2023 CAA Standards Revisions: Session 2

June 30, 2022
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET

​​This event is designed for program directors and faculty of academic programs that are accredited by or hold candidacy status with the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). Members of the CAA and the accreditation staff will be available to answer your questions about the upcoming standards change, which goes into effect on January 1, 2023.

Programs who will be submitting their applications for initial or re-accreditation in August 2022 are encouraged to attend.

Panelists

• Gale Rice, PhD, CCC-SLP, 2021 Chair of the CAA, Professor and Dean, Fontbonne University
• ​​Kimberlee Moore, Director of Accreditation, CAA Ex-Officio, ASHA
• Tess Kirsch, Associate Director of Accreditation for Policy & Education, ASHA
• ​​Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw, MA, CCC-SLP, CAE, Associate Director of Accreditation Operations, ASHA

This free event is open to all ASHA members and non-members. It is not offered for PDHs, CMHs, or ASHA CEUs.

Following is the transcript from this text-based event (no audio or video).

ASHA Moderator

Welcome to the live chat on 2023 CAA Standards Revisions: Session 2. We will be getting started shortly.

Before we begin taking questions, I would like to make a few administrative comments.

• Please keep in mind that this is a web chat and, therefore, there is no audio.
• Questions are typically posted one at a time, in the order they are received.
• Upon formulating a response, panelists will post answers to your questions.
• To ensure we get to as many questions as possible, we ask that you please begin typing them in now.

Okay, it's officially time to start. Panelists, please introduce yourselves.

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Hello everyone! My name is Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw, MA, CCC-SLP, ICE-CCP, CAE. I am ASHA’s Director of Accreditation Operations. I am joined today by Gale Rice, PhD, CCC-SLP, 2022 Chair of the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). Dr. Rice is the dean of the College of Education and Allied Health Professions at Fontbonne University and a professor in the graduate program in speech-language pathology. Dr. Rice has also been a CAA site visitor in the past.

Also joining us are Kimberlee Moore, ASHA’s Chief Accreditation Officer, Tess Kirsch, ASHA’s Associate Director of Accreditation for Policy and Education, and Kelly Velasquez, ASHA’s Associate Director of Site Visit Operations.

We are excited to be with you all today to answer any questions that you have about upcoming revisions to the 2017 Standards, which go into effect on January 1, 2023. We will do our best to answer as many questions as possible during this session. If we do not get to your specific question in real-time, we will answer it as soon as possible after the session closes, and it will be posted to this page.

If you find that you have additional questions after participating in today’s chat or reading the transcript, please feel free to email accreditation@asha.org. We are always happy to help!

ASHA Moderator

Thank you panelists.

Again, I would like to remind everyone that there is no audio for this chat - it is text based only. Also, this chat will be available for viewing after it has concluded.
Okay, I will now begin posting the questions.

Question 1: Submitted by Dr. Amy Hadley

For standard 1.9, if we are ONLY a residential program, do we need to use the term "residential" in our accreditation statement on our website?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Yes. Please include any approved modalities that your program offers. This includes only if your program is residential. The most up to date statement is available on page 61 of the current version of the Handbook: https://caa.asha.org/siteassets/files/accreditation-handbook.pdf 

Question 2: Submitted by Monike G., UT Austin

Will there be any training videos posted by ASHA that will outline the differences in the 2023 standards? I've reviewed the side-by-side comparision by CAA that was released, but sometimes it's helpful to have verbal reinforcement or points to make sure I understand everything.

Tess Kirsch

Thanks for your question. Although the CAA is not planning any videos specifically, accreditation staff are happy to set up a time with you to chat about the revisions. The CAA does plan to have another web chat on September 28. CAA members and accreditation staff will be available at the ASHA Convention in November in New Orleans.

Question 3: Submitted by Dr. Amy Hadley

Thank you. If our most recent class graduated in May 2022, when would you expect their data to be included in "the three most recent years" of student outcomes? By my August 1 report deadline?

Kelly

Outcome data would be reported in the next annual report or application due to the CAA; so for May 2022 graduates, those should be reported in the annual report or application due August 1, 2022, yes. If on February cycle, and data is reported on students/graduates from the most recently completed academic year, then May 2022 graduates would be reported in Feb2023 submissions to CAA.

