Psi Chi

Psi Chi serves two major goals - one immediate and visibly rewarding to the individual member, the other slower and more difficult to accomplish, but offering greater rewards in the long run.

• The first of these is the Society's obligation to provide academic recognition to its inductees by the mere fact of membership.
• The second goal is the obligation of each of the Society's local chapters to nurture the spark of that accomplishment by offering a climate congenial to its creative development. For example, the chapters make active attempts to nourish and stimulate professional growth through programs designed to augment and enhance the regular curriculum and to provide practical experience and fellowship through affiliation with the chapter.

The intrinsic value of membership is rewarding to the achiever in that recognition of excellence leads to self-fulfillment and thus to self-realization. By recognizing that what you do does make a difference, you are stimulated to higher productivity.

Accomplishments are enjoyed more when shared with others. Furthermore, the contacts made through Psi Chi will be valuable throughout your educational and professional careers.

Concrete Advantages of Membership

• The documents - a membership certificate and card that give tangible evidence of membership.
• The references provided throughout one's lifetime (this service alone is worth the investment).
• The experience gained by working with Psi Chi is excellent for building up a resume; it is difficult to attain that first managerial and creative experience.
• Psi Chi is a springboard for professional growth. Opportunities are made available to the members for promoting their research, receiving national and international recognition, meeting and interacting with leaders in their field, and meeting Psi Chi members of other chapters who also will be future leaders.
• The United States government recognizes membership in Psi Chi as meeting one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level in the Federal service.

Students become members by joining the chapter at the school where they are enrolled. Psi Chi chapters are operated by student officials and faculty advisors. Together they select and induct members and carry out the goals of the Society.

Because the officers and faculty advisors are volunteers and their time is limited, anyone interested in joining Psi Chi should take the initiative and contact the psychology department, the faculty advisor, and/or the local officers.

Qualifications for Active Student Membership

• Completion of at least three semesters.
• Completion of 9 semester hours of psychology.
• Registration for major standing in psychology or for a program psychological in nature which is equivalent to such standing.
• Undergraduates who are elected to Psi Chi must have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 and rank in the upper 35% of their class in general scholarship. They must also demonstrate superior scholarship in psychology, earning a minimum GPA in psychology courses of 3.20.
• For graduate students, an average grade of "B" or better in all graduate courses, including psychology.
• High standards of personal behavior.
• Two-thirds affirmative vote of those present at a regular meeting of the chapter.