ASSOCIATION NEWS

Time to vote for APA's new President-elect

The ballot for the 2000 President-elect was mailed on Oct. 15. This is the last presidential election of the century. Please take the time to cast your ballot in this important election. If you have not received your ballot by now, contact the Election Office at (202) 336-6087.

Templeton Foundation seeks nominees for Seligman award

The John Templeton Foundation welcomes nominations for the second annual Seligman Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research on the Science of Optimism and Hope. The award, which honors Past President Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD, will be presented at APA's 2000 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., Aug. 4-8.

The foundation created the award for graduate students who completed their doctoral dissertations on the subject of optimism and hope, and plan to continue their research for the future. Only graduate students who completed their dissertation after spring 1995 are eligible. The winner receives a $1,000 cash grant, travel expenses to the Annual Convention and one day's lodging and expenses.

Barry Schwartz, PhD, a psychology professor at Swarthmore College, will chair the second panel of judges. Other judges are Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, Lisa Aspinwall, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Maryland, and Margaret Kemeny, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"This award is meant to encourage the development of a positive psychology in the 21st century," says Schwartz.

Interested candidates should submit six copies of their curriculum vitae and a summary of their dissertation research consisting of no more than eight single-spaced pages (excluding references). The summary should contain a description of the:

* Problem investigated.

* Principal findings.

* Methods used to investigate the problem.

All nomination materials must be sent to the John Templeton Foundation postmarked no later than Feb. 1. A selection committee will review the applications and select three finalists by May 1. Finalists will be asked to submit a copy of their completed dissertations for review. Send all materials to Pamela Thompson, Director of Communications, The John Templeton Foundation, Five Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 100, Radnor, PA 19087, (610) 687-8942, fax: (610) 687-8961, web site: www.templeton.org/seligman_award.asp.

Nominees sought for APA boards and committees

Each year, APA seeks nominations of people interested in serving on the following boards and committees:

* Committee on Structure and Function of Council.

* Finance Committee.

* Ethics Committee.

* Membership Committee.

* Policy and Planning Board.

* Publications and Communications Board.

* Committee on International Relations in Psychology.

* Board of Convention Affairs.

* Board of Educational Affairs.

* Board of Professional Affairs.

* Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice.

* Board of Scientific Affairs.

* Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest.

* College of Professional Psychology.

* Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Psychology.

* Committee on Rural Health.

Nominations should be sent to the APA Election Committee, at the APA address by Feb. 1. Nominations will be forwarded to the appropriate board or committee for consideration as they develop nomination slates. Self-nominations are encouraged.

Slates from each board or committee are submitted to the Board of Directors Subcommittee on Nominations at its June 2000 meeting. APA's Board of Directors grants final approval and determines the composition of all board and committee election slates. Nominees selected through this process will appear on the 2000 board/committee ballot. The ballot will be mailed on Oct. 31 to all members of the 2000 APA Council of Representatives.

For more information, contact the Governance Affairs Office at the APA address or call (202) 336-6094.

Paying membership dues early ensures continued service in 2000

Member dues payments for 2000 must be returned to APA by Nov. 12 to ensure updated member records and continuous delivery of the Monitor and American Psychologist. Paid membership also keeps members eligible for APA Insurance Trust programs, the member journal credit on 2000 subscription orders and the APA membership card, which entitles members to discounts on consumer-service programs.

Affiliate fees and journal orders must be returned by Nov. 25 to ensure continued benefits and subscriptions in 2000.

Questions related to dues payments should be directed to Membership at the APA address, (800) 374-2721 or (202) 336-5580, TDD: (202) 336-6123, fax: (202) 336-5568, e-mail: membership@apa.org. Questions related to journal orders should be directed to Subscriptions: (800) 374-2721 or (202) 336-5600, fax: (202) 336-5568, e-mail: subscriptions@apa.org.

Report details women's status in APA

Even though they make up more than 47 percent of the membership, women still lag behind men in Association leadership and involvement, concludes the latest "Women in the American Psychological Association" report.

Released by APA's Women's Programs Office, the report describes the status of women's participation in the field as APA members, officers, and part of processes of APA governance, journal publications, accreditation and central administration. The report also recounts some of the activities of APA's Committee on Women in Psychology and the Women's Programs Office.

