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2023-2024 Student Engagement Programming: What to Expect

Students sitting around tables playing a game
Students playing games during the 2023 Student Engagement Day

The Office of Student Engagement at MSP hosts a variety of events throughout the academic year to foster continued education and build community on campus. Each month, the goal is to offer a minimum of one educational event and one social event through the Office of Student Engagement; student organizations may choose to host events on behalf of their organization in addition to the Student Engagement-led events. Our Monthly Programming Model creates a direct connection between programming activities and academic material to spark growth and creativity and foster a deeper connection with the key tenets of clinical psychology. 

This year our programming theme is student choice. Incoming students had the opportunity to complete the Incoming Student Survey to identify which topics students have an interest in learning more about. Additionally, current students enrolled in the third semester of 2023 had the opportunity to fill out an engagement survey to provide feedback on what events they liked from the past year and what they would like to see moving forward. Engagement opportunities for the 2023-2024 academic year are directly based on responses from both of those surveys. The student body has direct input on what events are offered and the modality; students are encouraged to reach out to Kinsey, the Coordinator of Student Engagement, with any suggestions or ideas for student engagement programming. 

This year we are piloting the Psychological Educational Advancement Award (PEAA). The purpose of the PEAA award is to foster continued educational development of clinical skills and self as a clinician outside the classroom for students. To receive the award, students must attend six or more PEAA eligible engagement opportunities (two of which must have a multicultural component) throughout the 2023-2024 academic year and write a brief essay for each event about what they learned and how it will benefit their career. All current students are enrolled in a the PEAA Moodle course where they can see which events are eligible, submit the essays after attending events, and track their award completion status. The goal of this award is to provide students with high quality professional development opportunities that strengthens their clinical knowledge and transfers to future employment settings. 

Upcoming engagement opportunities:

Saturday, October 7- Metro Detroit Out of Darkness Walk: Join MSP in walking toward suicide prevention! The Metro Detroit Out of Darkness walk will be taking place in downtown Ferndale on October 7th. MSP has created a team to raise funds for suicide prevention and to walk together during the event. You can register for our team here!

October 9, 10, & 11- PsyD Info Sessions: Thinking about applying to the PsyD program? Not sure if you plan to apply but want more information? Join Kinsey for a PsyD info session on any of the offered dates to learn more about the PsyD program, the application process, and to receive an application waiver code. Come with any questions you might have about applying or the program. 

October 17-20- Pumpkin Painting in the Atrium: Stop by the atrium anytime October 17-20 to paint a pumpkin for spooky season!

Saturday, October 21- ABPsi Convention: The ABPSi Student Circle at MSP is hosting their 1st Annual Convention on campus on 10/21.  The aim of the convention is to provide a space where everyone has the opportunity to understand and acknowledge Black experiences, and practice the values held within Black communities and Black Psychology as a whole. The convention is focused around presenters who are knowledgeable and advocate for the awareness and advancement of Black experiences and communities across the diaspora.

Wednesday, October 25- Highly Sensitive in a Highly Social World with Dr. Amy Hanes: Amy Hanes (PsyD ’16) will be presenting Highly Sensitive in a Highly Social World on campus on October 25th from 12:45-1:45 PM. This presentation will review best practices for working with highly sensitive persons (HSP) and social anxiety. This will include examining research-informed care, including reviewing the results of Dr. Hanes’s dissertation, The Impact of Social Anxiety and Sensory Processing Sensitivity on Quality of Life, findings. Dr. Hanes is an alumna of the PsyD program at MSP.

Headshot of Kinsey Tekiele

Special thanks to Kinsey Tekiele, Coordinator of Admissions and Student Engagement for her contributions to this blog. More information about student programming can be found here and a full list of events at MSP can be found here.