ASHA Committees, Boards and Councils

Committees at ASHA

All committees are responsible to the Board of Directors (BOD). ASHA assigns each committee a BOD Liaison and an ex officio—the latter is a member of the National Office staff.

Committees are important parts of ASHA’s organizational structure and workforce. ASHA is built on a system of committee actions linking the Association with the attitudes and “real world” of its members. The work completed by ASHA committees helps grow and strengthen the Association, the professions, and committee members themselves.

The BOD has the authority to act in the following ways regarding committees:

• establish and dissolve standing committees, boards, councils, ad hoc committees, working groups, and other entities necessary to conduct the Association’s business
• designate and change committees’ charges
• determine the size, member qualifications, and terms of committees (Article IV of the Bylaws, Section 4.9.1).

ASHA terminology for these various types of committees is committees, boards, and councils (sometimes shortened to “CBC”).

ASHA has approximately 30 committees/boards/councils that support the Association’s Strategic Pathway priorities. Some are profession or issue specific (e.g., Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, School Finance Committee); others are operations focused (e.g., Financial Planning Board, Committee on Honors).

Apply for a Committee/Board

Terminology and Definitions

See the following terms and definitions for these Association bodies:

• Ad Hoc Committees and Working Groups – bodies that (a) address single-focused issues that need a timely response and (b) cannot be handled expeditiously by standing committees.
• Advisory Boards and Councils – deliberative bodies without autonomous or judicial responsibility that (a) identify issues in which action is needed and (b) recommend implementation by ASHA.
• Coordinating Committees – bodies that assist the BOD vice presidents in exploring and acting on ideas and issues raised by members.
• Councils – bodies that are convened by the ASHA BOD to advise and plan. They also may
  • have semi-autonomous, judicial, and/or advisory responsibilities;
  • advise the BOD by proposing Board policies, standards, and/or directions; and
  • carry out delegated responsibilities.
• Joint Committees – bodies that consist of appointed or elected persons from several organizations who exchange information, conduct cooperative activities, and recommend actions regarding mutual concern.
• Standing Committees, Boards, and Councils – bodies that recommend policies or that execute specific undertakings as approved by the BOD.

Resources

• Ad Hoc Committees
• Ad Hoc Committee Reports
• Committee Toolkit [PDF]
• Committee/Board Chair Online Orientation

Please email governance@asha.org if you have any questions regarding service on a committee, board, or council or other ways to volunteer with ASHA.