The 28-page report documents, on the part of women:

* Progress in the Association in membership and fellow status.

* Increased participation in the publications process.

* Involvement in the accreditation process.

* Leadership positions in APA, divisions and the state psychological associations.

* Work in APA's Central Office.

"Women in the American Psychological Association" is available on the Public Interest Directorate's World Wide Web site at www.apa.org/pi/pi.html and is updated every two years.

For a free printed copy, contact the Women's Programs Office at the APA address, (202) 336-6044.

Three reports on employment issues available

APA's Research Office has published three surveys on salaries and employment outlook for psychologists.

* The Analyses of Data from Graduate Study in Psychology: 1997-98 summarizes demographic characteristics of faculty and first-year psychology graduate students, as well as application, acceptance and enrollment characteristics of U.S. graduate departments of psychology. It includes admission and graduation requirements, tuition information and information on financial support available to U.S. graduate students in psychology.

* The 1996 and 1997 Doctorate Employment Surveys report demographic, employment and salary information for recent doctoral recipients. Summaries of employment patterns, employment settings and job satisfaction are included. Psychologists can also read about the sources and levels of support for doctoral study, debt levels of new doctorates and information on postdoctoral study, as well as starting salaries of recent doctoral recipients by positions and employment settings.

* The 1996 Master's, Specialist's and Related Degrees Employment Survey reports educational and employment patterns of graduates with master's-level training. It contains information on demographic characteristics and explores employment characteristics such as employment status, perception of the job market and graduate student support. Starting salaries of graduates with master's and related degrees by positions and employment settings are included.

Reports may be downloaded free of charge from APA's Web Site at research.apa.org/ reports.html or purchased from the Research Office, (202) 336-5980, e-mail: research@apa.org.

Faculty volunteers sought to spread the word about APA benefits

APA seeks university and college faculty members who will volunteer to disseminate information about APA membership, as well as APA books, journals and other products and services on their campuses.

For information, contact Mia Yi, Membership Development, at the APA address, (800) 374-2721, ext. 5610; TDD: (202) 336-6123; fax: (202) 216-7628, e-mail: myi@apa.org.

Free report on older psychologists available

A recent APA survey shows that almost 50 percent of older psychologists, age 55 to 96, have a positive outlook on aging. That and other findings appear in a new report Older Psychologists Survey, which examines how older psychologists, particularly women, fare within the profession and within society.

The report is offered by APA's Committee on Women in Psychology (CWP), which initiated the study in response to concerns that research and practice may not adequately address aging issues. The Older Psychologists Survey attempts to address the issues of women and aging.

For the report, APA surveyed 2,000 APA members, age 55 to 96, who were randomly chosen to answer a 32-item questionnaire. Survey questions covered areas such as attitudes toward aging, living arrangements, financial security, feelings toward retirement and health-care providers, caregiving and life satisfaction. The response rate was 57.5 percent.

The report also details the respondents' experiences with age discrimination, how APA may have helped or hindered them as they aged and what APA should do for its older members.

To obtain a copy of the free report, call the Women's Programs Office at (202) 336-6044. The report is also scheduled to be on APA's Web Site in early 2000.

APA committee announces PsycLIT donations program

APA's Journal Donations Review Committee is reviewing grant applications from foreign educational and research institutions that seek access to APA's literature database, PsycLIT. The database is updated quarterly on CD-ROM.

APA judges grant applications on five principles:

* Institutional setting: Donations are made only to institutions where PsycLIT will be administered by a librarian and the service will be readily available to all students and faculty.

* Need: Donations are made only to institutions that cannot afford to purchase the lease for PsycLIT.

* Computer equipment: The minimum requirements to run PsycLIT are an IBM or compatible 80386 personal computer; 640K of RAM; 10 MB available hard disk space; MS-DOS or PC-DOS 3.1 or higher; MS-DOS CD-ROM Extension 2.1 or higher, one floppy disk drive; ISO 9660 compatible CD-ROM drive and controller card; a VGA monitor; and a parallel port for a printer (if desired).

* Commitment to the program: Donations will be made to institutions that will commit to continue to lease PsycLIT. Some leases may be extended for one year, but an institution should demonstrate a long-term commitment to purchase PsycLIT annually when the grant lease expires.

