WSU Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WSUSSLHA)

Are you ready to join your peers in the official WSU student organization for speech-language-hearing students? 

Fill out and submit the membership form (link below can be submitted online or printed).
Membership dues can be paid via one of the payment options below.
You have the choice of a 1 or 2 year membership, with a discount for the 2 year option.

WSUSSLHA Membership Form

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Payment Options
Option 1:  Credit/debit card payments are accepted via the Online WSUSSLHA Store
                  Then email your completed membership form to: wsusslha@wichita.edu
                  Email receipts are sent to you and auto-copied to WSUSSLHA.

Option 2:  Bring or mail completed form and cash/check/MO payments to the CSD office in AH 401 or give to a WSUSSLHA Officer for processing.

You can engage with us on WSUSSLHA's Instagram page, to get to know your fellow members! Additionally, members can submit a request to join the WSUSSLHA closed Facebook group. 

Please feel free to contact one of the Officers if you have any questions.

2025 AY WSUSSLHA Officers 

Title	Name	Email
President	Shelby Fernandez	sxfernandez@shockers.wichita.edu
Vice President	Azeneth Ramos-Bencomo	axramos-bencomo@shockers.wichita.edu
Secretary	Jasmine Martin	jvmartin1@shockers.wichita.edu
Treasurer	Mona Jesri	majesri@shockers.wichita.edu
Social Chair	Riley Goodson	rxgoodson@shockers.wichita.edu
NSSLHA Rep	Alexis Newman	arnewman@shockers.wichita.edu
AuD Rep	Wendy Hernandez	wxhernandez@shockers.wichita.edu
SLP Rep	Bryonna Hawk	bmhawk@shockers.wichita.edu

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Faculty Advisors

Karissa Marble-Flint, PhD
316-978-6356
Karissa.Marble-Flint@wichita.edu

Terese Conrad, MA
316-978-3397
Terese.Conrad@wichita.edu

What is WSUSSLHA?

The Wichita State University Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WSUSSLHA) is a student organization open to all WSU students. WSUSSLHA encourages professional interest among all students in the study of both normal and disordered human communication. It also provides a vehicle for student representation in matters of professional concern.

WSUSSLHA is a local chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA), a pre-professional organization for undergraduate and graduate students in speech language pathology and audiology. This organization promotes departmental and community involvement as well as opportunities for national membership and participation. NSSLHA is the student branch of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which is the national professional organization for this field.

Social events sponsored by WSUSSLHA include the Faculty/Student "Back-to-School" picnic and the Winter Holiday party. WSUSSLHA serves as a service organization by hosting guest speakers from non-profit organizations and donating both time and money to special events throughout the year.

What benefits do I receive as a member of WSUSSLHA?

• Develop an understanding of the transition from student to professional
• Student representation in matters of professional concern
• Professional growth opportunities
• Develop leadership skills
• Organize social or community activities
• Promote the profession
• Copy machine use in the Clinic student workroom
• WSUSSLHA assists student members who wish to attend ASHA

How do I join WSUSSLHA?

Students may join WSUSSLHA at any time by submitting a completed membership form, along with the dues payment, to the WSUSSLHA Treasurer. Payments may be dropped off at the CSD Office in 401 Ahlberg Hall, or the WSU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (Hughes Metropolitan Complex, entrance T).

Membership dues are $15.00 for one (1) year or $25 for two (2) years. For those who initially join in the Spring semester, the fall renewal rate will be prorated to $7.00 for the first year of membership. Form is available at top of webpage or you can pick one up at either the CSD academic or clinic offices.

What is NSSLHA?

• Founded in 1972, the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the national organization for graduate and undergraduate students interested in the study of normal & disordered human communication.
• NSSLHA is the only official national student association recognized by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
• NSSLHA has approximately 11,000 members with chapters in more than 301 colleges & universities.
• NSSLHA membership is available to any part- or full-time, graduate or undergraduate student interested in the study of communication disorders.
• Students pursuing academic study as speech-language pathology assistants, students pursuing a doctorate of philosophy or doctorate of audiology, and students enrolled in a CSD program outside of the United States can be members of national NSSLHA.

Master's Graduates or Doctoral Candidates Information on the NSSLHA-to-ASHA Conversion Program and Discount

• What exactly is the NSSLHA-to-ASHA Conversion Discount?
  The NSSLHA-to-ASHA Conversion Discount provides a reduction in the initial membership and certification fees for students when they transfer their membership to ASHA. 
• How will I know if I qualify for the conversion program discount?
  To qualify for the conversion program discount a student must have paid national membership dues to NSSLHA for two consecutive years at the time of graduation from a master's program. 
• What constitutes two consecutive years of national membership?
  If a student is graduating from a master's or doctoral program in 2015, for example, that student must have paid national membership dues in 2014 and in 2015 to qualify for the conversion program discount.
  
  This discount is NOT available to students who are members of the local chapter only (WSUSSLHA). A student must have paid national (NSSLHA) membership dues ($45/annually) to receive this discount. 
• How much of a discount will I receive?
  Students that qualify for the NSSLHA-to-ASHA Conversion Program Discount receive a $150.00 savings off the initial fee of $486.00 for membership and certification in ASHA.
• When is the best time to convert membership from NSSLHA to ASHA?
  NSSLHA members are advised to apply for ASHA membership and certification by the August 31 deadline to ensure that they will receive the conversion program discount. If a student waits until September 1 or later, he/she will lose the discount and will have to pay the recent graduate conversion rate.

