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Dear {{CFirstName}},
Across our campuses, the start of the academic year brings a familiar and wonderful kind of energy. Students are moving into residence halls, finding their classrooms, meeting new faculty and clinical educators, and imagining all that is possible in the year ahead. Amid the move-ins, good-byes, kick-offs, orientations, and never-ending meetings, there is something unmistakably exciting about this season. It reminds us of why we do this work.
August and September can feel like a sprint. We are finalizing syllabi, learning new learning management systems, preparing courses and clinics, welcoming new cohorts, and supporting returning students as they step into the next phase of their professional preparation. In the middle of all of that activity, I hope we can each pause for a moment to appreciate the excitement, promise, and purpose that come with the beginning of a new school year.
Board of Directors Update I am also pleased to share that the CAPCSD Board of Directors recently held a successful and energizing meeting. During our time together, the Board set strategic initiatives for the year ahead that will help us continue to connect, inspire, and promote higher education in communication sciences and disorders.
These initiatives will allow us to explore CAPCSD’s role in several important areas for our member programs and the future of our disciplines, including advocacy, competency-based education, admissions, and clinical education. Each of these areas reflects timely opportunities for CAPCSD to support academic leaders, faculty, clinical educators, and students as our programs continue to evolve.
This month, committee chairs will hear more about these strategic initiatives and will begin working with their respective vice presidents to set goals for the next year. I am grateful for the thoughtful leadership of our Board, the ongoing work of our committees, and the many volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to CAPCSD.
A Moment to Celebrate As the semester begins, I encourage you to take a moment to notice the joy and possibility around you. Take a first day of the semester picture. Snap a selfie with your new class. Capture a moment from orientation, clinic, lab, or department gathering. Share the excitement of welcoming students back and celebrating the start of something new.
These moments—big and small—are part of why we teach, mentor, lead, and serve. They remind us that every new academic year brings new questions, new connections, new growth, and new opportunities to make a difference. Wishing you, your students, and your programs a wonderful start to the school year.
Warm regards,
Christie
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Christie Needham President |
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Important Dates |
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Below are the upcoming important dates so that you may plan accordingly. Dates are subject to change. CAPCSD will send separate email for each of the below dates with official information. |
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Thank you - CAPCSD Committee and Task Force Members |
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As the 2025–2026 service year comes to a close, CAPCSD extends our sincere gratitude to the dedicated individuals whose terms on CAPCSD committees and task forces concluded on June 30, 2026. Their generous contributions of time, expertise, and leadership have strengthened our organization and supported the important work we do on behalf of our member programs. We are deeply appreciative of their service and pleased to recognize the following individuals for their commitment to CAPCSD. |
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Leading the Way in Clinical Education: 2027 Academy News + New Semester Resources |
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Coming Soon: The 2027 CAPCSD Clinical Educators' Academy!
Returning in 2027, the CAPCSD Clinical Educators' Academy will take place immediately before next year’s conference in Atlanta, offering an immersive leadership experience for current and aspiring clinical education leaders. Centered on the themes of coaching, professional identity, and clinical education excellence, the Academy will explore how leaders can build stronger supervisory cultures, encourage student self-efficacy and clinical reasoning, and support the growth of both clinical educators and learners. Through interactive workshops, meaningful collaboration, and continued connection beyond the event, participants will leave with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and a national network of colleagues committed to advancing clinical education. Applications will open September 1, check out the details now and prepare to apply.
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Special thanks to the Clinical Educators' Academy Committee for leading the development of this exciting initiative: Jennifer Phelan (Chair, University of Massachusetts Amherst), Leanna Lawrence (University of Missouri), Jamie Mecham (Utah State University), Erin Regis Bailey (Concordia University Wisconsin), Colleen Gargan (Syracuse University), Michelle Novak (University of South Dakota), and Madison Howe (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences). We look forward to sharing more as planning continues! |
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Help Your Clinical Education Community Start the New Semester Strong!