* Geographic distribution: APA wants to make the PsycLIT CD-ROM available in the widest possible geographic area, particularly in the developing world and in countries with currency restrictions.

The award does not include computer equipment. All compact disks must be returned when the lease expires. Interested institutions should submit a letter from their librarians outlining the institution's need based on the donation criteria and describing the computer equipment that will be used to operate the program. Send applications to the Office of International Affairs, International PsycLIT Donations Program, at the APA address, fax: (202) 218-3599, e-mail: sleverty@apa.org.

Nominees sought for Fowler Award

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) is seeking nominations for the 2000 Raymond D. Fowler Award, given annually to a psychologist who has made an outstanding contribution to the professional development of students.

Criteria for selection include encouraging and facilitating academic or scientific excellence, encouraging broader socialization of students and helping students to shape their own professional identities.

Nomination materials should include no more than three letters describing why a candidate should be considered and an abbreviated curriculum vitae of no more than seven pages. Applications that exceed length requirements will not be considered. The recipient will give a presentation at APA's 2000 Annual Convention and will be honored with a plaque.

The deadline for submission is Jan. 31. Send all materials to APAGS Fowler Award, c/o APAGS, at the APA address, fax: (202) 336-5694.

Personalized certificates of membership available

APA offers personalized membership certificates to APA Members and Associate members. Certificates include name, month and year of election, and member status.

The membership certificate program is managed through Tribute, a company specializing in awards and certificates. The certificate design includes APA's logo engraved in gold on acid-free stock paper. An unframed membership certificate can be purchased for $12.95. A certificate on a walnut-finish plaque is $24.95. A shipping and handling fee will be added for each item.

For a color flier or to order the membership certificate, please contact Membership: (800) 374-2721 or (202) 336-5580; TDD: (202) 336-6123; fax: (202) 336-5568; e-mail: membership@apa.org.

National committee will review APA Committee on Accreditation

The U.S. Secretary of Education is soliciting public comment as it prepares to review APA's status as a main accrediting body in psychology.

This December, the Secretary's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity will review APA's Committee on Accreditation (CoA) petition for continued recognition of its accrediting activities for doctoral, internship, and postdoctoral programs in professional specialties of psychology. If CoA meets the U.S. Secretary's requirements, it will continue to be listed as part of a directory of reliable authorities on the quality of postsecondary education and training in general as well as in vocations and professions.

As part of the review, the Secretary requests third-party comments or oral testimony before the National Advisory Committee. For more information on providing third-party comment or on deadlines for submission, contact Cathy Sheffield, Accreditation and Eligibility Determination Division, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, Room 3915, ROB-3, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5244, (202) 708-7417. Comments must comply with the Secretary's Procedures and Criteria for the Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, a copy of which may be obtained at the above address.

APA attracts more students to its ranks

In September, APA launched its annual poster campaign to promote student affiliation as well as association publications designed specifically for students. Undergraduate and graduate psychology departments throughout the United States received posters and applications describing the benefits of student affiliate membership in APA. The benefits of APA Student Affiliation include subscriptions to the Monitor and American Psychologist, discounts on APA books and journals, and eligibility for a student insurance program.

Undergraduate psychology departments also received two additional posters that promote APA publications geared to student needs. Those publications include: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 4th Edition; Mastering APA Style: Student's Workbook and Training Guide; Dissertations and Theses From Start to Finish; Presenting Your Findings: A Practical Guide for Creating Tables; Critical Thinking About Research; Reading and Understanding Multivariate Statistics; Graduate Study in Psychology; Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology; Career Paths In Psychology: Where Your Degree Can Take You; and Is Psychology The Major For You?

Two new electronic study guides are also available for undergraduate psychology departments and students. The APA Style Helper 2.0, an electronic companion to the APA Publication Manual, gives clear and straightforward help on how to format references, citations, headings, statistics, tables and more, according to APA Style guidelines. Electronic Graduate Study in Psychology contains a fully searchable database of graduate programs in psychology and is available only online.

If your department has not received the posters or would like to receive additional posters or applications, contact Membership at the APA address, e-mail: membership@apa.org.

