Proposed Update to Division 33 Bylaws

The Division 33 Executive Committee is proposing updates to our division’s bylaws. These changes are aimed at: 1) streamlining and updating processes to reflect changes within APA and our division, 2) increasing involvement of graduate students, and 3) reflecting our important ongoing efforts around IDD/ASD and the criminal justice system.

On the website you will find a document with the Proposed Updated Bylaws (click on the previous bold type for the document) and the Current Bylaws (click on the previous bold type for the document).  The proposed changes are also summarized below for convenience. When you receive your paper ballot in the mail, after reviewing the changes, please complete the ballot form to indicate whether or not you support accepting the Proposed Updated Bylaws. The voting period will be 45 days. Ballots postmarked by January 21st, 2021 will be counted.

Summary of Bylaw Changes

1.       Updated member class options to be in line with APA

2.       Added graduate student affiliate members to the Executive Committee so that we could strengthen graduate student voices in the Division.

3.       Established Website Committee (previously ad-hoc committee) to ensure that information and services offered through our website are update, relevant, and meaningful for our members.

4.       Established the Developmental Disabilities and Criminal Justice System Committee (previously ad-hoc committee) given our Division’s ongoing commitment to support his important topic.

5.       Streamlined process for committee selection and Division awards to be more efficient.

6.       Allowed for electronic voting of Bylaw changes by members going forward to allow us to more easily gather opinions from our members and update Division Bylaws.

7.       Added the President-Elect as a member who is able to sign checks, given the role of this person as the Division 33 Program Committee Chair of the APA Convention program

Please contact the Division 33 Past President, Sigan Hartley, PhD (slhartley@wisc.edu) if you would like to discuss any of the proposed changes.

Thank you for your support of Division 33 and our mission to advance psychological research, professional education, and clinical services that address the needs and increase the quality of life of individuals with IDD/ASD across the life span. We encourage you to check out some of the new features on our Division website. These include Access Division 33, which offers a series of podcasts with Division 33 members, and the Early Career Professional webpage. Also, please visit us on Facebook and check out our most recent http://www.division33.org/newsletter.

Finally, if you would like to become more involved in Division activities and/or have feedback on Division activities, please reach out to the Division 33 Past President, Sigan Hartley, PhD (slhartley@wisc.edu).

Warmly,

Division 33 Executive Committee