We also have governance committees within the PSI program, which students are involved in. The purpose of the governance committees is to (1) sustain a strong sense of community within the program; (2) to provide students with early experience with service in academia; and (3) to provide multiple opportunities for students and faculty to continuously improve the program and its alignment with student needs and trajectories.
See below for a list of the PSI Governance Committees:
Colloquium Committee
This committee is fairly labor intensive. During the summer months and late fall months, students and the faculty lead plan all colloquium events for the year, including generating a list of potential speakers, reaching out to them, coordinating their schedule, and so-on. The committee is also responsible for communicating with PSI members throughout the semester regarding the upcoming schedule and any changes. Second-year students take on this role.
Admissions Committee
The admissions committee primarily operates from early December through late February. The primary faculty and students (in two teams) review the pool of PSI doctoral applicants, whittling the full applicant pool down to either (1) a short list of students who will be invited for a February visiting day, or (2) a short list of candidates for the full faculty to review for invitations on visiting day. We have done it both ways and this occurs at the discretion of the committee Chair. The committee is responsible for contacting students on the short list and organizing visiting day. Students depart from admissions decisions right before or right after visiting day but remain involved in correspondence with selected students and recruitment.
Program Level Racial Justice Committee
This is a relatively new committee, initiated by faculty but suggested by students. This committee will work to uncover issues related to equity, inclusion, and racial justice within PSI, including a review of curriculum and courses, norms, messaging, and expectations. This committee will meet monthly throughout the semester to outline semester objectives and goals. Student participation on this committee is negotiated among student but requires student commitment and interest.
Wine/Coffee and Bites
Students work with the lead faculty to organize informal gatherings (voluntary attendance) for the PSI community to discuss issues of interest. This might be an issue in the news, a program or policy, or any other topic of interest. The goal is to provide an additional space for intellectual (and informal social) exchange. It is less formal than colloquium but is distinct from the purely social events that the social committee plans.
Empirical Research Critique
This is a faculty only committee that structures and mentors students through the empirical critique process is year 3. Faculty meet with students prior to and after the critique and they evaluate the student products, with the support and input of the full faculty.
Student Representatives
The student representatives serve all year as the liaison between all students and the faculty. Representatives may represent the perspectives of students during student program meetings. Student representatives bring any issues of student concern to the program director and may also request to attend faculty meetings. Student representatives should arrange to meet with the program director at least once each semester and more if needed.
Resources/Handbook Committee
This committee works throughout the academic year, meeting at least once each semester. The committee is responsible for ongoing review, revision, and updating of policies, procedures, and resources in the PSI Student Handbook.
Social Committee
This committee organizes social events for PSI. This includes beginning and end of semester gatherings each term as well as other gatherings, such as happy hours or neighborhood tours.