APA Convention
APA'S council takes further action on independent review
The revision will become effective on Jan.1, 2017, and will be printed in the December issue of American Psychologist.
The action was in response to last year's Independent Review (IR), which found that APA guidelines related to psychologist participation in national security interrogations were no more restrictive than those of the Department of Defense. The council voted last August to prohibit psychologists' involvement in such interrogations.
The council also considered a new business item entitled, "Resolution in favor of providing support and assistance to military and national security psychologists striving to abide by the APA Ethics Code and APA policy." This measure would have allowed military psychologists (in addition to other psychologists working for detainees) to provide mental health services to detainees at sites where detainees are denied protections under the U.S. Constitution, and/or international law (as determined by APA's 2015 policy). Due to the complexity of the issue, the council decided to postpone its consideration until its February meeting.
In other action, the council:
- Heard a report on the Commission on Ethics Processes from its co-chairs, Paul Root Wolpe, PhD, and Melba Vasquez, PhD. Formed in response to the IR, the commission is charged with evaluating and recommending changes to the APA ethics processes. The commission plans to present its final report and recommendations to the council at its February meeting.
- Approved a proposal for a new membership category. The council approved asking members to vote for a bylaw amendment that would establish a new affiliate membership category for "Friends of Psychology." The category would be open to people interested in supporting APA's mission who are not eligible for other membership types. There is a large population interested in applying psychological principles to their work and personal lives, including the 100,000 who graduate with bachelor's degrees in psychology each year. This new category would create a way for those interested in psychology to become more engaged with APA and the psychology field.
The proposed bylaw change will be sent to the membership for a vote in November. See "Members to vote on APA bylaws changes" for the bylaws language.
To read the minutes of the entire council meeting, go to www.apa.org/about/governance/council .
Promoting rights
APA appoints task force on human rights
APA President Susan H. McDaniel, PhD, has appointed a Task Force on Human Rights that will be responsible for providing strategic advice to the association in its engagement in the promotion and protection of human rights. The task force members are:
Maureen O'Connor, PhD , chair, Palo Alto University.
Kathleen H. Dockett, EdD , University of the District of Columbia (emerita).
Kirby Huminuik, MA , University of British Columbia.
Diya Jacob Kallivayalil, PhD , Cambridge Health Alliance.
Sam G. McFarland, PhD , Western Kentucky University (emeritus).
Jessica Wyndham , American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The group has been charged with producing a report by the end of this year to:
- Define human rights as related to psychology to clarify the relationship of human rights to APA's mission; relate the concept of human rights to human welfare, social and ethical responsibility, public interest and social justice; and help frame and guide APA's work to promote human rights.
- Review APA's recent and ongoing human rights activities.
- Analyze comments and recommendations regarding human rights from APA boards and committees.
- Consider strategies, goals, objectives and priorities for APA's engagement in human rights issues and related activities.
- Discuss the various constituencies in APA that might have particular interests in human rights and how they can be involved in APA's programmatic activities related to the promotion of human rights.
- Recommend ways to ensure APA's commitment to human rights is ongoing and visible.
- Identify human rights-focused organizations and coalitions that APA might work with in the future.
Career tool
Help for postdocs and early career psychologists
A new APA resource guides psychologists through the process of creating an individual development plan for securing a first job and maintaining career growth.
APA's Resource for Individual Development Plans (IDPs) takes early career psychologists — especially those in their postdoc years — step-by-step through self-assessment, career exploration and the creation of milestones to help facilitate career development.
IDPs are formalized, structured career training plans tailored to a trainee's unique needs and career aspirations. Federal funding agencies, such as the National Institutes of Healthopens in new window, require the students and postdocs they support to use IDPs or other structured training plans.
IDPs help graduate students and early career professionals identify and encourage the use of opportunities that increase their professional and career development. Such opportunities often exist:
- In the training or work environment (mentoring or supervising undergraduates in the lab).
- At the host school or institution (resume-writing workshops).
- Through professional societies (career panels at conferences and conventions).
- Assess Yourself: What motivates you? What are your skills, interests and abilities?
- Explore Careers: Research the myriad career and job options available, and what skills, abilities and competencies are needed to succeed.
- Compare & Contrast: What is missing in your experience and training in terms of skills, abilities and competencies?
- Set Goals: Make concrete plans to measure and track your progress.
- Implement and Revise: Use specific milestones with clear deadlines and outcomes to ensure you make progress, and revise your IDP so it stays current with your career stage.
For more information, go to www.apa.org/education/grad/individual-development-plan.
CEO search
Could you be APA's next CEO?
If you are a psychologist with a proven track record of leading a complex organization, consider applying to be APA's next chief executive officer.
APA's mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives. Located in Washington, D.C., the association has a staff of more than 550 employees and annual revenues of $111 million.
Candidates must have a psychological doctoral degree and must be full members or fellows of APA. The job description and requirements for the CEO position appear online. You can also apply online at Korn Ferry International, the firm that APA has hired for the search.
Candidates for the CEO position will be vetted this fall. APA's Board of Directors is expected to make its final selection in December. APA's Council of Representatives will be asked to confirm the candidate after that.
–Compiled by Monitor staff