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The goal of the "Audiology Education Summit; A Collaborative Approach," was to identify and describe indicators of quality that could be used to assist programs in developing, evaluating, and enhancing clinical doctoral education in audiology. The summit considered various questions involved with the professional doctorate in audiology (Note: One or two academic programs use a degree designator other than the AuD and the CAA currently does not require the degree designator of AuD). The questions were developed by the summit advisory committee, which planned the meeting.
The often intense discussions were immediately converted into PowerPoint slides, which were critiqued after each session of brainstorming. The group discussed more than 100 issues and came to some general agreements on the "essential characteristics" of an AuD program.
Preliminary Agreements
A majority of attendees agreed that professional doctoral programs in audiology should be four years in length. Other recommendations covered a host of topics, such as the preferred duration of programs; the importance of having an adequate, full-time faculty with significant clinical experience; the characteristics of quality supervision; and the desired nature of interactions between academic and clinical aspects of programs.
Participants represented academic and clinical faculty from 47 programs that offer the clinical doctorate in audiology, eight clinic entities, and the summit co-sponsors. Large and small programs were represented. ASHA President Dolores Battle also participated in the summit.
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