Mission/vision statement

Introduction:

Today’s students face a new century that will demand the rigorous application of knowledge, skills and abilities. The psychology department is committed to helping prepare students to compete effectively in the 21^st century, by equipping them with the tools necessary for full participation in a technologically sophisticated and ethnically diverse world. In addition, the psychology department is dedicated to helping students become life long, critical consumers of psychological information. To these ends, the programs in psychology:

· provides students with a comprehensive background in psychology that will prepare them for both the job market and for entrance to graduate programs.

· teaches students about the nature of scientific inquiry. Students acquire concepts and criteria for understanding, interpreting and analyzing psychological research.

· develops computer skills. The psychology program expands knowledge students have learned in the all-college required course “computer as a tool” by instructing students in the use of various statistical packages.

· provides students with practical opportunities to apply psychological knowledge. This is accomplished through specific field placement courses and through the cooperative education program.

· in addition to the aforementioned goals, the psychology department emphasizes the following in its courses:

Ø a commitment to the development of critical thinking. All psychology courses stress the integration and critical evaluation of information. Students are encouraged to become active problem solvers.

Ø a writing requirement for most courses. The psychology department supports the idea of writing across the curriculum and therefore requires some form of writing in almost all of its courses.

Ø reading primary sources. At least one primary source reading is required for every course.

Ø a cross cultural perspective. In recognition of the growing importance of cross cultural work for both a broader understanding of human behavior and for the practical application of this knowledge, psychology courses, when possible, include research on cross cultural issues.

Ø the psychology department’s goals are made possible to a large extent through the use of resources that aid instruction, technological support including video cassette recorders, video disc players, modern laboratory equipment, updated psychological testing kits and materials, software, and computers, ensure an effective learning experience for students.

Ø in addition to embodying the mission statement of the college, we are committed to ensuring equal opportunity, academic and professional excellence, and the supp0rt services necessary for student success. The psychology department shall incorporate the following key concepts:

§ to provide an academic major in psychology that may serve both:

1. Entry level work in various specialties or applied areas within the board outlines of the field.

2. Graduate level preparation and training in general, as well as, specific applied areas within the fields of counseling and human services, educational psychology and school psychology, through a sequentially ordered hierarchy of concepts, and a carefully arranged series of courses in a challenging curriculum.

New directions

The outlook of the psychology department shall reflect president hernandez’ central primary theme of integrity of academic programs and excellence. Secondly, the theme of community and campus climate as manifested by the goals of access, support systems for academic success, community outreach, and the theme of construction of new facilities within the resources available to achieve them are echoed as part of the psychology department’s vision for the future.

Focus of future program development:

1. To foster the development of freestanding multi-purpose psychological services clinics.

2. A department that provides students with access to both computers and to faculty.

3. A department which cultivates teaching excellence as monitored by evaluation and self-study for both tenured and non-tenured faculty.

4. A department which stresses multi-culturalism in the classroom and encourages contributions to psychology and the community at large.

5. A department which nurtures campus/community outreach through psychological forums, continuing educational and brown bag series for professional development.

6. A department which promotes increased ties to local business and industry in our effort to develop an organizational/industrial component.

Resources needed:

1. The development of a revised undergraudate and graduate curriculum that reflects a comprehensive view of the challenges facing tomorrow’s graduates.

2. A grant to support multipurpose services clinic for the innercity community. To increase: space, personnel, equipment, budget, supplies.

3. Two fully equipped computer laboratories to support a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses.

4. The addition of at least two full time faculty lines to support the aforementioned new initiatives.

5. An all purpose counseling psychology/human services/school psychology training center, complete with two-way mirrored rooms, closed circuit t.v., audio etc.