ASHA Members Needed to Speak at HEA Public Meetings

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced its intention to establish negotiated rulemaking committees to implement certain parts of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and have announced six public meetings where interested parties may suggest issues that should be considered for action by the negotiating committees.

ASHA is looking for members to speak at the HEOA public meetings scheduled on the following dates and times:

September 19, 2008 - Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT
September 29, 2008 - University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT
October 2, 2008 - Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PDT
October 6, 2008 - Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT
October 8, 2008 - U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT
October 15, 2008 - Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT

Speaker's comments will generally be limited to 5 minutes, although that may be extended depending on the number of registrants. ASHA will provide talking points and reimburse local travel costs for those willing to speak at these public meetings on behalf of the professions. If you are available and interested in speaking at the HEOA public meetings, please contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, via e-mail at cclarke@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071 , ext. 5611.

Further information on the public hearing sites, including addresses and directions, is available. on the ED Web site. On-site registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. ED is also accepting written comments if you are unable to attend, which should be sent to HEOA08@ed.gov on or before October 8, 2008. Alternatively, you may send written comments to Wendy Macias, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, N.W., Room 8017, Washington, DC 20006, or by fax to Wendy Macias at 202-502-7874 .