1
The Speech Language Pathology Assistant Program
College of DuPage
Thank you for your interest in the Speech Language Pathology Assistant program!
Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) are emerging professionals who, under
the supervision of licensed Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs), provide treatment and
screening services related to communication problems. SLPAs work in a multitude of
settings, including schools, clinics, early intervention programs and rehabilitation
facilities. SLPAs provide services for a wide variety of individuals, from infants to the
elderly, with a variety of issues and disorders.
Working under the supervision of an SLP, an SLPA can enhance the quality of life of the
individuals served by:
 Eliminating or minimizing the impact of communication disorders and enhancing
functional communication, thereby allowing individuals to communicate wants
and needs effectively and comprehend linguistic input.
 Enhancing cognitive skills, thereby allowing individuals to effectively function in
their activities of daily living and increase their independence.
Without such intervention, individuals with communication disorders may experience
social isolation and limitations in educational and professional opportunities.
This packet provides basic information regarding the SLPA program. Information is also
available on the SLPA program web site: www.cod.edu/slpa. Additional information
about the fields of speech language pathology and audiology is also available at the
American Speech Language Hearing Association web site: www.asha.org. For additional
questions or more information on the SLPA program at College of DuPage, please do not
hesitate to contact SLPA program coordinator Stacy Kaplan, (630) 942-4331, e-mail:
kaplan@cod.edu.
Please Note: This packet does NOT contain a copy of the SLPA program application.
The application packet may be obtained only after enrollment and attendance in SLPA
1101.**
The SLPA Program
The Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) program at College of DuPage is an
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program consisting of 18 hours of general
education courses and 46 hours of SLPA program courses and electives for a total of 64
credits. Graduates of the SLPA program at COD are eligible to apply for state licensure
through the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations.
Revised 12/1/2011
2
SLPA program courses are offered in the evening, spread sequentially over the course of
five consecutive semesters. While the program is designed to be completed in two years
(five semesters), a student may opt, with the approval of the program coordinator, to
complete his/her program on a three-year (eight-semester) track.
Please note that COD and the SLPA program reserve the right to revise curricula without
notice.
Classes
With the exception of the practicum experience, all classes meet one time per week on
the main COD campus in Glen Ellyn. Classes meet from 6 to 9 or 9:30 p.m. on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. No classes are held Friday evenings. Students
expecting to complete the program in two years must enroll in two courses per semester.
Therefore, students will be on campus for class an average of two times per week each
semester. All SLPA courses are offered one time per year.
Clinical Education
The purpose of clinical education is to allow the student to apply the theoretical principles of
the didactic portion of the SLPA program. Students will enroll in practicum during the
final (spring) semester of the program. Practicum placement will consist of experience in
a clinical setting three days per week (Monday to Friday), eight hours per day, for the
entire semester.
Students working daytime hours will have the opportunity to continue their employment
without disruption during the first four semesters of the program. However, arrangements
must be made by students to be available three full days per week during their final
semester in the program. These three days will be determined at the coordinator’s
discretion, based on clinical site availability and need. Weekend and evening placements
are not available. Students typically will not be assigned to a site where they have been or
presently are an employee or volunteer. Students may not be supervised by personal
acquaintances. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical
sites, which are located throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Students must
attend the sites to which they are assigned.
Progress on General Education Requirements
It is not necessary for students to complete general education requirements in full prior to
beginning SLPA program courses. However, it is strongly recommended that substantial
progress be made toward completion of these requirements prior to beginning the
program coursework. It is expected that students will be prepared to graduate upon
completion of all SLPA program courses. Students must have all general education
requirements and electives completed by the end of their fourth semester in the program.
A student who has not successfully completed all general education coursework and
electives by the end of his/her fourth semester may not complete his/her clinical
practicum placements and may be dismissed from the program.
Revised 12/1/2011
3
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission, applicants must complete the following prerequisites.
(1) Graduation from an accredited high school or successful completion of the GED
exam.
(2) Enrollment in and completion of Introduction to Speech Language Pathology
(SLPA 1101) at COD with a final grade of “B” or better. Students who complete
SLPA 1101 with a grade of “C” may be provisionally admitted to the program,
with full admission to the program pending successful completion (grade of “B”
or better) of additional SLPA classes. Students earning a “D” or “F” in SLPA
1101 are not eligible to apply; they are welcome to retake the course and apply to
the program after earning a grade of “B” or better. Prospective students who have
completed an introductory course in the field at a different institution must submit
a copy of their grade report or transcript including the grade received. The SLPA
coordinator reserves the right to request additional information, including but not
limited to, the course description from the course catalog and a copy of the course
syllabus.
