Convention programming on key issues
APAGS hosted dozens of events at APA's Annual Convention, held Aug. 7-10 in Washington, D.C., including tracks for professional development, practice and research. A highlight was a discussion with students and training council chairs led by APA President Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, on novel ideas to end the internship crisis. Another convention highlight was the competitive-entry poster session for late-breaking data. Hundreds of students stopped by the APAGS booth to meet staff and student leaders and learn how to get further involved. Convention handouts are available at the gradPSYCH blog.
New video on the internship crisis
APAGS committee members filmed a video to educate members of the psychology community about the internship crisis. The video infuses historical data about the national internship match imbalance with reflections from applicants who went through the match. It also offers possible solutions to end the crisis.
"APAGS on the Road" heads to California
APAGS is teaming up with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and The Trust at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on Sept. 20 and the University of California, Berkeley, on Sept. 21. Its popular traveling workshop, "What They Didn't Teach Me in Graduate School," will focus on topics such as building a private practice, loan forgiveness and repayment options, psychological services in the digital age and best practices to prepare for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. APAGS will also offer a workshop in both cities for prospective graduate students on finding the right graduate program. Go to the events calendar to register.
Delving into student debt
In an effort to better advocate for members with mounting student loans, APAGS has developed a comprehensive survey on financial literacy and debt. APAGS will distribute the survey to a random sample of members this fall, and the results will shape future advocacy efforts. Stay tuned for responses and articles on how debt affects psychology graduate students.
Subcommittee changes its name for a new era
The APAGS Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs will now be known as the Committee for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Diversity (CARED). This change reflects shifting demographics, name changes in other psychology sectors and a clearer emphasis on the promotion of race and ethnicity factors in psychology training. CARED advocated on Capitol Hill in May for increased funding for APA's Minority Fellowship Program.