How is a document approved?
Once a draft document has been developed, it undergoes professional editing and peer review, which is usually an online process. Following the peer review process, a resolution is prepared for submission to the Board of Directors requesting that the document be approved (See Module #10: Resolutions).
Do all documents need to be peer reviewed?
Whereas peer review is required for all policy documents; it is optional for technical reports because they are not official policies. Section D-9 of the Committee and Board Handbook [PDF] includes a chart of peer review requirements. There are two types of peer review: select and widespread. For select peer review, the document is sent to a targeted set of individuals with subject matter expertise whereas widespread peer review announces the availability of the draft document to the ASHA membership. These two processes may be conducted concurrently or sequentially.
What is the role of the Advisory Councils in the peer review process?
One of the responsibilities of members of the Advisory Councils is to participate in the formal peer review of all ASHA policy documents pertaining to their profession. If the committee you chair is charged with developing a policy document, you are required to submit the document to the Audiology and/or Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Council(s) for peer review.
What happens to a document once it is approved?
Once a document is approved, an ASHA editor and Web team staff member will format and post the final document on ASHA's Web site. You may wish to work with the monitoring officer and ex officio on a plan to "get the word out" about the new document (e.g., submit an article for The ASHA Leader, give a committee presentation at the ASHA convention, conduct a continuing education ASHA program, present information about the document at a state conference).
What is the timeframe for approval?
ASHA's editorial staff should be notified two months prior to the anticipated peer review date. Please allow two weeks for editing. Depending on the size and number of documents being developed, the select and widespread peer review process can take anywhere from two to six weeks.
See Section D, Products of Committees and Boards, of the Committee and Board Handbook [PDF] for more information on the document approval process.
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