(3) Enrollment and completion of at least eight hours of college coursework,
preferably general education requirements, with a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
scale. General education requirements need not be completed at the time of
application, although substantial progress towards completion of these
requirements is recommended.
Application Procedure
An applicant to the SLPA program must:
(1) Complete the SLPA Program Application for Admission form and return it to the
Health Sciences Admissions office, SSC 2207.
(2) Complete and return two (2) recommendation forms to the Health Sciences
Admissions office, SSC 2207, as instructed in the application packet.
(3) Request that a copy of high school transcript or GED test scores be sent to the
College of DuPage Records office, SRC 2015.
(4) Request that official transcripts be sent from all previously attended colleges to
the College of DuPage Records office, SRC 2015. College of DuPage accepts
credits earned at other colleges if the majority of the course content, as specified
in the college Catalog description, is similar to that of classes offered at College
of DuPage.
(5) If educated outside the U.S., foreign transcripts must be evaluated on a course-bycourse basis by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Forms are available in the Records office, SRC 2015, or at: www.ece.org.
Revised 12/1/2011
4
(6) Pay the non-refundable $50 application fee and submit Cashier’s Office Form to
Cashier’s office, BIC 2525. The non-refundable $50 fee must be paid before
submitting the Health Sciences Adviser Audit Form to the Records office.
(7) Complete the Health Sciences Adviser Audit Form and submit to the Records
office, which allows the Records office to forward academic records to the Health
Sciences Admissions office.
(8) Complete the Reading Placement Test and Writing Placement Test at the College
of DuPage Testing Center, BIC 2405. These tests are only required of students,
who either (a) do not have a bachelor’s degree or (b) have not successfully
completed a college-level English class. Immediately following the test, the
student will receive two test report sheets (one sheet entitled “Reading Placement
Test Score Report,” and one sheet entitled “Writing Placement Test Score
Report”) from the Testing Center. These forms must be forwarded to the Health
Sciences Admissions office.
(9) Schedule an interview with the SLPA program coordinator after steps 1 to 8 have
been completed and the SLPA program coordinator has received all application
materials.
Applicants must submit all application materials by the final week of SLPA 1101. It is the
student's responsibility to ensure that all steps have been completed and all information
received. Formal admission will not be considered for applicants with incomplete folders.
Evaluation of Applicants
The number of students admitted to the SLPA program is limited by the availability of
clinical sites. Selection for admission is determined using a numerical point system based
on the following equally-weighted categories:
(1) Grade earned in SLPA 1101 (or other course if student has taken the equivalent of
SLPA 1101 at another institution)
(2) Score earned on the “Classroom Performance Evaluation” during SLPA 1101 (or
other course if student has taken the equivalent of SLPA 1101 at another
institution)
(3) Quality of written essays submitted on application form
(4) Mean score from grids on recommendation forms
(5) “Summary of Recommendation” on recommendation forms
(6) Progress toward fulfilling general education requirements
Additionally, points are deducted for any “Summary of Recommendation” that states
“recommend with reservation.” Applicants who receive a rating of “do not recommend”
are not considered for acceptance into the program. Applicants may earn extra points for
demonstrated success if they have earned an associate’s degree or higher. The specific
admissions rating system is available upon request.
Revised 12/1/2011
5
Admission Status
Following completion of the interview with the SLPA program coordinator, applicants
will be notified of their admission status. Applicants are notified of their admission status
by mid-January. Individuals offered admission must respond in writing within seven
days, or the offer may be withdrawn. Candidates who decline an offer of admission, or
accept but fail to register for classes, are not guaranteed admission at a later date.
Requests for admission are not automatically carried over to the following year.
Applicants not accepted to the program may apply the following year; it is strongly
recommended that individuals considering reapplying speak with the program
coordinator regarding possible methods for improving their chances of admission.
Following acceptance to the SLPA program, students receive a copy of the COD SLPA
Program Handbook. Students are expected to comply with the rules, regulations and
procedures of College of DuPage, the SLPA program and the affiliating clinical sites as
outlined in the handbook. Students are expected to sign an acknowledgment of the
Discipline Procedure, Informed Consent and Verification of Receipt, Review and
Comprehension of the SLPA Program Handbook (following a review of the handbook).
Noncompliance is grounds for dismissal from the SLPA program.
