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ɫ������’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program on the Glendale Campus has been granted an eight-year reaccreditation - the maximum possible term - by the . The CAA commended the Program for meeting all 49 standards across six accreditation areas and 150 specific elements, without any areas of non-compliance or any follow-up required.

The site visit, conducted October 10–11, 2024, confirmed that the Program exceeds national standards for excellence in education and student support. During the visit, the accreditation team observed students actively engaged in advanced training environments, including a human brain dissection lab and standardized patient interactions at the ɫ������ Clinical Skills and Simulation Center.

“I am very proud of the fact that the site visit team and the Council on Academic Accreditation who reviewed all the documentation recognized the high-quality SLP program ɫ������ provides our students,” said Stephanie Christensen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Program Director. “Most notable to me was the site visit team's high praise for the way our faculty work together to accomplish this in a fully student-focused way.”

Site review highlights collaboration, interprofessional practice 

The CAA site visitors highlighted several aspects of the Program’s strengths, including the faculty’s culture of collaboration and responsiveness. One quote from the final report particularly stood out to Dr. Christensen: “Cohesiveness, collaboration, and teamwork among faculty members were consistently reported, creating a culture of productivity and focus on responsiveness to individualized student learning needs and success.”

The visitors also noted the program’s integration of interprofessional practice, having witnessed SLP students working together with students from other Midwestern healthcare programs in real-world educational scenarios. “They had the opportunity to observe SLP, Occupational Therapy, and Clinical Psychology students having fun working together and learning during a human brain dissection lab,” Dr. Christensen added. “We also impressed them with a tour of the Simulation Center with SLP students actively engaged with standardized patients, demonstrating first-hand how they flourish through the amazing resources poured into them.”

“It is truly wonderful to see the Speech-Language Pathology Program receive such a strong vote of confidence from the accrediting body,” said Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ɫ������. “Dr. Christensen and her outstanding faculty have built a program that exemplifies academic excellence, interprofessional collaboration, and a deep commitment to student success. I am continually impressed by their dedication and their positive impact on our campus community.”

With this full eight-year reaccreditation, the ɫ������ Speech-Language Pathology Program reaffirms its commitment to high-quality, evidence-based education and its mission to prepare students for success as compassionate, collaborative healthcare professionals.