APA's Committee on Accreditation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation

At its April 30 meeting, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Board of Directors recognized APA's Committee on Accreditation (CoA) for its accrediting of programs in professional psychology. CHEA recognition affirms that APA's standards and processes as an accrediting organization are consistent with CHEA's quality, improvement and accountability expectations. It is confirmation to our members of APA's commitment to top standards for accreditation.

The CHEA "Recognition Policy and Procedures" provides that, at a minimum, the accrediting organization will undergo a recognition review every 10 years with an interim five-year report. The procedures also state that CHEA may elect to review a recognized accrediting organization out of sequence where "the accrediting organization proposed to change the scope of its activities; or there has been a pattern of documented concerns from institutions following accreditation reviews by the organization over time, and received by CHEA, and the institutions have pursed the accrediting organization's procedures for addressing complaints."

Established in 1996 for the advancement of self-regulation through accreditation, CHEA has assumed the responsibility for nongovernmental recognition of accrediting agencies.

For more information, contact Bridget Larimer, (202) 336-5965.

Ethics Committee welcomes new members and associates

APA's Ethics Committee welcomes two new members and associates. APA's Council of Representatives elected the new members to serve from January 2002 to December 2004. The Ethics Committee selected the associates to serve from April 2002 to March 2004.

The new committee members are Linda F. Campbell, PhD, a counseling psychologist and associate professor at the University of Georgia and director of the department's training clinic and Anne L. Hess, PhD, a neuropsychologist who has been practicing in Bangor, Maine, since 1982.

The new committee associates are Elizabeth V. Swenson, PhD, JD, a professor of psychology at John Carroll University where she teaches professional ethics, and June Grant Wolf, PhD, a clinical psychologist and director of psychology at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, where she is also the director of the clinical psychology internship program and the Southard Clinic.

Fall workshops available for teachers of introductory psychology

Two workshops for teachers of introductory psychology are planned for the fall, one on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at APA headquarters in Washington, D.C., the other on Friday, Nov. 1, in Danbury, Conn.

The workshops are designed for psychology teachers who want to gain greater knowledge of psychology and to develop new teaching techniques. Their focus is on developing new concepts and skills, problem-solving and decisionmaking activities, and scientific thinking in psychology.

The Washington, D.C., workshop, sponsored by the Education Directorate and Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS), will present effective hands-on activities and demonstrations for high school psychology teachers. Participants will also have time to network with other teachers and to exchange ideas and experiences. For more information, please contact Mayella Valero at (202) 572-3013 or by e-mail.

The Education Directorate, TOPSS and Psychology Teachers at Community Colleges are sponsoring the Danbury workshop, which will be held at Western Connecticut State University in conjunction with the Eighth Northeast Conference for Teachers of Psychology (NECTOP) on Nov. 1-2. This is an "early bird" session following which participants will have an opportunity to attend a buffet luncheon, two afternoon sessions on the NECTOP program, a reception/dinner on Friday as well as the Saturday morning NECTOP sessions. For more information, contact Martha Boenau at (202) 336-6140.

Apply now for APA Minority Fellowship Program

APA's Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is now accepting applications for its fellowship programs in psychology and neuroscience. The programs are designed to stimulate interest in ethnic-minority mental health research and mental health services by providing financial support and mentoring to individuals pursuing doctoral degrees.

The fellowships are:

MFP Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Fellowship, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This program is designed for doctoral students in clinical, counseling and school psychology. Applicants must plan to pursue careers as practitioners or psychotherapy researchers specializing in ethnic-minority populations.

MFP Mental Health Research Fellowship, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is geared to those pursuing careers as researchers specializing in mental health issues of concern to ethnic-minority populations. Students who specialize in psychopathology, community, social, developmental, health, aging, cognitive psychology or any other areas related to mental health are encouraged to apply.

MFP HIV/AIDS Research Fellowship, funded by NIMH, is geared to those pursuing careers as research or prevention scientists in HIV/AIDS. The fellowship is funded as a subspecialty under the Mental Health Research Program.

MFP in Neuroscience Predoctoral Fellowship and the MFP in Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship, funded by NIMH, support students pursing careers in neuroscience; including, but not limited to, behavioral neuroscience, cellular neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, neuroanatomy and other fields. Neuroscience fellows receive support to attend the month-long "Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics and Survival" at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. (June-July).

Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents, enrolled full time in a doctoral program at the time the fellowship is awarded (mental health and substance abuse services applicants must be in an APA-accredited program), and demonstrate a commitment to a career in psychology or neuroscience related to ethnic-minority mental health.

MFP Fellowship applications are available beginning Sept. 1 and are accepted through Jan. 15.

You may download an application from the MFP Web site at www.apa.org/mfp, request an application via e-mail at MFP, or write to APA/MFP Fellowship at the APA address.

Occupational stress and health conference coming in 2003

Recognizing the effects the changes in today's workplace are having on workers' health and well-being, APA, along with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the School of Business at Queen's University, will convene the fifth interdisciplinary conference on occupational stress and health.

The conference, "Work, stress and health: new challenges in a changing workplace," will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, March 20-22, with continuing-education workshops on March 19.

Researchers and medical and psychological health practitioners from all disciplines involved in research or practice in occupational health psychology are invited to attend sessions on new research findings, policy, prevention/ intervention programs and policy that address 16 major themes.

For details about the themes and for more information, visit www.apa.org/pi/work or contact Wesley B. Baker, APA's Conference Coordinator, at the APA address; (202) 336-6124 or (202) 336-6117, fax.

Graduate Student Affiliates: last chance to upgrade

APA Graduate Student Affiliates who have received or are about to receive their doctoral degree can move up to Member status at no additional cost in 2002. Eligible paid affiliates who have received this offer should return their special "upgrade" application now (or as soon as they are eligible) to become 2002 Members.

To request this application, contact Membership at (800) 374-2721 or write to the APA address.

Time to renew your membership dues

Watch your mailbox! The 2003 dues statements for Members, Associate Members and Fellows will arrive later this month.

The deadline for payment is Nov. 8. Prompt payment ensures that your records will be updated and that delivery of the Monitor, the American Psychologist, your APA membership card and other important benefits will not be interrupted.

Your paid membership also provides a credit toward your journal of choice, discounts on APA books, delivery of timely newsletters and continued eligibility for APA Insurance Trust programs.

For more information, contact Membership at (800) 374-2721, (202) 336-5580; TDD: (202) 336-6123; fax: (202) 336-5568; or e-mail: Membership

--K. HEWLETT