FAQs about the NSSLHA Executive Council Answers

What is a regional councilor?

A regional councilor is a student who acts as a liaison between the chapter presidents, advisors, and members in his/her region and the NSSLHA Executive Council.

A regional councilor represents the interests of all NSSLHA members and local chapters within a given geographic region. Primarily, a regional councilor communicates with chapter presidents and advisors via e-mail and newsletters.

How long is a regional councilor's term?

Regional councilors are selected for two year terms. Regional councilor terms begin July 1 and end June 30 of each year.

What needs to go into the letter of recommendation?

A student applying for a position on the NSSLHA Executive Council must submit one letter of recommendation from a professional and one from a student.

The professional reference can be from a current or former teacher or employer, your advisor, a counselor, or a therapist. What is important is that the person is familiar with your academic and/or organizational working style and your character.

The student reference can be from a current or former student, a local or national NSSLHA member, someone that you participated with in a team sport, or in a previous service or fraternal organization. Again, what is most important to the council is that the reference can speak about your skills and talents that will make you the best choice for a position on the council.

Where should the letters of recommendation be sent?

Letters of recommendation should be sent/addressed to:

NSSLHA Executive Council
2200 Research Boulevard #322
Rockville, MD 20850

What are the responsibilities of a regional councilor?

The NSSLHA regional councilors are required to:

Maintain current membership in national NSSLHA.
Communicate with chapters on a regular basis and ask for feedback on issues that the NSSLHA Executive Council is considering.
Write three regional newsletters per year and submit to his/her region's chapter presidents and advisors.
Advise chapters on ways to run efficiently, apply for honors, and solve problems that chapters face.
Answer member's questions about issues related to NSSLHA and to the communication sciences and disorders professions. As necessary, refer members to the appropriate authority who can answer their questions.
Attend all meetings of the ASHA professional committees or boards to which they are assigned. Councilors are expected to assume an active role on these committees and report to the Executive Council on committee progress.
Represent students when issues are discussed on the NSSLHA Executive Council and the ASHA professional committees or boards.
Attend all Executive Council meetings that occur during the two year term-traditionally, each fall at the ASHA Convention and each spring at the ASHA National Office.
Participate in all policy and decision making processes of the NSSLHA Executive Council.
Complete tasks assigned by the president and/or committee.
Select an alternate to serve in the event that the regional councilor is not able to complete their duties.

How are regional councilors selected?

Article VI, Section 5 of the national Bylaws, provide for five regional councilors to be chosen annually from five eligible geographic regions.

In the fall the National Office notifies its members, the local NSSLHA chapters, and the ASHA-recognized racial and ethnic minority caucuses of an opening for a new regional councilor.

Interested applicants must submit an application, resume, one letter of recommendation from a faculty member, and one letter of recommendation from a student.

The NSSLHA Executive Council reviews all applications at its annual spring meeting and chooses one student from each of the geographic regions to become the new regional councilor for that region.

All applicants are notified of the outcome no later than June 1.

What are the requirements to serve as a regional councilor?

In order to serve as a regional councilor (or as an alternate regional councilor) a student must be:

A member of national NSSLHA
Majoring in human communication sciences and disorders
Eligible for NSSLHA membership during the two-year term of office
Able to serve as NSSLHA regional councilor for the two-year term of office

How are regional councilors trained in their duties on the Executive Council?

Prior to the start of a term, a regional councilor receives a handbook from the National Office that includes instructions outlining the roles and responsibilities of the position as well as a checklist of important events and deadlines. Before the first council meeting, newly elected regional councilors participate in an orientation session with the director of operations and the executive director of the national association.

What happens when a regional councilor cannot complete his/her duties?

A regional councilor is required to uphold the roles and responsibilities of the position. If the councilor is unable to complete the requirements then the position will be replaced by an alternate regional councilor (ARC).

How is the alternate regional councilor selected?

The alternate regional councilor is selected by the incoming regional councilor and his/her local NSSLHA chapter advisor.

What are the responsibilities of the alternate regional councilor?

The alternate regional councilor does not have any responsibilities until and unless he/she is asked to serve on the Executive Council. Once on the Council the alternate assumes the full rights and responsibilities of a regional councilor.

