DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES

The Association has two primary activities during the calendar year --planning and conduct of the Annual Meeting and Its Program, and planning and conduct of a program-hour at the Southeastern Psychological Association annual meeting. Each of these is described individually in detail within the following narrative.

Annual Meeting and Its Program

Purpose and Nature

The purpose of the Annual Meeting and Its Program is to provide an opportunity for Psychology Chairs and Department Division Heads to share information and insights on matters and issues of prominent mutual interest within their administrative responsibilities. Membership input is solicited early in the planning process, and program topics are built around those issues most highly rated by the members. The Association meeting also plans and programs a session for new Chairs and Department Division Heads in which they have opportunity to share dilemmas they have experienced and receive from experienced members their insights and recommendations

Frequency and Duration

The meeting is held annually for a day and a half. Typically it is held the first Friday/Saturday of December.

How, When, Where, and By Whom Conducted

The Chair and Chair-Elect plan and organize the annual meeting They send out announcements to the membership in September, along with dues and registration information; complete all meeting-room and hotel-room-block details with the hotel; update and finalize the membership directory and the guidelines-for-new-chairs/heads materials distributed at the meeting.

Participation Requirements

Members must be current Chairs or Department/Division Heads of Psychology within a College or University. Typically, these individuals have attained the Ph.D. degree. In some instances, a member may have a Psy.D., Ed.D., or Masters degree. The Chair or Department/Division Head criterion is the central qualification for membership.

Charges/Fees

The current Membership Fee is $10.00 and the Meeting Registration Fee is $150.00. These fee levels are necessary to cover various administrative costs, materials assembled for the annual meeting, and the on-site cost of the meeting itself.

What the Activity Has Accomplished or Will Accomplish

Chairs and Department/Division Heads find within the Association and the Annual Meeting a special opportunity to share insights, learn new methods and approaches, and information-share in ways that prove mutually beneficial.

New Chairs and Department/Division Heads find the support and insights of experienced Chairs and Department/Division Heads to be especially meaningful. Members are broadened and informed by addresses of guest speakers especially knowledgeable in a given educational/administrative area (e.g., Deans, Academic Vice Presidents, College Presidents, State Secretaries of Education, Heads of the American Psychological Association Research Directorate, et al.). The membership directory places individuals in contact with other Chairs and Department/Division Heads throughout the year.

Time Per Association Activity

Virtually all Association time and expenditure is directed toward planning, organizing, and conducting the annual meeting and creating the membership resources distributed within the meeting. In addition:

The Chair and Chair-Elect devote a small amount of organizing/planning time to securing the program speaker(s) for the Association-based hour at the annual Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) Meeting. On a general percentage basis, approximately 95 percent of Association time is directed toward the Association's annual meeting. Approximately 5 percent is directed toward SEPA Meeting program-hour planning.

Southeastern Psychological Association

Program-Hour Planning

Typically in November or December, the Association Chair and Chair-Elect engage a speaker or speakers for the Association Program-Hour at the Southeastern Psychological Association Meeting (generally in late March or early April). The CEO of the American Psychological Association and the CEO of the American Psychological Society have been among those who have presented in the past. As a professional courtesy and in deference to the Association's "shoestring" budget, these speakers generally donate their time as SEPA presenters.