The Wichita Biomedical Campus is using a $1 million grant to purchase audiology equipment for assessment, teaching, and research, supporting workforce training for in-demand jobs. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration recently announced the grant, which will be matched by $1 million in local funds.  

“Wichita State University is equipping students with the skills they need to excel in their careers,” Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran said. “This investment from the Economic Development Administration will deliver state-of-the-art technology to WSU to provide students with top-notch training.” 

The equipment will serve the Doctor of Audiology and Master of Arts (speech-language pathology) education programs and support clients of the Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at Wichita State University, preparing students for careers in the audiology and speech-language pathology fields. The funds will be used to purchase equipment that will include test booths, electrophysiology devices, vestibular balance systems, simulation tools and ultrasound imaging technology. 

Through this funding, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will establish educational and clinical audiology and speech-language pathology laboratories. The clinic will deliver services to clientele of all ages who have communication difficulties, including speaking, hearing, swallowing, and spoken and written language impairments. 

“This EDA investment will support workforce training in the audiology medical field, helping create a skilled workforce and increasing quality jobs in the region,” said Gina Raimondo, secretary of commerce. 

The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a joint project between Wichita State University and the University of Kansas. Once complete, the campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, including its Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s health care program and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy — all into one location. 

The campus is an approximately 471,000-square-foot, $300 million health sciences facility under construction in the heart of downtown Wichita. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026. 

The Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic is a WSU-affiliated practice that has provided comprehensive speech, language, and audiology services for families in the greater Wichita area for more than 60 years. Over the last 5 years, the clinic has served 1,307 clients across its Audiology and SLP services. The clinic also serves as a clinical training and research laboratory for graduate students, who work under the direct supervision of faculty with decades of experience in numerous specialties.