Giving to Communication Sciences and Disorders


The significance of private, philanthropic support for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders has never been greater. Gifts from alumni and supporters of the School assist in creating and sustaining research and clinical programs, and in supporting people with communication disorders, students, and faculty. We are sincerely grateful for your support, and for helping us to be a leading program in Canada and beyond.

Examples of how your gift might be used include:

  • A $25 gift can help cover the costs of cleaning and fixing donated hearing aids so that they can be used by individuals in need of such aids
  • A $75 gift can help build funds for clinical services for those clients facing both communication and financial challenges
  • A $200 gift allows us to purchase an up-to-date test or computer treatment program
  • A $500 gift allows us to refresh computers in research and student labs
  • An annual donation can support scholarship funds for our outstanding students

Priority Areas

Student Funding

The mission of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders is twofold: (a) to educate and train students for professional careers in audiology and speech-language pathology, and (b) to prepare graduates to assume professional and research leadership roles that contribute to the advancement of the professions and the disciplines. To support this mission and assure we continue to attract the best students, we use philanthropic support to offer:

1. Student scholarships to incoming students as well as those already enrolled in CSD programs

  • Beltone Award
  • Christopher Lennard Memorial Scholarship
  • Leeper Family Award in Speech-Language Pathology
  • Jean Kienapple Memorial Scholarship in Audiology
  • Daniel Ling Scholarship
  • Peter Newby Award in Audiology
  • Richard C. Seewald Entrance Scholarship in Audiology
  • William A. Cole Award for Excellence in Audiology

2. A new scholarship to help a student in financial need

3. Funding for student research projects

4. Travel support for students to participate in professional conferences

Clinical Services and Training

The H.A. Leeper Speech and Hearing Clinic provides the context for training the next generation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Innovative and evidence-based services are offered to individuals of all ages facing communication and swallowing challenges. We are actively seeking philanthropic support to provide care to those without the financial resources to pay for services and to assure we have state-of-the-art equipment to deliver quality speech-language pathology and audiology care. To that end, clinical programs’ funding goals include:

  • Growth of clinical funds to support individuals in need of speech-language pathology and/or audiology services
  • Purchase and maintenance of clinic infrastructure, including advanced instrumentation for the evaluation and treatment of disorders of speech, language, swallowing, hearing, and balance

Research Support and Faculty Endowment

The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders has a long and rich history as one of the top programs in the country due to leadership in both basic and applied research that supports clinical practice in speech-language pathology and audiology. To attract, support, and retain outstanding faculty, we are actively seeking philanthropic support for the following:

  • Growth of funds that support pilot research projects
  • Supporting the development and maintenance of state-of-the-art facilities for research and clinical activities, particularly in the priority areas of:
    • Balance/vestibular disorders
    • Practice-based research
    • Assistive devices (e.g., hearing aids, speech amplifiers)
    • Development of communication and swallowing outcome measures
  • Establishment of endowed chairs to help retain and recruit outstanding faculty members.