Dear CAPCSD Member,

Hello August. I don’t know about you, but I am in that juxtaposed space -- wanting to hold on every last drop of summer but also getting revved up for a new academic year. Wherever you may land on this continuum, I hope this finds you well.

When you are ready to dive into your academic year, CAPCSD is here for you. In this newsletter, we are excited to share opportunities for supporting both faculty and students. Each month in our CAPCSD newsletter, we will highlight the work of a particular committee. This month we are pleased to feature the work of the Clinical Education Committee.

In this newsletter you’ll find opportunities for faculty including announcements and details for the Call for Papers for the 2025 CAPCSD Conference and Clinical Educators’ Academy both of which will be held in Atlanta in the spring. Additionally, you’ll find a Call for Reviewers for both conference submissions and for the Clinical Educators’ Academy. We hope you’ll consider submitting applications and/or providing volunteer service as a reviewer.

This fall we are featuring online webinars on the topics of the Profession of Audiology, and various topics related to AI. We hope you’ll mark your calendars to join us at one of all of these fabulous learning opportunities.

This week Drs. Danai Fannin, Kerry Mandulak, and Dani Scott were featured on the latest episode of the ASHA Voices podcast for a conversation about holistic admissions. Drs. Fannin and Mandulak are both former chairs of CAPCSD’s DEI Committee and moderated the 2024 CAPCSD Admissions Summit. It’s a great listen with lots of food for thought. Stay tuned as Part 2 will drop later this month.

Specifically for students, you’ll find information and links announcing this year’s CAPCSD student scholarships. We will proudly continue to offer the Frances J. Laven Scholarship for graduate students who have demonstrated exemplary service and Ph.D. Scholarships to support doctoral candidates in their research and degree completion. CAPCSD is grateful to continue to partner with Plural Publishing to support scholarships for graduate students who are pursuing research. You’ll find all the information about scholarships and submission deadlines in this newsletter. Please share this information with your students and encourage them to apply.

Wishing you all a great transition as you shift gears from summer to fall.

With gratitude,

Katie Strong

CAPCSD President

Important Dates

August 6 - September 13 - Volunteer submission window for Call for Reviewers (of Clinical Educators' Academy applications & Annual Conference call for papers submissions)
August 15 - Application window opens for student scholarships
August 30 - September 30 - Call for Papers submission window for 2025 Annual Conference
October 1 - October 31 - Application window for Clinical Educators' Academy
October 7 - November 6 - Review window of Call for Papers submissions
November 7 - December 5 - Review window for Clinical Educators' Academy applications
November 15 - Call for Papers selected sessions notifications
December 13 - Clinical Educators' Academy participant selection notifications

2025 Annual Conference Call for Papers

Conference Dates: Wednesday, April 23 - Saturday, April 26, 2025

Conference Theme: Advancing Teaching & Learning

Conference Hotel: Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA

Call for Papers Window: August 30 - September 30, 2024

Call for Papers Themes: Content focus descriptions and potential session topics will be provided for each of the Call for Papers Themes.

Best Practices in Clinical Supervision
Curriculum Considerations
Effective Teaching Strategies
Simulation in CSD
Artificial Intelligence
Inclusion in CSD

Submission Details:

Select Submission Type: 90-minute, 60-minute, 30-minute poster, 60-minute virtual conference
Select Track(s): Academic, Clinical, Administrative
Select Type of Presentation: Research, Professional Education
Provide Abstract (125 word maximum)
Provide Author(s)
Provide Learning Objectives (3)
Provide Presentation Information for Evaluation (1,000 word maximum)
- Additional information about proposed session
- Why should someone attend this session?
- How does this session address the co listed in the rubric?

Notes:

Volunteer today through Sept. 13th to be a reviewer of submissions approximately October 7 - November 6 via this Survey Monkey Link!
All submissions will be reviewed by three volunteer reviewers.
Individuals may submit multiple Call for Papers proposals but will not be selected to present more than twice at the conference among all types of sessions (plenary, call for papers, invited, standing).
Individuals may be listed as authors on more than two selected submissions, but may not present during more than two sessions.
Evaluation rubric will be provided on CAPCSD website.
A recording will be available for interested submitters to hear from the Conference Chair and VP Professional Development about the Call for Papers and what the Conference Planning Committee is seeking within the submissions.

Be on the lookout for an email with link and details to begin on Friday, August 30!

Call for Volunteers - Reviewers

Have you been wondering how you can get involved in a short-term way with CAPCSD?

There are two short-term volunteer opportunities in which you may apply from now through Friday, September 13 at 8 PM ET. Apply by clicking here.

You may apply for both opportunities but CAPCSD limits volunteers to serving on one review group. Note that to apply for both, you must complete the Survey Monkey application twice.

Who? Conference Planning Committee is seeking volunteers from CAPCSD member programs.

What? Review and score Call for Papers/Posters submissions for the 2025 Annual Conference.

When? Reviews will be

assigned approximately Monday, October 7

due approximately - Wednesday, November 6

Who? Clinic Director Academy Ad Hoc Committee is seeking volunteers from CAPCSD member programs.

What? Review and score applications for the 2025 Clinical Educators' Academy.

