Mission
The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) strives to provide students a comprehensive education that combines theoretical knowledge with clinical application and research. We accomplish this mission through a combination of academic course work, clinical practicum, and research activities. The intent of this mission is to prepare students for graduate study and ensure their entry into the field of communication disorders as competent professionals upon completion of the graduate program. We recognize our responsibility to serve the regional community. In this regard, the department provides comprehensive speech, language, and hearing services to individuals and families in the region through a clinical atmosphere that fosters respect and support for diversity, as well as advocacy for the rights of individuals.
Vision
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will work to uphold the vision statement of our professional accrediting body, “Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all,” by focusing its efforts on student education, research, and community service.
Strategic Plan
The strategic plan aligns with the mission of the program by focusing on the areas of curriculum, clinical education, and research.
Focus Area 1: Curriculum - The CSD Department will ensure alignment of course sequence in the undergraduate and graduate programs and enhance curriculum to reflect current standards and address current issues in the profession.
Opportunity 1: The program seeks to enhance student preparation for practice in educational settings.
Action 1: Review CALIPSO student performance data from off-campus education placements to ensure sufficient student preparation for practice in educational settings.
Opportunity 2: New certification standards present an opportunity to comprehensively review the graduate curriculum to ensure new standards are being met and that the sequence of courses is efficient and effective for meeting certification and accreditation standards.
Action 2: The graduate faculty will compare current mapped graduate curriculum to the new standards and note any overlaps, gaps, or issues with sequence.
Focus Area 2: Clinical Education - The CSD Department will develop the clinical education resources to provide a breadth and depth of education and to support an expansion of the graduate program to 25 students per cohort. Resources include university clinic client base, clinic instructors, off-campus placements, and liaison support.
Opportunity 1: The program has an opportunity to advance methods for clinical instructors to provide high-quality clinical education to students.
Action 1: Enhance clinical education by defining terms and identify evidence-based methods of clinical instruction.
Focus Area 3: Assessment - The CSD Department will determine students' mastery of knowledge and skills addressed in the curriculum through formative and summative assessment and use information for improvements in the program and support for student learning.
Opportunity 1: The department seeks to consistently implement the use of an evidence-based, common rubric to measure and document student achievement related to identified learning outcomes.
Action 1: Faculty will review and identify best practices for use of rubrics and scales in assessment processes, especially with regard to writing, self-assessment, and professional qualities.