APA aims to broaden network of two-year instructors
By Robin Hailstorks and Martha Boenau, Published October 12, 2007

The profile of the typical undergradu­ate student who majors in psychology has changed.

Historically, this student was a white male who attended a state college or uni­versity. Currently, about 50 percent of the undergraduate students enrolled in psychology courses are matriculating at community colleges. A significant num­ber of undergraduate psychology majors begin their educational experiences at community colleges.

Students who attend community col­leges tend to be older, ethnic minor­ity, female and first-generation college students. Community colleges are the most diverse sector of higher education. Graduate and professional schools of psychology are beginning to recognize that community colleges are an un­tapped resource for recruiting diverse student populations into the discipline of psychology.

The American Psychological Associa­tion (APA) recognizes the important role that faculty at community colleges play in preparing students to transfer to four-year institutions. To promote diversity in recruitment and training of students in psychology, to enhance the teaching of psychology at the community college level and to encourage the professional development of psychology teachers at two-year colleges, APA established an affiliate membership category for psychology teachers at community colleges and an APA Committee of Psychology Teachers at Community Colleges (PT@CC) to address their needs.

Many educators have an outdated perspective on community colleges in general and the faculty who teach at community colleges in particular, said psychologist Susan (Skip) Pollock, current chair and professor of psychology at Mesa Community Col­lege (Arizona).

“APA recognizes that we are an important part of the educational pipe­line and that we need to work closely with four-year institutions to prepare our students for transfer to these institu­tions,” Pollock said.

Two-year and four-year colleges and universities can benefit from a work­ing professional network, added Patricia Puccio, the past chair of the PT@CC Committee and psychology professor at the College of DuPage (Illinois).

“Community colleges exist in many rural and urban areas where universities do not,” Puccio said. “We want to raise awareness that two-year colleges can provide informa­tion portals into com­munities for non-stu­dents as well as serve as partner organiza­tions for students who want to continue on to a four-year college. We want four-year institu­tions to recognize and take advantage of the wonderful caliber of students that we are bringing through the programs at commu­nity colleges.”

The PT@CC Com­mittee is developing more resources and creating a larger pro­fessional network by hosting local teaching summits that focus on the needs of commu­nity college faculty in psychology. As a way to reach areas of the country where teaching conferences and other professional development oppor­tunities are not readily available, the committee is forming regional networks and hosting special programs that focus on pedagogy and curriculum, Pollock said. Nationally, PT@CC sponsors con­tests for students and faculty, and we have also developed a listserv to encour­age discussion and the sharing of ideas regarding teaching.

Members of the PT@CC Commit­tee coordinate teaching sessions at regional and national conventions as well as teaching conferences. For ex­ample, at the APA annual convention in August, PT@CC offered five hours of specialized programming, includ­ing symposia focused on such topics as “Community College Curriculum: Non-Traditional Offerings,” “Creating an Inclusive Classroom” and “Innova­tive Teaching Strategies.”

PT@CC encourages psychology teachers at community colleges who are not affiliated with APA to join the association, which is devoted solely to psychology.

For more information, visit www.apa.org/ed/pcue/ptatcchome.html.

Hailstorks is associate executive di­rector and director of the precollege and undergraduate education program at the American Psychological Association (She is a former instructor at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland). Boe­nau is associate director of the program.