Note From The Dean
Fort Hays State University - College of Health and Life Sciences
The College of Health and Life Sciences, consisting of the departments of agriculture, allied health, biological sciences, communication disorders, health and human performance, and nursing, is home to a number of flourishing undergraduate and graduate programs and multiple research and service initiatives. Primary campus goals this year center on internationalizing the campus and curricula, enhancing wellness opportunities for the entire campus community, and improving access and retention of Hispanic students. In addition, the university has focused on increasing the quality and quantity of K-12 teachers and improving the writing, computational, and computing skills of all FHSU students.
The Department of Communication Disorders plays a significant role in many of the institutional initiatives and continues to serve the specialized educational needs of students in our service area and beyond. With challenging academic coursework, excellent hands-on experience, service learning opportunities, and additional possibilities for student involvement and leadership through professional organizations, the department provides an education that is second to none. The department is a campus leader in assessing student learning outcomes and the recent designation of the Herndon Clinic as a RiteCare® Clinic, sponsored by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Kansas, demonstrates the progressive nature of the department in serving individuals in need of speech, language, and hearing assistance.
The goal of academic programs in the College of Health and Life Sciences is to develop an advanced class of graduates who can enter the workforce with highly specialized skills that bridge the gap between theory and practice. Through meaningful educational experiences provided by caring faculty, our graduates develop technical expertise in their area of specialization as well as skills in communication, technology applications, and an understanding of and sensitivity to complex issues inherent in today's workplace. Through the continued support of so many, we have been able to provide a foundation for various development activities which enable our departments to continue to provide cutting edge preparation in our respective disciplines. Thank you for your continued support of Fort Hays State University.
Jeff Briggs
Dean, College of Health and Life Sciences
