Letter from the President

Welcome! It is sometimes said that change can be good and this year Psi Beta is undergoing some exciting and positive changes that will make our honor society more productive, visible, and beneficial for our members both during their tenure as two-year college students and as they progress to the 4-year, university level. Let me tell you more about these exciting developments and changes.

As your national president, my goal this year is to increase positive collaboration between Psi Beta and Psi Chi (The National Honor Society in Psychology at the 4-year colleges and universities). I have been working closely with the Psi Beta and Psi Chi National Council and we are all committed to find ways to help our Psi Beta members make a smoother and quicker transition into Psi Chi membership once they leave the 2-year college. Through ongoing communication and collaborative efforts between both honor societies on every level – national, regional and most importantly, with local chapters, this goal can be accomplished.

With this goal in mind, one of our most exciting developments is the establishment of the Johnson/Cousins Building Bonds Award. This new award will be presented for the first time in spring, 2009. The award was created specifically to recognize and honor a Psi Beta and Psi Chi chapter who actively work together to establish a common goal through collaboration on activities and/or events that serve to meet the goals of honor society membership. Details for qualification and application for the Johnson/Cousins Building Bonds Award can be found on the “Awards” link here on the Psi Beta website.

Another important and exciting change that will begin this year is the implementation of the Psi Beta Chapter Excellence Award! This will replace the Wadsworth Chapter of the Year Award. The new award is non-competitive and there are no limits to the number of chapters that can be honored with this recognition each year. Details about the criteria and application for this award will be available here on the website.

If you are already a member of Psi Beta, I would like to thank you for your continued efforts. If you are not yet a part of Psi Beta, please contact any of the members on our national council who have all served and/or continue to serve as chapter advisors, or contact the advisor closest to you in your region, who can tell you what it means personally to them to be a part of Psi Beta. My professional and personal life has truly been enriched by my experience as a Psi Beta advisor, and as an officer on the national council.

Psi Beta is truly a growing and vibrant organization and it is an exciting time to be a member. I am honored to serve you this year as your National President. Please feel free to contact me, or our national office, if you have any questions or feedback for Psi Beta.

Sincerely,

Laura J. Bittner

Laura J. Bittner, M.S., L.C.P.C.
Psi Beta National President
Carroll Community College
1601 Washington Road
Westminster, MD 21157
410-386-8257
lbittner@carrollcc.edu