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Dr. Scott Highhouse

Dr. Michael Zickar

U.S. News and World Report

IO psychology grad program ranked third in nation

The University's longstanding reputation in the area of Industrial and Organizational Psychology has garnered it the number three position in U.S. News and World Report's 2014 listing of best graduate programs in the discipline, up a notch from last year.

U.S. News lists Ph.D. programs ranked best by department chairs and senior faculty. BGSU's program shares the honors with programs at Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and the University of South Florida.

"Industrial and organizational psychologists strive to make workplaces more efficient, pleasant, and productive through research and application," according to the publication.

The goal of Bowling Green's graduate program is to prepare students for careers as active contributors to the psychology of work.

"I have been excited to be a part of the Bowling Green IO psychology program for 16 years," said Dr. Michael Zickar, chair of the Department of Psychology. "The program has a long history starting with Pat Smith and Bob Guion in the 1960s and we have worked hard to maintain and grow the reputation over the years."

Among the program's outstanding faculty is Ohio Eminent Scholar Scott Highhouse.

According to Highhouse, approximately half of the program's students go on to jobs in industry or as external consultants. "We have former students in organizations like Procter & Gamble and Kellogg's, as well as in consulting firms like Development Dimensions International and PDRI," he said. "They are often engaged in developing employee assessment and selection systems or instituting organizational training and development programs. 


The remaining students in the program enter academia as tenure-track faculty. In the last five years, students have accepted positions at Kansas State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Connecticut, to name a few, Highhouse said.

Zickar added that it is gratifying to see the program's graduates go on to become leaders in both academia and the private sector.


"Our national society has an early career award for academics and a separate award for practitioners (i.e., people who work in government or private industry)," he said. "Last year, for the first time in the history of both awards, both winners were BGSU alumni (Dr. Mo Wang who is at University of Florida for Academics and Dr. Jennifer Geimer at Human Resources Research Organization)." 


View the rankings

Help boost BGSU to the top in Recyclemania

Recyclemania, an environmental version of March Madness, is coming down to the wire with BGSU trying to increase its recycling rate and decrease waste as much as possible. The national contest pits colleges and universities against one another to see who can recycle most over an eight-week period. BGSU residence halls have historically done well in the contest, but this year the event has taken on whole new proportions as the entire University is participating, and all recycling across campus will be counted in BGSU's totals each week. This means that everyone can help the University compete by recycling all around campus.

After President Mazey signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment last fall, BGSU also chose to compete in the Waste Minimization category of RecycleMania as part of the plan to immediately reduce waste. This means that, for the first time, BGSU is not only recycling as much as possible, but also trying to significantly decrease waste.

Everyone can help by recycling and reducing their waste. Every can and bottle counts and every reusable mug used instead of a disposable cup is equally important. With everyone's help, BGSU can be a serious competitor against the likes of Ohio State, University of Toledo, Miami, and hundreds of other schools in the green madness known as Recyclemania.

Graduate education plan garners national recognition

Thanks to the focused efforts of an interdisciplinary committee, the University has a new strategic plan for graduate education and research. The icing on the cake is that the group's work has been recognized by NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) in its 2013 Excellence Awards, honoring the "contributions of members who are transforming higher education through outstanding programs, innovative services, and effective administration."

BGSU's "Defining Graduate Education: Strategic Planning Committee for Graduate Education and Research" received bronze recognition in the Off-Campus, Commuter, Non-traditional, Graduate, Professional and Related category.

Among the criteria for the award was collaboration with academic affairs and other departments. "I think the award speaks to the uniqueness of the program and the positive working relationship between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs in creating a sustainable plan for graduate education. This approach represents a new direction for BGSU," said Graduate Student Senate President David Sleasman, a doctoral student in higher education who was part of the Graduate Strategic Planning Committee.

"I was excited to take part in the leading of the Strategic Plan," said committee chair Dr. Michael Zickar, industrial/organizational psychology. "Our committee worked hard to try to allow for as many opportunities as possible for faculty, students, and administrators to provide input on the plan. And so I really feel that even though the committee wrote the report, this report represents the work of hundreds of individuals across campus."

"BGSU is at a crossroads regarding its graduate education," according to President Mary Ellen Mazey. She created the 13-member committee in the 2011-12 academic year and charged it with reviewing the present and future direction of graduate education at the university. The resulting collaboration identified constituents, programs, administrative functions, and internal and external factors that influence what graduate education currently is and potentially what it will become.

The committee recommended five goals for BGSU graduate education along with strategic actions to achieve those goals.

"The work of this committee will affect Bowling Green State University for years," the president said in supporting the nomination.

Trinidadian artist, Nature Conservancy director to speak on campus

Kenwyn Crichlow, one of Trinidad and Tobago's leading contemporary artists, will be the keynote speaker for the Art History Association's annual symposium on Saturday (March 23). Next week, the Latin America and Latino/a Studies Conference welcomes Dr. David Cleary, director of agriculture at The Nature Conservancy. Learn more In Brief.

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