Calvin's new masters of speech pathology and audiology program graduates its first class

On Saturday, May 18, twenty-four Calvin students will graduate in the inaugural class of the college's new masters of speech pathology and audiology program (SPAUD). The program, added in fall 2011, enables students to complete both their bachelors and masters degrees in just five years.

See full story/photos: http://www.calvin.edu/news/archive/speech-pathology-masters-program-graduates-its-first-class

"I don't feel like there have been hiccups or bumps in the road," said Stephenie Lopez. "This is a really well-designed program." Lopez will begin work as a speech pathologist with Godfrey Lee Public Schools this fall.

Through the SPAUD program, students get 80 to 100 hours of hands-on clinical experience with both adults and children before practicing off-campus. (Calvin remains the only Grand Rapids-area college to offer its students the opportunity to gain experience in both adult and pediatric SPAUD services right on campus.) And, the students are trained by some of the best practicing clinicians in west Michigan.

"At Calvin, we need to represent the best speech pathologists, and we need that training before we get out in the community, so we can be competent in our services," said Dana Gaviglio, a graduate of the program. "It's nice we get to work with a mix of adult, pediatric and school-aged speech therapists who have years of clinical experience."

In the students' fifth year they are placed off-campus for the fall, winter and spring semesters in three different externships. Calvin's Clinical Director Jill Bates says the relationships that she and her staff have built with the Grand Rapids community over the years have provided excellent placement opportunities for her students.

"A big part of our job is to continue to foster relationships between all the speech pathologists in the west Michigan community," said Bates. "We collaborate nicely with speech pathologists and listen to what's going to help them to make for the best externships for our students."

Bates says that they are constantly talking with their area partners like Mary Free Bed, Spectrum Health and St. Mary's and have made adjustments to their curriculum, which reflect what leaders in the field identify as the real needs for the current workplace environment.

In the two years since the masters program commenced, the number of students in the SPAUD program has nearly doubled (from 98 in 2011 to 180 in 2013). Faculty and clinicians involved with the program say a major reason is an increased demand for skilled practitioners in the field.

"This is an area of huge need and we're getting students from around the country," Bates said. "The students come in with an uncertainty about being able to provide care and they finish their fifth semester and they are competent now."

For more information, contact Judy Vander Woude at 616-526-6289 or Jill Bates at 616-526-6715, jbates@calvin.edu

NOTE: About 850 students will participate in Calvin's 93rd-annual Commencement ceremony, which will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at Calvin's Van Noord Arena.

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Received on Tue May 14 08:25:28 2013