- What is the purpose of a local NSSLHA chapter?
- What are the benefits of affiliating with the national association?
- What are the guidelines to form a local NSSLHA chapter?
- How long does it take to learn if your application is accepted?
- Can speech and hearing programs located outside the United States form a local NSSLHA chapter?
- How does the local chapter obtain federal tax-exempt status?
1. What is the purpose of a local NSSLHA chapter?
Many communication science programs form local NSSLHA chapters for the following reasons:
- To encourage professional interest among college and university students in the study of normal and disordered human communication behavior.
- To assist college and university departments and local organizations interested in speech, hearing, and language behavior and disorders.
- To provide professional information.
- To provide a vehicle for student representation in matters of professional concern.
- To develop leadership skills for students. Many NSSLHA chapter presidents go on to assume leadership roles on the NSSLHA executive council and in ASHA or the state associations.
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2. What are the benefits of affiliating with the national association?
Affiliation with the national organization provides access to resources (both financial and technical) benefiting all students. For instance:
- Local chapters receive complimentary copies of all NSSLHA publications as well as The ASHA Leader.
- Local chapters receive a complimentary mailing list of other chapters in their region.
- Local chapters, in good standing, receive financial support from the national organization to facilitate educational and professional development through Regional Project grants.
- The local chapter and the officers affiliated with the chapter are eligible to apply for the NSSLHA Honors program and regional councilor positions.
- Members receive discounts on NSSLHA products and publications.
- Local chapters receive acknowledgement for participating in national fundraising initiatives.
- Local chapters receive resources from national NSSLHA to recruit members on a local and national level.
- Permission to use the national logo on advertising and promotional materials.
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3. What are the guidelines to form a local NSSLHA chapter?
Any university with an academic program in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) can establish a local NSSLHA chapter on their campus.
If there are both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the CSD program, the program(s) must be accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in order to receive NSSLHA chapter recognition.
However, if the college or university has an undergraduate program only, then the CAA accreditation is not required.
The steps for forming a NSSLHA chapter are:
- Download the NSSLHA Chapter Application [PDF].
- Identify a faculty member or member of the communication science program staff (e.g., teacher's assistant) who is an ASHA member to serve as Chapter Advisor.
- Identify 2-4 students that are willing to join the national association and serve as the founding officers for the chapter. The national bylaws require officers of a local chapter to maintain membership in the national association. At a minimum, the president and vice-president of the chapter must be members of the national association.
- As part of the application process, a local chapter will need to Draft Chapter Bylaws [PDF]. A copy of the chapter bylaws must be submitted to the National Office with the application.
- Identify other students in the program that are interested in participating in the chapter as chartering members. These students do not have to be members of national NSSLHA, but it is highly encouraged.
- Prepare a list of chartering members with name and address information to include with the application. The list should also indicate if a student is/or will be a local member only, national member only, or members of both.
- Submit the application, chapter bylaws, and national membership applications (with payment attached) and the list of chartering members to:
Director of Operations
National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard #450
Rockville, MD 20850
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4. How long does it take to learn if your application is accepted?
Applications for chapter status are processed immediately upon receipt. In 2-4 weeks after the National Office receives the application, the chapter advisor will receive a certificate and letter of good standing. The chapter will be added to the National Office register of recognized chapters and receive mailings twice a year. The chapter advisor and chapter president will receive monthly e-mail announcements from the National Office.
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5. Can speech and hearing programs located outside the United States form a local NSSLHA chapter?
Yes, any university with an academic program or an interest in communication sciences and disorders can establish a local NSSLHA chapter on their campus.
International programs that desire a recognized NSSLHA chapter on campus must follow the steps for forming a chapter as outlined earlier in this section.
If the program does not have an individual on staff that is a member of ASHA, the program has the option to partner with a chapter in the states or identify a faculty member in the states with ASHA membership who is willing to serve as the chapter advisor.
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6. How does the local chapter obtain federal tax-exempt status?
The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association is a federally recognized not-for-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The national association has a federal tax-identification number issued for the sole purpose of conducting business on behalf of the national association.
Local chapters are allowed to affiliate with the national organization however this affiliation does not entitle the chapter to access to the not-for-profit status. As such, the national office does not have the authority to share its federal tax-identification number with local chapters to use to secure tax-exempt status.
Local chapters interested in obtaining federal tax-exempt status can do one of the following:
- Contact the Office of Student Affairs (or its equivalent) at your university and inquire about federal tax-exempt status. Most universities have applied for "Group Exemption Status" with the IRS. Group Exemption Status allows a college or university to provide a student group with a federal and state tax-identification number to use for tax-exempt purposes.
- Contact the IRS directly or visit their Web site for information on how to obtain a tax-identification number and information to apply for tax-exempt status.
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