About the Department

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provides each of our students with an outstanding education that's rich in research and clinical experiences, all occurring alongside a strong and practical general education.

Our focus is personalized professional preparation of students in communication sciences and disorders, preparing our graduates to serve the public. In accomplishing this mission, the department pursues excellence and distinction in all of its programs, and promotes faculty development through research, creative activities, and continuing scholarship.

By the Numbers- SLP Graduate Program

93
Enrollment in Speech Pathology graduate program, Fall 2020

28-32
Typical number of new applicants accepted in the fall semester

15-20
Typical number of new applicants accepted in the spring semester

10
Typical number of applicants placed on a wait list

10
Number of faculty members with Ph.D.s

6
Number of clinical supervision staff

120
Typical number of clients enrolled in the Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic

33
Typical number of off-campus cooperative venues per academic year

45
Typical number of internship venues averaged per semester

‌52%
Proportion of graduate students receiving GA or Tuition assistance

98%+
Proportion of graduate students who complete the program in 5 semesters

100%
Proportion of faculty members teaching graduate-level coursework

100%
Proportion of faculty members who supervise clinical practice

100%
Proportion of graduate students who are enrolled full-time

97%
Pass rate for Praxis exam for 2016-2019

98%
Job placement rate for new M.A. students

Communication Arts Center

Strategic Plan

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provides undergraduate and graduate students excellent opportunities for academic and clinical learning, research, and public service within the context of a strong liberal arts education.

The main focus is personalized professional preparation of students in communication sciences and disorders to serve the public. In accomplishing this mission, the Department pursues excellence and distinction in all its programs; promotes faculty development through research, creative activities, progressive teaching and continuing scholarship.

Vision and Goals:

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will be a national model of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education through personalized and innovative instruction, clinical experiences, community engagement and research.

To achieve this vision, the Department will:

Provide excellent student learning experiences and training in the classroom and clinic;
Recruit and retain outstanding faculty who are active in academic and clinical teaching, research and scholarship
Demonstrate integrity, responsibility, and the highest ethical standards in all of our endeavors
Contribute to the community and professions at the local, state, national, and international levels;
Collaborate with health care and education providers in interprofessional settings.

Areas of Focus

Focus Area 1: Clinical Education and Culture

Outcome: The department will be recognized for its innovative approaches to clinical education for both our graduate and undergraduate students.

Strategy 1: Increase clinical opportunities by identifying an area not well served in the community and develop a program to address that need.

Strategy 2: Development a model of clinical education for undergraduate students that reduces the emphasis on clinical hours and addresses the clinical knowledge and skills they will need to excel in graduate school or other post-graduation opportunities.

Strategy 3: Implement a model of clinical education in the area of interprofessional education and practice that ensures that all students have some IPE/IPP experience.

Strategy 4: Provide opportunities for all students to develop knowledge and skills to serve diverse, multicultural populations.

Strategy 5: Develop a new clinical program to serve an underrepresented population in the Cedar Valley.

Focus Area 2: Curriculum/Teaching and Learning

Outcome: The department will be recognized for innovative approaches to teaching and learning and our students will continue to be recognized has highly skilled and knowledgeable entry-level clinicians.

Strategy 1: Identify innovative approaches to the provision of academic and clinical education that provide for greater integration of academic and clinical learning..

Strategy 2: Review available clinical simulations and identify courses that will include clinical simulations or other applied learning experiences.

Focus Area 3: Equipment/Facilities/Space

Outcome: The department will gain additional classroom, clinical, and research space to accommodate recent growth in faculty and students.

Strategy 1: Gain recognition for our facilities/space needs in the university’s facilities master plan.

Strategy 2: Identify possible space off campus.

Strategy 3: Develop a proposal to replace outdated equipment in the area of speech and voice science.

Focus Area 4: Faculty and Staff

Outcome: The workloads of tenure and tenure-track faculty will allow them to engage in research and scholarly activity, excel in academic and clinical teaching, and provide service to the profession, the community, and the university.

Strategy 1: To assure sufficiency of faculty, advocate for and conduct a search to replace our recently retired faculty member.

Strategy 2: Advocate and conduct a search for one additional 90% P&S Communication Disorders Specialist.

Strategy 3: Develop and implement a plan to support faculty research efforts, particularly for those at the associate and assistant levels.

Strategy 4: Develop an alternate plan for advising that reduces the need for faculty to meet with students for routine plan of study and scheduling issues and provides students with accurate, consistent advising.

Strategy 5: Develop and implement a plan to support faculty in their community engagement efforts, particularly those that enhance student experiences at the undergraduate and graduate levels.