(Reston, VA - November 7, 2002) - The Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) has established the Audiology Professional Organization Practitioner Scholarship Award to encourage new applications to distance learning AuD programs. Recipients of the award will be selected by their audiology professional organization. A selection committee of the audiology professional organization will judge applicants for the Practitioner Scholarship Award in accordance with the rules established by the AFA. The audiology professional organization will convene the selection
committee in accordance with its own rules of governance.
Background
In 1995 the Audiology Foundation of America hosted a conference on AuD standards and equivalency. This conference was co-sponsored by "Team Audiology," a group of audiology organizations who wanted to support and advance the young AuD movement. The conference mapped the route through institutional and historical thickets for rigorous standards in AuD programs and the establishment of access to these programs for practicing audiologists. Considerable progress has been achieved since that landmark meeting. There are over 25 AuD programs and more coming on line. The ranks of practicing audiologists, who have earned the AuD degree, graduates of residential or distance learning programs, are swelling. The transformation of audiology into a doctoring profession with the Doctor of Audiology as its distinctive designator is well on its way.
Now the AFA wishes to honor the organizations that helped in this spectacular achievement through their support of the 1995 conference, and expand its support for practitioners pursuing the AuD degree through a distance learning program.
Participating Audiology Professional Organizations:
Procedure
One Practitioner Scholarship Award for $1000 USD is allotted to each audiology professional organization. Although judging the winner for the award will be completed by each audiology professional organization, the organizations are expected to follow the rules established by the AFA. Presentation of a certificate of award, by the AFA or its delegate, will be made at the annual meeting of the audiology professional organization. The AFA will issue a check for $1000 USD for each of the winners upon receiving confirmation of enrollment in a distance learning program. The checks will be mailed to the university designated by each winner for application to their tuition.
Rules
1. Recipient must be a citizen of the country or territory in which his/her permanent address is located. (U.S. and its territories or Canada).
2. Recipient must be a licensed (or registered) practicing audiologist.
3. Recipient must have a minimum of 5 years of post-master's or doctoral audiology experience.
4. Recipient may be in the application process, but not currently enrolled in distance learning AuD program at the time that he/she is selected for the scholarship.
5. Verification of enrollment in a distance learning AuD program must be provided by the recipient prior to the AFA issuing scholarship funds to the college.
6. An audiologist may be awarded this scholarship one time only.
7. Recipient's professional organization will have the AFA or its delegate present the certificate of scholarship at that organization's annual meeting.
8. The audiology professional organizations' selection committees are encouraged to include the following considerations in their judging process:
8a. The recipient must have demonstrated high standards of patient care and professional behavior as supported by public recognition of activities, and/or letters of endorsement from colleagues or patients.
8b. The recipient must have qualities of leadership and innovation in the profession as supported by a record of professional involvement in committees, task forces, and meetings of the audiology professional organization.
8c. The applicant should submit a personal statement or essay, no longer than one typewritten page in length, describing professional philosophy, history of activities and/or abilities that indicate why he/she should be the winner of this award.
9. AFA shall have the right to publish names, photographs, and other written material submitted by the recipients.
10. Nominations can be sent to: American Academy of Audiology, 11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 300, Reston, VA 20190, Attn: Distance Learning AuD Scholarship Fund. Deadline: December 31, 2002.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the scholarship based on financial need? No, the scholarship is based on the committee's assessment of the individual's professional qualifications.
Is the scholarship renewable? No, recipients are eligible for this scholarship one time only.
How is the scholarship funded? The scholarship is funded by money allocated by the AFA to promote and support the pursuit of an AuD degree by practicing audiologists.
The American Academy of Audiology, the world's largest professional organization of audiologists, is dedicated to providing quality hearing care services through professional development, education, research and increased public awareness of hearing disorders. To learn more about the audiology profession and how audiologists are helping the 28 million Americans who suffer from hearing loss, please visit The Academy's web site at www.audiology.org.