Question 4: Submitted by Carol Cokely

There are numerous questions about support for the NUMBER of persons available to deliver said outcomes/goals --- what are you after?- it seems repetitive to refer to the student/provider ratios each time... we have been substantiating as well by stating that the goals are achieved within the workload policy.....Thank you

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

The Standards for Accreditation ask for faculty sufficiency in the form of percentage of faculty with terminal academic degrees teaching academic content (Standard 2.3). There is a minimum amount of supervision that must occur for students to provide services, however this requirement is outside of academic accreditation. It is more aligned with the CFCC's certification standards and/or state/ federal/ third party payor guidelines. For accreditation, Standards 3.7/B states that supervision must be commensurate with the student's level of independence, knowledge, and skill.

Question 5: Submitted by Frank S.

Have there been any changes to the FTE requirements for 2023?

Tess Kirsch

At this time, the CAA is not considering a change to standards related to full time equivalent (FTE)s.

Question 6: Submitted by Kim McCullough

If we don't have a designated course in a "Big 9 Area" what are other acceptable ways to demonstrate that our students receive training and experience in a particular area. For example, AAC or Hearing. Thanks!

Kimberlee Moore

Acceptable ways to demonstrate may include but are not limited to demonstration through clinical clock hours with specific concentrations and/or reflection of in course syllabi and/or course learning outcomes/objectives.

Question 7: Submitted by Yolanda

Similarly to the previous question, if we have summer graduates (late July) and our report is due August 1, should their data be in this year's or next year's August report?

Kelly

For program completion rates of late July graduates, if you can include them via estimates in the August report, and then alert accreditation staff if those numbers change after submission of your August report, that works.

Question 8: Submitted by Amy Shollenbarger

In standard 3.1.1B it states "Demonstrates knowledge of the role of clinical teaching and clinical modeling as well as supervision of students and other support personnel." Before it was just "understand." I am curious how programs will meet this standard in accredited programs. Are graduate students actually doing the supervision, clinical teaching, and modeling. Do the students just talk about it? How are programs going to determine competency with this standard? Or what is the expectation from CAA? My faculty have been talking about this one.

Tess Kirsch

Programs will need to document how students are acquiring knowledge and skills related to supervision. Some programs will use case studies, simulation, or projects in targeted classes. Mechanisms also may include self-reflections from observations or clinical experiences.

Question 9: Submitted by Kellyn Hall

I understand that the Praxis can't be used to meet Standard 5.2 because it is not "validated for use as a program summative assessment." I was wondering what would be a valid measure of a program summative assessment?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

According to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the Praxis series was developed to assess an individual’s knowledge, skills, and readiness to enter independent practice in their respective professions. The Praxis has not been validated for use as a program summative assessment, thus the CAA cannot accept it as such.

The CAA has previously published information regarding using the Praxis as a form of summative assessment, but not as the sole form of summative assessment.
Under the revised CAA Standard 5.2, programs must conduct ongoing and systematic formative and summative assessment of their students’ performance. While programs may choose to use the Praxis exams within their programs, the exam cannot be used as a means to demonstrate compliance with Standard 5.2.

The standards for accreditation are written in broad terms to provide the accredited programs the flexibility of meeting the standards in ways that are suitable for the diverse needs of their students. Program could demonstrate compliance with the standard by showing other forms of summative assessment which may include, but is not limited to, the following:

End of program comprehensive examinations

• • • Final projects, portfolios, and/or examinations that reflect cumulative work or knowledge over time
    • Capstone projects
    • Final papers, reports, or presentations
    • Rubrics
    • Practical examinations

Question 10: Submitted by Joyce S.

When will the new standards be published?

Tess Kirsch

The CAA only publishes the current set of accreditation standards in full at a time. This is to ensure clarity of which standards are in effect - one set at a time.
The revisions that will go into effect January 1, 2013 will be integrated into the full text of revised standards and will be published on caa.asha.org on the January 1, 2023 implementation date. At this time, programs may review changes to the standards by visiting https://caa.asha.org/siteassets/files/side-by-side-revisions-to-standards-for-accreditation-2023.pdf. Additional information about the revisions can be found on https://caa.asha.org/reporting/standards/2023-standards-revisions/ 

Question 11: Submitted by Amy Hartman

If we have a site visit in fall of 2022, should we plan to be in compliance with all the previous standards as well as the new 2023 standards?

