What is the WPA Student Council
The purpose of the WPA Student Council is to increase the value of WPA for all members, especially students, by providing services and programming in support of students, and by marketing the benefits of participating in WPA.
Every Psychology program at a college or university in the western region of the U.S. and Canada may have a representative on the WPA Student Council. Separate representatives may be selected for graduate and undergraduate programs. Representatives can be self-nominated or nominated by a campus organization such as Psi Chi or Psi Beta. The WPA Student Council Executive Committee, described below, selects Student Council representatives from nominees.
The WPA Student Council Advisor is a WPA member appointed by the WPA Executive Board to serve as a liaison to the WPA Board. The Advisor works closely with the WPA Student Council Executive Committee.
What do Student Council members do?
Student Council members represent the WPA Student Council on their campus. With the assistance of the Executive Committee of the Student Council and the local campus faculty member of the WPA Council of Representatives (if there is one), Student Council members promote and support student participation in WPA activities, especially the annual convention.
Activities may include posting announcements, speaking to fellow students about WPA, guiding students to resources on the WPA website, organizing WPA poster displays on campus, organizing “Mini-WPA” presentation sessions for practice and feedback prior to the convention, providing feedback and suggestions to the Executive Committee, attending the meeting of the WPA Student Council at the convention, recruiting a faculty member for the WPA Council of Representatives if one has not been identified, and recruiting a successor.
What is the WPA Student Council Executive Committee?
The Student Council Executive Committee members, in consultation with the WPA Student Council Advisor, are jointly responsible for the operation of the WPA Student Council. The Executive Committee will provide information and guidance to help Student Council members in their efforts to promote and support student participation in WPA. The Executive Committee consists of five officers elected from members of the WPA Student Council. If an officer position becomes vacant, the remaining officers may assume those duties, or they may appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.
What do members of the Student Council Executive Committee do?
Student Council Executive Committee Chair
The Chair oversees the operation of the WPA Student Council Executive Committee. In consultation with other members of the Executive Committee and the Student Council Advisor, the Chair sets the strategic goals for the Student Council and works with other officers to develop specific tactical goals necessary to achieve strategic goals. The Chair (or designee) leads the meeting of the Student Council at the convention, organizes and leads a meeting of incoming and outgoing members of the Student Council Executive Committee, and represents the Student Council at the convention meeting of the faculty WPA Council of Representatives.
Student Council Convention Coordinator
In consultation with other officers, the Advisor, and the WPA Executive Officer, the Convention Coordinator is in charge of selecting speakers for conversation hours, making arrangements for a meeting of the WPA Student Council at the convention, and perhaps an orientation meeting for all students. The Convention Coordinator will also compile and distribute a handout that details “Must-See Events” for students at the annual convention.
Student Council Membership Coordinator
The Membership Coordinator is in charge of managing membership in the WPA Student Council, recruiting new members and retaining current members, and overseeing the selection of new members. The Membership Coordinator prepares a report on Student Council membership twice yearly: October 15 and April 1. The April 1 report will be distributed both to the current Student Council Executive Committee and the incoming committee.
Student Council Communications Coordinator
The Communications Coordinator has primary responsibility for developing and maintaining the WPA student website, and maintaining communications with council members. In consultation with other officers, the Communications Coordinator prepares reports for the Western Psychologist and newsletters for Student Council members.
Student Council Elections Coordinator
The Elections Coordinator has primary responsibility for recruiting candidates for the Student Council Executive Committee, preparing and distributing election materials (e.g., candidate statements, ballots), and overseeing the election.
Who are members of the WPA Student Council?
Every Psychology program at a college or university in the western region of the U.S. and Canada may have a representative on the WPA Student Council. Representatives are students in good standing in an academic psychology program. Many have the endorsement of their local chapter of Psi Chi or Psi Beta. If your college or university is not listed, please consider applying if you are eligible or recruiting an eligible student to apply.
How do I apply to become a member of the WPA Student Council?
How can I apply to become a member of the WPA Student Council Executive Committee?
Members of the WPA Student Council Executive Committee are elected in the Spring between March 1 and April 1 so incoming officers will be able to meet with outgoing officers at the annual WPA convention. Ordinarily nominations are open in February. Terms for officers begin and end at the close of the convention.