Gerson Memorial Grant welcomes nominations

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is seeking nominations for the 2000 Randy Gerson Memorial Grant. APF created the grant to advance the systemic understanding of family or couple dynamics or multigenerational processes. Work that advances theory, assessment or clinical practice in these areas will be considered eligible for grants through the fund.

The review board will give highest priority to projects using or contributing to the development of Bowenian family systems theory. Priority also will be given to those projects that serve to advance Gerson's work in the following publications: "Genograms Assessment and Intervention," by McGoldrick, Gerson and Shellenberger (Norton, 1999); "The family life cycle: phases, stages and crises," by Mikesell, Lusterman and McDaniel in Integrating Family Therapy, (APA, 1995); "Family systems theory and Imago therapy: a theoretical interpretation," Journal of Imago Relationship Therapy (Vol. 1, p. 19-41, 1996); "Family of origin frames in couples therapy," Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (Vol. 19, p. 341-354, 1993).

Applicants from a variety of professional or educational settings are encouraged to apply, but must have a doctorate (PhD, PsyD, EdD, MD). Each year the awards are given alternately to a student or a professional, and the 2000 Gerson grant will go to a professional.

Applications must include seven copies of:

* A statement for the proposed project.

* A rationale for how the project meets the fund's goals.

* A budget for the project.

* An explanation of how the results of the project will be disseminated (published paper, report, monograph, etc.).

* A curriculum vitae and two letters of recommendation.

The amount of the grant is $5,000. Send application packets by Feb. 1 to the APF Awards Coordinator/Gerson at the APA address, (202) 336-5814, e-mail: foundation@apa.org.

New funding is available for scientific meetings

At the direction of APA's Board of Directors, the Office of International Affairs has established an annual $3,500 fund to provide support for diverse scientific events and projects that foster the exchange of knowledge among psychologists across the world. APA's Committee on International Relations in Psychology (CIRP), or a subcommittee of CIRP, will make all the funding decisions.

Funds may be used to support any of the following activities associated with scientific meetings: organizing expenses (e.g., printing, postage, supplies); scholarships for travel or registration for targeted populations (e.g., students, special speakers); support for special events (e.g., historical exhibits); activities related to a theme that is deemed of importance; or support for social or cultural events.

Priority will be given in the following order:

* International or multicultural organizations that have standing collaborative relationships with APA for five or more years.

* New or established organizations holding socially significant and relevant events.

* Other international organizations.

* Other multicultural organizations that have U.S. members.

* Organizations whose events are attended by U.S. citizens.

* Organizations that hold events attended by 500 or more people.

* New or one-time events that hold great social relevance. Preference will be shown for not-for-profit organizations.

Each application for funding should include a brief description of the applicant's organization with mission statement and other relevant documents that describe the organization and a description of the organization's relationships with APA.

Applications should also include an overview of the event's objectives and activities, including a preliminary program; a description of the department that will carry out the event; and the budget for the event--including a portion requested from APA and other funding sources, as well as a description of the event's proposed products (e.g., monographs, CD-ROMs). Organizations must agree to provide CIRP a post-event financial report, accounting for the expenditure of the grant award, and a summary report of the event.

Applications are due no later than Feb. 15. Letters and supporting documents should be sent to International Scientific Meetings Support Fund, c/o APA Office of International Affairs, at the APA address, fax: (202) 218-3599.

Minority fellowship program seeks members for its advisory committee

APA's Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) seeks three new members for its advisory committee to serve three-year terms beginning Sept. 1, 2000.

MFP administers federally funded training programs for doctoral students in Psychology-Mental Health Services (formerly referred to as "Clinical"), Mental Health Research and the Minority Aging Network in Psychology. The program strives to improve the quality of mental health treatment and research on issues of concern to ethnic-minority populations and to increase the number of those providing mental health services and research in these areas.

MFP Advisory Committee members attend committee meetings every March to select new MFP Fellows, review the progress of continuing fellows and nominate graduate fellows for awards. Each December, the committee reviews the MFP program; reviews, updates or revises MFP program materials (e.g., publications and brochures); develops and reviews programming for upcoming APA annual conventions; and reviews the MFP application and selection process in anticipation of the March committee meeting.

