2009 Cousins National Chapter Award Winner
Saint Vincent College Chapter of Psi Chi
2008-2009 Ruth Hubbard Cousins/Psi Chi National Chapter Award
Chapter members from Saint Vincent College accept the plaque from Dr. Alvin Wang (Psi Chi President) at the APA/Psi Chi Society Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada.
Psi Chi’s primary purpose is “to encourage, stimulate, and maintain
excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fi elds,
particularly psychology, and to advance the science of psychology.”
In addition to adhering to Psi Chi’s policies and standards, a successful
chapter possesses a collection of other characteristics. Th e Saint Vincent
College Psi Chi Chapter believes that the most affi rming qualities of a
successful chapter include eff ective leadership, dedicated membership, and
the advancement of its members’ professional and personal development.
Effective leadership provides the essential foundation for a successful
chapter. Officers must not only aim to satisfy the goals of the chapter,
but should also offer ample opportunities for individual members to
flourish in the field of psychology. Th ey must go above and beyond
the requirements of an active chapter; they must compel members to
devote their time and energy toward serving the chapter’s goals through
the development of innovative, stimulating activities. Officers should
be dependable and personable, interacting with current members and
potential inductees. They should also offer support to incoming officers by
imparting how to best fulfill their responsibilities. While developing new
programming and services themselves, officers should be receptive and
appreciative of the diversity of its members, encouraging feedback and
remaining open to members’ suggestions. Our experienced officers over
the past 3 years have involved new members in various ways, inspiring
them to share their ideas and reach out to current and prospective
members. Overall, it is evident that strong leadership is necessary to
creating and maintaining the cohesiveness of a chapter.
Dedicated members are also essential to ensuring a chapter’s success.
Students should be aware of the goals and standards of Psi Chi and the
responsibilities of membership upon their induction. Members must
also recognize their role in the chapter and concentrate their efforts
and creative capacities on providing services to the chapter, college,
and community. The response to our service projects has always been
overwhelming because our students are so highly motivated and eager to
help, even with our more demanding projects.
A successful chapter must foster the professional development of its
members. Members should have opportunities to enhance their research
experience, participate in research conferences, and obtain access to
resources pertaining to careers, internships, graduate school programs,
and other relevant interests in the field of psychology. Our chapter has
consistently provided a supportive environment in which students are
encouraged to pursue ambitious research endeavors and participate
in professional activities. We have sponsored several luncheons and
dinners during which professionals spoke to students about careers and
research in psychology. Moreover, our Psychology Department Resource
Center contains handouts, books, pamphlets, and other materials to
aid students in their searches for careers, internships, and graduate
schools. During the past 3 years, 57 of our members have presented
their research at conferences, namely the annual meeting of EPA, Laurel
Highlands Undergraduate Psychology Conference, and Saint Vincent
College Student Conference. Two of our graduated members received
regional research awards for their posters at the EPA conferences in 2007
and 2008. In addition, six students have publications in peer-reviewed
nonundergraduate journals. Our chapter also traditionally funds our
junior students’ travel to the EPA conference each year so they can
anticipate how to present their senior theses in a professional atmosphere
the following year. Ultimately, a successful chapter strives to promote the
academic growth and scholarship of its members, thereby enabling them
to establish their identities within the field of psychology.
A successful chapter should also cultivate the personal development of
its members. Being directly involved with various organizations enables
members to gain a more eclectic perspective on the treatment of mental
illness and the problems typically encountered in the human services field.
Th e Saint Vincent Psi Chi Chapter has established various stimulating,
rewarding activities throughout the past 3 years, including a textbook
drive for Africa, a supply drive for victims of domestic violence at the
Blackburn Center, and a gift -giving for residents of Saint Anne Home.
We have also used funds generated from our annual Halloween Treat Bag
sale to make monetary donations to organizations such as the Children’s
Institute and the Arc of Westmoreland. Th rough service activities,
members are able to demonstrate their compassion and generosity, apply
the knowledge they have acquired in the classroom to the real world, and
experience fi rsthand the types of organizations they will likely encounter
in the field of psychology.