Western Psychological Association

Student Guide to the WPA Convention

Prepared by Jack Kirshenbaum and Lisa Gray-Shellberg

Outstanding Program
Slated for the Annual
WPA Convention

Students Are Welcome to Attend

Students new to WPA conventions are often both excited and overwhelmed by the variety of activities going on. This article will provide you with some answers to questions you might have in mind as well as with some helpful suggestions to make your attendance more enjoyable.

Here are some questions this article answers.
What convention activities may students attend?
May students attend the WPA Receptions?
Do you have to be invited to attend an Invited Address or Symposium?
May I leave during the middle of a session?
May students ask questions in paper reading sessions?
Is there a dress code at the convention?
Can I get free books at the publishers' booths?
What does it cost to attend the convention?
What are the benefits of WPA membership?

Convention Registration

When you arrive at the convention hotel, make one of the first stops the WPA registration desk where you will receive your identification badge and convention program. The identification badge, pinned to your shirt or Jacket, is the ticket that allows you to enter any and all convention activities. The convention packet contains the WPA Convention Program and other announcements for you to look over. Anyone who registers for the convention may attend all program events. Student pre-convention registration costs $35 for WPA Student Members and $75 for non-member students, if registration occurs before Mar 15, 2008. On-site registration is $50 for WPA Student members and $90 for Student Non-members. Student membership in WPA is $30.00. The most cost-effective way for students to attend the convention is to join WPA ($30) and pay the Student-Member rate for Convention Registration ($35). This saves you $10 over registering as a Non-member Student. Please be sure to pre-register before Mar 15 as on-site registration fees are $15 higher in all categories. All registration and membership forms are available to you immediately here.

The Convention Program

The WPA convention program lists and briefly describes every activity at the convention. The 180 or more pages with hundreds of activities might seem bewildering at first but be patient and focus on just a page at a time. Also look for Psi Chi (National Honor Society in Psychology) and CTUP (Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology) events as many of these are either presented by students or are on topics of special interest to students.

The convention program is organized into several sections. The opening section presents announcements and special events and lists the hosts, convention policies, etc. The rest of the program is devoted to a listing of the events by day, by hour and by room. Each program entry contains the title of the activity, the title of the presentation(s) and the name and affiliation of the presenter(s). The appendix contains an alphabetical listing of every presenter and a day by hour by room summary chart of every activity and presentation (to give you an overview of the whole convention) as well as a map of the convention floor. The convention activities and presentations you may attend include Paper Sessions, Invited Addresses, Symposia. Poster Sessions, the Presidential Address, Special Events, Receptions, Film Festival, and Exhibits. Each of these will now be briefly described.

Convention Activities

Hospitality suite: You are cordially Invited to visit the WPA Hospitality Suite during the convention. It is a great place to meet old friends, make new friends, interact with students and faculty from other campuses and Just plain relax. Make it your home away from home. Check the convention WPA registration desk for its location. Members of Psi Chi and Psi Beta, the national honor societies will be there to assist you and answer any questions you might have. This article was developed by faculty and students who are members of these organizations. The hospitality suite is generally open 8am to 5pm each day of the convention.

Invited Program: Each year prominent psychologists are "invited" to present papers. This gives everyone an opportunity to hear first hand the latest research findings and theoretical ideas from leading researchers in the country. Large meeting halls for 200 or more are often used for these addresses.

Poster Session: In a poster session 40 or more presenters fasten the highlights of their research studies, including charts and tables, to colorful posters mounted on bulletin boards arranged in rows. Presenters stand by their posters as attendees stroll along the rows, reading the posters and discussing them with the presenters. These sessions give you the chance to meet active research psychologists and ask questions and discuss findings. Most presenters have a limited number of copies of their research papers and will give you a copy if you ask. Each presenter welcomes your interest and questions no matter who you are. This is also a good opportunity to find out about graduate and undergraduate programs at other colleges and universities from the presenting professors and their students. Don't be shy.

Invited Symposium: Two or more authorities in an area of interest present a brief paper or short lecture. After the presentation they each comment and critically evaluate each other's papers and hold a lively discussion of the issues involved. The chairperson also invites comments and questions from the audience.

Paper Session: During a given session a chairperson introduces each presenter who then reads or presents a short lecture covering his/her research. Some four or five papers are scheduled per session. After each paper is presented or at the end of a session, the audience is given an opportunity to ask questions of the presenter(s). Most papers are quite technical and assume some knowledge of subject matter. Select a few paper reading sessions that involve areas that reflect your major interest. The rooms for the paper reading sessions hold from 40 to 50 attendees.

Attendees are free to quietly enter and leave any session, so do not let this distract you. If you do not plan to stay the full session sit by the door or in the back so you can leave as unobtrusively as possible. You may enter any session at any time.

Exhibitors: During the convention 15-20 publishers and equipment vendors to display their books and supplies in the same large ballroom where poster presentations occur. Here you can browse through the latest textbooks and see the most recent laboratory equipment. Stop in the booths that interest you and look over the books. Talk to the people in the equipment booths and ask questions and/or request demonstrations.

The books are generally not for sale but for display and distribution to qualified professors who are considering them for adoption. Many vendors, however, will take orders for their books from you at some very attractive convention discounts.

WPA Receptions: All convention registrants are invited to the WPA Receptions on Thursday and Friday evenings. Refreshments, good friends, and stimulating conversation will make these gatherings memorable events.

Special Events: Each year WPA extends an invitation to professional groups to schedule special events and social hours in conjunction with the convention. The convention program lists these special events and social hours which you may attend.

Dress: There is no formal dress code. However, it is expected that everyone will dress in professionally appropriate clothing.

Join WPA: Students are encouraged to join WPA. This is a fine way to begin your professional career as a psychologist. The student membership is $30 a year. Membership entitles you to reduced convention registration fees and to receive a quarterly newsletter which provides you with information about psychology in the Western Region as well as advance information on the convention program. Membership questions or questions about the annual convention should be sent to WPA, 3196 Willow Creek Road, Suite A103-173, Prescott, AZ 86301, OR via e-mail to cozby.wpa@gmail.com. A membership form can be obtained here.