2008 Psi Chi National Elections
1/31/2008
Once again, it is time for Psi Chi's National Elections. Psi Chi holds elections every year for its National Council, whose members together govern our organization. This year ballots will be submitted electronically based on a constitutional amendment change approved by chapters in 2005. No mail ballots will be sent out to chapters, all chapters must cast their ballots online.
The candidates for National Officers are made up from the nominations received from Psi Chi chapters. Chapters will vote on the Psi Chi President-Elect and for Regional Vice-President if your chapter is located in the Midwestern, Southeastern, or Southwestern Regions (see map). The other three Regional Vice-Presidents are elected in odd-numbered years. Links to information about all the candidates' biographical information, position statements, and their goals for their term of office are listed below. The deadline to vote is March 15, 2008.
>> In-Depth: Who's Running? | How to Vote | Why Vote? | Constitution
Who's Running?
This year's candidates for the 2007-08 Psi Chi National Council (click on candidate's name for their biographical and position statements) are as follows, listed by position and then in alphabetical order:
National President-Elect
· Richard A. Kasschau, PhD, University of Houston (TX)
· Alvin Wang, PhD, University of Central Florida
Midwestern Regional Vice-President
· Betsy L. Morgan, PhD, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
· Dan Corts, PhD, Augustana College ( )
Southeastern Regional Vice-President
· Maria Lavooy, PhD, University of Central Florida at Cocoa
· Christina Sinisi, PhD, Charleston Southern University (SC)
Southwestern Regional Vice-President
· Randall Osborne, PhD, Texas State University–San Marcos
How Does My Chapter Vote?
First, chapters should plan to organize a chapter meeting where all members can be present when the candidates for office are announced. Use this meeting time to read the candidates’ background information. Have your chapter make an informed decision about selecting which candidate your members think would best benefit Psi Chi in the upcoming year.
After your chapter has made a decision on the candidate(s), your Psi Chi Chapter President, with assistance from the faculty advisor as needed, can access the electronic ballot by logging in as a chapter administrator between February 1 and March 15, 2008 on the Psi Chi website at www.psichi.org/chapters/login.asp.
If your chapter has lost its chapter administrator login information, it can be emailed to your chapter’s current email contact by going to www.psichi.org/chapters/login_forgot.asp.
A menu of administrator options will appear after successfully logging in, and a new section named “Ballots/Voting” will appear at the top of the list of options. Click on the “Ballots/Voting” link to continue. This section will only be visible February 1–March 15, 2008.
You will then be presented with your chapter’s ballot(s). All active chapters will have a ballot and be able to vote for the Psi Chi National President-Elect position. Chapters in the Midwestern, Southeastern, and Southwestern Regions will also be able to vote for their region’s vice-president.
Select the ballot you want to cast a vote for, choose the candidate your chapter has selected, and click on the “Submit Ballot” button. A confirmation screen will appear with your candidate selection and, if necessary, allow you to cancel your vote and resubmit it if you made an error. Just as with mail ballots, once you submit your vote, you cannot edit or change your vote.
Why Vote?
Your chapter’s vote is extremely important since it determines the leadership of Psi Chi which sets Psi Chi policy. Your chapter’s vote helps direct the future of Psi Chi and the meaningfulness of your lifetime membership.
Additionally, your chapter's online ballot submission is one of the criteria used by judges when considering winners for the Model Chapter Awards, the Cousins National Chapter Award, and the Regional Chapter Awards.
Constitution
The Psi Chi Constitution speaks to some of the specifics of the position of President-Elect:
[Article IV, Section 3] ...The President-Elect shall be elected annually to serve a one-year term as President-Elect followed by a one-year term as President and a one-year term as Past-President. The term of office shall begin at the close of the annual National Council business meeting at the national convention.
[Article V, Section 3] The President-Elect shall preside in the absence of the President and fill any vacancy in the office of President, and shall have such other duties as may be determined by the President or the National Council.
Regarding the position of Regional Vice-President, the Psi Chi Constitution states:
[Article IV, Section 3] ...Vice-Presidents shall be elected to two-year terms by vote of the chapters of their regions, those from the Eastern, Rocky Mountain, and Western regions elected in odd-numbered years, and those from the Midwestern, Southeastern, and Southwestern regions elected in even-numbered years. The term of office of Vice-Presidents shall begin on July 1.
[Article V, Section 5] ...Vice-Presidents shall serve as the principal administrative officers of their respective regions. They shall make arrangements for and preside at the annual meetings in their regions, and have such other duties as may be determined by the President or the National Council.
[Article IX, Section 2] The Vice-President of the region shall be the principal administrative officer of that region. The Vice-President shall arrange for and preside at the annual regional convention, and may appoint regional officers, state coordinators, a regional program committee for the regional convention, and such other committees as are deemed necessary to carry on the activities of the region.