The Department of Hearing and Speech Pathology’s newly renovated building includes several major facility and equipment upgrades.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A multimillion-dollar investment on the University of Tennessee campus means audiology and speech-language pathology will be under one roof for the first time in decades.
On October 25, the University of Tennessee held the grand opening of the Department of Hearing and Speech Pathology’s newly renovated building, with the brand new site featuring several major facility and equipment upgrades.
New additions to the site include nine sound booths, 14 laboratories, a 124-seat auditorium, and a comprehensive learning playground. Having this department in the same building is intended to make life easier for patients, students, and faculty alike. The facility sees about 300 students and 10,000 patients a year, said Ashley Harkrider, professor and department chair.
“This space allows us all to come together in one place, collaborate, and take a multidisciplinary approach to teaching, research, and clinical services to patients,” said Harkrider. .
Construction on the site was done in multiple phases, according to a release from the University of Tennessee. The first facility was completed in June 2021, with hearing and balance services, laboratories, and administrative offices relocated from Neyland Stadium’s South Stadium Hall.
Phase 2 was completed in August 2024 and included the complete renovation of two more floors of the UT Conference Center to allow early intervention clinical providers to relocate from the Lake Avenue building. With the project completed, students and faculty now have access to both departments in the same building.
“Now, if you need something, you don’t have to walk across the street or look for another building. It’s probably one floor away and you can just get on the elevator and get there. ” said one ASP graduate student.
Students from all over the country gather in the ASP department. The Doctor of Audiology program was recently ranked No. 22 by U.S. News and World Report, and 100% of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology graduates are employed within three months of graduation, according to the release.
“The level of academics I receive while here, and the level of support I receive from the staff here, not only prepares me to do well in graduate school, but to do well in my career.” the graduate student added.