Kelly

For initial and re-accreditation site visits this Fall 2022, since these programs applied under the current standards, their site visit will be under the current standards. These programs should plan on how they will be meeting the 2023 standards since their first annual report in 2024 will be reflecting the 2023 standards. Candidacy programs with site visits this Fall will be under the new 2023 standards, since they are in development and not yet open.

Question 12: Submitted by Kristina Curro

Our full-time program takes seven semesters (or 1.5 years) with a December graduation. For example, students admitted in September 2020 graduate in December 2022. In the same cohort, students may elect an 'accelerated' program, with a graduation date of May 2022. Should the 'full-time' December graduates be reported in the 2021-2022 year with the May graduates, or in the following 2022-2023 year?

Kelly

Program completion rates are assessed by the CAA, as are Praxis pass rates, over a three-year average and are not considered in terms of cohorts, but rather in terms of year graduated. Thus graduates should be reported as year graduated, not tied to a cohort. Of all individuals who graduated Dec2022, how many were on time (which would include any 'early' or 'accelerated'), late, or dropped out. Similarly, for May 2022 graduates, how many were early (which is also considered on time)/on time, late, or dropped out.

Question 13: Submitted by Shae

For audiology - at least 50% of coursework should be administered by PhD/EdD faculty. Does this include clinical coursework? Is the 50% rule by number of courses or by number of credits?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Excellent question! For the purposes of calculating faculty sufficiency with 50% or more of the academic coursework taught by individuals with PhD/ EdD (Standard 2.3), this includes only academic courses. The 50% rule is based on the number of didactic credits. For example, your program requires 80 credits for the degree and 60 credits are didactic, the CAA would expect that at least 30 credits are taught by faculty with the PhD or EdD.

Question 14: Submitted by Christiane Dechert

The fall 2022 incoming class will fall under the new standards, right?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Correct.

Question 15: Submitted by Carol Cokely

Thank you - Standard 2.1 questions ask you to provide proof that you have # for supervision as well as all other deliverables (research, teaching, etc).

Tess Kirsch

Standard 2.1 focuses on the faculty that are employed by the institution. If the program has an on-campus clinic, for example, then the CAA would expect to see how the faculty composition supports that clinical education component of the graduate program.

If the program does not have an on-campus clinic that the program uses with students, the CAA would look at how faculty support the clinical education, but perhaps not direct supervision required, and adjusted, as mentioned in Standard 3.7 A/B.

Question 16: Submitted by Dr. Janette Quarles

For 2022 site visits, are we required to already meet the 2023 standards...or just demonstrate progress and strategies in place in preparation for the 2023 standards?

Kelly

Exactly, Dr. Quarles. For initial and re-accreditation site visits this Fall 2022, since these programs applied under the current standards, their site visit will be under the current standards. These programs should plan on how they will be meeting the 2023 standards since their first annual report in 2024 will be reflecting the 2023 standards. Candidacy programs with site visits this Fall will be under the new 2023 standards, since they are in development and not yet open.

Question 17: Submitted by Jake

My program has an application due on 8/1 this year - which standards will they be reviewed under?

Kimberlee Moore

Your program will be reviewed under revised standards that go into effect on 1/1/2023. For more information, please visit https://caa.asha.org/reporting/standards/2023-standards-revisions/. 

Question 18: Submitted by Carol Cokely

For August 2022 report and 2023 reaccreditation site visit - we need to validate beyond the submitted report (previous standards) to account for new standards.... just verifying. Thank you.

Kelly

Yes. For initial and re-accreditation site visits this Spring 2023, when new standards are already in effect (so accreditation application submitted August 2022), their site visit will be under the new standards, correct.

Question 19: Submitted by Patricia Seymour [CSUN]

For Standard "3.4B The program must provide evidence that students are given opportunities to identify and acknowledge: o the impact of how their own set of cultural and linguistic variables affects clients/patients/students’ care [ ... ]" What are forms of data measurement expected from CAA for documenting "acknowledge"? Is CAA requesting samples of rubrics, or is CAA requesting actual data collected from students' pre/post responses to activities/clinic that may reflect perspective/clinical changes?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

As with all standards written in the CAA’s Standards for Accreditation, Standard 3.4 is written in broad terms to provide the accredited programs the flexibility of meeting the standards in ways that are suitable for the diverse needs of their students. While the CAA is not prescriptive in stating specifically how a program must meet each standard, the CAA has provided the following guidance and examples of what may be used to demonstrate compliance. These suggestions are not exhaustive; rather, they give suggestions that could be suitable for documentation.