As a new academic year approaches, many community based clinical educators are preparing to welcome students and may be looking for practical guidance and support. Developed and maintained by the CAPCSD Clinical Education Committee, CAPCSD members are encouraged to share these free resources, with colleagues and community supervisors. Key Principles in CSD Clinical Education
A free, self-paced webinar that provides practical, evidence-based supervision strategies while fulfilling ASHA's required 2-hour supervision professional development requirement. Clinical Education Resource Repository
A curated collection of evidence-informed tools, templates, articles, and teaching resources to support effective clinical supervision and student learning. Whether you're supporting experienced supervisors or welcoming clinicians to supervision for the first time, these resources are an easy way to strengthen clinical education across your program's learning community. Please help us spread the word by sharing them with your colleagues, clinical partners, and supervisors as they prepare for the semester ahead.
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Call for Volunteer Reviewers of Clinical Educators' Academy Applications |
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Consider applying to be a volunteer reviewer of applications for CAPCSD's 2027 Clinical Educators' Academy!
Monday, August 3, 2026: Call for Volunteer Reviewers of applications window opened Monday, August 31, 2026: Call for Volunteer Reviewers of applications window closes at 11:59 PM ET Friday, September 11, 2026: An email will be sent to reviewers regarding a Zoom/Teams meeting and any other important information. Friday, October 2, 2026: Either a live Teams/Zoom meeting will be held with directions/guidance for reviewers, or a recording of a Teams/Zoom meeting will be made available. Friday, October 2 - Friday, October 23, 2026: Review window of 2027 Clinical Educators' Academy applications.
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Annual Conference Call for Papers |
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CAPCSD's Conference Planning Committee met last month and is excited to kick off the 2027 Annual Conference's Call for Papers and Posters. Cultivating Connection: Advancing Leadership, Learning, & Community is the conference theme.
The submission window is now open and will close on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
We welcome proposals that explore innovative, evidence-informed, and collaborative approaches to advancing communication sciences and disorders education. We encourage submissions that foster inclusive, supportive, and collaborative learning and clinical environments while advancing teaching, leadership, student success, clinical education, and program excellence. Proposals may address the conference theme or one of the following topic areas:
Clinical Education & Supervision Technology & Innovation Teaching & Learning Excellence Innovative Curriculum & Assessment Student Success Leadership & Development Additional Topic Areas (other than those above) EXHIBITOR Education Presentation Conference theme: Cultivating Connection: Advancing Leadership, Learning, & Community
For full details, please visit our Call for Papers & Posters webpage. |
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Scholarship Openings |
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Save the Date! 2026-2027 Scholarships & Grants
The CAPCSD Scholarship and Grant Portal for the 2026-2027 application cycle will open on August 24, 2026. We encourage students and faculty to mark their calendars and watch for additional details in the coming weeks. Students and faculty in CAPCSD member programs with membership paid in full no later than September 15, 2026, are eligible to apply to three different scholarship and grant competitions, each with its unique focus.
