Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, EDU Teaching and Learning

Oral exams are commonly used as formative assessment for graduate programs and medical specialty certification and claim to assess problem-solving, probe depth of knowledge, recognize safe and competent clinicians, and assess professionalism and ethics. This is the first known study of medical physics oral examinations. For this study, we investigated the types of question examiners ask, the types of responses provided by candidates, and how examiners assign grades to candidates to see if existing theories can extend to medical physics. This study explores discourse between examiners and candidates during oral examinations to understand how these exchanges during the exam are related to the outcomes of the candidates.

DNP, Otterbein University, 2015, Nursing

Objective. This study aims to 1) assess African American college student's knowledge of oral self-care and healthcare access, 2) to provide education on how to prevent/decrease oral health disease through proper oral hygiene, and 3) help students identify resources available to promote positive oral health management behaviors. Methods. The project is a quantitative descriptive study using a pre and post-test to assess African American college students knowledge of oral health, oral hygiene and access to oral healthcare at a Historical Black College and University (HBCU) in rural Ohio. A pre questionnaire containing items regarding oral hygiene and oral health based on the recommendations of the American Dental Association (ADA) as well as questions about access to oral healthcare was distributed to African American college students to measure their knowledge. A demographic questionnaire was distributed. Students participated in a 20-30 minute oral health educational program based on the ADA's Mouth Healthy Program. A post-test was given 4-6 weeks after the initial pre-test by electronic survey to assess if any knowledge has been retained. Results. 24 students completed the pretest questionnaire and attended the health educational session. 41% (10) of the 24 completed the post-test questionnaire 4-6 weeks following the intervention by electronic survey. Students completing the pre-intervention questionnaire answered 6 of the 10 questions pertaining to oral health with a passing grade of 60% or higher. Low scores, less than 60%, were noted on questions pertaining to energy drinks; flossing teeth; the color of healthy teeth, and the best way to prevent gum disease. Answers of 'don't know' were recorded on 50% of the questions with the highest response from the question pertaining to the best way to prevent gum disease at 21%. Thirty-eight percent of the participants knew where to go if they needed to be seen by a dentist and 67% had transportation. Student's o (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2013, Communication Studies (Communication)

Worldwide, oral diseases (e.g., cavities, gum diseases, etc.) are major public health problems. Research has shown that individuals' beliefs and perceptions can influence behavior. Identifying individuals' beliefs and perceptions that influence oral hygiene behaviors may pave the way towards understanding these oral health and hygiene behaviors. Little is known about South Africans' oral hygiene behaviors and their cultural beliefs that surround these behaviors. Most available research on oral hygiene in developing countries relates to behaviors from the Western dental system. Thus there is a gap in data on the South African population regarding the oral health beliefs that surround both their indigenous and adopted Western behaviors. This dissertation research sought to validate the use of an Oral Health Beliefs Survey (OHBS) that assesses South Africans' oral health and hygiene beliefs within the constructs of the health belief model (HBM). Additionally, this study examines individual level variables to determine whether HBM constructs are associated with oral health and hygiene behaviors of South Africans. This exploratory study is the first step at establishing a framework for understanding current perceptions about oral health and hygiene in South Africa, as well as determining what factor(s) influence(s) the ability to practice healthier oral health behaviors. Findings from this study will be helpful in guiding future research and health communication campaigns on oral health and hygiene in South Africa. Suggestions for future researchers include taking either a structure-centered or culture-centered approach to uncover how culture shapes oral health-related beliefs and behaviors.

