It is with great excitement that I share the new 2019-2023 Strategic Plan for the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students. Over the past year, APAGS leaders have been working together to brainstorm, gather information, and articulate a five-year Strategic Plan to inform how APAGS can better serve graduate students around the nation and the world. Take a moment to read through the main pillars and objectives of the Strategic Plan that was unanimously approved by the APAGS Committee in December.

You may be aware that APA has also completed the development of its strategic plan. APAGS leaders anticipate that the APAGS strategic plan will align well with the larger APA plan.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the plan, as well as ideas you have about how APAGS can continue to use this living document to inform how we focus our time, utilize our resources, and support the next generation of psychology professionals.

Pillar A: Address the financial burden of graduate psychology training and its impact on the lives of students.

1. Increase awareness amongst stakeholders of the high level of debt and accompanied financial burden incurred by graduate students.
2. Address the differential impact of financial burden on students from underrepresented and disenfranchised backgrounds and respond to this disparity in all advocacy efforts.
3. Strengthen graduate student financial literacy, awareness of debt repayment options, and knowledge of existing financial resources.
4. Develop a Graduate Training Financial Burden Task Force that develops and implements strategies to reduce the financial burden and increase the financial viability of pursuing careers in psychology.

Pillar B: Support graduate students in developing their roles as leaders in psychology.

1.  Develop a clear roadmap for future leaders in psychology, supporting the transition from APAGS into APA leadership and governance roles.
2.  Communicate leadership opportunities within APA and beyond for graduate students.
3.  Promote the recruitment and retention of student leaders from underrepresented groups, while addressing the institutional barriers that may limit access to leadership roles.
4.  Support current graduate student leaders by providing the necessary resources and tools to develop into transformational leaders in psychology.

Pillar C: Advocate for high quality training opportunities in science and practice.

1. End the Accredited Internship Shortage.
2. Advocate for equal access to internship training for students of diverse personal (e.g., race/ethnicity, SOGD, religion, disability, SES, nationality, and documentation status) and training backgrounds.
3. Increase access to training in advanced quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methodologies.
4. Connect students with research opportunities, enhance the visibility of student research, and involve students in mentored review and editorial experiences.

Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below with your ideas and suggestions regarding how APAGS can move this strategic plan into action.

Sincerely,

Roseann, Blanka, and Justin

Roseann Fish Getchell, PsyD 2019 Chair | American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS)

Blanka Angyal, MA 2020 Chair-Elect | American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS)

Justin Karr, PhD 2018 Past Chair | American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS)