The National Honor Society in Psychology for Community and Junior Colleges

 Psi Beta¨ is the national honor society in psychology for community and junior colleges. It is the first two-year college honor society approved for membership in the Association of College Honor Societies, which regulates membership requirements. The mission of Psi Beta is professional development of psychology students through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service. The society functions as a community of chapters located at over 170 accredited two-year colleges. Psychology students become members through chapters at their colleges. The chapters are operated by the Psi Beta student members and faculty advisors. A National Council composed of Psi Beta advisors guides the affairs of the organization and determines policy. The national office coordinates and records activities and maintains membership files. Psi Beta participates with Psi Chi and other organizations at APA, APS, and regional psychology conventions.

1.Psi Beta provides a means of national recognition by providing

•awareness of the honor by Psi Chi, the APA, APS, and psychology departments at colleges and universities

•verification of membership for references throughout member’s lifetime

•eligibility for national research awards (Allyn & Bacon research paper awards are $500, $300, and $200)

•eligibility for national community service, chapter, college life, or faculty advisor awards

•publication of membership and activities in the nationally distributed (through your chapter) Psi Beta Newsletter, which is preserved in the National Archives of Psychology

•opportunities for ethnic minority students to participate in a mentoring leadership program at the APA national convention. 

•acquire leadership skills

•interact with faculty outside the classroom

•learn more about the professional and educational choices available

• meet outstanding professionals in psychology

•participate in community service

•meet peers with similar interests

•receive newsletters for 18 months

4.Psi Beta offers the opportunity to participate in national, regional, and local psychological association programs, including paper and poster presentations.

5.Psi Beta student members are eligible for student affiliate membership in the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS).

6.Psi Beta membership meets one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level (2 levels higher) in numerous occupations in the Federal service.

Membership is obtained through a local Psi Beta chapter and is open to faculty members of the department(s) sponsoring the chapter and to students who

 1.are enrolled at an accredited two-year college with a Psi Beta chapter

 2.rank in the top 35% or have an overall GPA of 3.0 (in a 4.0 system), whichever is higher, and have at least a "B" average in psychology (your chapter may set higher standards) 

 3.have completed at least two quarters or one semester of a psychology or psychology-based course and 12 semester hours or the equivalent quarter hours total college credit 

 4.have demonstrated a genuine interest in psychology and high standards of personal behavior and integrity

5.have been approved by the chapter and received a written invitation to membership

6.have signed a completed membership registration card accepting Psi Beta’s bylaws and policies

 7.have paid the once-in-a-lifetime national registration fee of $50 

[The faculty advisor opens an Induction Date online and the students invited to membership register online. The advisor approves the final submissions, closes the Induction Date and mails the registration form and fees to the national office. The Psi Beta inductee receives a membership certificate and card and a Psi Beta pin from the national office during the chapter induction ceremony. New members' names are published in the next Psi Beta Newsletter following the registration and ceremony. Newsletters are preserved in the Archives of the History of American Psychology in Akron, Ohio.]
 Rev. 9/02