ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

Department Summary

The Department of Psychology is the second largest department on campus. In 2008-09 we served over 1,310 day and evening undergraduate majors, 151 minors, 70 M.A. candidates, and 108 Ph.D. students. In undergraduate courses alone, we have a total registration of approximately 6,800 students during the academic year. In 2000 the department had 21 full time faculty. In 2008-09, we have 27 full time faculty, continuing to offer as broad a range of courses as possible. We maintain an advisement program with junior and senior peer advisors. High achieving students can qualify to do an empirical senior research thesis. The final thesis, when approved by a faculty review committee, qualifies the student for special distinction in experimental research. We graduate approximately xx majors every year. A 2000 survey of graduating seniors revealed that more than half of our graduates were going on for further training.

Faculty Activities

In addition to teaching responsibilities, faculty members maintain a high level of scholarship in the most prestigious journals and have been invited to give presentations at other institutions, both national and international. In addition to contributed articles, many faculty have provided editorial services and have served on grant review panels. Research support has been received from NIH,NSF, US Army, private foundations and pharmaceutical companies. In the 1999-2000 competition, more than half of the faculty successfully competed for PSC-CUNY Research Awards.

Illustrious Graduates

Our undergraduate alumni have attended prestigious graduate programs and have been leaders in psychology as well as other disciplines. Ph.D. students have found successful careers in industry and academia. Recent doctoral students can be found on the faculties of such schools as Yale, Rockefeller University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, University of New Hampshire, University of Minnesota, SUNY Binghamton, Northeastern University, Holy Cross University, Tufts University and Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center. Others have successful careers in the private sector as well as in private practice.

Facilities

The department is located in the Razran Building and Science Building. Named for Gregory Razran, former chairman of the department and known for his popularization of respondent conditioning, the Razran Building houses a vivarium, classrooms, animal research laboratories, teaching laboratories and faculty offices. The Science Building contains a vivarium, human research laboratories, faculty, departmental offices, and teaching and research laboratories which contain computer facilities.

Opportunities for Giving

Computer Hardware and Software for Development: The Psychology Department would like to give its students state-of-the-art training. Unfortunately, our current computer facilities are based on out-of-date technology. Many courses, such as statistics and our laboratory courses, would greatly benefit from updated hardware and software. Gifts of used computer equipment are tax deductible and would be very much appreciated to support over 30 sections of Experimental and Advanced Experimental Psychology.

Equipment Upgrades: Our audio-visual resources are very limited and need to be upgraded to improve ease of learning.

Graduate Student Support: Our research activities are an important part of graduate education. Fellowship support for graduate students is an effective tool in attracting the most talented students to our graduate programs.

Scholarships and Awards: We have many outstanding undergraduates whose achievements we would like to honor at our graduation ceremonies. Unfortunately it is a hardship for some of these families to provide support for continued graduate education. Donated scholarships and awards, given in honor of or in memory of a family member, friend, colleague, or beloved teacher, would help these students further their academic ambitions.

If you would like to help, please contact the Psychology department chairperson or The Queens College Development Office. Checks can be made payable to Queens College Foundation, Psychology Department. For special notations, please use the bottom left hand corner of the check. Donations can be mailed to: Queens College Office of Development, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367-1597. Check to see if your company has a gift matching program so you can double or even triple your gift.

We greatly appreciate any contribution that you wish to make.