Student & Alumni Experiences
Student life as a Doctor of Audiology student at UTD includes classes, labs, clinical rotations, grand rounds, research projects, and campus or off-site employment, as desired and available. Students have different clinical rotations each semester within the UTD Callier Centers and across Dallas-Fort Worth that cover the scope of audiology practice as well as provide depth in areas of individual interests. Students work in research labs, as graduate assistants to faculty, as hearing aid technicians, pediatric assistants or educational audiology assistants within the Callier Centers. Some work in the Callier Child Development Program or the Callier Dallas Library. Student life also includes study sessions with classmates, cohort get-togethers, and much more! You will always find a student hanging out in our student carrels, where snacks are stocked by the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) for purchase to sustain you through long study sessions.
Peer Mentors & Student Life
A strong transition from undergraduate life to graduate life is key, and the UT Dallas AuD program pairs each first-year student with a second- or third-year student-mentor. This long-standing peer-mentorship program has assisted students in navigating the demands of graduate school, work-life balance, professional communication, and well-being that are integral to success in graduate school. Peer mentors are assigned following admission to the program.
UT Dallas students live across the Dallas-Fort Worth area: downtown Dallas, on campus in Richardson, neighborhoods throughout the metroplex, or anywhere in between. SAA guides students to various locations that match their interests and budget. Dallas and Fort Worth have amazing restaurants, museums, parks/trails, live music and plays, great coffee shops for studying, amusement parks, farmers markets, and so much more. Dallas-Fort Worth is a great place to live, play and explore, but easy access to other major Texas cities and neighboring states allows for quick weekend get-a-ways!
Student Academy of Audiology
The Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) is the student division of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), with both local and national chapters. AuD students across the country belong to both SAA national and local chapters, where they provide their voices to their university, state, and national professional networks. The UTD SAA chapter emphasizes three arms of professional advocacy, humanitarian outreach, and social events:
Professional Advocacy: Students advocate for our patients and for the profession through initiatives organized by the UT Dallas SAA chapter. Students remain informed and act upon hearing and healthcare legislation; communicate with state and national legislators, and generate social media awareness of current issues by campaigns on hot topics.
Humanitarian Outreach: UT Dallas SAA is passionate about giving back to the Dallas-Fort Worth community, the state, and our outreach even extends nationally and globally. Humanitarian outreach events include multidisciplinary education and service events, hearing screenings, hearing evaluations, community cerumen management clinics, canned food drives, adopting a Deaf or Hard of Hearing family during Christmas, and increasing education/awareness on the importance of hearing protection. By diversifying patient outreach, students can better serve patients of all backgrounds in future careers.
Social Events: Numerous social events allow students and faculty to connect and take a break from the stresses of grad school. During the pandemic, UT Dallas SAA has worked diligently to host safe and socially distanced social events! All events are hosted outdoors and have included ice cream in the park, a Halloween costume contest and party, and a Holiday Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Pictures of all our events can be found on our Instagram (@utd.saa) page.
Leadership: In addition to opportunities for officer roles on the board of the local SAA chapter, students in the AuD program are often elected to volunteer and officer leadership roles on the Board of Directors of the National SAA. Additionally, collaboration with state professional organizations leads to unique experiences such as the opportunity to apply for attendance at programs such as the Future Leaders of Audiology Student Conference.
“National and local SAA activities have been a fun outlet away from the classroom while advancing my leadership skills to make progressive changes within the profession!”
– Kortney Bush, Class of 2023
UT Dallas SAA Contact Information:
2022-2023 SAA President: Sarah Crow
Instagram: @utd.saa
Email: saa.utdallas@gmail.com
Alumni Information
The UT Dallas AuD program maintains a large network of AuD alumni from the past 20 years, as well as Master’s alumni from before our transition to an AuD program. We are proud to have educated some of the best and brightest minds in audiology, leaders in advocating for access to services for our patients, developing and distributing new technologies, and serving patients and the profession to the highest evidence-based practice standards.
If you are an alumnus, click here to provide updated contact information to receive program updates and information about career opportunities, network with current students, celebrate your professional accomplishments, and stay in touch with the evolving AuD program at UTD.