The National Office tries, whenever possible, to keep the alternate regional councilor informed of any matters before the Executive Council. However, the alternate does not have voting privileges on any matters before the Executive Council.

What is a member-at-large?

The member-at-large is a newly created position, adopted by the Council in 2008, to represent student concerns in the alternate field of study as the President-elect. The member-at-large is a regional councilor with all rights and privileges. The member-at-large shall serve a one-year term during the President's term. The member-at-large is required to attend all Executive Council meetings, and shall serve on the alternative ASHA Advisory Council as the President. The member-at-large will be a voting member of the Executive Council, and fully participatory on NSSLHA Committees and by presidential appointment.

May a student applying for a regional councilor position also apply for the member-at-large position?

A student applying for a regional councilor position that meets the current criteria for the member-at-large may indicate on their regional councilor application an interest in being considered for the member-at-large position, should the application for regional councilor not be accepted.

What is the role of the ASHA members on the Executive Council?

There are four consultant positions reserved on the Council for ASHA members. Those positions are: national advisor, editor, consultant for educational programming, and consultant for student affairs.

What are the requirements to serve as a consultant?

In order to serve as a consultant a professional must be:

A member of ASHA
Employed in the discipline of human communication sciences and disorders
Working with students in the discipline of human communication sciences and disorders
Able to serve on the council for a three-year term of office

What is the role of the national advisor?

The national advisor is responsible for advising and oversight of the Council, protecting the fiduciary and administrative health of the association, and negotiating/monitoring the agreement between NSSLHA and ASHA.

What is the role of the editor?

The editor guides and advises the Council on all matters related to the publication of journals and newsletters. The editor identifies reviewers for the journal, manages the CICSD mentoring program, and coordinates special publications for the Association. The editor also serves as the liaison for NSSLHA and the ASHA Publications Board.

What is the role of the consultant for educational programming?

The consultant for educational programming provides professional advice to the Council on matters related to educational and pre-professional programming for students during NSSLHA Day at the annual ASHA Convention. This position is also responsible for advising national office staff in designing orientation/team-building exercised for the Council, and serves as a content-expert on student/chapter advisor webinars. NSSLHA's consultant for educational programming also represents NSSLHA on ASHA's Scientific and Professional Education Board.

What is the role of the consultant for student affairs?

The NSSLHA Executive Council voted in November 1986 to have one of the two consultants-at-large address minority concerns, and to work with the Regional Councilor who serves as liaison to the Office of Minority Concerns in the national office of ASHA (now called the Office of Multicultural Affairs). The Executive Council renamed one of the consultant-at-large positions "consultant for multicultural issues."

In 2011, the NSSLHA Council expanded the position to include a focus on international students, students in speech-pathology and audiology assistant programs, and research and clinical doctoral students. The Council again renamed the position "consultant for student affairs."

The consultant for student affairs provides expert advice and oversees projects and activities related to students, with a special emphasis on multicultural issues, international student issues, students enrolled in assistant programs, and research and clinical doctorate students.

How does an ASHA member apply for a position on the Council?

When a vacancy occurs, the national office posts an announcement for applications. Applicants for this position must be a current member of ASHA. Applicants should provide at least two letters of recommendation from a current or former student, and/or from a professional, outlining the applicant's experience or involvement with students or a student organization (e.g. local NSSLHA chapter, state association liaison to an academic program, CSD faculty advisor, etc.).

Does the consultant have to be certified by ASHA to serve on the Council?

No, the consultant does not have to be certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, but the position does require current membership in ASHA.

How are consultant positions selected?

Final selection of an applicant is made by the Executive Council according to the procedures outlined in the bylaws.

Are consultants paid for their work on the Council?

The executive director receives a monthly stipend and the editor receives a quarterly stipend for their work. The other positions do not provide stipends. However, the consultants are reimbursed for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred on behalf of the Association.

How does the Executive Council conduct business?

The Executive Council meets twice a year (fall and spring) to discuss the policies and procedures that affect members of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association.

Issues affecting students or the operation of the association are brought before the Executive Council. It is the council's responsibility to discuss those issues and determine a solution or course of action in the best interest of the majority of the membership. The Executive Council is also responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the association and ensures that member dues are being used in accordance with the mission of the association.

The Council established several standing committees to address student concerns, to develop activities and events for the NSSLHA membership, and to keep the association connected to the student membership and related professionals.

