FIRST YEARS Earns Quality Matters Designation

From: AG Bell - Feb 5, 2007

Washington, D.C., February 5, 2007 – The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) are pleased to announce that the survey course, Special Topics in Speech and Hearing, has earned the Quality Matters® designation for meeting educational quality assurance standards. The course is part of the FIRST YEARS online distance learning certificate program, a collaboration between AG Bell and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designed to provide professionals in the fields of deaf education, speech-language pathology, audiology and early intervention the skills and knowledge to help children with hearing loss learn to listen and talk.

Launched in 2004, the FIRST YEARS program is housed in the UNC Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences and University, which is internationally recognized for excellence in education, research and professional service. The FIRST YEARS course is the first at UNC to complete the Quality Matters® review.

“A lot of work went into developing this survey course so that it would meet the needs of today’s hearing health and education professionals, and we’re proud those efforts have been recognized by Quality Matters®,” said Karen Youdelman, Ed.D., president of the AG Bell board of directors. “This designation sends a clear message that FIRST YEARS is committed to preparing professionals to work with children with hearing loss and their families.”

“It is gratifying to have the course design recognized by Quality Matters®,” said Laurie Cochenour, M.Ed., FIRST YEARS project director. “The development of the course was the work of many dedicated professionals and a wonderful instructional technologist, Lane Rose, who has been instrumental in creating the high standards we have set for all the FIRST YEARS courses.”

The Quality Matters® program is a faculty-centered peer course review quality assurance process. Review criteria are linked to external standards; criteria and process are supported through instructional design principles; and the process is vetted by faculty experts. Quality Matters® is sponsored by MarylandOnline and was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Through advocacy, education, research and financial aid, AG Bell helps to ensure that every child with hearing loss has the opportunity to learn to listen and talk. With chapters located in the United States and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking!

Established in 1969, the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences and University of North Carolina is one of seven divisions in the Department of Allied Health Sciences (AHS) in the School of Medicine. The Division’s academic degree programs include speech-language pathology (M.S.), audiology (Au.D.) and speech and hearing science (Ph.D.). The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology programs are ranked top 20 nationally (13th out of 51 programs, and 13th out of 124 programs ranked, respectively.) by U.S. News & World Report.

Contact:
Jessica Ripper
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Alexander Graham Bell Association
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
3417 Volta Place, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Office: (202) 337-5220
Direct: (202) 204-4680
E-mail: jripper@agbell.org