1. Maintain Top 10 US News and World Report Ranking
The AuD program at Ohio State is proud of its status as one of the top 10 programs in the United States as ranked by US News and World Report. We strive to maintain and improve this ranking by the following:
I. Provide support for the research activities of the tenure-track faculty so they can engage in research that moves the field of speech and hearing science forward.
II. Continue to provide and support exceptional clinical experiences through unique clinical experiences and evidence-based, patient-centered care in our in-house clinic. We will also continue to maintain and foster relationships with our colleagues to provide comprehensive clinical experiences for our students at outside placements throughout Ohio and the United States.
III. Continue to provide numerous opportunities for students to learn and grow in the areas of research and clinical education both within our department and promoting educational opportunities outside of our department.
IV. Continue to hold our students to high academic standards.
2. Enhance and Expand AuD Curriculum
The Audiology Oversight Committee continues to discuss and explore ways to ensure The Ohio State AuD program evolves with changes in the profession of Audiology. The following changes have recently been implemented:
I. Addition of a second vestibular course.
II. Evaluation and change of the order of content in the curriculum to enhance student learning.
III. Discussions with students and faculty regarding the desire to increase cochlear implant content in the program.
We will continue to improve the AuD Program by:
I. Altering cohort schedules to provide more consistent and manageable course loads.
II. Implementing curriculum/course changes based on current research and evidence-based clinical practices.
III. Monitoring and soliciting feedback to ensure changes positively impact students, instructors, and the AuD Program.
IV. Exploring if/how a newly hired faculty member with expertise in cochlear implants may contribute to an increase in this content.
3. Comprehensive Program Review
The faculty and staff of the Ohio State Department of Speech and Hearing Science AuD Program are committed to maintaining a nationally recognized AuD program that educates and trains exceptional future audiologists. A pivotal component of this is to know where we are, where we have been, and where we seek to be in the future. It is necessary to discuss and review changes made throughout life of the program to didactic and clinical education requirements. Syllabi will be reviewed and specifics regarding when/where our students currently receive information to acquire the ASHA Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) standards will be discussed. Additionally, we will use this review to confirm that the importance of a person-centered perspective in the classroom, the audiology clinic, and in professional interactions is emphasized in every aspect of Ohio State’s AuD Program.