Several of CBCS's graduate programs rank as some of the best in the nation, according to the 2020 Best Graduate Schools rankings released March 12th by U.S. News and World Report. Those listed include Audiology (#17), Criminology (#22), Rehabilitation Counseling (#27), Speech-Language Pathology (#53) and Social Work (#70). The rankings are based on peer assessment surveys of deans, administrators, and other faculty members at accredited degree-granting graduate programs.

On Wednesday, March 6th, 11 CSD AuD (Audiology Doctoral Students) attended the Hearing Technology Day in Tallahassee. This event was sponsored by the Florida Academy of Audiology and Florida Coalition for Spoken Language Options. The students helped to advocate in support of legislation toward hearing care and hearing aid coverage for children with private health insurance. Twenty four states already have enacted similar legislation and hopefully Florida will soon join that list. It typically takes at least three to five years to pass major legislation in Florida and that time frame is only possible when awareness and bipartisan support occur through spreading the word! The students helped to visit every legislative office and were able to help bring the total number of sponsors/cosponsors for helping children access hearing care up to 21 and counting! The Communication Sciences and Disorders Department is proud of our AuD students for giving back to their future profession and the children we serve!

Over Spring Break, CSD students participated in a study abroad in Belize. They worked with community organizations and schools to support children and adults with various communication needs. They were also able to visit many important cultural sites such as this Mayan ruin. Thanks to CBCS for the scholarships that make this trip possible for many of the students.

Gayla L. Poling, will present "Advancing Hearing Loss Prevention Across the Life Span" on Friday, March 22, 2019 from 9:30 - 11:00am in PCD 1147. Dr. Poling is the Director of Adult and Pediatric Diagnostic Audiology at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and an Assistant Professor in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Research Committee in the Department of Otolaryngology. She studied Audiology and Hearing Sciences at The Ohio State University before pursuing postdoctoral training focused on translational research at the Medical University of South Carolina and Northwestern University. Her clinical practice and current research interest is on developing diagnostic techniques and tools focused on the early detection and prevention of hearing loss due to aging, noise and other environmental factors (ototoxicity).

Nominations are now open for the CBCS Student Employee of the Year award. We encourage you to nominate any exemplary student employees. One Student Assistant and one Graduate Assistant will be chosen. The nomination form should be completed fully and returned to Wendy Stoneman-Shelby (wendys1@usf.edu) by the deadline of Friday March 22, 2019.

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