IPS Submits Application for APA Accreditation
Arlington, VA, Dec. 19, 2011 -- In a ceremony attended by the president and members of the faculty, staff and students from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences (IPS), final signatures were added to the Institute's application for accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA).
"This is a very significant day for IPS," announced IPS President Fr. Charles Sikorsky, LC, JD, JCL, during the ceremony. "By submitting our application for APA accreditation, we continue our commitment to making our program adhere to the highest scientific and professional standards. That commitment is central to the IPS mission and ensures that our students receive the best professional formation possible in order to serve our needy society."
Fr. Sikorsky also expressed his gratitude to the faculty, students, alumni and staff for their diligence in completing the lengthy application, which weighed nearly 100 pounds and filled eight boxes when it was dropped off at the APA this past Friday.
For many industry professionals, academic institutions and the public, APA accreditation is viewed as confirmation that a school's doctoral program of psychology and its students meet the rigorous educational and training objectives upheld by the association.
According to the APA, "Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process of self-study and external review of doctoral, internship and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology. The accreditation process is intended to evaluate, enhance, and publicly recognize quality in institutions and in programs of higher education through self-study, review, and a decision by the Commission on Accreditation."
Once IPS' application is reviewed, the APA will determine if a site visit is merited. If granted, members from the site team will conduct an evaluation on campus and present their findings. Noting the time required to conduct a thorough evaluation, Fr. Sikorsky commented, "We look forward to the upcoming APA review process which will surely be of great benefit to our institution."
Although this is the first time in its 12-year history that IPS is seeking APA accreditation, IPS doctoral students have consistently been placed in renowned, accredited American Psychological Association (APA)- or Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC)-member internship sites, and every graduate of the doctoral program has received their license.
Furthermore, IPS externs and interns consistently receive the very highest ratings from their respective training directors and supervisors.
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