MPH, University of Cincinnati, 2022, Medicine: Global Health

BACKGROUND: The most effective way to prevent oral disease is toothbrushing. Yet, among low-resource settings, like sub-Saharan Africa, the daily oral hygiene practice of toothbrushing is variable, and the prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) and sickle cell trait (SCT) confound the issue of oral health. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of routine oral hygiene practices and the presence of oral health disease to determine the oral health-related quality of life among individuals residing in the Burere, Nyambogo, and Roche villages of the Rorya district of Tanzania, East Africa. A secondary objective of this study was to assess the self-reported oral health-related quality of life of persons impacted by SCD or SCT. Funding: This research was funded by the Urban Pathway Core at the University of Cincinnati. METHODS: This study was a mixed-methods design. For the quantitative portion of the study, the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) measure was administered. Demographics were also collected. For the qualitative portion of the study, researchers used a semi-structured interview guide to collect brushing narratives. Extraoral photographs were also recorded. A second study, using the OHRQoL measure (only), was conducted to assess the oral health-related quality of life in patients who received SCD or SCT-related health services from the Sickle Cell Clinic at the Bugando Medical Center (BMC). Approval to conduct these studies was obtained from the University of Cincinnati Institutional Review Board (UC-IRB) Approval #2022-033. RESULTS: Mixed Methods Research. From the analysis of brushing narratives (n=21), four overarching themes regarding routine oral hygiene practices emerged (1) Be True to Your Teeth; (2) You Don't Have to Brush Your Teeth-Just the Ones You Want to Keep; (3) Don't Let the World Change Your Smile; and (4) With Limited Resources, A beautiful Smile is in Short Supply. Quantified qu (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2009, Dentistry

Visual inspection by conventional oral examination (COE) has been the backbone of oral cancer and precancer detection. More recently, several commercially available diagnostic adjuncts have been developed to aid clinicians in the early detection of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). VELscope is a technology based on principles of autofluorescence imaging. This device offers in-vivo, real-time, direct visualization of tissue autofluorescence, termed direct visual fluorescent examination (DVFE). It is currently marketed as an oral cancer screening tool to be used with all new and recall dental patients and as an aid for surgeons in tumor margin delineation.Limited scientific literature supports the use of this device in high-risk patients. Preliminary studies indicate the VELscope shows promise in the identification of occult extension of OED and SCC during tumor margin delineation. The device has also been shown to discriminate normal oral mucosa from severe OED or SCC. However, the VELscope is marketed to general dentists as an oral cancer screening tool without literature support, as it has not adequately been tested for its ability to discriminate common benign tissuechanges from those associated with (pre)malignancy. We present a two arm study to evaluate VELscope indications for use, assessing the usefulness of DVFE in both surgical margin delineation and in routine screening of the oral cavity. 20 patients presenting for surgical excision of prior biopsy confirmed OED or SCC were included in a high-risk study arm. Study subjects received a limited COE and DVFE with assessment of tumor margins by both examination techniques. 33.3% of tumors exhibited positive DVFE extension beyond the clinically visible tumor margin and 58.3% of these extensions demonstrated histologic evidence of premalignancy. DVFE achieved a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 61.9% in discriminating clinically evident oral (pre)cancerous lesions and surround (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Dentistry

Purpose: To study changes over time in oral health fatalism (OHF) and oral health self-efficacy (OHSE) in the context of demographic and clinical factors, in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: This exploratory analysis used questionnaire data from 118 Medicaid-eligible families of children with ASD in a multi-site randomized clinical trial of a parent training (PT) intervention supporting home oral hygiene and dental visits at baseline, 3-, and 6-month intervals. Results: At baseline, 25% of caregivers disagreed with the statement endorsing OHF “Most children eventually develop dental cavities,” and 11% did not report confidence with the OHSE statements. At 6-months, 34% of caregivers did not endorse OHF and 5% did not report confidence with OHSE. Using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model, the percent change from baseline to 6-months in caregivers disagreeing with OHF beliefs and endorsing OHSE beliefs was significant (P<.05). A repeated measures ANOVA test was run to determine the relationship between the effects of treatment and time on OHF and OHSE. No significant difference was found between treatment effect on OHF and OHSE beliefs over time between the intervention and control groups (P>.05). A significant effect was found on OHF change over time within the intervention and toolkit groups (P<.05). Conclusions: There was no statistically significant reduction in OHF belief endorsement between baseline and 6-months as a result of the intervention when compared to the toolkit control group. However, among all subjects, OHF beliefs were less endorsed and OHSE confidence improved over time.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Oral Biology

