Psi Chi was founded in 1929 for the purposes of “encouraging, stimulating, maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology.” Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and an affiliate of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society.
- To qualify for membership in the Gettysburg College chapter of Psi Chi, students must have at least a 3.00 GPA overall, as well as a 3.00 GPA in Psychology.
- Additionally, students need to have completed at least four psychology courses (or have completed three and be enrolled in the fourth).
- Members of Psi Chi must be psychology majors.
There are two inductions into Psi Chi during the academic year: one in the fall and one in the spring. Sign-up sheets are distributed in psychology classes in the fall and spring. Interested students can apply for membership consideration, and are contacted by letter if membership requirements are met.
Leadership Opportunities:
Members of Psi Chi have the opportunity to take active leadership roles - for example, serving a term as one of the executive board members. There are six elected positions:
- President
- Vice-president
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- 2 Programming Coordinators
Elections are held in the late spring for the following academic year.
Current Officers
- President: Michaela Ryan
- Vice-President: Anna Garst
- Secretary: Paige Rondeau
- Treasurer: Mabel Rodriguez
- Program Coordinators: Kelly Kline (Fall 2023) Abigail Hallagan (Spring 2024)
- Faculty Advisor: Kathy Berenson
Activities:
Psi Chi is an honorary society that comes with the benefits of membership. The group implements programming designed to serve the goals of the national organization.
Programs include:
- Graduate School Symposium: Each fall, Psi Chi sponsors a graduate school symposium where students can find out the “real deal” about graduate school. A faculty panel is invited to speak about their own graduate school experiences, give tips, and answer questions. This topical symposium is invaluable for those who think they might be interested in attending graduate school!
- Celebration Poster Contest: Psi Chi sponsors a poster contest at the spring “Celebration” symposium. The authors of the winning poster are awarded cash prizes.
- Psi Chi Junior Award: A monetary prize is presented to a psychology major in the fall of their senior year, based on their performance through the junior year and voted upon by the faculty.
- Annual Fundraising Events: Psi Chi chooses new and innovative ways to raise funds each year. Past events have included “rat races,” 50/50 raffles, and t-shirt sales.