Communication program receives candidacy for accreditation For Immediate Release Oct. 6, 1999 A program in Abilene Christian University's Department of Communication recently entered the first phase of a national accredititation. The Communication Sciences and Disorders Program has been granted candidacy status by the Council on Academic Accreditation. This new candidacy status results from over three years of study, planning and implementing the two-year Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology, said Dr. Jon Ashby professor of communication and director of the Division of Communication Disorders in the Department of Communication. In the past year the University Budget Committee, Graduate Council and the College Academic Council have all approved the program. This semester, 11 students began the program, and additional students will begin in the fall of 2000, bringing the total to 20 students. Also, significant addtions were made to the ACU library, facilites were remodeled and new faculty was added. Earlier this year, 10 new courses received approval, and the clinical population for treatment increased. "Students will soon be ready to provide services in training to the community under the watchful eye of experienced supervisors," Ashby said. "Services will be provided for stroke patients, cancer patients, developmental disabilities and child language disorders on the ACU campus." Currently the program consists of 80 undergraduate and 11 graduate students with four full-time faculty. Next year an additional faculty member will be added as the two-year program grows. The Speech-Language Pathology Program actually began in 1958 and has had a graduate degree with more than 50 graduates in years past. The present offering will provide national accreditiation and allow students to qualify for the State of Texas License. -30- Archived News Releases - Current ACU News and Events If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@acu.edu or call 915-674-2692 (cell phone: 665-5469). Last update: Oct. 6, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/events/news/991006-commprog.html