Call for Public Comments

Accreditation Handbook—Chapter XII: Informing the Public

In accordance with the CAA’s Public Comment policy and procedures, the CAA is seeking public comment as part of its review of the clinical doctoral programs in audiology or master’s programs in speech-language pathology that have submitted applications for candidacy or applications for initial or continued accreditation and anticipate a site visit.

Site Visits During COVID-19 Pandemic

The CAA conducted virtual site visits during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education guidance and CAA’s emergency policy [PDF]. For the programs where the CAA conducted virtual site visits, CAA is conducting a follow-up site visit to the campus to comply with USDE regulations that will include a public meeting. Follow-up site visits are announced as scheduled.  

Beginning fall 2022, the CAA will return to conducting visits on the university campuses. Program listings are updated as schedules are confirmed. 

How To Submit Comments

Individuals who wish to provide input about a program seeking candidacy or initial accreditation or about a CAA-accredited program seeking continued accreditation may do so in two ways:

1. Submit written comments prior to the accreditation site visit. All comments are due in the Accreditation Office no later than three (3) business days before the first day of the scheduled site visit. Comments received after this time will not be forwarded to the site visit team for consideration during the accreditation review, in accordance with the procedures specified in Chapter XII of the Accreditation Handbook. Comments may be submitted by email (accreditation@asha.org), fax (301-296-8570), or mailed to Accreditation Public Comment, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850. 
2. Provide comments to the site visit team during the program’s scheduled site visit, such as during the public meeting.

All comments must:

• Relate to a program’s compliance with the current Standards for Accreditation
• Identify the specific program seeking candidacy, initial accreditation, or continued accreditation with the CAA
• All written testimony—including comments faxed or submitted as email attachments—must include the commenter’s name, address, telephone contact information, and the commenter’s relationship to the program in order for Accreditation staff to verify the source of the testimony. All comments must be signed.

Comments that do not meet these requirements will not be considered, and the individual or group commenting will be notified.

The Standards for Accreditation and the CAA’s Public Comment policy and procedures are available in the Accreditation Handbook. These documents may also be obtained by sending a written request to the Accreditation Office.