Maternal health is emerging as a critical long-term determinant of a child's health. For example, stressful life events or anxiety during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive issues in the child. Children born to mothers experiencing famine during late gestation have an increased risk of developing metabolic disorders, while maternal type II diabetes mellitus causes impaired glucose tolerance and obesity in the offspring. While most human microbiome studies are correlational, mouse studies suggest that the maternal gut microbiome influences the offspring's metabolic system. Therefore, promoting the health of women, especially pregnant women, promotes the well-being of children. As pregnancy is associated with a pathogen enriched oral microbiome and the infant oral microbiome may be influenced by the mother, we are interested in first investigating the effect pregnancy has on the maternal oral microbiome and second, in investigating patterns and processes in the vertical transmission of the maternal oral microbiome, and the impact of perturbations on the biome of the offspring. Longitudinal studies using metagenomic sequencing methodology were combined with a comprehensive systems biology approach to characterize the taxonomic composition, functional characteristics, and vertical inheritance patterns. These investigations revealed that the infant microbiome is seeded by the maternal microbiome and affected by various maternal exposures like smoking, antibiotic usage, and gestational diabetes. Furthermore, we found evidence that maternal oral bacteria translocate to the placenta via the serum and may play a role in training the infant immune system to accept certain bacteria after birth.

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2021, Forensic Science

Conventional forensic detection of saliva relies on the enzymatic activity or presence of α-amylase. α-amylase based detection methods face a variety of problems: α-amylase is not specific to saliva, varies in concentration between individuals and over time, and is found in nonhuman sources. Previous studies have investigated various species of bacteria native to the human oral cavity as an answer to the problems presented by α-amylase. This study aimed to further understand of how four of these oral bacteria (Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus oralis, Veillonella atypica and Prevotella maculosa) persist through time and temperature degradation studies. Saliva samples from a single donor were subjected to five temperature conditions, ranging from -15°C to 57°C, and five time conditions, ranging from 0 to 28 days. The concentration of bacterial DNA present at each condition was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In this individual, S. oralis was by far the most prominent species of the four examined and due to this dominance appears most robust. Each of the bacterial species studied displayed marked DNA loss at very high temperatures, but V. atypica had the lowest starting value and was most susceptible to the conditions. At 4°C and -15°C, each bacterial species showed no significant DNA loss through 28 days. This analysis of the bacterial species present did not influence the amount of amplifiable human DNA present.

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2020, EDU Teaching and Learning

The role of grammar instruction and error correction in English language learning classrooms is a closely watched debate within second language acquisition (SLA) research. Additionally, research in teacher and student beliefs and preferences about grammar instruction also vary across studies and instructional contexts. However, second language learner beliefs are vital to explore due to correlation with proficiency, motivation, anxiety, and independent learning (Songhori, 2012; Loewen et al., 2009). This study considers what students recognize as grammar instruction in their learning experience and if it matches teacher perceptions of the organization of their grammar instruction. Additionally, it looks into learners' and teachers' preferences on the organization of grammar and their stated reasons behind these preferences. Using a questionnaire and field notes to inform lengthy exit interviews and later member checks, six major themes emerge from the data centered on student and teacher preferences beliefs. The findings from these themes suggest that learners and teachers preferred isolated FFI over integrated, although, both had conditions to this preference. In terms of oral error correction, there were differing beliefs among learners and teachers: students preferred teacher corrective feedback, while the teachers had more reserved views based on their beliefs about SLA theory and research. Furthermore, students were hesitant towards oral peer corrective feedback, while teacher participants had split views. Implications of the study include the necessity to factor in student demographics and the common instructional practices used within them, and student expectations into instruction choice. In addition, explanations of some integrated activities may be beneficial for students to understand their full potential. For teachers and learners, further research is needed to clarify the best evidence-based practices for teacher and peer grammar-related corrective feed (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1978, Graduate School

MAE, Otterbein University, 2017, Education

The purpose of this study is to explore the connection between oral language development and successful discontinuation from Reading Recovery. Previous studies have confirmed the relationship between oral language and early reading success but have failed to examine if there is a relationship between improving oral language and Reading Recovery outcomes. The study will take place by examining Record of Oral Language scores at the beginning and end of a child's Reading Recovery program along with a child's end of program status of discontinued, recommended, incomplete, or none of the above. Participants include Reading Recovery students in a suburban central Ohio school district during the 2015-2016 school year. Based on the results of this study, determining a relationship will help refine the selection process for Reading Recovery and determine the amount of time and focus that Reading Recovery teachers put on oral language within Reading Recovery lessons.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2016, Dentistry

