Spring Symposium
Each year, the UND Department of Communication & Sciences Disorders partners with Minnesota State University Moorhead to offer a spring symposium.
UND/MSUM Spring Symposium
AAC Essentials: What Every SLP Needs to Know
February 4-5, 2027
Featuring guest speaker Rachel Madel, M.A., CCC-SLP
MSUM Campus- Moorhead, MN
Comstock Memorial Union (CMU) Ballroom
615 14th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56563
Cost
- Participant Fee: $250
- Student Fee: $55
The cost of registration includes a light breakfast, lunch, and snack both days.
Hotel Room Block
Courtyard by Marriott Fargo Moorhead, MN
- Start Date: Wednesday, February 03, 2027
- End Date: Friday, February 05, 2027
- $145/night
- Last day to book: Sunday, January 3, 2027
Schedule
Thursday, February 4, 2027 (8.0 CE Contact Hours)
AAC Foundations for Every SLP
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Registration & Pastries/Coffee |
| 8:30-8:45 a.m. | Welcome + Introductions |
| 8:45-9:15 a.m. | Mindset, Myths + Evidence |
| 9:15-10 a.m. | AAC Basics: Core Vocabulary |
| 10 - 10:30 a.m. | Selecting Vocabulary Workshop |
| 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 - 11:25 a.m. | AAC Basics: Modeling + Pragmatic Functions |
| 11:25 - 11:40 a.m. | AAC Basics: Motor Planning + Regulation |
| 11:40 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Motor Planning Activity |
| 12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch Discussion |
| 1 - 2 p.m. | Implementation Essentials |
| 2 - 2:15 p.m. | Break |
| 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. | Gestalt Language Processing + AAC |
| 3:15 - 3:30 p.m. | Reflections |
| 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | End-of-day Discussion |
Friday, February 5, 2027 (7.0 CE Contact Hours)
Assessment, Access, Coaching, and AI
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Pastries/Coffee |
| 8:30-8:45 a.m. | Welcome Back + Day 1 Debrief |
| 8:45-10 a.m. | Break |
| 10 - 10:15 a.m. | Selecting Vocabulary Workshop |
| 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | Trialing AAC: Your First Steps |
| 11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Alternative Access |
| 12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch Discussion |
| 1 - 2 p.m. | Coaching Communication Partners |
| 2 - 2:30 p.m. | Coaching Practice Lab |
| 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 - 3:20 p.m. | AI + AAC |
| 3:20 - 3:30 p.m. | Closing Reflections |
| 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | End-of-Day Discussion + Action Planning |
Symposium Questions?
For any questions regarding the MSUM/UND Symposium or to request accommodations, please contact:
Jill Beuckens
jill.beuckens@mnstate.edu
218.477.2560
Michelle Spicer
michelle.spicer@UND.edu
701.777.3864
Registration Questions
Anna Dumas
anna.strandell@UND.edu
701.777.3234
In the event of inclement weather, the symposium will move to an online format. Registered attendees will receive an email from MSUM/UND notifying of this change and with links to access the online event.
Register
- Registration is capped at 250 participants.
- Registration Deadline: Thursday, January 21, 2027
- Registration may be accepted after this deadline if space is available
Payment Options
- Credit Card
- Request to pay by check option (individual or group)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
- All cancellation and refund requests must be submitted in writing via email to anna.dumas@UND.edu. Requests must include the registrant's full name and contact information.
- To be eligible for a refund, cancellation requests must be received no later than Thursday, January 21, 2027. Approved refunds will be subject to a $5.00 processing fee which will be deducted from the refund amount.
- Cancellation requests received after Thursday, January 21, 2027, are not eligible for a refund.
- Refunds will be returned to the original method of payment. Please allow up to 30 days for refund processing.
- If severe weather requires the Symposium to transition to an online format, registration fees are nonrefundable. Online meeting links will be emailed to registered attendees.
UND Credit Registration Instructions
Professional Development Credit
The following Learning Event has been approved for Graduate Professional Development credit through the University of North Dakota and is available for online credit registration. Before registering, please confirm whether your employer requires satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U designation or a letter grade.
T&L 2900: 2027 UND/MSUM Spring Symposium: "AAC Essentials: What Every SLP Need to Know"
Michelle Spicer
michelle.spicer@UND.edu
701.777.3864
- UND Session ID: PDE.27.3692
- Session Dates: 02/04/2027-02/05/2027
- Location of Event: MSUM
- Credit(s): 1
- Grading Option(s): S/U or Letter
Date Registration Opens: 11/04/2026
Date Registration Closes: 02/05/2027
Register for credit for this learning event
Registration Instructions
- Click on the credit registration link above.
- If a coupon code is required, please type in the code. (Do not copy/paste the code.)
- Click Register.
- Click Sign In.
- Sign In or Create a Profile
If you are a returning customer, Sign In.
If you are a new customer, Create Profile. - Click Checkout.
- Answer required questions.
- Choose Payment Option.
- Review and click Submit Registration.
If paying online, you will be directed to our secure payment site.
Credit registrations are not complete until payment is received.
Late Registration
In order to register late for a learning event, you must contact the instructor of record to gain permission. Once you have received permission, the instructor of record must contact the PDE Coordinator, [mailto]Hattie Alberston. An email will be sent with instructions on how to register for late credit. There is a $25 late registration fee for this type of registration.
All grades for Graduate Professional Development Credit are recorded on an official transcript at the University of North Dakota. You will receive an email confirmation of your learning event completion and instructions for ordering transcripts. For questions or concerns regarding the status of your grade, please contact:
Office of Continuing Education & Professional Development
701.777.0488
UND.educators@UND.edu
If you have additional questions/concerns or if you simply want to learn more about our Professional Development for Educators program, please contact the UND Office of Continuing Education & Professional Development at 701.777.0488 or visit our website
Office of Continuing Education & Professional Development
O'Kelly Hall Room 300
221 Centennial Dr. Stop 9021
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9021
701.777.0488
Sponsors
Sponsored by the Faculties of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Dakota and the Department of Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences at Minnesota State University-Moorhead.