What benefits do I receive as a member of NSSLHA at the national level?

Involvement in NSSLHA leads to a fuller appreciation of the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology and a greater awareness to the issues affecting these fields. As a member of NSSLHA, a student will receive:

• Two issues of Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders (CICSD), a NSSLHA publication.
• Three issues of NSSLHA's newsletter, NSSLHA Now!
• A print subscription to The ASHA Leader.
• A print subscription to your choice of one of the following ASHA journals: American Journal of Audiology; American Journal of Speech Language Pathology; Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research; or Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.
• Access to the "members only" areas of the NSSLHA and ASHA Web sites, which include all ASHA journals, ASHA's Literature Review Service, and convenient membership dues renewal.
• A reduced registration fee for the ASHA convention.
• Discounted Associate Affiliate membership in ASHA's Special Interest Divisions.
• Discounts on the purchase or lease of a new car from Subaru of America.
• Discounts on ASHA or NSSLHA products and publications.
• Technical assistance and resources from ASHA.
• A NSSLHA credit card with no annual fee for the first year (approved application required).
• Professional liability, medical, and dental insurance through plans available exclusively to NSSLHA members.
• Eligibility for the NSSLHA to ASHA Conversion Program Discount, which represents a significant savings on dues and fees for your first year of ASHA membership and certification

COMMITTEES

Want to get involved? Contact any officer about joining the following committees.

CSD Graduate Hooding and Awards Event
Members assist CSD Student Affairs committee in planning the annual event held in May to honor CSD graduate students and award recipients. There is a lot of room for creativity.

Social Events
Members plan informal social get-togethers on a monthly basis, and also work on annual events like the picnic, baseball party, etc. There is plenty of room for creativity and new ideas.

Welcome Committee
This committee is something new we want to try as a way to connect our undergraduate and graduate members. We have many new ideas on how this could be accomplished, including a "mentor-mentee" program for grads and undergrads. This committee will do most of their work during the summer in order to get ready for the fall.

Fundraising
We are always looking for ways to earn money for our organization to support things like ASHA trips for members. Members of this committee will brainstorm, plan, and help execute fundraisers to be done throughout the year (probably one a semester.)

Convocation
This committee will be in charge of planning and doing the Convocation Banner for WSU's Convocation, which is right after school year begins in the fall. The majority of the planning/design will take place during the summer. WSUSSLHA has an impressive past as doing very well in the competition (we won several years!), so we want to maintain that presence!

WSUSSLHA holds regular meetings (usually twice a month) in which members, guests, and speakers share experiences with each other.  WSUSSLHA engages as a service organization by hosting guest speakers from non-profit organizations and donating both time and money to special events throughout the year. 

We also provide information for students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) about the national student organization, the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA), and the national professional organization, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 

If more information is desired, please contact the WSUSSLHA President.

FALL 2024 meetings

Time: 3:15 - 5:00 PM
Location: AH 110A

9/3        ICE CREAM SOCIAL/DR PARHAM
9/17      GENERAL MEETING/NSSLHA INTRO
10/1      SLP GRADUTE PANEL
10/29    AUD GRADUATE PANEL
11/12    SLP/AUD GUEST SPEAKERS
11/26    SEASONAL CARDS/TEACHER GIFTS
12/7      FINALS STUDY DAY


SPRING 2025 meetings

Time: 3:15 - 5:00 PM (Executive meetings at 3:30 and general meetings at 4:00)
Location: AH 110A

The meetings will be on Tuesdays and the dates are:1/28, 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25, 4/8, 4/22, and if needed, 5/6. 

WSUSSLHA holds various events throughout fall and spring.

Below is some event information on current and previous semesters, so you can get an idea of the activities we may be involved in each year!

NOTE on recurring annual events: previous event information is left up for reference. New details for the next event will be updated as they are finalized. For more information, please contact WSUSSLHA Officers.

Fall 2024 

AUGUST
Planning semester events at general meetings

SEPTEMBER
9/3: WSUSSHLA Ice Cream Social - held during general WSUSSLHA meeting

9/17: NSSLHA INTRO - held during general WSUSSLHA meeting

OCTOBER
Walk for Apraxia
Parade of Stars
10/19: Trunk or Treat - WSU Main Campus
Student Advocacy Day

CHP WEEK
(Usually last week Oct./1st week Nov. Click link above for details.)

10/30: Spooktacular, "Souper" Bowl, etc.
Other dates feature costume contests, WSU Health Professions faculty/staff appreciation, service project donations, raffles, and more!

NOVEMBER

11/2: Barnes and Noble Book Fair fundraiser!
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
1920 N Rock Rd, Wichita, KS 67206

Our fall book fundraiser for clinic. Book purchase proceeds benefit the
Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic!

Ronald McDonald House

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Spring 2025

JANUARY
WSUSSLHA Spring Celebration
Come-and-go event with snacks, fun and games, and welcoming new members. CSD faculty/staff invited! Then students will have their regular business meeting afterward.

FEBRUARY
Champions of Literacy

MARCH
Audiologist Guest Speaker

WSUSSLHA Chipotle Fundraiser
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
5:00 - 9:00 PM

 
APRIL 
Neurodiversity Week
 Autism Awareness event

Wichita Thunder hockey game
ASD Hockey Game at 6:00 PM

MAY

Better Hearing & Speech Month
Celebrate all May!

CSD Graduate Hooding and Awards Event
WSU Eugene Hughes Metropolitan Complex

WSU Commencement
Fall: December
Spring: May