By: Megan Finlan ’21, co-editor in chief 

The speech language pathology (SLP) program’s faculty and students are settling into their new home after the completion of a continuous department renovation project over the summer.  

COVID-19 didn’t slow down the progress of the new Center for Speech, Language and Hearing Disorders located in Arnold Sports Center. Construction began prior to the dismissal of students due to the pandemic last spring and was fully functional for the start of the fall 2020 semester.  

New features in the center include 10 clinic rooms, study rooms, soundproof audiology booths and new equipment for students to use during therapy sessions. With these new renovations, the department is now able to host clinics on campus, similar to the CURE clinic held by the physical therapy department. While the completion of the center was able to remain on schedule despite the pandemic, the department has needed to adjust their clinic plans accordingly. 

“We had planned to have face to face clinic for our first semester, but we decided to provide only teletherapy,” Dr. Michelle Scesa, chair of the speech language pathology program, said. “This experience will be different from working face to face with clients, but it will still provide opportunities for students to practice their clinical skills.”  

The College’s SLP program stands out among programs offered at other colleges and universities as it offers students a direct admittance into the five-year master’s program. The newly renovated center and the extensive resources in the department add another stand-out factor to the program as students have the ability to remain on-campus while completing necessary clinical hours. 

“I love the renovations of our new department,” Kelsey Bouder, fifth year communication sciences and disorders student, said. “It’s a great space for me and my peers to have classes, clinicals and study groups. I especially like the clinician work room where I can work with my peers and collaborate on lesson plans for therapy sessions.”  

While the newly renovated center and resources provide students with greater opportunities, one consistent piece of the program’s success for students has been the professors and the experiences they bring to the classroom.  

“The SLP department here has some of the best professors,” Bouder said. “All of our professors are still working in the field while teaching, so they can provide us with real life experiences to better prepare us for our careers.”  

Anyone interested in learning more about the center and the clinic offered through the program can visit, https://www.lvc.edu/academics/graduate-studies/speech-language-pathology/center-for-speech-language-and-hearing-disorders/