Columbus Standard

Trine University’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology (MS-SLP) program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).

At its May 24 meeting, the CAA determined the program demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards for Accreditation of Graduate Education Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and awarded candidacy for a period of five years beginning May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2027.

In a letter communicating the decision, the CAA commended the program for the quality of its accreditation report. Program director Chanda Lichtsinn said multiple faculty and staff within Trine University, its College of Health Professions and the speech-language pathology program contributed to the effort.

“It took the whole team to make this happen,” said Lichtsinn. “We’re excited to achieve this next milestone and we look forward to welcoming students into the program this fall.”

Trine announced plans to launch a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program in 2018 as part of a broader strategy to expand its programs in Fort Wayne under the university’s College of Health Professions. The graduate program will join Trine’s existing Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Physician Assistant Studies and Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology, which are based at the university’s Health Sciences Education Center on the Parkview Randallia campus, as well as its online RN-to-BSN program.

“The Master of Science in speech-language pathology program is one part of Trine University’s efforts to provide graduates who will meet the healthcare staffing needs in this region, and I’m proud that this program has taken the next step on the path to accreditation,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president. “Our growing number of programs provide Trine health professions students the opportunity to collaborate with healthcare professionals in training from multiple fields, as they will when they reach the workplace.”

Program launching fall 2022

The program will launch this fall at Trine University’s Dupont Education Center, 9910 Dupont Circle Drive East, Fort Wayne, and will move with other College of Health Professions programs to the new $40 million, 120,000-square-foot Trine University Fort Wayne campus near Parkview Regional Medical Center in fall 2024.

Trine's MS-SLP program will focus on clinical training, interprofessional collaboration and evidence-based practice. Students will apply their knowledge in clinical practicum experiences and demonstrate professional and leadership skills through service learning experiences.

Trine students will complete practicums at the university’s on-site Speech-Language Clinic, which will provide free speech-language evaluation and therapy to members of the community. Students also will complete practicums at Fort Wayne-area hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, school-based programs, outpatient clinics and other sites. During the clinical practicum experiences, student clinicians will earn the 375 supervised clinical clock hours required for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the national organization for speech-language pathologists and audiologists in the United States.

For more information, visit trine.edu/slp.

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (M. S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential and distance education) at Trine University is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. Candidacy is a “preaccreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of 5 years.

_{Source:  https://www.trine.edu/news/2022/slp-accredited.aspx}