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Psychology Grads ACT

About Us

Since the inception of Psych Grads Act, many different initiatives have been accomplished. Perhaps most notably, a space that was formerly a library has now been converted by Psych Grads Act to house a graduate student lounge, that also houses the library, which we reorganized alphabetically. Psych Grads Act has also communicated with administrators on the following key issues: making the course evaluations anonymous and more useful, supplying the graduate student computer lab with necessary equipment, and improving the departmental graduate student handbook. Psych Grads Act also established an outdoor area by lobbying the department for funds for a picnic table near the building. Students spend many hours inside their offices, but when they wanted to take a break to socialize or just eat lunch, it was impossible to do so outside the building, thus, a picnic table was purchased for students’ use. One of our recent initiatives has been to create a resource database, available to all students, which aims to provide information regarding daily grad student life. This database can be found on this web site and includes examples of curriculum vitas and teaching philosophies, funding information, as well as advice from upper-year graduate students. Our approach to initiating change is based on data from assessments of graduate students’ needs in our department as well as our perceptions of what would improve the social and academic lives of graduate students. We strive to ensure that our actions are equally beneficial for graduate students across all areas of psychology.

Projects:

Speakers

August 2008 to Present

Psych Grads ACT is currently working to find and bring educational speakers to the psychology department.

Fundraisers

November 2007 to Present

Psych Grads ACT is continually looking for ways to fundraise money. Past and current projects include bake sales and selling t-shirts. Money that is raised is used for activities and supplies for psychology graduate students.

Course Evaluations

January 2007 to Present

Psych Grads ACT is currently working to revise the course evaluations that graduate students complete at the end of each semester. We have already obtained permission to give the option of completing the evaluations electronically, and are now focusing on improving the questions themselves. All gradate students are being polled for their input and aggregated suggestions will be brought to the department. The goal is to have an evaluation form which is meaningful and appropriate for the evaluation of faculty in graduate courses.

Graduate Student Panel Discussion

Yearly

Beginning in October 2006, upper-year graduate students made up a panel that answered first-year graduate students' questions regarding academic, social, and personal issues which are part of graduate student life. This panel is held once a year in the fall.

Undergraduate Student Panel Discussion

Yearly

Beginning in fall 2007, Psych Grads ACT members made up a panel that answered undergraduate student’s questions regarding graduate school. This panel is held once a year in the fall.

Evaluation of the Needs of Graduate Students in the Psychology Department

Every Two Years

In spring 2006 an online survey was sent to all graduate students in the psychology department to assess their academic and social needs with respect to the department of psychology. The organization then met with the department chair to discuss how the organization could collaborate with the psychology administration on fulfilling these needs. In an effort to obtain updated information from graduate students, an online survey was sent to all graduate students in spring 2008.

Library Development and Clean-Up

October 2003 to August 2008

Psych Grads ACT worked to develop a graduate student lounge/library in the psychology department. During the clean-up events, we cataloged all of the items that were currently in the psychology library. We also established a lounge area, and we continue working to maintain the library. S

Founding Members:

Kristen Abruhem

Kyle Cabral

Wendy Fogo

Shauna McCarthy

Nathan Miller

Hisham Abu Raiya

Maya Yankelevich