Doctor of Audiology (AuD)  Program Will Begin Fall 1998  

http://www.csd.ufl.edu/aud.html  

    Joint efforts by audiology faculty from the Departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders (in CLAS) and Communicative Disorders (in CHP) have resulted in the creation of a new Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, to be offered by the Graduate School.  CLAS professor of audiology Ken Gerhardt says the new degree, designed for students who want to practice audiology rather than to research and/or teach in the area, represents a national trend prompted by "changes in scientific understanding of hearing and hearing loss," as well as "new technologies that help with evaluation and treatment of individuals with hearing impairment."  Although this trend has continued for several years, UF is one of the first major research universities in the country to initiate such a program. 
     In December, the proposed degree received University Senate approval, the final step in what Gerhardt calls "a very lengthy process." The four-year, 125 semester-hour program includes 78 hours of course work in basic sciences, applied audiology, clinical research, statistics, medical neuroscience, neuro-otology, health care administration, hearing-aid technology, counseling, communication and aging, and speech-language pathology.  The remaining 47 hours include clinical educational experiences in the campus clinic, at the many practicum sites at the Health Sciences Center and affiliated hospitals in the north Florida area, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center located adjacent to the Health Center complex, and through audiology residency placements during the fourth year. 
     CLAS Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will continue to offer their MA in Speech Pathology and PhD in audiology and hearing science, but they will replace the MA in audiology with the new four-year AuD. 

African Studies Quarterly Goes Global 

Michael Chege Reports on UF's African Studies Quarterly 
 
     Our last issue of African Studies Quarterly has been receiving widespread international attention, and we wanted to bring this to your notice.  This is the only African Studies journal in the US that is available exclusively on the internet.  At the last African Studies Association meeting in Columbus, Ohio, the journal had a stand in which we displayed the current issue on screen and demonstrated to conference participants how to access it.  The stand was immensely popular and received an estimated 300 visitors. 
     Worth greater note is the fact that our latest issue (Fall '97) on "Crisis in the Great Lakes" has drawn the attention of the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, Switzerland.  The issue contains contributions by recognized experts (from UF, Africa and other US campuses) on ways of resolving the conflicts and humanitarian crises in Central Africa.  We have just been notified that the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs will post one of the key articles in ReliefWeb.  This is available to all the UN personnel working on humanitarian relief around the world and also to voluntary non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross, Action Aid, Save the Children, and others.  This will give our journal a lot of international exposure. 
     ASQ is run by volunteers made up of graduate students and our office staff and can be accessed at  http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/
 
 

http://www.religion.ufl.edu/nara.html 

Local Book Store Showcases UF Writers 

For over seven years, Goerings Book Store on University Avenue has been hosting a "Writers at Florida" series, which features 12 readings a year by UF Creative Writing faculty, graduate students and the occasional alumna/us.  The events are "hugely attended," says Goerings co-owner Tom Rider, and they give grad students in creative writing the opportunity to present their work publicly.  Goerings also hosts autographing parties for UF faculty who've recently published books (their "Authors on Sundays" series), and conducts benefits for UF groups like Graduate Assistants United and The Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research. In addition, Goerings encourages fledgling writers from the Alachua County Schools with their "Young Writers Series" co-sponsored with the Gainesville Fine Arts Association. 

Every year CLAS invites students pursuing a PhD to apply for dissertation fellowships for spring and summer terms.  The following students received these awards and will receive a stipend of $3,150 per term, in addition to monies for tuition.   

Dean Harrison (left) presents Dr. and Mrs. George Butler with a President's Council Award commemorating their major gift of a chaired professorship in polymer chemistry.  Dr. Butler, a professor emeritus of polymer chemistry, taught and researched at UF for over 50 years. 
 

CLAS-Law "Homecoming BBQ Mini-Expo" a Big Success 

Despite a stormy morning, spectators of the 1997 Homecoming Parade ended up enjoying a brisk, beautiful fall day.  The CLAS-Law School Homecoming BBQ Mini-Expo, set up under a large striped tent in front of Flint Hall, was a festive addition to the University Avenue event.  Sponsored by Sam Y. Allgood, Jr. (JD '49) and Bruce S. Bullock (LS '55, LLB '62), and coordinated by Jeff Ulmer (Law School Director of Development and former Associate Director of Development for CLAS), the tent drew long lines of CLAS faculty and staff, students, alumni and friends.  Participants enjoyed BBQ sandwiches (tirelessly served by the Gator Debaters), sipped espresso made by the Italian crew at the RL&L table, examined rocks and minerals at the Geology table, and browsed through the many other CLAS and Law exhibits.  A good time was had by all.