teaching introductory psychology and notices on psychology teaching conferences.
The Educator, a biannual newsletter on trends and issues in psychology education and psychology in education.
Other benefits include:
A Psychology Club certificate, an official APA recognition of the program's psychology club or society.
The "Behavior Matters" booklet series, on how behavioral research makes a difference in everyday life.
The cost to participate in the Psychology Department Program is $300 annually for departments with fewer than 100 students, $500 for programs with 100 to 200 students, and $750 for programs with more than 200 students. Programs with fewer than 100 students get two free student affiliate memberships--which run from September to December of the following academic year. The memberships can be offered to students through an incentive or awards program, says McCarthy. The $500 package includes four free student memberships and the $750 package includes six student memberships.
In addition, APA's Education Directorate will also list Web site links of participating departments on its own Web site--with a view to showcasing departments and facilitating partnerships between them, adds McCarthy.
--J. CHAMBERLIN
