The CAA requires programs to make available to students and to the public information about the program and institution that is current, accurate, and readily available (2017 Standard 1.9). Programs have the authority to determine which mechanisms are used to convey information.
However, the CAA requires programs to post 2 elements on its website:
Accreditation Status Statement
The CAA requires programs, through its Public Notice of Accreditation Status policy, to post a complete and accurate accreditation status statement on their website. The CAA required programs to post to its website an accreditation statement in 2013. However, as of January 1, 2017, programs must use the specific language provided in the CAA’s policy on Public Notice of Accreditation Status.
The statement, as outlined in the policy in the Accreditation Handbook (Chapter XII: Informing the Public), must include the specific degree program including the degree designator holding the accreditation status and the full name, address, and phone number of the accrediting agency: Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. All of these elements are essential to ensure that clear, accurate information is presented by the program to the public.
Statements that claim, for example, that the “department” is accredited by the CAA, are not accurate as CAA accredits specific graduate programs that prepare individuals to enter professional practice in audiology and/or speech-language pathology. In this scenario, an individual who is researching programs could erroneously conclude that the undergraduate program or the PhD program offered in the department is included in the accreditation.
Student Achievement Data
CAA’s Standard 1.9 (2017) specifically requires programs to publish on their website summary data for the past 3 academic years for the 3 required student achievement measures (program completion rate, Praxis examination pass rate, and employment rate). Although the CAA has required programs to make these data available to the public since 2008, as of January 1, 2013, it specifically requires publication to a program’s website to ensure the visibility and accessibility of these data.
Programs should present this information as follows:
- Labeled as “Student Achievement Data” or “Student Outcome Data”—use of these specific labels are required as of August 1, 2017
- Accessible via a direct link on the graduate program’s homepage
- Separate data tables are to be presented for the clinical doctoral program in audiology and master’s program in speech-language pathology, if both programs are accredited
The CAA is applying these conditions to ensure that student achievement data are easily and readily accessible from the accredited graduate program’s website, as well as being clearly visible to the public—for prospective students, parents, and other interested parties. Consistent labeling across programs’ websites also helps foster public awareness, use, and understanding of these data.
As a recognized accrediting agency by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, the CAA is required to ensure that student achievement data and other program information are transparent, consistent, and accessible to the public.
