In order to be eligible for this award, a chapter must have a strong history of quality programming, voting in elections, an increase in membership, and reports submitted to Eye on Psi Chi. Our chapter far exceeded these standards. Hosting an average of four events each month that included numerous speakers, philanthropic events, social exchanges, and several professionalization workshops, Psi Chi members were certainly busy. A few highlights included camping out on the quad for Habitat for Humanity’s “Shack-a-thon,” bowling with Tri-Beta, CV and personal statement workshops, and even traveling to Des Moines where we exchanged ideas with Drake University’s Psi Chi.

One of our most successful events took place in November 2009 when our chapter invited a food psychologist, James Painter, Ph.D., to the Hilltop. Each guest was asked to present a nonperishable food item upon admission, and, amazingly, we filled Neumiller Lecture Hall with hundreds of students and collected more than 150 pounds of food to donate. After such a success, Psi Chi members worked diligently to maintain this level of excellence. Our food pantry donation was difficult to top, but Psychology Department members raised more than any other organization that participated in Relay for Life at Bradley in April by garnering $3,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Bradley’s Psi Chi chapter certainly has a bright future. With help from alumni, we have been able to thrive. Our chapter has ambitious plans for next year, and we thank you for your continuous support. Who knows? Perhaps this time next year, we will be writing an article about winning the Psi Chi National Chapter Award.

In addition to the learning experience of presenting our own findings, students had plenty of time to attend numerous talks that focused on a wide variety of psychological domains, from social stigma to cognitive development, from psychobiology to educational psychology. A large group of Bradley students and other MPA goers started the day early and listened to our own Dr. Anthony Hermann present “Perceptions of Others’ Esteem: Individual Differences Within and Across Cultures” at 8:30 am.  Students dispersed throughout the day, some going to a statistics workshop and others visiting a long list of talks according to their academic interests. One of the greatest benefits of attending this conference was for students to network and meet faculty members at other universities of interest; one student introduced herself to a leading researcher at one of her preferred graduate schools and exchanged contact information. Experiences like this are what will give us students that extra edge during the graduate school application process.

Executive board members of Bradley’s Psi Chi chapter also presented a “Best Practices” poster at MPA entitled “Revisioning the Psi Chi Governance for Success.” We were able to discuss our own successes and challenges with Psi Chi members from other universities during this poster session and also during a more structured exchange. Later on Friday afternoon, we all attended the Psi Chi Awards Presentation and Reception during which I had the honor of accepting a Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Award for my poster presentation and our Psi Chi chapter received the Regional Chapter Award for all of the incredible work and change we have shown throughout the academic year. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the Bradley team also won the psychology trivia game at the end of the reception; we represented the department well!

Members of the Bradley Psi Chi executive board receiving the Regional Chapter Award at the Psi Chi Awards Presentation and Reception

Students and faculty enjoying dinner at Exchequer Restaurant & Pub in downtown Chicago

Overall, the trip to MPA was academically and professionally enriching, but it also was a great social experience to spend more time with faculty members and other psychology students in the department.

1.      Grad Student Panel

a.       Success: lots of info, good flow and organization

b.      Ways to Improve

c.       KP will be putting the info on the inter-web

d.      Good student ratings (one 6, 2 7’s, rest 8-10):

                                             i.      Highlights as undergrad, career options,interviews, how to pick which school, Psy D, CV, dif b/t MA/PhD

2.      Bowling

a.       Successes: we had a lot of people, more than Tri-Beta

b.      ways to improve: Possibly have Tri-Beta plan

3.      Relay

a.       Successes: We raised over $3500 and we had a great time

b.      ways to improve:

c.       Thank you for Dr. Chaudoir! She did great!

4.      Bake Sale

a.       $120!!!

b.      Successes: we sold everything, had everything ready to go

c.       Ways to improve: advertise in advance, more food!

5.      Personal Statement Workshop

a. Email tk’s link w/ emails for advertising (encourage, but not necessary)

b. PUBLICIZE! IT IS WEDNESDAY!

c. Everyone meet in BR @ 4:45

d. Thank you card for Rick Smith

e. Bring your own!!!