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) typically originates from a preexisting premalignant oral lesion, termed oral epithelial dysplasia. The assessment of oral mucosal premalignant lesions currently rests on the histopathologic grading of maturational disorganization or dysplasia. Numerous reports have confirmed the subjective nature of assessing surface epithelial dysplasia and the risk of malignant transformation does not necessarily correspond to histopathologic grade. This study was conducted to evaluate biomarkers that might correlate with increasing grades of dysplasia and OSCC. Specifically, we evaluated the expression of four biomarkers, Cornulin, Dipeptidase1 (DPEP1), sex determining region Y-related HMG box transcription factor 4 (SOX4), and budding inhibited by benzimidazoles 3 (BUB3), in normal oral mucosa (NOM), low-grade (LD) and high-grade (HD) oral epithelial dysplasia, and OSCC. Methodology: A retrospective case-controlled study was performed using archived pathology specimens diagnosed as NOM, LD, HD and OSCC, for a total of 4 groups. With 25 cases per group, immunohistochemistry was used to assess expression for Cornulin, DPEP1, SOX4, and BUB3. Following immunohistochemical staining, photomicrographs of specimens were taken on a Moticam 10 microscopic camera and were analyzed on Aperio Imagescope software using the positive pixel counting algorithm. A histo-score (H-score) was calculated based on the intensity of the staining and the percentage of positive cells. For each specimen, two photomicrographs were taken at 10X magnification and average of H-score and %-staining was used. Reliability for H-score and %-staining were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Mean differences in H-scores and %-staining values were each analyzed using an analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc procedure. Results: Cornulin was strongly expressed in NOM but was progressively diminished with increasing grades of dysplasia and OSCC. ICC's (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Gerontological Studies, Miami University, 2016, Gerontology

Older adults visit their dentists at the lowest rate of any age group. Regular dental visits appear to peak in mid-life and then decline dramatically by age 65. This qualitative study sought to understand the barriers, facilitators, and misconceptions that affect the utilization of dental health services among older adults. The results of this study, which involved 12 senior center participants, found distinct misconceptions, barriers, and facilitators to accessing dental health care. Misconceptions were especially prevalent among participants with total tooth loss, but also included participants whose outlook toward dental care use was misguided. Barriers to dental care included costs of dental care, as well as ineffective office procedures to manage appointments. On the other hand, some dental office procedures were found to be helpful and would be considered facilitators to dental care. Other facilitators were “lay consultants” who assist participants in accessing dental services, as well as dental providers whose educational efforts are consistent with the needs of the patients. Implications highlight potential interventions to create better access to dental care for older adults.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2015, Music

This dissertation examines ''acting in'' as a subaltern tactic though which marginalized Christians from local Oriya villages leverage an ideological and cultural space for practicing and sharing a Christian piety in modern Odisha, India; a region that has experienced significant anti-Christian violence in the past two decades. This research examines the cultural and political work accomplished through two modes of ''acting in'' performances through which specific kinds of performances enable specific kinds of relationships. The first mode of ''acting in'' occurs in the openness of village streets and incorporates highly stylized epic narrative presentations of Christian scriptures realized through song, dance and drama. This ''acting in'' draws on local performance conventions in order to affect a resonance between the audience's experience with similar performances of Hindu epics and the ''acting in'' performances of Christian narratives presented here. This resonance, a domain of experience that Dwight Conquergood calls an ''embodied epistemology'' enables the dramatic presentation of Christian stories - and even the Christians themselves - to be received by villagers as if emanating from a shared past. The political notion of ''acting in'' becomes evident as I demonstrate how the tactics of this first mode of ''acting in'' include a jettisoning of practices deemed foreign. This combination of carefully crafted performance and the absence of foreign cultural markers enables Maranatha Ministries Christians to become accepted in the village - and undifferentiated from their Hindu neighbors. This lack of differentiation produces a functional invisibility to the state and unofficial means of surveillance that might otherwise find it expedient to govern Christians as a distinct social entity. In this way ''acting in'' enables peaceable relations between Maranatha Ministries Christians, their village neighbors, village elders and regional and state authorities (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2015, Spanish

This thesis investigates instructor and student perspectives on oral proficiency assessment in university foreign language courses. Given the various interpretations of oral proficiency, this study examines the different components of linguistic competence, four models of oral proficiency assessment, and seven standardized exams that measure oral proficiency. In order to investigate student and instructor perspectives, 135 students and seven instructors of intermediate-level French, German, and Spanish university courses were surveyed. The results indicate students from the three languages courses find that oral exams accurately measure their language level and they feel adequately prepared to take oral exams. Additionally, instructors and students find comprehensibility to be the most important skill for evaluating oral proficiency. The implications of this study are that the oral proficiency exams in university classrooms remain acceptable to students if they comply with the criteria for foreign language testing (Carroll, 1980) and the washback effect (Krashen & Terrell, 1983).

