AN OPTIMISTIC FUTURE FOR AUDIOLOGISTS Starting an AuD Program in a Pandemic The Grand Valley State University Success Story Starting a graduate program is a huge undertaking. Starting a graduate program during a pandemic is a challenge that almost no one would choose to take on. At Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Michigan, we developed our entire audiology graduate (AuD) program based on a pre-pandemic world. We had already completed the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) candidacy site visit, faculty hiring, and admissions interviews prior to national and state lockdowns. Although it was intimidating to start a program in a world of uncertainty, solving problems and creating back-up plans are areas in which I excel. This was a challenge that we felt ready for. When we had to completely revise our opening plans for Fall 2020, the program had several things going for it. All faculty members had both clinical and academic experience-so we shared a lot of ideas across the team. 28 2022 AUDIOLOGY CONNECTIONS asha.org/audhttp://www.asha.org/aud