6. Graduate School Panel (Friday)

            a. PUBLICIZE!

            b. The members will be:

                        Confirmed by Dr. Hermann

                        KP is e-mailing him and will pass on the information

            c. 4 PM – 5 PM

            d. Dinner: Alexander

            e. Thank you cards for speakers!

            f. TK will be finding what faculty are interested

7. Celebrate Psych (Mon, April 26)

            a. PUBLICIZE!

            b. Time: 1 –  4 PM

            c. Poster/Presentation Sign-ups due Thursday

                        i. Email faculty and all PSY majors

            d. Psi Chi member inductions (Brett) – flowers, candles, pins, certificates

            e. Graduating seniors: medals?

            f. New officers

            g. Awards

            h. We need to have our intent to participate forms in by Thursday

            i. We are having a guest speaker from Knox at 11 AM

            j. Our distinguished alumni might be coming to Celebrate

8. MPA (Thurs, April 29 – Sat, May 1)

            a. Van @ 6 AM Thursday – Saturday

            b. Hotel – tk (Check-in?)

            c. Psi Chi Best Practice @ 11:30 Thursday

            d. Awards @ 3-5 Friday

9. New Exec:

            a. Whitney: keep track of people interested in SPSS

            b. Laura: Financial Report

            c. Steph: Annual Report

            d. Next years calendar: tentatively figured out, talk to Kathy & tk

            e. Exec meeting time (?)

            f. New Psych Club team leader (fr/so)

            g. Old exec – email/give info to new position holders

            h. Informal, quick meeting before summer (discuss positions, next year, etc?)

10. TK needs to figure out softball day

            a. the 14^th at 3:00 PM

a.       Meet with us next Monday for our last transitional exec meeting!

b.      Monday at 9, location TBD by size of group

II.                  Elections

a.       Success- It was super competitive!

b.      Ways to improve- Refine the election process!

                                                               i.      Potentially do speeches and elections in same at the same time

                                                             ii.      Have nominees target one position!

III.                Meeting of the Minds

a.       Successes

                                                               i.      There was a great turn out for Dr. Hermann’s talk!

                                                             ii.      We had cookies and lemonade!

b.      Ways to improve

                                                               i.      Have the meeting at 4:30 instead of 4:00

                                                             ii.      Possibly pull in more presenters from outside our school!

IV.                Bowling

a.       Thursday at 4:30

b.      Meet at the Student center at 4:15

c.       Tri-Beta has been challenged!

d.      Advertise in classes!

e.      E-mail faculty!

V.                  Grad Student Panel

a.       Wednesday 8 PM in BR 50!

b.      We will be discussing: Admissions Process, finding schools, application materials, crisis management

c.       Carson, Kaylynn, Nina, Ashley, and Jade will be our panel!

d.      Bring the book! (APA Grad school book)

VI.                Relay for Life

a.       Friday 6 PM to 6 AM

b.      Keep fundraising!

c.       We have raise over $2500 and are currently in second place

d.      Bake Sale!

After the discussions, we attended a presentation by our own Dr. Koeltzow on cocaine-seeking behaviors in rats and the effects of their environment on their likelihood to relapse. We were then given an enlightening tour of the Drake psychology facilities; their rat labs were full of advanced technology and countless gadgets, leaving us a little jealous. To end the day, we went to Jethro’s BBQ with Drake’s Psi Chi to get to know the students more and engage in conversations about graduate school, Psi Chi, and being a psychology major.

Overall, the trip provided our chapter with a sense of cohesion and reminded us of how much we have improved over the past year. With me being the newest member to the team it was a great experience to meet another Psi Chi chapter and to get to know our own executive board a lot better. As our Psi Chi chapter continues to grow, we hope to visit other chapters in the region to exchange ideas and help promote best practices.

I. Movie Night

a. Successes:  inter-departmental collaboration!

b. Ways to improve: Start a long movie earlier, need to be aware for publication purposes

II. Elections

a.       Last minute Publicize Push

b.      Voting end on Wednesday

III. Meeting of the Minds 4/8

a.       3:30, Room BR 50

b.      Starts at 4 for everyone else!

b. Hermann's talk for weds: Perceptions of Other’s esteem

c. medal money due: $15, checks payable to Bradley University

IV. RELAY

a. $1927.80 77% of new goal $2500

b. Top Fundraisers:

1. Dr. Chaudoir $340

2. MB $250

3. KP $230

V. Marybeth Awards stuff!!!!

a. mpa- We are officially the best chapter in the Mid-West!

1. poster – we now have a committee to generate our greatness

2. We will be receiving our award at the conference.

3. MB will be completing the activities report.

4. We will be leaving at 7 AM

VI. Follow Ups!

a.       TK – MPA hotel is reserved!

b.      Jade

St. Marks- we are having difficulty pinpointing a time to read to the children

Bowling- Next Thursday

c.       Ali/Steph- SABRC

d. Doug- blog update

e. KP-  big calendar of April/May for window? YES!

