Mission Statement, Commitment, and Values

The mission of the Winthrop Department of Psychology is to provide high quality, comprehensive preparation for all students regardless of their career goals. Our students may choose to attend graduate school and become psychologists, enter graduate or professional school in business, law, medicine, or another field, attain a job in human services or another field at the bachelor's degree level, or study psychology as part of a liberal arts education.

Winthrop psychology faculty commit to:

• Offer high quality teaching, advising, and mentoring
• Assist students in exploring their career options in psychology and related fields
• Actively engage students in both academic endeavors and interactions with fellow students and faculty
• Provide a well-rounded educational experience that includes both depth and breadth, and helps students to develop skills in written and oral communication, critical thinking/problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, and collaboration
• Assess student learning and development through multiple, meaningful measures, and use the results to improve the curriculum, instruction, advising, and/or services
• Maintain predominantly small class sizes, labs, and opportunities for out-of-class activities
• Challenge students and at the same time provide the instruction and support needed to succeed 
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the factors that may negatively impact individual student performance and provide assistance, or referrals for assistance, when necessary
• Provide opportunities to integrate and apply what is learned through undergraduate research, internships, conference participation, and other experiences
• Offer opportunities to work with faculty on teaching, research, and/or service apprenticeships
• Provide up-to-date resources for studying psychology and conducting research, including computer hardware and software, laboratory/research space, and related technology and resources
• Support student-led organizations, such as Psychology Club and Psi Chi.
• Continue to serve as a resource for and maintain contact with departmental alumni
• Engage in continuing professional development in order to be effective teachers, mentors, and scholars
• Be self-reflective both at a personal level and at a departmental level, using such assessments to evaluate and improve the educational experience of our students

Winthrop psychology faculty expect students to:

• Take responsibility for their own learning and development
• Do their best in all academic and professional endeavors
• Show respect for faculty, staff, students, and facilities
• Become familiar with all requirements for the psychology major and for general education, ask for advisor assistance when needed, and take responsibility for meeting such requirements
• Make themselves aware of department and university resources, and take advantage of such resources when needed
• Take advantage of opportunities for collaboration with faculty and fellow students
• Carefully read all syllabi and become familiar with and follow course requirements
• Practice academic integrity by avoiding cheating and plagiarism and discouraging such behavior in others
• Be aware of and abide by the ethical standards of our discipline
• Seek opportunities to develop a strong knowledge base as well as career relevant skills
• Practice and apply what they have learned

The Winthrop Department of Psychology believes that all our faculty and students should:

• Respect the value of all human beings, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, abilities, disabilities, and economic background
• Seek to benefit from each other's diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities
• Maintain high standards of personal, professional, and academic ethics/integrity
• Recognize the importance of scientifically-founded knowledge and practice in psychology
• Appreciate the value of all living beings and respect the ethical use of animals for research.
• Emphasize collaboration rather than competition
• Use respectful communication and problem-solving to resolve differences
• Value and provide service to one's family, community, profession, and society