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2014, Dentistry

Enamel defects in primary teeth predispose children to early childhood caries and are often not detected nor intervened upon until damage from caries has occurred. In this study, we utilized a novel imaging device, the ProScope digital microscope, to assess the enamel quality in vivo of young children ages 9 months -3 years. We also used a parental survey and medical record review to elucidate factors leading to defects in our population. Based on clinical exam, patients were separated into intact and defective enamel groups. The final sample included 45 children with intact enamel and 30 children with enamel defects. ProScope images were captured with a 100x lens during the exam and were later assessed based on the modified Developmental Defects of Enamel index by five raters. We found that children in the defective enamel group had higher dft scores of 1.34 vs. 0.29 (p=0.008), more caregivers who smoke in the home at 50% vs. 26.7% (p=0.04), and more parents reporting soft teeth in their children at 33% vs. 6.7% (p=0.003). The ProScope, when compared to the gold standard of visual clinical exam for detecting enamel defects, had a sensitivity of 82.7% and specificity of 77.3%. We found an inter-rater reliability of 0.438 among the five raters. We concluded that enamel defects in primary teeth might be the missing link between maternal smoking and offspring caries rates as reported in previous studies. Additionally, children with enamel defects and children identified by their parents as having soft teeth had a higher risk of dental caries, and therefore those children should receive increased preventive care and counseling. The ProScope was useful for evaluating enamel defects, but might be best suited for serial evaluation of enamel defects and incipient carious lesions to document progression over time in the same patient.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2014, Dentistry

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure on general and oral health-related quality of life. Changes in patient stress, depression, anxiety and coping levels during early wound healing were also evaluated. Material and Methods: Sixteen non-smokers (mean age 60±4 yrs; 9 males), treatment planned to receive GBR for a single large size (=2 adjacent missing teeth) defect (total of 17 sites), were recruited. Ridge width (RW) and ridge relative height (RRH), flap thickness (FT), keratinized tissue width (KTW) and clinical evaluation of the wound were recorded at surgery, 1 week, 1 month and 4 months. Wound fluid was collected and its content was studied for various wound healing related mediators. Pre- and post-surgical evaluation of perceived stress, depression, anxiety, coping and general health assessments were conducted as well as General Health (GHQ-12) and Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHIP-49) questionnaires. Results: Size of the wounds at various anatomical locations was similar. A slight but statistically significant gain in RW was noted (7.5±0.7 mm versus 8.6±0.6 mm; p=0.02). The difference detected at RRH was not statistically significant (12±0.6 mm versus 10.7±0.8 mm; p=0.057). Mean FT was 1.3±0.1 (0.6-2.5) mm. KTW remained unchanged. Primary wound closure was obtained in all cases except one. Eighty-eight and 35 percent of the sites had clinical wound exposure at 1 week and 1 month, respectively. Actual exposure was 3.8±0.7 mm and 2±0.8 mm at 1 week and 1 month, respectively. Wound fluid volume decreased 2 fold by 1 month. Interestingly, most of the pro-inflammatory mediators reached picked levels at 1 month and not earlier. GHQ-12 and OHIP-49 scores were stable throughout the study. Eighty-eight and 44 % of the patients reported some pain at surgical site at 1 week and 1 month. Baseline mean Depression Scale (CES-D) score was 7±2 with only two patients having =16. A statistically n (open full item for complete abstract)

BM, Kent State University, 2014, College of the Arts / School of Music, Hugh A. Glauser

