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Update Your Chapter: We're International and So Are You!
by Martha S. Zlokovich, PhD - Psi Chi Executive Director - Associate Editor
Categories: Executive Director's Message
s everyone settles in for the start to a new academic year, your chapter may have new officers, or previous officers starting in new positions. In addition, most chapters are preparing for or have just had a fall induction of new members, and are encouraging current members to stay involved. Therefore, its a good time to make sure that your chapter has been keeping up with significant Society changes.
When Psi Chi chapters voted last year to make Psi Chi an international honor society, they also approved other wording changes that need to be updated in your chapter’s materials. Here is a checklist of changes that need to be made, if your chapter has not already completed them.
- All references to Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, should be changed to Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
- Any reference to National activities or opportunities should be changed to Society activities or opportunities.
- The National Council is now called the Board of Directors.
- The National Office located in Chattanooga, TN, is now called the Central Office.
- The new Psi Chi seal can be accessed on the Forms/Downloads page at www.psichi.org/Downloads/ where you can scroll down to the very bottom, and click on the last option.
- Psi Chi colors are now navy and platinum rather than blue and gold. There is no requirement for chapters to change items they already own such as a banner, table cover, or registration book; however, blue and gold items will no longer be available for purchase once they have sold out.
Where might your chapter need to make changes? Appropriate changes should be made to your chapter’s:
- Website
- Calendar
- Email signatures
- Flyer and announcement templates
- PowerPoint presentation templates
- Facebook page
- Twitter account
- Registration of Psi Chi with your campus student organizations office
- T-shirts created by the chapter
- Bylaws
- Invitation letter to potential members
- Induction ceremony rites
- Quarterly activities reports
- Annual report
- Annual financial report
The locations and materials listed in 1-6 are items that your chapter officers, or faculty advisor, can easily access and change. Items 1-15 are things you may be able to change if previous officers have stored copies. If not, you can go to the same Psi Chi website address listed earlier for updated information under Officer Materials, item 1. Officer Handbook.
Members should also be reminded that if they have listed their membership or officer positions on their resumes, they should update the name of the Society there too. When current faculty advisors list their service on their vitae, resume, or faculty website, they should refer to Psi Chi as international as well.
You are now members of an international organization, not just a national organization!
Throughout this academic year you will begin to see more results of Psi Chi’s new international status. Faculty and students from universities in Australia, Canada, Cypress, Egypt, Guatemala, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Turkey, Russia, and the West Indies have contacted us about applying for a chapter of Psi Chi. The Board of Directors and I are working on exciting opportunities for current chapters, as well as new international chapters as they come on board, to interact with one another in cross-cultural activities and research projects. Keep an eye on Psi Chi's
Eye, as well as the Psi Chi website.
Fall 2010 issue of Eye on Psi Chi (Vol. 15, No. 1, p. 5), published by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2010, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.