University News
WIU's Communication Sciences and Disorders Program Earns National Accreditation
February 13, 2001
MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's communication and sciences disorders program (CSD) recently received national re-accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
The program was issued an eight year accreditation, through Jan. 31, 2009.
"To sum it up, the re-accreditation shows we have a very good program here in CSD with an extremely hard working faculty and extremely good students," said Bob Quesal, WIU communication professor and CSD program director.
The re-accreditation process spanned nearly two years of extensive self-study, which was documented in a 385-page application. A team of specially trained peers conducted a site visit last September to interview faculty, students and clients; review student and client files and academic and clinical policies and procedures; and ensure the program was in compliance with CAA standards. In order to maintain accreditation, yearly evaluations must be reported to ensure the program is keeping up with the latest standards of practice in speech-language pathology, Quesal said.
Western's CSD program, offered through the communication department in the College of Fine Arts and Communication, prepares students to work in speech and hearing related professions with career opportunities in clinics, hospitals, schools and private practice.
Typically, between 35 and 40 students enroll each year in the two-year program, which includes classroom and on-campus clinical contact the first year, Quesal said. During the second year, students serve off-campus internships at hospitals and public schools in Illinois and nationwide. WIU CSD graduates typically earn much more than the minimum 350 direct clinical contact hours with clients required for national certification in speech-language pathology.
As part of the CSD program, WIU offers a Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic which provides services to the University and surrounding communities. The clinic provides services to more than100 clients each semester. The clinic also serves clients at Bridgeway, the Hancock County Rehabilitation Center, Head Start and similar agencies. It also provides speech and hearing screening for all education majors at Western.
For more information about the Western's communication sciences and disorders program or the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, call 309-298-1955, ext. 241.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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