WHEREAS the general population of the United States is projected to change within the next generation and become a pluralistic society;

WHEREAS there is a current and projected under-representation of ethnic minority students, faculty, practitioners, and researchers in the field of psychology;

WHEREAS the educational pipeline requires recruitment and retention efforts across the spectrum of education from pre-college to entry into the field of psychology;

WHEREAS psychologist in education will need to become increasingly conversant on issues relevant to an increasingly diverse student population and pluralistic society; and

WHEREAS the lack of ethnic minority representation ans focus impacts the relevance of psychology to prepare students to function in a diversified society and to provide appropriate services;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that APA places a high priority on issues related to the education of ethnic minorities. These issues include planning appropriately diverse curricula, promoting psychology as a course of study and career option as well as recruitment, retention, advising, and mentoring of minority students at all levels of education. (December 1993)

WHEREAS affirmative action is defined as a remedy for both past and continuing discrimination based on race, ethnicity and gender; and

WHEREAS affirmative action seeks to put in place voluntary and mandatory efforts by federal, state and local governments, private employers and schools; to combat discrimination, foster fair hiring and advancement of qualified individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity and gender; and to promote equal opportunity in education and employment for all (Stephanopoulos and Edley, 1995; Wilson, 1995); and

WHEREAS evidence that discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability continues to exist in employment and educational settings, despite years of effort to eliminate them; and clearly delineated institutional policies and procedures designed to assure fairness and equality can deter such discrimination (Report of the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission, 1995); and

WHEREAS affirmative action is one of the most effective ways to address the long-standing problems of racism and sexism in our country, thereby serving as a means of reaching America's goal of equality (Pratkanis and Turner, 1995); and

WHEREAS affirmative action benefits all members of society because all citizens benefit by being part of a well-trained, competitive workforce capable of participating effectively in the global world market place and of supporting an aging population (Helms, 1996; Norton & Fox, 1998); and

WHEREAS America is increasingly becoming a multiethnic, multilingual, and multicultural society, psychology recognizes the need for ethnic diversity within the profession to increase the fields capacity to address the health and behavior issues for ethnically diverse groups in a culturally appropriate and culturally competent fashion (Myers, et. al, 1991); and

WHEREAS many ethnic minority groups disproportionately experience the trauma of oppression, discrimination, and poverty which at times may be manifested through behavioral, health and mental health problems that psychologists address (e.g., substance abuse, emotional and behavioral disturbances, etc.), psychology recognizes the need for culturally competent training in assessment and provision of services to individuals who experience these problems (Ponterotto, et. al, 1995); and

WHEREAS APA joins organizations such as the Association of American Medical Colleges in recognizing that the failure of health professions to adequately address the needs of ethnic minority populations represents a public health crisis, and strongly supports efforts to ensure diversity in the nation's healthcare workforce (Association of American Medical Colleges, 1997); and

WHEREAS true diversity can only be accomplished by proactive, affirmative programs to increase the enrollment of qualified ethnic minority students in undergraduate and graduate training programs in psychology and increase the numbers of ethnic minority faculty and psychological service providers within training and service settings (Myers, et. al, 1991; Testimony of APA (1997)); and

WHEREAS the American Psychological Association is committed, in its Mission Statement and in its Bylaws, I.1, " . . . to advance psychology as a science and profession and as a means of promoting human welfare . . . ";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association reaffirms its commitment to affirmative action. American Psychological Association supports equality of opportunity for persons regardless of race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and national origin.

Furthermore, the APA encourages psychological and public policy research that would illuminate sources of bias in institutional policies and practices that lead to discrimination against the aforementioned groups and favors research that suggests avenues for elimination of discrimination.

American Psychological Association. (1996). Clarifying The Debate: Psychology Examines The Issues. Affirmative Action: Who Benefits? Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

American Psychological Association. (1997). Testimony of the APA presented to the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution on the topic of "H.R. 1909 'The Civil Rights Act of 1997'", Thursday, June 26, 1997.

Association of American Medical Colleges. (1997). Issue Brief: The Impact of Ending Affirmative Action on the Nation's Physician Workforce. AAMC: Washington, D.C.

Federal Glass Ceiling Commission (1995, March). Good for Business: Making Full Use of the Nation's Human Capital. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

Helms, J. E. (1996). Affirmative Action: Who Benefits? A Where Do We Go From Here? Washington, DC: The American Psychological Association.

Myers, H.F., Wohlford, P., Guzman, L.P., Echemendia, R.J., (1991). Ethnic Minority Perspectives on Clinical Training and Services In Psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Norton, J.R., & Fox, R.E. (1997). The Change Equation: Capitalizing on Diversity for Effective Organizational Change. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Pratkanis, A.R., & Turner, M.E. (1995). The Proactive Removal of Discriminatory Barriers: Affirmative Action As Effective Help.

Stephanopoulos, G., and Edley, C., Jr. (1995). Affirmative Action Review: Report to the President. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

Wilson, R. (1995). Affirmative Action: Yesterday, Today, and Beyond. Report. Washington, DC: American Council on Education.