Examples of program activities, student experiences, and assignments that may demonstrate compliance with Standards 3.4A and 3.4B include:

• • • Demonstrated quadrangulation of student performance
    • Capstone projects
    • Programmatic data analysis
    • Programmatic self-reflection
    • Workshops and learning opportunities for students and staff
    • Rubrics and/or other forms of documentation may be used to demonstrate compliance.

Additional information and examples are available on 2023 Standard 3.4A and 3.4B Guidance to Programs (https://caa.asha.org/siteassets/files/2023-standard-3.4a-and-3.4b-guidance-to-programs.pdf).

Question 20: Submitted by Christine Neumayer

I understand we no longer have to report employment as a student outcome in the report. However, do we need to include it on our website?

Kelly

No, employment data is no longer listed as a required student outcome data publication area under Standard 1.9 after January 1, 2023 in the new standards. Programs can certainly choose to continue to publish it o their website if they wish.

Question 21: Submitted by Jennifer

For reports due Aug 2022, would we need to post most current employment data (cohort graduated within past year) as we typically do since the 2023 standards do not go into effect until Jan 1?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

That is correct. For Annual Reports, employment data must be included. For Initial or re-accreditation application, employment data is not required.

Question 22: Submitted by Adrienne Hancock

Does "go into effect Jan 1, 2023" mean they apply to any student graduating after that date, or any student enrolled after that date?

Tess Kirsch

CAA's standards apply to academic programs - so the revisions that will go into effect will apply to programs. We understand that some of the changes may affect how and what the program tracks for students, so any forms or resources the programs use to support students would need to updated as appropriate for students who are enrolled in the graduate program in 2023.

Question 23: Submitted by Elaine Pyle

Related to the 50% academic courses by Ph.D./EdD - Is EdD acceptable for SLP? Will Clinical doctorate be considered in future?

Kimberlee Moore

The CAA requires that the program must demonstrate that the majority of academic content is taught by doctoral faculty who hold the appropriate terminal academic degree (PhD, EdD). (Standard 2.3). The SLPD is not considered a terminal degree and does not satisfy requirement in standard 2.3. The CAA identified PhD and EdD faculty to ensure that the research base of the discipline is included in the didactic courses as well as the research courses and activities in which students are involved. Also, the CAA routinely reviews its standards for currency and relevancy. In particular, the CAA will be kick-off its comprehensive review of standards in 2023 and will be actively seek input on this standard.

Question 24: Submitted by Michelle

In relation to the question below, should updated employment data be displayed on the website until 12/22 for May 2022 grads for programs applying for reaccreditation on 8/1?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Under the current standards, employment data is not required until 1 year after graduation. In this case, it would be required in 2023. However, since the updated standards go into effect before this time, your program is not required to report this data.

**Also, if your program is submitting an application for reaccreditation on 8/1, you will complete the application based on the revised standards since the site visit will occur in 2023.

Question 25: Submitted by Adrienne Hancock

The CAA website caa.asha.org indicates programs need to submit the KASA Document with Annual Reports starting now, but I don't see a place to attach it in the Engage system (my report is due Aug 1).

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Thank you for your question. The Engauge system prompts for the knowledge and skills document in Standard 3.1. There is a link to the document, and a mechanism to upload/ attach it in the documents tab. If you are not seeing this functionality on your end, please email accreditation@asha.org and we will look into your specific program.

Question 26: Submitted by Michelle

In relation to the question below, should programs applying for reaccreditation on 8/1 update employment data on the website and have this posted until the end of the year?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Excellent follow up question. In your application for reaccreditation, your program is not required to report this data under Standard 5.2. However, under the current Standard 1.9, the program is required to report the data until 12/31/2022.

ASHA Moderator

I am afraid we are out of time. Perhaps the panelists have something they would like to say in closing?

Gretchen Ehret Hoshaw

Thank you all for participating today. If you have not yet received an answer to your question please feel free to contact accreditation@asha.org. There are several questions that staff is continuing to work on. Responses will be posted here. If we need to ask additional information for clarity, we will reach out to you directly.
Again, thank you for participating. Have a safe holiday weekend!

ASHA Moderator

Thank you all so much for your great questions and comments and thank you, panelists, for your time and great information! This chat will be available for viewing on this page immediately after it has ended.

Thank you again everyone!