Argosy sponsor?

[perhaps11]

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Does anyone find it odd that Argosy is one of the sponsors for this years APA convention? 😕 What else does Argosy sponsor for the APA? Is this a reason why Argosy and similar schools are still around? Hope this doesn't come off as inflammatory, as that is not what I intended.

 

[VeryHopeful2010]

Argosy has supported APA for several years now. Given Argosy's predatory recruitment strategies, exceptionally high price tag, internship applicant pool flooding, and reliably poor outcomes, you would think the organization meant to protect and support us (APA) would not get into bed with such a problematic program. This conflict of interest continues to baffle me.

 

[deleted176373]

Argosy has supported APA for several years now. Given Argosy's predatory recruitment strategies, exceptionally high price tag, internship applicant pool flooding, and reliably poor outcomes, you would think the organization meant to protect and support us (APA) would not get into bed with such a problematic program. This conflict of interest continues to baffle me.

Of course Argosy is going to aggressively court the APA, and they will succeed!

Why, because as schools like Argosy continue to pump out high numbers of graduates, the graduates of FSPS will eventually rule the APA. APA will be ruled, in general, by Psy.D. practitioners sometime in the near future. Sheer numbers will overwhelm any attempt to prevent such a transition. It is unavoidable at this point.

Psychology (and the APA), as a field, created this situation (with the help of the federal government) by endorsing the Vail training model with little actual oversight to the implementation of the model or training required. Sure there is the APA accreditation process, but has that assured that trainees are getting adequate preparation for the field? The empirical data suggests that outcomes at several APA accredited programs are problematic. I don't want to sound as if I am bashing Psy.D. practitioners or even specific programs (to include Argosy), but rather my criticism is aimed at the APA for not managing the growth of our field properly and creating confusion in the market as to what a "Psychologist" is.

We now have a field that is incapable of fully training it's Ph.D./Psy.D students at the internship level, is over saturated with clinical practitioners, and continues to marginalize its own value. Most shamefully is that while all this is going on, the APA continues to make the situation worse by allowing the worst of the programs to remain accredited. The federal government is fueling the whole mess with "free money" that ends up as a boat anchor around the necks of the students who choose to finance their education with student loans upwards of $150k. The situation is dire and not a positive one for psychology, but to expect the APA not to get into bed with a money machine like Argosy? Not hardly.

That same federal money is now allowing Argosy to purchase influence within the APA. Follow the money...

Unfortunately, this gravy train will end one day with an unsustainable profession that eventually has given up all its ability to differentiate itself from other professions.

Off my soap box now.

M

 

[erg923]

APA will be ruled, in general, by Psy.D. practitioners sometime in the near future.

I have often wonder this. As more and more new Ph.Ds get fed up and leave and likely go over to APS, what will become of APA? I am no fan of the anti-practitioner attitudes over there at APS, but I do not think ph.d training is going to be consistent with the APA's model and attitudes for much longer. I have an academic job now (which I never really thought I would have, until i realized I would NOT be able to see patients everyday and actually be happy), but I already have my hand in some (group) PP clinical work and the small counseling center here a couple days/week. I feel this puts me in a weird spot as someone who is most certainly not in the clinical "trenches," but also not in hardcore academia in the least. Where do I fit in?

 

[Rivi]

Yes, I hate that Argosy sponsors APA, as it creates a conflict of interest as they don't have our fields best interests at heart.

 

[JeyRo]

Does anyone find it odd that Argosy is one of the sponsors for this years APA convention? 😕 What else does Argosy sponsor for the APA? Is this a reason why Argosy and similar schools are still around? Hope this doesn't come off as inflammatory, as that is not what I intended.

Why is it "odd"? Follow the money.

APA membership rolls are dropping, AFAIK. I wonder if as their membership monies dry up they'll lean on their FSPS sponsors more and more, which will just accelerate the exodus to APS and also small specialty practice groups that more serve the interests of psychologists.

 

[perhaps11]

Why is it "odd"? Follow the money.

APA membership rolls are dropping, AFAIK. I wonder if as their membership monies dry up they'll lean on their FSPS sponsors more and more, which will just accelerate the exodus to APS and also small specialty practice groups that more serve the interests of psychologists.

For this very reason. Don't you think the APA is aware of the danger of losing more of its members to other organizations because of its growing relationship with Argosy? So while it is fiscally reasonable to have Argosy sponsor this year or the next, in the long run they are simply shooting themselves in the foot - assuming that your speculation (and mine, too) holds true. Seems they should have desperately followed the money elsewhere.

 

[Pragma]

Markp you put it very well. Also erg, I am going to pm you sometime soon because I think you and I are in a similar set of circumstances.

 

[JeyRo]

For this very reason. Don't you think the APA is aware of the danger of losing more of its members to other organizations because of its growing relationship with Argosy? So while it is fiscally reasonable to have Argosy sponsor this year or the next, in the long run they are simply shooting themselves in the foot - assuming that your speculation (and mine, too) holds true. Seems they should have desperately followed the money elsewhere.

Think of the addiction model. The more they push in the plunger of FSPS monies, the further dependent on it they get.....

(EDIT)

I should say I'm through the second day of APA myself and I'm having a great time. I've done a couple of presentations (with one to go), engaged in some valuable networking and catching up with friends and colleagues, and went to an absolutely fabulous workshop (sponsored by the neuropsychology division and also division 20) on grantwriting. So, I don't want to say that going to APA this year wasn't worth it - it was. But I agree the dependence on an octupus-like, for-profit, predatory organization like Argosy seems extremely disturbing.

 

[futureapppsy2]

IIRC, Argosy has sponsored the APA convention for at least the last 3-4 years. Sadly,this isn't new.