PSI CHI THE INTERATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY IN PSYCHOLOGY Dear Penn State Psychology Student, MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Founded on September 4, 1929 at Yale University, Psi Chi has grown to be one of the largest honor societies in the United States with over 950 chapters nationwide. The purposes of Psi Chi are to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. To achieve these goals directly, the Penn State chapter of Psi Chi offers bi-weekly meetings and events intended to help students broaden their knowledge of available career opportunities, prepare for graduate school, and stimulate and encourage leadership, group involvement, and academic achievement. Our chapter programs are designed to augment and enhance the regular curriculum, to afford opportunities for our members to use their talents in roles that are meaningful, and to promote interaction among fellow members, faculty, and other psychologists. Membership in Psi Chi not only recognizes your scholastic achievement, but also your interest in psychology. For example, your membership speaks for the training of your professors, the quality of the psychology curriculum and the accreditation of your school. On a National level, Psi Chi sponsors annual conventions in conjunction with the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition, a national program is held during the annual convention of the American Psychological Society. Psi Chi also sponsors national and regional undergraduate and graduate research award programs and publishes a quarterly national magazine, Eye on Psi Chi, to inform members of Psi Chi's opportunities at all levels. The magazine is free exclusively to members and will be given out at one of our regularly scheduled meetings. In addition, the Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research publishes papers authored by Psi Chi members. At the chapter level, Penn State Psi Chi involves itself with campus life through both philanthropic and social activities as well as academic. Penn State Psi Chi holds events in order to raise money for such well-known philanthropies as UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, and the Jimmy Fund. Penn State Psi Chi has two Induction Banquets each year at which new members are inducted and other members are honored for any outstanding service to the society, which they may have contributed. Penn State Psi Chi also has committees that members may become involved with. Recently, Penn State Psi Chi has become involved in hosting an Undergraduate Research Conference in the spring, enabling members to become involved in the planning of this conference.
Committee involvement is one of many reasons that have helped make the Penn State chapter the largest and most successful chapter of Psi Chi. The Penn State chapter of Psi Chi has been recognized as the #1 largest chapter in the country. Among more than 950 chapters across the country, including schools as prestigious as Stanford and Yale and as large as Michigan and Ohio State, Penn State University is proud to announce that we are #1. We are very proud to offer you the opportunity to become part of this very honorable achievement. Membership in Psi Chi offers unique advantages that cannot be found elsewhere, particularly for the price. Almost all applications for graduate school and employment ask for honors, which are difficult to obtain after one leaves school. Membership in Psi Chi is open to you as a student, after you graduate it is too late to join. Having a reference such as Psi Chi on your resume offers an advantage. All membership records are preserved both at the National office and here at the Penn State chapter and can be used for reference purposes at no charge. There is a one-time membership fee of $110, of which $55 goes to the National organization and $55 goes to the local chapter (Penn State) for dues purposes. This one-time fee of $110 entitles you to a Lifetime membership in Psi Chi. Your membership entitles you to many things: admission to all meetings, ability to become involved in chapter events and activities, opportunity to run for Psi Chi sponsored scholarships and research publication opportunities, as well as free admission to the Induction Banquet held at the end of the semester in your honor. If you would like to join Psi Chi, please read through the criteria to join and make sure that you are eligible to apply for membership (see below). If you are eligible, you may apply for membership in Psi Chi by completing the attached materials and returning them, along with a check for $110.00 and an unofficial copy of your transcript, to Ms. Prestia in room 140 of the Moore Building by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 st, 2017. To apply for membership in Psi Chi, please: 1. Make sure you have read the criteria to join thoroughly and that you meet them and are eligible to join 2. Fill out the attached forms and two registration cards (one card is for the National office and the other is for our chapter) 3. Provide an "unofficial undergraduate transcript" (you can obtain one by going to The Advising Office in Moore Bldg. and requesting one) 4. Enclose all materials (the application forms, registration cards, and unofficial transcript) along with your $110 registration fee in a sealed envelope with your name and PSU email on it, and drop it off to at the Administrative Office (Room 140 Moore Bldg.). You may also mail in your application if you feel that you cannot find the time to drop it off: Mail to: Psi Chi Honor Society Penn State Chapter c/o Elaine Prestia 140 Moore Building University Park, PA 16802
5. We hope that all qualified psychology majors and minors will apply for membership in Psi Chi and attend our meetings, refer to http://www.clubs.psu.edu/psichi for meeting dates and times. We need your talents to continue the proud traditions of Psi Chi into the upcoming academic year. We look forward to having you as a new member in Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. Sincerely, Amalia T. Haupt Penn State Psi Chi Chapter President 2016-2017 Penn State Chapter Officers: Amalia T. Haupt ath5131@psu.edu President Vivian Xu vwx5002@psu.edu Vice President Andrea Frank akf5116@psu.edu Secretary Mark E. Klemencic mek5441@psu.edu Treasurer 2015-2016 Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cathleen Hunt cbh11@psu.edu Psi Chi Administrative Assistant: Elaine Prestia erp3@psu.edu 140 Moore building Please feel free to email any of the officers with any questions you may have.
CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP You are asked to read these criteria fully and carefully and make sure that you are eligible to join before proceeding to fill out the application. If you find you are not eligible to join, do not be discouraged. You may find yourself eligible within the near future after the completion of more classes to fulfill the criteria. 1. PSYCHOLOGY - you must be enrolled as either a major or minor in psychology 2. SEMESTER STANDING - you must have completed 3 semesters of college, or 36 college credits, or equivalent thereof 3. CLASSES - you must have taken PSYCH 100 (PSY 002) and at least two 200 level or higher psychology classes, or the equivalent thereof (these classes must have been completed in full to be considered eligible, classes that are currently being taken during the semester are not applicable) 4. GPA - you must have an overall cumulative GPA of no less than 3.0 and a psychology GPA of no less than 3.2 (STAT 200 and ENGL 202A may be used to calculate psychology GPA since they are required for the major) 5. CHARACTER - as a student who wishes to be a member of an honor society you are expected to conduct yourself in an orderly fashion and have high standards of personal behavior 6. ATTENDANCE - once you are a member of Psi Chi, you are expected to attend a minimum of at least five meetings per semester out of the six that are usually held every other Tuesday night.
The total fee for Psi Chi membership is $110.00. The Psi Chi National membership fee is $55.00. This one-time fee pays for a lifetime Psi Chi membership, a certificate of membership, and a membership card. The Psi Chi newsletter, Eye on Psi Chi, is provided to the chapter to distribute to all current collegiate members. The Penn State chapter membership fee is $55.00. This entitles you to admittance to all meetings, events, and a free dinner at our Induction Banquet. (check method of payment) National Membership Dues...$55.00 Check Check # Penn State Chapter Dues...$55.00 Money Order # Total submitted...$110.00 CASH IS NOT ACCEPTED!! All checks or money orders should be made out to Psi Chi. Also, please put your name and student number on the check or money order. I hereby give my permission for a Psi Chi Officer, or delegate thereof, to review my academic records in relation to membership in Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology. Signed Date Enclose all materials (the application forms, registration cards, and an unofficial transcript) along with your $110.00 registration fee in a sealed envelope with your name on it. Please drop it off at the Advising Office (140 Moore Bldg.). You may also mail in your application if you feel that you cannot find the time to drop it off: mail to: Psi Chi Honor Society Penn State Chapter c/o Elaine Prestia 140 Moore Building University Park, PA 16802 Membership application deadline is March 4 th at 4pm. Please drop off applications with Elaine Prestia in 140 Moore Building.