Goal I: Student Recruitment

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders  program will recruit students who excel in academics, have a service oriented global perspective, and have potential for leadership within their community.

Objectives to support student recruitment

• Objective 1.1: Create marketing/recruiting material/website that is attractive and technologically savvy for students
• Objective 1.2: Recruit students from all undergraduate programs across the state, region, and nation
• Objective 1.3: Admit students with varying degrees of diversity to support University/Department mission
• Objective 1.4: Identify university funding sources for scholarships and establish departmental funding sources

School of Health Professions Mapping

Student Recruitment and Retention

1. Enrolls highly qualified students
2. Retains students who enroll in graduate programs
3. Offers scholarships to an appropriate number of undergraduate and graduate students

Goal II: Faculty/Staff Recruitment

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders program will continue to recruit faculty and staff who exhibit combined excellence in teaching, student recruitment, and demonstrable scholarship and service to the department, university, and community at large.

Objectives to support faculty/staff recruitment

• Objective 2.1: Create advertisements/web-based information for recruitment that are attractive to faculty who exhibit strong teaching abilities as well as a commitment to scholarship and service
• Objective 2.2: Recruit doctoral level faculty at the state and national level
• Objective 2.3: Recruit professional clinical staff at the state and national level
• Objective 2.4: Provide financial support for faculty/staff travel in order to maintain currency in specialty areas of interest

School of Health Professions Mapping

Faculty/Staff Satisfaction

1. Faculty are satisfied with their work environment
2. Staff are satisfied with their work environment

Goal III:  Commitment to Excellent and Innovative Academic and Clinical Programming

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will endeavor to provide and maintain a culture of excellence, caring, and freedom to question responsibly varying concepts within the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. 

Objectives to support excellence and innovation with academic and clinical programming

• Objective 3.1: Establish interdisciplinary courses to meet the needs of the ever-changing health care environment
• Objective 3.2: Build a strong connection between academic coursework and clinical practicum experience by bridging concepts of  theory, evidence-based practice and outcome-based measures, i.e., PRAXIS data for graduating cohorts (AUD and SLP).
• Objective 3.3: Encourage and promote communication and integration between the CSDS department and the clinical sites/supervisors.
• Objective 3.4: Provide opportunities for students to engage in applied research which could lead to professional presentations
• Objective 3.5: Encourage student involvement in the participation of local, state, and national conferences

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Professional Preparation/Student success & Interprofessional preparation

1. Students receive quality professional and personal mentoring from faculty and staff
2. Students are supervised by vetted preceptors
3. Students are placed in individual sites selected by CSDS Clinical team
4. Students participate in multiple IPE activities throughout the curriculum
5. Students understand the role of other health care professionals

Goal IV:  Student Service Opportunities

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will promote service learning for all students recognizing that there are opportunities for meeting needs within a global society.   

Objectives to support student service opportunities

• Objective 4.1: Promote and provide ways for students to engage in service learning opportunities within their community, state, country, and international experiences
• Objective 4.2: Encourage students to be aware of service opportunities within ASHA and CAPCSD’s global initiatives
• Objective 4.3: Provide opportunities for students to mentor others in service to individuals with communication, hearing and balance disorders

School of Health Professions Mapping

Student Satisfaction & Service and Mission

1. Students participate in professional-based service
2. Faculty participate in professional-based service to the community
3. Faculty participate in service to the profession
4. Faculty, staff, and students understand the importance of service to others

Goal V: Interprofessional Education

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will seek opportunities to participate and to lead experiences related to interprofessional education. 

Objectives to support interprofessional education

• Objective 5.1: Identify topics that could be covered with multiple disciplines
• Objective 5.2: Support IPP clinical opportunities for students while at Samford University

Faculty will work with disciplines that work in clinical and educational settings (k-12 teachers, school settings, community based clinics, PT, OT, SW, NUT/DIET…etc.)  to develop possible programming for students.

School of Health Professions Mapping

Interprofessional preparation

1. Professional students participate in multiple IPE activities throughout the curriculum
2. Professional students feel prepared to work in an interprofessional environment
3. Professional students understand the role of other health care professionals.

Goal VI:  Continuous Outcomes Monitoring and Strategic Planning

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will conduct a systematic review of its’ strategic plan and the assessment system to ensure that all appropriate stakeholders are included, informed, and have the opportunity to provide input.

Objectives to support outcomes monitoring and strategic planning

• Objective 6.1: Develop an assessment system, which assesses skills and knowledge of current students and alumni through multiple measures.
• Objective 6.2: Share data and the strategic plan with internal and external stakeholders for program improvement suggestions.
• Objective 6.3: Review the Strategic Plan annually and student outcome data two times per year.

Goal VII. Enhance Clinical Experiences

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will continue to develop partnerships and agreements with varied facilities with diverse clientele and “specialty” clinical opportunities to ensure excellent clinical training for all students.

Objectives to support and enhance broad clinical experiences

• Objective 7.1: Continue to develop partnerships and agreements with varied facilities with diverse clientele and “specialty” clinical opportunities to ensure excellent clinical training for all students
• Objective 7.2: Adapt and build the clinical model to support clinical teaching at Samford University in creative ways (mentoring, close communication, face to face meetings, weekly communication…)
• Objective 7.3: Increase global opportunities for clinical practice and service
  • Identifying need
  • Identifying resources for travel
  • Identifying community or ministry partners

Measurable Objectives

1. Obtain data from clinical preceptors and assess what gaps in skills could be taught by CSDS faculty and employees within the facility
2. Establish specialty clinics for students to learn skills for special populations
3. Continue to provide specialty clinics at Samford University

Strategies for Attainment

1. Faculty will work with clinicians in the Greater Birmingham area to determine specialty skill areas/preceptors
2. Faculty will provide clinical skill training as part of all M.S. SLP Methods courses so that skill competency can be obtained

School of Health Professions Mapping

Professional preparation and Diversity and Cultural awareness

1. Professional students demonstrate practical skills and knowledge of competent, entry level practitioners
2. Professional students understand and demonstrate professionalism in educational and clinical settings
3. Professional students are prepared to enter the work force as competent, entry-level practitioners
4. Professional students are prepared to successfully pass their respective professional credentialing exam (licensure, certification, etc)

Goal VIII:  Scholarship Opportunities

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will continue to develop relationships with the Advisory Board, community supporters, faculty, alumni, and parents to create scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in CSDS.

Objectives to support scholarship opportunities

• Objective 8.1: Identify community partners through the CSDS Advisory Board to help create a potential list of donors
• Objective 8.2: Identify corporate partners (large donors) who would be willing to sponsor and/or match campaign funds
• Create letter writing campaigns for alumni and parents of students

Measurable objectives

1. Create giving levels for varied types of donors
2. Organize one major fundraiser per year

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Financial Strength

1. Enhance funding for scholarships
2. Enhance funding for student endeavors
3. Enhance funding for faculty/department endeavors