The CAPCSD Scholarships and Grants webpage will be updated soon. Visit the CAPCSD Scholarships and Grants page for the latest updates: https://www.capcsd.org/scholarships/. |
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CAPCSD Board Buddy Q&A |
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Meet CAPCSD's New Vice President for Online Professional Development: Ms. Jana Waller, MS, CCC-SLP
CAPCSD is pleased to welcome Ms. Jana Waller as our new Vice President for Online Professional Development. A speech-language pathologist, educator, leader, and lifelong learner, Jana brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing communication sciences and disorders education. |
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Currently serving as Associate Dean in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance at Ithaca College and as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Jana's career has been marked by a passion for preparing future health professionals and fostering meaningful collaboration. A proud Ithaca College alumna, she has held numerous leadership roles throughout her career, including fieldwork coordinator, graduate chair, assistant chair, and department chair. |
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Announcing the Simulation IPE Community of Practice |
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Apply for the free 2026/2027 Simulation IPE (SimIPE) Community of Practice, a 7-10 hour academic-year hybrid space where you will work collaboratively with other professionals to advance your program's IPE footprint. Who: CSD educators, professionals, and administrators who can commit to this academic-year process and attend ALL 4 synchronous Zoom events listed below. Participation is limited to approximately 30–35 individuals. What: The CAPCSD Sim IPE Community of Practice is designed for individuals and institutional teams interested in developing, strengthening, or expanding interprofessional education and interprofessional practice experiences in communication sciences and disorders. When: 1.5-hour synchronous Zoom events will be held on September 22, November 10, January 26, and March 9
Submit your application by August 9th, 2026 for consideration. There is no cost to participate in the SimIPE Community of Practice Learning Community |
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DEIB |
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Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in CSD: Small Actions, Meaningful Impact |
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As faculty members, we often talk about creating inclusive learning environments. Yet in today's educational and political climate, supporting LGBTQ+ students requires more than broad statements about inclusion. It requires intentional action.
Across the United States, LGBTQ+ students continue to face unique challenges that can affect their academic success, mental health, sense of belonging, and overall college experience. Recent data suggest these concerns are not merely theoretical. A Washington Post analysis of FBI data found a substantial increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes on educational campuses, particularly in |
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states that have enacted policies restricting LGBTQ+ rights and education (Meckler et al., 2024). At the same time, LGBTQ+ youth crisis organizations have reported dramatic increases in calls from students experiencing distress, isolation, and fear (Meckler et al., 2024). Read more.... |
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Admissions Corner |
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Update from the CAPCSD Admissions Committee
The CAPCSD Admissions Committee met twice this summer (May and July). As the Vice President of Admissions, I want to provide you all, our CAPCSD member programs, updates about what we accomplished in the 2025–2026 academic year and where we are going strategically in the 2026–2027 academic year. I will restate this at the end, but all feedback from our member programs is welcomed.
Successes in 2025–2026 Under the leadership of Dr. Caitlin Price and due to the proactivity of CAPCSD Admission Committee members, the Committee was incredibly productive last year. Here are a few of the highlights:
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If you need help with the admissions processes for your MA/MS and/or AuD graduate education programs, or you need help with WebAdMIT or CSDCAS, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Admissions Committee and CAPCSD’s Director of Centralized Admissions.
Admissions Committee Contacts https://members.capcsd.org/admissionscommittee
Teasha McKinley, Director of Centralized Admissions |
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If you can't attend the live webinar, register now and receive a recording of the webinar to view at your convenience. Please note, only registrants who attend the live webinar are eligible for ASHA CEUs. |
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Program-Level Assessment: Aligning Curriculum for Continuous Improvement
🗓️ Tuesday, August 4, 2026 0.10 ASHA CEUs |
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Supporting Students in Clinical Interprofessional Practice
🗓️ Wednesday, August 12, 2026 0.10 ASHA CEUs |
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How Federal Policy Changes Impact Audiologists, SLPs, and the People They Serve
🗓️ Thursday, September 3, 2026 0.10 ASHA CEUs |
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CAPCSD Leadership Series | Fall 2026
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Leadership Series, Part 1: Leading With Intention
Thursday, September 10, 2026 0.15 ASHA CEUs |
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Leadership Series, Part 2: Building Leaders Thursday, October 8, 2026 |
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Leadership Series, Part 3: Leading Through Uncertainty and Imperfect Choices Thursday, November 12, 2026 0.15 ASHA CEUs |
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Bring Social Determinants of Health Into Your CSD Curriculum
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Integrating Social Determinants of Health into CSD Curricula Part I Tuesday, September 29, 2026 0.15 ASHA CEUs |
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Integrating Social Determinants of Health into CSD Curricula Part II Tuesday, October 6, 2026 0.15 ASHA CEUs |
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https://www.capcsd.org August 2026 |