He attributed the re-appearance on the top 50 list in part to faculty dedication, several outstanding new faculty members, and the refocusing of the school's strength into certain strategic areas. This year was the magazine's first time for ranking a number of health disciplines, including speech pathology. Rankings were determined through surveys sent to deans, faculty, and administrators of accredited graduate programs asking for ratings based on scholarship, curriculum, and the quality of faculty and graduate students. Commenting on the No. 29 ranking for Communication Disorders, department chair Harry N. Seymour said the 10-member department draws its strength from a combination of research and clinical work, and close collaboration with other academic disciplines on campus. It pleases me that we are held in such high regard by our colleagues around the country.
Different programs are subject to the survey in each year.