Program History

The Distance Learning Consortium project was initiated in 2005 due to the ongoing shortage of certified speech language pathologists available for employment within the Virginia public school systems. Discussions, under the direction of Dr. Carol Dudding, were conducted with Virginia universities offering programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to determine if an on-line Master’s degree program was feasible to assist students who were unable to participate in a traditional on-site program. In June 2005, the Distance Learning Consortium emerged after an intensive collaborative meeting between interested universities and the VDOE. The VDOE approved funding to further develop the program.

Over the next year, representatives from Hampton University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Norfolk State University and the University of Virginia met regularly to develop a curriculum, determine admission criteria and obtain the necessary accreditation from state, regional and national agencies. Through ongoing collaboration among participating universities, the project continued forward with a target initiation date of courses to begin in the summer of 2007. In February 2006, the project became known as DLVE-SLP: Distance Learning in Virginia Educating SLPs. The project began actively marketing the program in early 2006 for prospective students and certified speech language pathologists to provide supervision. In early 2007, DLVE-SLP received approval from the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The program completed the first admission process in early 2007. Since inception, three cohorts have been admitted to DLVE-SLP. The program has graduated over 36 students to date from four Virginia universities.

In August 2012, DLVE-SLP announced that the program would move from a grant supported program to a program operated through JMU Outreach and Engagement.

A special thank you is extended to VDOE, the DLVE-SLP board, coordinators, and dedicated educators who devoted many hours to the development and continued success of the DLVE-SLP program.