Requirements after Acceptance
Once admitted to the program, students receiving a “C” in any SLPA course are placed
on academic probation for a period no shorter than one semester, although this duration
may be substantially longer. Students receiving a “D” or an “F” in any SLPA course or
practicum are dismissed from the program. A dismissed student may apply for
readmission to the program in the fall semester of the following school year. However,
the student is not guaranteed readmission. If the student is readmitted, the failed course
must be repeated. Additional information regarding grade requirements, probation and
dismissal is contained within the COD SLPA Program Handbook.
Students admitted to the SLPA program are required to submit a current and complete
physical examination record. Students with chronic medical conditions must advise the
program about their current health status, medications and medical needs. If a change in
health status, including pregnancy, occurs while a student is enrolled in the program, the
student must submit a written statement from a physician stating that the student can
continue to fully participate in the program. Students are responsible for their own
medical care and must submit proof of medical insurance coverage.
All health career students with direct patient contact must be drug screened annually prior
to clinical experience in every program. This mandatory drug screening must be
performed by the College of DuPage Health Center at the student’s expense. There is
currently a $25 charge for the drug screening (subject to change). Additionally, students
must submit to and pass a background check and fingerprinting at their own expense. The
combined fee for these security checks combined is approximately $35.
Revised 12/1/2011
6
A fee for professional liability insurance is charged to the student at the beginning of the
clinical practicum and must be paid prior to beginning the practicum assignment. This fee
is approximately $90 (subject to change).
Students who are attending school on any form of visa are strongly advised to contact the
office of International Student Advising (630) 942-3328 to discuss any restrictions which
may apply to completion of the SLPA program.
Physical Requirements
To participate in the clinical education component of the SLPA program, students must
possess additional non-academic, physical skills. These skills are consistent with the
duties of required of an SLPA in a variety of settings. Students in the SLPA program
should have the ability to:
 Lift and carry 30 pounds of weight.
 Move at a reasonable speed by foot and negotiate stairs safely and in a timely
manner.
 Maintain pace with a toddler or active child, including but not limited to
activities such as moving from a seated position in a chair or on the floor to
standing and moving around the therapy room.
 Sit on the ground and/or in child-sized chairs for a prolonged period of time.
 Perform for a prolonged period without breaks in a typical eight-hour workday.
 Respond appropriately to sounds such as the client’s voice at normal
conversational volume levels.
 Visually differentiate various gestures, signs and oral movements.
 Manipulate objects, such as a tongue blade, with dexterity.
 Respond appropriately to equipment signals such as sound and light.
 Communicate orally and in writing with clients, clients’ families, supervisors,
and other personnel clearly and effectively, and follow verbal and written
directions
 Model Standard American English as delineated in the guidelines set forth by
ASHA in the 1997 position statement entitled “Students and Professionals Who
Speak English with Accents and Nonstandard Dialects: Issues and Recommendations.”
Licensure
While the SLPA program at COD is approved by IDPR, and graduates are eligible to
apply for a license, successful completion of the SLPA program does not guarantee
licensure in the State of Illinois.
Individuals in any of the following categories may have difficulty obtaining a license or
may be denied licensure:
 Individuals who have been convicted of a criminal offense in state or federal
court.
 Individuals who have been convicted of a felony.
 Individuals who had or have any disease that interferes with one’s ability to
perform the essential functions of the profession.
Revised 12/1/2011
7
 Individuals who have been denied a professional license or privilege to sit for a
licensing exam, or had a license or permit disciplined by the State of Illinois or
elsewhere.
 Individuals who have been discharged other than honorably by the armed services
or a city, county, state or federal position.
Additionally, applicants who do not have a social security number may have difficulty
obtaining a license. Potential applicants may refer questions to the Illinois Dept. of
Professional Regulation, Springfield, Ill.
Falsification of Documents or Other Information
Falsification of any information, including but not limited to falsification of application
information, health care information, background check information, insurance
information or clinical performance information, will not be tolerated. Prospective
students found to have falsified any application information will not be admitted to the
program and may not reapply or be considered for admission at a later date. Students
enrolled in the program found to have falsified any documents or other information
related to the program will be dismissed without possibility of reapplication or
readmittance.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The college does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion
or creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, arrest record, military
status or unfavorable discharge from military service, use of lawful products while not at work,
citizenship status, physical or mental handicap or disability (Board Policy 15-5,
www.cod.edu/nondiscimination.htm).
Non-discrimination applies to all areas of the college, including the following departments:
Admissions, Educational Services, Employment, Financial Aid, Placement, and Recruitment. The
lack of English language skills shall not be a barrier to admission and participation in educational
programs. Admissions criteria and descriptions of education programs are available in the
college’s printed and online semester Class Schedule (myaccess.cod.edu) and college Catalog
(www.cod.edu/catalog).
