Achievements

Graduate students in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Department participated in a novel clinical program this summer. Conceived by clinical faculty Kathryn Budin, Terri Cinotti, and Christina Mulé, spearheaded by Kathleen McNerney and Sara Mann Kahris, and with Budin and Chris Heximer serving as university liaisons, the pilot program offered 18 first-year graduate students the opportunity to provide services under the supervision of speech-language pathologists in seven community agencies. The pilot program exposed students to new clinical techniques, diverse client populations, and unique work settings that are experiencing a shortage of professionals. Populations included children birth to 5 years, school-aged children with autism, and adults with intellectual challenges. The program increased community awareness about the Graduate SLP Program and the high quality of our SLP graduate students. Survey feedback from students and supervisors was overwhelmingly positive. Community supervisors were impressed by the students’ knowledge, skills, and professionalism, and expressed interest in working with our students in future placements.