To ensure that the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the go-to organization for all students in communication sciences and disorders, the NSSLHA Executive Council and the ASHA Board of Directors have been working together to strengthen significantly the relationship and the structure between the two organizations.

Part of the process for strengthening the relationship required a change in NSSLHA's bylaws, a change that the NSSLHA membership has overwhelming approved (more than 94% of those voting). This vote allows the Executive Council to make future bylaws changes on behalf of the NSSLHA membership. As a result, we are now moving ahead with working out the details for implementing a stronger NSSLHA/ASHA relationship.

Through this process, we're planning to maintain and strengthen all that's good about NSSLHA—a student-led organization with NSSLHA-appointed ASHA seasoned professionals available to mentor and guide students—but we will couple that with the sound experience and perspective of other ASHA veterans as well. NSSLHA will remain a separate and student-governed organization under ASHA auspices; the NSSLHA Executive Council will remain the governing body for NSSLHA; and ultimate authority and fiduciary responsibility will rest with the ASHA Board of Directors.

ASHA and NSSLHA are working on recommendations for a number of enhancements to the processes related to membership, including governance, finance, operations, and simplification of the transition from NSSLHA to ASHA membership. We are also looking at ways ASHA can help NSSLHA attract, retain, and involve all students (with emphasis on PhD students, audiology students, and students who are from under-represented racial/ethnic minority backgrounds) in NSSLHA programs and activities.

The NSSLHA Executive Council is grateful to the student members for their active level of participation in governance. We are committed to building a stronger organization, still student-led, but with a seamless connection to ASHA and with access to the full array of ASHA resources to meet student needs. The recommendations for specific changes to the relationship between NSSLHA and ASHA will be presented soon to the NSSLHA Council and ASHA Board of Directors for their consideration. Though our efforts are not complete, we will keep members informed as we make progress toward our goal. I am excited about the potential of this strengthened relationship. Imagine how much stronger our student association can be with the full complement of ASHA resources at our disposal!