Welcome to Nova Southeastern University’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program! You have been accepted to the largest graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology in the nation!
Now that you have been accepted (and after the celebration), you have some planning to do. You will receive more information about orientation as the event gets closer!
- SEAT DEPOSIT
In your acceptance letter, you were provided with information regarding payment of the seat deposit. Paying this deposit will hold a place for you in our program for up to one calendar year from the date of matriculation included in your admission letter. Please be sure to make this payment by the due date. Once you start the program, this deposit will be released to your student account to go towards tuition, books, etc.
- ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
In submitting the requisite seat deposit, you have acknowledged you have read and can meet the essential functions which details the essential functions of the MS-SLP program with or without reasonable accommodation. The Essential Functions for Students can be found on our program website.
- ORIENTATION DATES
FALL 2020 START
Due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, continued uncertainty, and in the interest of safety for stakeholders, the orientation events for the Fall 2020 term will be held virtually. PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL TO CAMPUS. Please make yourselves available during the days the in-person orientation was scheduled originally - agenda, times, and more information are forthcoming.
TTI-10 COHORT: If you have been accepted to the TTI-10 Cohort, your orientation is scheduled for Monday, August 3 through Wednesday, August 5, 2020. The event will be held virtually.
ONLINE PROGRAM: If you have been accepted to the online program, meaning you live more than fifty (50) miles from a campus of Nova Southeastern University, your orientation is scheduled for the weekend of August 7-9, 2020. The event will be held virtually.
ON-CAMPUS PROGRAM: If you have been accepted to an on-campus program, meaning you live within fifty (50) miles from a campus of Nova Southeastern University, your orientation is scheduled for the weekend of August 14-16, 2020. The event will be held virtually.
WINTER 2021 START
ONLINE PROGRAM: If you have been accepted to the online program, meaning you live more than fifty (50) miles from a campus of Nova Southeastern University, your orientation is scheduled for the weekend of December 11-13, 2020. The event will be held virtually.
ON-CAMPUS PROGRAM: If you have been accepted to an on-campus program, meaning you live within fifty (50) miles from a campus of Nova Southeastern University, your orientation is scheduled for the weekend of December 11-13, 2020. The event will be held virtually.
- LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION
You will no longer need to make travel or lodging arrangements as the orientation event will be held virtually.
You will need a place to stay while you are here for the Orientation Event. Please visit the NSU Travel Office to find hotels in the Fort Lauderdale area which offer a discount to Nova Southeastern University students. It would be to your advantage to have access to a car while you are here. Information on car rentals is also available on the NSU Travel Office site.
- ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
The dates will remain the same as posted above. Information regarding times and how to join virtually will be forthcoming.
You will want to arrive in the Fort Lauderdale/Davie area the night before the Orientation Event begins. We will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day (please arrive by 8:00 a.m. to assure we can begin on-time). We will finish by 4:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and by 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Attendance at the orientation event is mandatory. Please schedule your returning transportation so you can attend the full class each day, including the last day.
- GUIDED OBSERVATION HOURS
An ASHA requirement includes documentation of a minimum of twenty-five (25) hours of guided clinical observation of (an) ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist(s) (SLP)(s). The guided clinical observation hours must be within the ASHA Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. Completion of these clinical observation hours is a requirement of admission to the MS-SLP program. You must bring a copy of the documentation with you to the Orientation Event IF you did not submit it previously through CSDCAS. DO NOT submit your original document; keep the original for yourself and submit a copy.
If you completed the hours as part of a course, appropriate documentation will reference the course and include the name, signature, date of signature, and ASHA certification number of the person verifying completion of the course and completion of the requisite guided clinical observation hours.
If completion of the hours were NOT part of a course, appropriate documentation must be either a letter verifying completion of a minimum of 25 hours of guided clinical observation, complete with the name, signature, date of signature, statement regarding the time period of when the observations were completed and ASHA certification number of the person verifying completion OR a log of all completed guided clinical observations, signed by each ASHA-certified SLP observed, with the ASHA certification number of each SLP observed. The student must also add a statement verifying discussions with the observed SLP regarding what was observed and what transpired during (the) observed session(s).
Acceptable letters must be on letterhead or some sort of official documentation. There is NOT a standard form for logging hours. You can create your own, following the guidelines above.
- CASTLE BRANCH
At some point, soon in the process, you will be receiving information from Castle Branch. This is the company used by the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences (PCHCS) and the Health Professions Division (HPD) to manage requisite immunizations, physical examination, and background checks. These requirements must be initiated prior to matriculation or shortly thereafter. Since some immunizations involve a series of inoculations over time, e.g., Hepatitis B, you will want to begin as soon as possible. All questions regarding immunizations, physical examination, and background checks are to be directed to the director of student affairs of the College: Mr. Jeffrey G. Jurkas | (954) 262-1299.
- CONTACT PERSON
The contact person for the orientation event and the Student Portfolio (we will discuss this during the weekend) is Mrs. Brenda Miles.
Once again, congratulations and welcome. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Steven P. Vertz M.S., CCC-SLP
Associate Director and Instructor
(954) 262-7735