The NSSLHA standing committees are:

Executive Committee: This committee is restricted to the president, vice-president, past president as well as the president-elect, vice-president elect and member-at-large. NSSLHA's executive director is a co-chair, ex-officio on this committee. This committee has oversight of the association budget, Council meeting agendas, proposed by-laws revisions, and proposed policy decisions.
Honors Committee: The honors committee has oversight of the NSSLHA Honors program, NSSLHA Loves, NSSLHA Grants Programs, and NSSLHA's Scholarship Fund.
Student Affairs Committee: This committee has oversight of SLPA and Audiology-assistant issues, culturally and linguistically diverse students issues, and pre-professional issues in CSD.
Public Affairs Committee: This committee has oversight of the association marketing, website, social media sites, products, and publications.
Convention Committee: This committee has oversight of NSSLHA Day at the ASHA Convention.

The council also carries out its duties by participating as members of several boards and committees within the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The role of NSSLHA representatives on these committees is to express the concerns and opinions of students regarding issues being discussed or reviewed by the committees.

NSSLHA representatives participate on the following ASHA boards and committees:

ASHA Legislative Council (position held by NSSLHA president and past-president)
Council for Clinical Certification
Scientific and Professional Educational Board
Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Multicultural Issues Board
Board of Division Coordinators

When does the Executive Council meet?

The Executive Council meets in the fall during the ASHA Convention and again in the spring at the National Office in Rockville, Maryland.

How are Executive Council officers selected?

Two students are selected by their peers to serve as president and the vice president of the Council. These students are selected from the group of first year regional councilors. This election is held during every fall Council meeting with the students assuming office beginning July 1 following their election.

What is the role of the NSSLHA president?

The president presides over all meetings of the Executive Council, appoints committees and serves as an ex officio member of all committees. The president, along with the past-president, is a member of the ASHA Legislative Council (the policy making body of ASHA) with full voting privileges.

What is the role of the NSSLHA vice-president?

The NSSLHA vice president is responsible for orienting the incoming (first year) regional councilors to the Council and working on other assignments as directed by the president. The vice president is empowered to assume all duties of the president if the president is absent or unable to perform such duties.

What is the National Executive Committee?

The National Executive Committee of the NSSLHA Executive Council is comprised of the NSSLHA president, vice president, the executive director, and the two senior consultants.

When does the National Executive Committee meet?

The National Executive Committee was established to serve on an emergency basis when urgent matters preclude a meeting of the entire Executive Council.

How can individuals or chapters bring matters before the Council?

The council accepts correspondence in writing and addressed to the attention of the Executive Director c/o NSSLHA, 2200 Research Boulevard #322, Rockville, Maryland 20850. All matters addressed to the Council will be considered.

If the item can be resolved by the director of operations and the executive director, then a remedy will be sought immediately. However, if the matter needs to be brought before the full Council, it will be added to the agenda of the next meeting of the Council. A written reply will be issued immediately upon a decision of the Council.

If a student is having a problem in his/her academic program, how can NSSLHA help?

The NSSLHA Executive Council does not have jurisdiction over any policies or decisions made by any academic institution or its staff.

If a student encounters any problems in an academic program it must be remedied at the university level. The student should contact the office of student or academic affairs to determine the grievance or appeal policies at their university.

If a student is enrolled in a communication science program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and believes that the conduct of a faculty member(s) is unethical, or if the student is asked to perform a service that is questionable, an inquiry can be initiated at ASHA. The instructions for filing a grievance against an accredited program are available online.

If a student is not comfortable seeking information and/or advice from either of those resources, the students may contact the national association at 301-296-8706 for assistance. The national association will work with the student to identify other professionals or resources in the area available to resolve the concerns.

If I am having a problem in my chapter, how can NSSLHA help?

Every NSSLHA chapters operates under their own set of bylaws or policies for operating the chapter. If you encounter a problem in your chapter, you should consult the bylaws to see if there are instructions on how the conflict can be resolved.

In the absence of a provision in the bylaws, a student should seek mediation, through their NSSLHA chapter advisor, local student government association, or office of student affairs.

If a student is not comfortable seeking information and/or advice from those resources, contact the national association at 301-296-8706 for assistance with identifying other professionals or resources in the area to assist with resolving the concern.

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