In January 2018, the Psychology Student Network published an article that I wrote about seven new reasons to join Psi Chi. Exciting programs and products discussed include:
- An eBook about going to grad school.
- Undergraduate and graduate scholarships.
- Support for transparent research practices.
- Hundreds of new job opportunities.
- Popular online resources.
- A new blog.
- A new Psi Chi Instagram account.
It feels as though I finished submitting that previous article just yesterday. But now, fast-forward only half a year into the future, and there are already equally as many brand-new benefits and programs that you should know about. Psi Chiopens in new window is the International Honor Society in Psychology, which welcomes eligible psychology undergraduates, graduate students and full-time faculty to join. It is because of these passionate individuals that our professional organization has continued to thrive and support members and others in their communities.
So, let’s get started. Here are seven more reasons to join Psi Chi:
- Psi Chi Connect
Our latest effort to link up with members is through Psi Chi Connectopens in new window, a new online networking tool that is also available as a downloadable app in the iTunes Storeopens in new window or on Google Playopens in new window. Psi Chi members are encouraged to create a free account on this platform so that they can communicate with each other, stay in touch with Psi Chi even after they graduate, and mentor one another on various psychology and career-related topics.
Online Connect Groups specifically for students, advisors and counselors allow members to reach out to and learn from individuals with interests similar to their own. You can also create one-on-one mentorships by submitting subject areas that you have expertise in or that you have questions about; the system will then pair you as appropriate with mentors or mentees matching those unique specifications. As an added perk, users can sync Connect with their LinkedIn accounts so that most profile information is filled in and updated automatically. - Help Helped Me Initiative
During his 2017–18 Psi Chi presidency, R. Eric Landrum, PhD, led an initiative to promote help-seeking behavior through published articles and resources for members and chapters. Whether you struggle with a mental illness, bullying, sexual harassment/abuse, tutoring or test taking, this initiative seeks to establish the tools and support for you to seek help whenever you might need it. See Landrum’s recent Eye on Psi Chi magazine articleopens in new window to learn more, and use hashtag #Help_HelpedMeopens in new window.
Psi Chi encourages members and chapters to continue supporting this important cause into the future as you see opportunities to make a difference in your local community. - Tools to promote diversity
Psi Chi’s next yearlong focus is now being organized by the new 2018–19 president, Melanie Domenech Rodríguez, PhD, about “Leveraging Technology to Advance Diversity and Inclusion.” As Psi Chi’s new Diversity and Inclusion Statement proclaimsopens in new window, “The scope of our organizational relevance is only as broad as the diversity of our membership and their scholarly pursuits.” Additional information and resources will be released throughout the coming year. See our new Diversity Matters online resourceopens in new window for strategies to promote diversity in your classrooms, meetings and events. - New examples for Open Science Practices
Building on Psi Chi’s dedication to promoting transparent and replicable research practices, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Researchopens in new window recently released its first-ever special issueopens in new window. This unique free issue showcases a broad range of empirical articles, each of which received one or more Open Science Badges for sharing open data, open materials, preregistering their research and/or conducting replication studies. See the introductory editorialopens in new window to learn how Open Science Badges can be used to solidify your research.
Psi Chi undergraduates, graduate students and faculty are invited to gain publication and peer-review experience by submitting their empirical research to our peer-reviewed journal. All psychology-related subject areas are welcome. - NICE Connect and Crowd
Psi Chi’s Network for International Collaborative Exchange (NICE) was created to facilitate cross-cultural research projects among Psi Chi members and nonmember researchers, both within the United States and internationally. The first component of NICE is NICE Connectopens in new window, a new tool for research projects seeking collaborators. Researchers post brief HAVEs or NEEDs, and are able to review a list of potential projects to join. The second component of NICE, NICE Crowdopens in new window, welcomes proposals for research projects that could be investigated cross-culturally. The NICE Committee will select one to three proposed collaborative research projects, which Psi Chi will then specifically promote in order to generate large-scale collaboratively collected data from the United States and beyond. - The Chapter Challenge
To support chapter fundraising and growth, this spring Psi Chi kicked off its first annual Chapter Challengeopens in new window. Funds raised were used to support participating local chapters and all Psi Chi programs. Seventeen chapters “took the Challenge” this year, and staff are already eagerly preparing to make next year’s Challenge bigger and better than ever. - New online store (with cool new merch)
Psi Chi’s new state-of-the-art mobile-friendly storeopens in new window offers a lot more than just popular graduation regalia. Specific sections for apparel, accessories, chapter supplies and digital downloads are all worth checking out. Along with the launch of the new store design, we also offer two new features: Virtual Gift Cardsopens in new window and wishlistsopens in new window, making it easier than ever for you to shop for “the Psi Chi person who has everything.”
Are you passionate about psychology?
Ok, so now you know about many of Psi Chi’s latest endeavors. When you stop to consider that this article only reflects the past six months — out of Psi Chi’s total 89 years of growth since 1929 — you will probably begin to get an idea of the organization’s true size and its impact across the field of psychology.
Psi Chi membership provides instant international recognition for academic excellence in psychology, countless local mentorship and student leadership opportunities, and more than $400,000 in annual awards and grants. All of these benefits are honors that can be added to your employment applications, vitaes and resumés. Members also receive unique publishing opportunities in Psi Chi’s APA-indexed, peer-reviewed journal, educational magazine and blog.
Are you interested in becoming a lifetime member of Psi Chi through your local chapter? Undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members are welcome to apply onlineopens in new window. If there isn’t already a chapter at your four-year college or university, you also have the option of starting a new chapteropens in new window.
About the author
Five years ago, Bradley Cannon joined the Psi Chi Central Office staff in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Originally an intern, he is now Psi Chi’s full-time writer/managing editor, working closely with Psi Chi’s Department of Communications and the Editorial Team of Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. Bradley received a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 9-month-old son, Hamilton.