The deadline for nominations is Dec. 1. Nominations to the MFP Advisory Committee can originate from the nominee or from a third party. To nominate a new member, send a letter of support and a curriculum vitae to MFP, Attn: Advisory Committee Selection, at the APA address. Psychologists with expertise in school psychology, HIV/AIDS and substance-abuse prevention and treatment are encouraged to apply.

Student award recognizes outstanding work with ethnic minorities

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) invites nominations for the Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Professional Development of Ethnic Minority Graduate Students.

The award, developed by APAGS Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs (APAGS-CEMA), recognizes the efforts of ethnic-minority professionals (researchers, academics, clinicians or administrators) in psychology for their contributions and commitment to the academic and professional development of ethnic-minority graduate students in psychology. A plaque will be presented to the awardee at a special ceremony during APA's 2000 Annual Convention.

Candidates for the award must be nominated by at least two graduate students currently enrolled in a graduate program in psychology. Students must be APA student affiliates. Students nominating the candidates for the award must write a 300- to 500-word essay describing the nominee's merits based on achievements in one or more of the following areas:

* Service within the department/institution on behalf of ethnic-minority graduate students.

* Advocacy for ethnic-minority students within the department/institution.

* Mentorship of ethnic-minority graduate students (in research, academic, clinical or public interest endeavors).

* Outstanding support of and contributions to the career development of ethnic-minority graduate students.

Complete nominations should include five copies of the nomination essay; names, addresses, telephone numbers and institutional affiliations of students submitting the nomination; name, professional title (including degree), institutional affiliation, address and telephone number of the nominee; and a copy of the nominee's vita.

All nominations must be postmarked by Jan. 31. Send all materials to Jennifer Fleming, c/o APAGS Clark Award, at the APA address.

Scholarships available for graduate students

The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) has established the 2000 APAGS Scholarship Program, which grants four awards of up to $1,000 each year. In awarding these scholarships, the selection committee will strive to assist students who primarily study the scientific aspects of psychology.

Each scholarship requires the applicant be a member in good standing with APAGS and enrolled at least half time as a student in good standing at a regionally accredited university. APAGS officers, committee and task force chairs and task force members are not eligible.

The four scholarships are:

* The David Pilon Scholarship for Training in Professional Psychology, which promotes supplemental training and education in professional psychology. The scholarship must be used for a specific training program or opportunity that will result in a significant increase in the student's knowledge of psychology.

* The Masters Scholarship for Research in Psychology, which funds thesis research and scientific study in psychology.

* Scott Mesh Honorary Scholarship for Research in Psychology, which funds dissertation research and scientific study .

* The Ellin Bloch and Pierre Ritchie Honorary Scholarship, which encourages students to pursue education or training on important social issues or topics related to underrepresented groups in psychology.

Recipients will be required to report how they use their award. All scholarships require an abbreviated two-page curriculum vitae; an official transcript; a proposal of no more than three pages that describes the proposed education and training program; and two letters of recommendation supporting the student's application and qualifications, and describing how the training program will benefit the student and how it will meet the student's future educational and professional goals.

For the David Pilon and Bloch and Ritchie scholarships, graduate students must also submit a 500-word statement addressing the how the scholarship will meet the student's short- and long-term goals and how the education or training program will enhance his or her work as a professional psychologist. The deadline for applications is Jan. 31. For more information, contact Jennifer Fleming, APAGS Staff Liaison, (202) 336-6014. Send all materials to APAGS Scholarship Program at the APA address.

Minority fellowships available for doctoral students

APA's Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is now accepting applications for its fellowships in mental health services, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS research and neuroscience. MFP has created five programs to support the training of researchers and practitioners:

* The Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Fellowships, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which supports the training of practitioners and researchers in substance-abuse prevention and treatment.

* The Mental Health Research and HIV/AIDS Research Fellowships, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which supports the training of researchers in psychological and mental health research and in HIV/AIDS research.

* The Neuroscience Fellowship, funded by NIMH, which supports the training of research scientists in neuroscience.

The deadline for all five fellowships is Jan. 15. For more information and application materials, contact MFP at the APA address, (202) 336-6027, fax: (202) 336-6012, or visit MFP's web site at www.apa.org/mfp. Please note that MFP revised all of their applications and brochures in September. Discard all materials printed before this date and contact MFP for new applications and brochures.



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