VII. TK

a.       For our grad panel: We have School, Clinical, and Experimental Psychologists

                                Be available 4-7 PM

b.      Personal Statement workshop April 21st

I.                    Drake

a.       Successes- Gave a lot of valuable information to their Chapter

b.      Failures? Not really.

c.       Invite Drake to Celebrate Psychology?

d.      Send a follow-up- MB will be sending the Drake chapter and invited to upcoming events, such as Celebrate!

II.                  Movie Night- Wednesday 8 PM in BR 46

a.      Exec meet at 7:30

b.      Film- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

c.       Food- Popcorn by Jade, She is going to get Lemonade and cups as well.

d.      Jango snorted

e.      Advertise

                                                              i.      E-mail- Neeners is on it and has been.

                                                            ii.      Class Announcements- Everyone needs to do it!

                                                          iii.      Posters by KP

                                                           iv.      Facebook

III.                Elections

a.      Successes- Many qualified people are running.

b.      Ways to improve- Refining the process. Possibly limiting the amount of positions for which members can run.

c.       Advertising Voting

d.      Voting closing- Voting until Meeting of the Minds.

e.      Vote counting- TK and Madame President

f.        Vote announcement- Votes will be announced at Meeting of the Minds.

IV.                Relay for Life

a.      KP raised $230!!! You really are Kim Possible. Raise your goal to $300 and you get a tomorrow present at the Spotted Cow. Get excited.

b.      MB raised $200!!! If you raise your goal to $300 get a tomorrow present at the Spotted Cow too. Yummm yum ice cream.

c.       Ashley! Great Job! $50 more to go until your tomorrow present!

d.      We have raised $840!!!! 56% of our team goal. We can do it ;)

e.      Fundraising tips

f.        Student donations

V.                  Senior shirts?

a.      We’re working on it.

VI.                Fired Up

a.      4/11/10

b.      1pm

c.       Pay when we get there

d.      $5 per person plus whatever you want to buy.

VII.              Follow Ups

a.      Jade

                                                              i.      Bowling- 4:30 on the 15^th of April

b.      Hayley

                                                              i.      Peoria Notre Dame times

VIII.            MPA

a.      TK needs to make hotel reservations

b.      We need to make our poster for best practices

IX.                Peer Advising Night

a.      Roster: Current Exec Seniors and we will invite other graduating seniors

b.      Will be on a Wednesday later in the Semester

I.                    Psych Club Meeting

a.       Will be held in BR 50 at 8 PM

b.      Exec please show up at 7:30

c.       An e-mail will be sent to all the majors, KP will make fliers

d.      If you cannot make the meeting, send Nina a description of your position

II.                  Relay for Life

a.       Registration fees to be covered by organization

b.      The following individuals still need to sign-up: Ali and Doug because Hayley did it during the meeting

c.       Top Fundraiser Acknowledgements

                                                              i.      Kaylynn

                                                            ii.      A.Miller

                                                          iii.      MB

III.                Movie Night

a.       March 31^st

b.      BR 46

c.       Ashley is our liaison with the presenter, Thanks Ashley!

IV.                Drake details

a.       We will be meeting with the exec board members of the Drake Psi Chi Chapter

b.      Van leaves at 10 AM!!!!

c.       Be here at 9:30.

d.      Dress for success.

3/08/10

Minutes

I.                    Bowling

a.       Tri-Beta is good for Thursday.

b.      Jade will be finding a Thursday that works for a local lane.

c.       We are trying to schedule the dual for 4:30.

II.                  Tri-Beta

a.       We have tentatively been invited to “Research Wars”.

b.      There will be food and socializing.

c.       There will be some type of research-related contest.

d.      No date as of now.

III.                The Speakers

a.       We do not have any potential speakers for the fall.

b.      Previous suggestions have not panned out.

IV.                Hugs update

a.       Lupe has still not signed the contract.

b.      Other options are being explored.

c.       Peoria Chiefs might offer an appropriate venue.

V.                  Relay for Life

a.       From 6 PM to 6 AM

b.      April 16^th

c.       Brett is our relay boy.

d.      We will be entering either an all student team or a student faculty team.

VI.                Pottery

a.       Fired-up!

b.      April 10^th

c.       Get Ready!

VII.              Reading to kids

a.       Will begin soon.

b.      Jade is on it.

VIII.            Elections for next year’s Exec Board

a.       At meeting, discuss how amazing it is to be on the board.

b.      Election will be completed prior to Celebrate Psychology.

c.       Nominations will be done on paper and turned into the Exec board.

d.      The exact date of voting has not been determined.

IX.                Psi Chi Meeting

a.       We will be discussing positions and upcoming elections.

b.      We will be voting on new members.

c.       The meeting is this Wednesday March 10^th, 2010.