The River Cities I-O Psychology (RCIO) Conference, an annual outreach and education initiative managed by UTC’s Master’s of Science program in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology degree program, will be held on October 23 – 24 in the UTC University Center, Raccoon Mountain Room. The conference begins at noon on Friday, and will last throughout the day Saturday. This year’s theme is “performance.” Presentations and posters will showcase research and practice-related knowledge around this theme.
“Each year we tackle a different topical area in which psychological science can have an impact. This year’s theme is performance and we are exploring various topics associated with defining, measuring, and improving performance in organizational settings,” said Dr. Chris Cunningham, UC Foundation Associate Professor of Psychology.
This year is the 11th annual RCIO conference. The conference is a highly professional, yet student-friendly event focused on providing attendees with a positive and encouraging conference experience. Each year, the RCIO conference is tailored to a particular theme relevant to I-O or more general applied psychology.
“There are many aspects of this conference that appeal to attendees. We typically draw 100-200 attendees each year, so it is an intimate event perfect for networking and getting to know others who share similar interests. We focus on student development in the sessions and posters, so it is a very supportive atmosphere. We try to keep it fun and lighthearted, always with an eye on applying the material that is being presented,” said Cunningham.
The focus of the 2015 conference is on current and future research and practice pertaining to performance in and outside of the job. Sessions include topics on So you want to get a job with a psychology major and Taking the road less tweeted about: Millennials in the workplace.
“We welcome anyone interested in human functioning within organizations. More specifically, the topic addressed in this conference are particularly relevant to those with interests in human resources, organization development, organizational consulting, and leadership, among other areas of study,” said Cunningham.
“We typically attract students with psychology and business backgrounds, but undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and community professionals engaged in any fields are welcome to attend. Presentations are delivered at an accessible level and the goal is really to share with people potentially new ways of thinking about important topics associated with the psychology of people at work.”
Conference evaluations from graduate student and professional attendees consistently indicate that RCIO is among the most positive and rewarding mini-conference experiences they have each year.
“Come check out this event! Where else can you learn about these critical topics in a fun and engaging environment?” said Cunningham.
All conference details can be found at RCIO’s website. (www.utc.edu/psychology/rcio). To register for the conference, click here.