The following persons have been designated to handle student inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy:
Student Inquiries Concerning Non-discrimination Statement:
Dean of Student Affairs, (630) 942-3224
Employee and Visitor Inquiries:
Director, Human Resources/Affirmative Action Officer, (630) 942-2460
American with Disabilities Act accommodations, call (630) 942-2141 (voice) or (630) 8589692 (TDD).
Note: Please do not call the numbers above for information about the Speech Language
Pathology Assistant program. Contact information for the SLPA program is on page 1 of this
packet.
Revised 12/1/2011
8
College of DuPage
Health Sciences Programs
POLICY FOR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AT CLINICAL SITES
Revised SPRING 2008
Socialization of students to appropriate professional conduct is a significant component of the Health Sciences Programs of College of
DuPage (the “Programs”). Students in the Programs are expected and required to be reliable and competent, exercise sound judgment,
act with a high degree of personal integrity, represent College of DuPage (the “College”) in a respectful manner, and observe all the rules
and regulations of the clinical sites to which they are assigned. Students also have a responsibility to protect the welfare and safety of the
patients/clients for whom services are being provided.
In accordance with these expectations, when assigned to clinical sites, students in the Programs must adhere to the following Policy for
Professional Conduct. This Policy is in addition to the Student Code of Conduct outlined in College catalogs and/or policy. The Policy of
Professional Conduct includes, but is not limited to,
1. Providing competent and reliable services to patients/clients using sound judgment and discretion. Students are expected to:
a. be on time
b. refrain from excessive absenteeism
c. remain in assigned work areas, leaving only with permission
d. not leave patients unattended
2. Demonstrating respect and courtesy to patients/clients and their families
3. Demonstrating respect and courtesy to instructors, supervisors and all other members of the health care provider team at the site
4. Cooperating with faculty, staff and peers without insubordination
5. Providing care and/or services on a non-discriminatory basis
6. Performing only procedures and/or services authorized by supervisor(s) in accordance with accepted professional standards.
7. Observing the rules and regulations of all clinical facilities, including (but not limited to):
a. Proper use of equipment and other property
b. Not removing property of clinical facilities
c. Not distributing, possessing, and/or being under influence of illegal drugs or controlled substances,
d. Not possessing and/or being under the influence of alcohol
e. Complying with drug testing and criminal background checking requirements
f. Not possessing or using any type of weapon
8. Maintaining the confidentiality of patient/client information in accordance with recognized professional and institutional rules;
without unauthorized release and/or misuse of patient/client information or institutional data
9. Maintaining proper dress, appearance, hygiene and decorum in accordance with the standards set by the program, clinical site,
and professions
10. Complying with the ethical and professional standards set by the profession and the Programs, including (but not limited to):
a. Never taking prescription blanks or writing prescriptions
b. Never falsifying documents regarding student performance or the care of patients
The penalty for violating the Policy for Professional Conduct will be discipline up to and including suspension or dismissal from the
Programs. Due to the sequential design of the curriculum in most Health Sciences programs, any period of suspension or dismissal may
result in a delay in program completion.
If the disciplinary action is suspension or dismissal from one of the Programs, the student may appeal that disciplinary action to the
Health Sciences Professional Conduct Review Board within 10 days of the discipline imposed. This appeal must be in writing using the
Request for Professional Conduct Review form available in the Health and Sciences Division office. The form must be submitted to the
Associate Dean for Health Sciences.
The student will not be permitted to participate in the Programs during the appeal process. The appeal will result in a hearing before the
Health Sciences Professional Conduct Review Board, comprised of faculty from other C.O.D. Health Sciences programs within 30 days
of the date the appeal is filed with the Associate Dean. Both the student and faculty involved in the disciplinary action may make an oral
presentation to the Board in addition to written comments. There is no further appeal; the decision of the Board is final. If the decision to
dismiss or suspend a student from a Program is upheld, no refund of tuition or fees or equipment or books will be provided.
College of DuPage Health Services will perform drug testing at the student’s expense. Drug testing will precede clinical experience in
all cases and will be required prior to admission in some programs. Positive results on a drug screen or misrepresentation regarding
drug use will lead to immediate dismissal from the Programs. Criminal background checks are performed at the student’s expense, and
are required for many Programs prior to admission. Positive results will be handled by individual program faculty, as per program
policies.
Revised 12/1/2011