Department of Psychology


Psychology Graduate Student Association (PGSA)

The Psychology Graduate Student Association (PGSA) is a student run organization that is designed to facilitate graduate training in psychology at Idaho State University.  All matriculated psychology graduate students are automatically members of PGSA.  PGSA has an important formal function: namely, to appoint student representative to various department committees.  Currently, PGSA students serve as representatives during faculty meetings, Clinical Training Committee meetings, on a committee discussing any changes to the current comprehensive examination process and on an admissions/interview weekend committee.  If elected by PGSA, student members of departmental committees have full voting rights on all programmatic issues.

PGSA students serve as representatives of multiple professional organizations, such as the Council of University Directors of Clinical Programs (CUDCP), the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS), the Association for Psychological Science (APS) and the Idaho Psychological Association (IPA).

A four-person board is elected every spring semester to serve as student representatives of PGSA for the following academic year.  For the 2008-2009 school year, they are:

President – Eunice Gardner, gardeuni@isu.edu

Vice President – Margaret Legaretta, legamarg@isu.edu

Secretary – Galatia Cepeda, cepegala@isu.edu

Treasurer – Kathleen Farr, farrkath@isu.edu


Additionally, one student member of the experimental program is selected to serve as a liaison between the clinical and experimental students for the year.  This year, that representative is Jeremy Clark, email clarjere@isu.edu.

PGSA also pursues other aspects of student affairs as it so chooses.  There are currently four student-run committees:

The Fundraising Committee organizes the annual fundraiser sponsored by PGSA.  Funds raised during the fundraiser, along with dues, allow PGSA to reimburse students for professional development-related travel (i.e., conferences).  Past fundraisers have included Bingo and Texas Hold ‘Em nights.     

 

The Grievance Committee hopes to address any student or faculty issues in a timely, open and fair manner if they should arise.   During the 2007-2008 school year, the Grievance Committee investigated alternative methods of comprehensive examinations through surveying other educational institutions.  The work of the Grievance Committee last year on this issue prompted the formation of a faculty-student committee to further examine this process.

 

The Philanthropy Committee is dedicated to keeping PGSA students actively involved in the community around them through volunteerism.  This committee was formed during the 2007-2008 school year, and we are excited to see it take off this year!

 

The Social Committee plans events throughout the year to foster camaraderie among PGSA members, their families and the psychology faculty. Events in the past year have included potluck dinners and holiday parties.  This year, the Social Committee hopes to include more outdoor activities in and around Pocatello.  The Social Committee also informs PGSA members of events sponsored by other organizations on campus and in the community that may be enjoyable as well.

Overall, PGSA serves both formal and informal functions to facilitate a positive graduate experience at Idaho State University.

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