During the Middle Ages, oral poets often sang the tale of the hero Siegfried, his murder, his widow Kriemhild';s revenge, and the downfall of the Burgundian kingdom. A medieval epic poem written in Middle-High German, the Nibelungenlied is widely known among German citizens and scholars alike. Its historical and mythological roots include the defeat of the Burgundians during the Volkerwanderung (Great Migration Period) and the legend of Siegfried. I applied my own knowledge of medieval Germanic literature and music by performing this work in its original language, and this paper discusses the research and planning that went into my performance. Medieval epic poetry was often sung when performed, and the Nibelungenlied is no exception. To prepare the performance, I selected sections of the text to perform and set them to the Hildebrandston, a melody that is believed to be similar to that of the Nibelungenlied, whose original melody is no longer known. I also examined certain phonological aspects of Middle High German so as to present the text as authentically as possible. I accompanied my singing of the Nibelungenlied on a lap dulcimer, a three-stringed, fretted instrument and member of the zither family. I used variations in dynamics, vocal color, and accompaniment to enhance the dramatic aspect of the performance. After my investigations, I was able to consider the cultural context and reception of the Nieblungenlied, as well as interpret its many themes such as honor, duty, betrayal, revenge, and destruction. The entire work can be viewed as a commentary on the shift in ideals from heroic victory to lawful rule and order. In completing this project, I have had the opportunity to explore the relationship between literature and music in their historical and cultural context.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2012, Art Education

The purpose of my research is to offer insight into the life and work of Thomas E. Wolfe, who exhibits self-determination both as an artist and as an art educator in an Appalachian region of Southeastern Ohio. By presenting Wolfe's life story, I make connections to the influences of culture, social experiences, regional identity, and family traditions that play to his development as an artist and art educator. My research questions focused on how he perceives himself, how others perceive his presence in the community, how his artwork is valued by his community and how his teaching practices helped develop a greater sense of community. Specifically, I was interested in which historical moments and events in his life that were important to him in recollecting his life story. In my narrative analysis of Wolfe's life stories collected through oral history from Wolfe and 26 of his friends, family members, former students and community members, I considered selectivity, slippage, silence, intertextuality, and subjectivity to analyze his life story (Casey, 1993; Casey 1995-1996). Thomas Eugene Wolfe began making art as a child and evolved into an accomplished artist. As an art educator he had a prolific teaching career that spanned forty plus years. During this time, Wolfe developed his artistic style as a Regionalist watercolor artist, one whose work reflected a rural Appalachian landscape, architecture, and culture of the Perry County, Ohio community in which he lives and taught. The primary objective of this study is to document Wolfe's life and art depicting the Perry County, Ohio region; and consider how his work might have influenced his community. Wolfe's background and life stories are explored across both the similarities and differences from other Regionalist artists in order to situate a broader understanding of the many ways in which he, as an Appalachian Regionalist artist interacts with his community. The literature review for this study involved chronicli (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2010, EDU Teaching and Learning

This descriptive study investigated the levels of oral proficiency of candidates for initial PreK-12 teacher licensure in Spanish and French as reported by faculty and students in the teacher education programs at Ohio colleges and universities. The study was motivated by the adoption of the NCATE/ACTFL Program standards for the preparation of foreign language teachers (Initial level—Undergraduate & Graduate; For K-12 and Secondary Certification Programs) as part of a six-year agreement between the Ohio Department of Education and NCATE (the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education) for programs to be accredited. Within the Program standards, a standard of Advanced-Low level oral proficiency, as measured by an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, is the expected level for teacher candidates to receive initial licensure in accredited languages. Historically, in a series of studies since 1967 (Carroll, 1967; Hiple & Manley, 1987; Swender, 2003; Mathews & Hansen, 2004), the Advanced-Low level has been a level that about half of college foreign language majors were reported to have reached at the end of their undergraduate program of foreign language study. Through a survey of faculty members in foreign language teacher education and faculty in foreign language departments in Ohio colleges and universities, and through interviews with selected faculty and teacher candidates at four Ohio colleges and universities, the present study investigated six research questions. These questions were designed to study the extent to which faculty estimated or provided test data to show whether or not their foreign language teacher candidates were meeting this standard. Data were collected and analyzed related to the participants' views on their teacher candidates' strengths and weaknesses in oral proficiency in French and Spanish. The results seemed to indicate that at the time of data collection in 2009, candidates' oral proficiency was rated predominantly at Interme (open full item for complete abstract)