I am pleased to welcome you to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders (formerly School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology). On April 1, 2011, the name of our School officially changed to better reflect our mission of research and service. Whether you are a prospective student, a current student or faculty member, or one of our alumni, you are part of an exciting and rewarding profession.

Our School has been nationally-ranked since 1998, and we continually strive to stay one step ahead of the state-of-the-art and the state-of-the-science in our field. Our research laboratories and outstanding team of research personnel currently have almost $6.5 million in external funding to maintain our Center of Excellence (Center for Research Initiatives and Strategies for the Communicatively Impaired, CRISCI) in the study of communicative disorders. These research projects, led by our expert faculty, provide cutting edge research that adds to the evidence base for our profession.

As prospective students, I encourage you to look carefully at the links highlighting our clinical education and academic programs. There is a wealth of information to help guide you toward making the best decision you can toward your future as an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, or speech, language, or hearing scientist. Our cutting edge clinical and research programs will stimulate your mind and provide you with state-of-the-art skills for success in our profession.

If you are alumni, I encourage you to stay involved with our School by supporting our many activities throughout the year. We so appreciate the time and energy so many of you provide our current students when you serve as off-site clinical supervisors each year. You certainly give back to us in ways that are much appreciated. Your attendance at the Mid-South Conference on Communicative Disorders year after year is also valued. Please visit the pages of our website dedicated to alumni news and find out about other opportunities to give back as well.

Please contact us if we can assist you in any way. Our faculty and staff are available to answer any questions you might have regarding admissions, our clinical education and academic programs, or giving opportunities. I wish you the most success in your careers.

Maurice I. Mendel, Ph.D., Dean