Working on a project, business graduate students Penny Davis, Nate Copeland, Steve Young, Lisa Leonenko and Dustin Howell meet for a weekly discussion Jan. 22. “We are actually developing a non-profit organization that will strengthen the economy in deprived areas, such as the Arkansas Delta Region,” Copeland said. [Haylee Herbert] [graduate programs] 189 Revealing The beginning steps to a new program Harding University’s undergraduate program for Communication Science andDisorder majors (CSD) was one of many departments that was well known throughout the country. Many professors and students were proud of this achievement. But in the spring of 2005, President Dr.David Burks was interested in extending the program to a graduate level. In 2006, Dr. Larry Long, vice president for academic affairs, along with a committee, which was formed to look at the possibility of a speech pathology graduate program, informed Dr. Burks that the plan was a possibility. “While we were engaged in the initial study of the viability of a master’s program at Harding, I learned that our undergraduate program was held in high esteem around the country,” Long said. To become accredited for a speech pathology masters program,Harding went through a series of application processes through the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) which was lead by Dr. Rebecca Weaver, professor of CSD and department chair. The initial step was the separation of the Communication Science and Disorders department from the Communications Department, which was necessary for the accreditation process according to Weaver. Splitting departments was a process that happened for many of Harding’s graduate programs. “It is not unusual to see programs become departments in order to get accredited,” Long said. “We did that a couple of years ago in engineering for the same reasons.” Another change to the department was the addition of new faculty members. Instructor of Communication Science and Disorders Sara Shock was added to the staff in the fall of 2007 and more additions were planned. “Jennifer Fisher and Melanie Lowry will join our team,”Weaver said. “Dr.Daniel Tullos (professor of Communication Science Disorders) and I will be handling the academic course load while Becky McLain (professor of Communication Science Disorders) will assist in clinical training.” The development of the masters program was one that undergraduate students had shown an interest in for several years. “I was really excited when I found out that Harding was adding a master’s program,” senior Brittany Fetterman, who planned to attend to graduate program in fall 2008, said.“I have loved receiving my undergraduate degree from Harding.The professors are the reason I want to stay at Harding.” Many students often asked why they had to attend another school to continue their education and receive their master’s degree. “Continuingmy education at Harding will be an easy transition,”Fetterman said. “Although I see the benefit of learning in a different environment, Harding will be bringing on several new faculty members that will bring alternative teaching methods and perspectives on therapy.” One main goal that was shared by the faculty and administration was to provide a Christian perspective to the growing profession. “I want our graduates to be highly sought after because they are wellprepared,effective professional whose values reflect the Christian atmosphere in which they have been educated,” Long said. Students were hopeful that Harding would develop a quality program that would prepare them academically in a Christian environment. “The Christian perspective is what will make all the difference,”Fetterman said.“ It’s about Christ and sharing his love.That truth infiltrates all of our classes and makes me excited about getting out there, and being able to provide speech and language services to the community.” [Alex Smith]
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