When? Reviews will be

assigned approximately Thursday, November 7

due approximately - Thursday, December 5

Where? Reviewers will work from the location of their choice via a web portal called Cadmium Scorecard to complete assigned reviews.

Why? The committee wants to provide individuals with a short-term way to get involved and try out volunteering for CAPCSD. Volunteer reviewers help provide transparency in the selection process. If there are enough volunteers, the committee will not be reviewers.

Note: Selected Call for Papers reviewers may submit a proposal for the annual conference.

Note: Selected Clinical Educators' Academy reviewers may not apply to the academy.

For additional details, visit the Survey Monkey link above.

CSD Education Survey

The 2024 Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Education Survey, sponsored by the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is open through October 31, 2024.

In this year’s survey, more than 350 U.S. based academic institutions offering undergraduate through Ph.D. programs in CSD are invited to provide key data on CSD education for Fall 2023 through Summer 2024. CAPCSD encourages all US based member institutions offering an undergraduate degree or higher to complete the survey and help contribute to knowledge about the state of the professional pipeline in communication sciences and disorders. The data from the survey are compiled into national and state aggregate reports, as well as trend reports. Programs that complete the survey will also have select data featured on their EdFind profile, ASHA’s online directory where students can search for and learn about academic programs in CSD.

CAPCSD’S SCHOLARSHIPS OPENING FOR 2024-25

We are pleased to announce CAPCSD’s annual scholarship programs will begin accepting applications on Monday August 15, 2024. CAPCSD’s strategic investment and long standing commitment across several decades to building a robust pipeline of speech pathology and audiology professionals remains strong and unwavering.

One of our biggest professional existential challenges is the recognized shortage of individuals with doctoral degrees who can serve as educators and mentors to train future professionals. CAPCSD’s survey of doctoral scholarship recipients indicates that over 85% of recipients complete their doctoral education and continue on to positions as academic faculty. Additionally, graduate students receiving research scholarships have contributed to the growth of evidence-based practice in our discipline. Students receiving recognition for service have emerged as volunteer leaders across many professional organizations.

Students in CAPCSD member programs with a membership paid in full no later than September 15, 2024, are eligible to apply to three different scholarship competitions, each with its unique focus, as described below.

Frances J. Laven Scholarship: Up to ten graduate students (Master's SLP, Au.D., or SLPD) who reflect the values of exemplary service to the profession will be awarded this scholarship created in honor of Frances J. Laven. Frances was the co-owner of CAPCSD’s first management company working tirelessly for CAPCSD and facilitating its growth for several years.

Plural Publishing Research Scholarships: Two graduate research scholarships (one Master's/Au.D. and one Ph.D. level) will be awarded to assist recipients in completing a specific research project. These scholarships are offered and awarded with gratitude for the generosity of Plural Publishing and their support of CAPCSD.

Ph.D. Scholarships: Up to ten Ph.D. scholarships will be awarded to qualified applicants who are pursuing their doctoral education in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Learn more about this year’s competitions and deadlines here.

As our efforts to promote and support the growth of our future professionals continue, we encourage CAPCSD members to share information about these scholarship opportunities with their students.

CAPCSD Committee Highlight: Clinical Education Committee

CAPCSD's Clinical Education Committee has been working diligently to meet their charge of developing, updating, and disseminating existing and new clinical resources.

Committee chair, Andy Clare, and committee members, Wendy Chase, Christi Masters, Jonette Owen, Hannah Siburt, Anu Subramanian, and Chizuko Tamaki, have finished developing a new clinical educator eLearning course which is anticipated to launch in late summer 2024. This course will be offered to CAPCSD member programs and their affiliates at no cost, providing participants the opportunity to earn 0.20 hours of ASHA CEUs which meet the ASHA training requirement for clinical educators/preceptors.

CAPCSD's previous clinical educator eLearning modules will remain available until December 15, 2024. https://www.capcsd.org/elearning-courses/

Additionally, the committee has identified and vetted an extensive collection of online resources supporting best practices in clinical education that will be made available soon on the CAPCSD website.

CAPCSD extends its deepest appreciation to Wendy, Chiz, and Hannah at the completion of their term of service, and welcomes Prachi Bengeri, Catherine Fabian, and Hannah McLean, as they join the committee and support its continued efforts to make quality resources supporting clinical education available to the CAPCSD Membership.

New Maryland Law Impacting Audiology Practices

Maryland HB 464 and SB 795 are companion bills that have changed the audiology practice within the state. These bills modify the definition of “practice audiology,” expanding the scope of services licensed audiologists can offer their patients.

Specifically, audiologists in Maryland now have an extended range of responsibilities. They can evaluate, diagnose, and treat various auditory conditions, including hearing loss. Additionally, audiologists are authorized to sell and fit hearing aids, perform ear cleaning procedures, and order specific tests and screenings related to hearing health. This expansion aims to empower audiologists to utilize their full training and expertise in serving patients with hearing-related needs.

The Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) expressed opposition, asserting that the bills significantly broadened the role of audiologists. MedChi raised concerns about the potential overlap between audiology and otolaryngology (specialists in ear, nose, and throat conditions). Governor Wes Moore allowed the bills to become law without his signature. He recommended stakeholders engage in further dialogue to clarify the distinctions between the two professions and address potential ambiguities.