The APSA Departmental Services Program assists political science teaching, scholarship, and service by providing resources for department chairs; data and reports on the profession; forums for departments to address common issues; and services for chairs, faculty, and students. A list of all APSA member departments can be found here.
To become a departmental member, join now! Have questions? Contact APSA Membership Services at [email protected].
2018 Chairs' Workshop & Luncheon
The Departmental Services Program holds several events at APSA annual meetings to support political science departments in their work. Department chairs are invited each year by the Departmental Services Program to a luncheon at the Annual Meeting where participants discuss current issues facing departments.
The 2018 Chairs' Workshop & Luncheon will take place at the APSA Annual Meeting in Boston on Friday, August 31 from 12:00-1:30pm in the Hynes Convention Center, Room 207. Lunch will be served. The subject of this year’s workshop will be department development and fundraising: despite institutional differences, all departments face similar pressures when it comes to competing for resources. Whether seeking internal funds or developing an external support network, chairs and program directors must navigate a complex environment that changes with institutional needs, economic cycles, and federal law and regulations. Panelists will discuss a variety of topics, including working with the philanthropy and development office, engaging alumni, and seeking support for special programs and initiatives, among others.
Panelists include Jasmine Farrier (University of Louisville), Frank Baumgartner (UNC Chapel Hill), Brian Harward (Allegheny College), and Cammy Shay (Houston Community College). Discussion will be led by Holley Tankersley of Coastal Carolina University.
Please RSVP here by July 15!
APSA Webinar: Legal Issues 101 for Department Chairs
On June 21, APSA hosted a presentation on legal issues facing department chairs. Led by Bethany Bridgham, Deputy General Counsel at American University, this presentation addresses the specific role of chairs in dealing with legal concerns in areas such as hiring, academic freedom, and compliance with Title IX and ADA regulations. To watch the presentation, please email [email protected].
Political Science Club Guide
Political science clubs are a great way to get students involved in department activities and campus life. Such clubs offer benefits to students and departments by facilitating greater and more meaningful faculty-student engagement, and by providing opportunities for networking, professional development, and leadership experience. Find out more about how and why to start an undergraduate political science club in the APSA Political Science Club Guide.
Department Member Benefits!
The APSA Departmental Services Program is pleased to include the following benefits for department members:
- Resource Guide for Department Chairs: A resource guide with 30+ pages of links to articles and information for chairs of political science departments. Now available to member department chairs here.
- Virtual Campus Visits: On-demand webinars for departmental members and their faculty and students on a select range of topics, including: diversity and inclusion, research and data on the discipline, non-academic career paths for PhDs, media communications training for faculty, and more! Email us for more information.
- External Review Program for Tenure and Promotion: This new program will help member departments find external reviewers for tenure and promotion cases. If you would like to volunteer to serve as an external reviewer for tenure and promotion, please submit your information here.
- Department Profiles: Increase your department’s visibility! Have your department profiled on Political Science Now. Please submit your information here. We have also posted a list of all APSA member departments.
- Discount on the Department Chair journal: Department members qualify to receive 20% off this Wiley journal. Email [email protected] for the discount code.
- Meeting space at APSA Headquarters: Looking for meeting space in Washington, DC? Conference space at APSA headquarters is free for member departments (subject to availability). Email us with inquiries.
- Webinars for Department Chairs: Members are invited to participate in periodic webinars on a range of topics relevant to department chairs.
Jobs & Careers in Political Science
eJobs: The eJobs platform is the most comprehensive database of jobs related to political science and is accessible to all members. The database is updated daily with new job listings and candidate resumes, and is fully searchable by field of interest, employer or candidate name, region, keyword, position, salary, institution type, and most recent postings. Departmental members gain free access to the eJobs platform and may post jobs at no additional charge.
Interview Service: APSA provides space for employers who have posted an eJobs listing to interview candidates at the annual meeting. The service is provided as a complimentary member benefit to Departmental Services members with posted eJobs. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Careers Resources: Resources aimed at undergraduate and graduate students are available through APSA. There are both online and printable materials available here.
External Review Program for Department Assessment
An external review is a means by which a department assesses its current state and effectiveness, and develops goals and strategies to guide its future. This provides a unique opportunity for a department to consider the experience, expertise, and perspective of the academy at large through the engagement of outside participants who comprise the external review team.
As a resource for APSA departmental members seeking external review, the Departmental Services Program maintains a list of faculty who have volunteered to serve as reviewers. To request names of potential reviewers, please contact [email protected]. If you would like to volunteer as a reviewer, please submit your information here.
Data and Reports on the Profession
APSA offers data and reports on various aspects of the profession. Visit our data on the profession page for information on employment, political science enrollments, majors, degrees, and more.
Important Membership Information
The yearly dues for APSA Departmental Memberships vary based on department type and number of faculty. Please see here to find out rates for yearly dues. Please note that APSA Departmental Memberships run yearly from July 1st to June 30th of the following year, and memberships cannot be prorated.
Becoming an APSA Departmental Member does not confer individual memberships to faculty or staff nor does it give individual access to any online individual member benefits. Faculty or staff can purchase individual memberships separately. Please see here for information on individual membership dues.
Have questions? Contact APSA Membership Services at [email protected].
Already a member? Login here.