College of Education and Rehabilitation Department of Speech-Language Pathology Strategic Plan 2015-2018 MISSION: To educate and train graduate-level students to become exemplary professionals in speech-language pathology who provide excellence in service delivery to individuals with communication and swallowing disorders, and who engage in and promote interprofessional education and practice, lifelong learning and prevention of communication and swallowing disorders. VISION: Promote communication and swallowing/feeding health and well-being in persons with disabilities or at risk for disabilities so that these individuals have equal opportunity to gain access to and prosper in all aspects of society (e.g. education, economics, politics/advocacy for social justice, etc.) STRATEGIC GOAL 1: Expand the clinical education program to assure required student clinical contact hours in all nine (9) targeted speech-language disorders with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Lead: Clinical Director/Educator 1.1 Develop and distribute a marketing brochure highlighting academic and clinical service programs (2015-16) Brochure disseminated to various constituents (students, public, educator/clinician, foundations, etc.) throughout the Greater Delaware Valley Dissemination of marketing brochure at state/national conferences, SLP clinical sites, undergraduate programs visited by admissions officers and SLP faculty Electronic dissemination via social media and admissions webinars Salus University Dept. of SLP Strategic Plan (2015-2018/Three Years) as Approved by BOT May 2015: page 1
1.2 Expand on-campus client population (base of 50) for student practice. (2016-2018) Increase on-campus patient population by 25% (12 patients) yearly Increase external contracts by 10% (5 contracts) yearly 1.3 Market clinical services to local health/education facilities within a two-hour radius emphasizing those serving cultural and linguistically diverse populations (2015-18) Visit all local health/education sites at least once annually Distribute updated brochures and other marketing materials to all visited sites Expand external clinical contracts (base of 50) for student practice. (2016-2018) 1.4 Identify and train 25 certified (CCC-SLP) and licensed speech-language pathologists to serve as external placement sites clinic supervisors (2016-17 to 2017-18) Expand to a minimum of 25 potential certified (CCC-SLP) practitioners through professional conference and networking activities Provide annual training workshop for certified SLP practitioners STRATEGIC GOAL 2: Review, modify and update the SLP curriculum based on evaluation and feedback from students, faculty, program alumni, external clinical supervisors, and employers. Lead(s): SLP Program Director/Dept. Chair, Clinical Director/Educator, SLP Faculty, SLP Advisory Council 2.1 Analyze and interpret aggregated course evaluations from student cohorts (2015-18) Collect aggregate course evaluations, analyze data and provide end-of-semester feedback to each faculty member each semester and annually When necessary, develop teaching improvement plan that includes additional peer assessment, master teacher mentoring and attendance at Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Workshops or Conferences. Salus University Dept. of SLP Strategic Plan (2015-2018/Three Years) as Approved by BOT May 2015: page 2
2.2 Secure and analyze feedback from external clinical site supervisors regarding student clinical knowledge and skills to develop student competency. (2015-2018) Enter/analyze clinical site supervisor performance/knowledge data using CALIPSO software When necessary develop student clinical knowledge and skills improvement plan 2.3 Incorporate, state-of-the-art knowledge into didactic and clinical components of the curriculum that is obtained from attendance at professional conferences, professional development activities and research reviews by the SLP faculty (2015-2018) Annual faculty attendance at a minimum of 1 professional conference per year Annual syllabi revisions to reflect state-of-the art knowledge and clinical practice Annual update of needed library professional resources 2.4 Change practicum curricula based on on-campus (SLI) patient feedback. (2016-2018) Analyze completed patient satisfaction forms On a scale of 0-5 obtain an average satisfaction score of 4 from 80% of patients served 2.5 Incorporate SLP Advisory Board feedback for curriculum change implementation (2016-2018) Maintain SLP Advisory Board minutes and discuss Advisory Board curricula input with faculty As appropriate, incorporate Advisory Board feedback into curricula 2.6 Incorporate SLP Program Alumni feedback for curriculum change implementation (2017-2018) Analyze and interpret program alumni survey feedback As appropriate, incorporate program Alumni survey feedback Salus University Dept. of SLP Strategic Plan (2015-2018/Three Years) as Approved by BOT May 2015: page 3
STRATEGIC GOAL 3: Obtain full CAA accreditation for the SLP Master of Science Degree program through the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) Lead(s): SLP Program Director/Dept. Chair, Director of Admissions; Office of Communications 3.1 Complete and submit in a timely manner annual (or other designated timelines) reports to the a) Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology; b) the Higher Education System (HES); and c) the Pennsylvania Department of Education Specialist Certification in Speech-Language Pathology Pre-K through 12 th grade Program (2015-2018) Submit all three reports within designated timelines to include content specific data and information as requested by the respective agency. 3.2 Expand quality of SLP cohorts (2016-2018) Broaden student recruitment measures by using CSDCAS as the principle means of students applying to the Salus University graduate program in SLP Improve selection of students who meet a minimum of 80 on academic index score, and a minimum of 4 on interview rating scale Select students who exceed minimum academic index (AI) and interview ratings for admissions and enrollment in the SLP graduate program. 3.3 Enhance passing rate of SLP graduates on PRAXIS II Exam Develop and implement a workshop to prepare students for the PRAXIS II SLP students maintain a range of 85-100% passing rate on PRAXIS II Exam Salus University Dept. of SLP Strategic Plan (2015-2018/Three Years) as Approved by BOT May 2015: page 4
3.4 Expand and update the Department of Speech-Language Pathology website to meet the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) reporting requirements (2017-2018). At minimum, collect aggregate data and post Pass-Fail rate on the PRAXIS II Exam, Graduate Rate, and Employment Rate of graduating students on the program website per CAA requirements for public notice of student outcome data. 3.5 Apply for full CAA accreditation during third year of the M.S. Degree program (2017-18) Review and adhere to timelines for the initial full accreditation process as designated by the calendar of submission deadlines established by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Prepare and submit the CAA initial full accreditation application and documents by published due date based on policies and procedures for application submission as outlined by CAA Set up site visit for initial full accreditation Prepare Salus University faculty and staff for site visit through information and preparatory sessions similar to ones held for the candidacy status process. Respond to exceptions on identified standards where the program is demonstrating deficits and develop a written plan of action to offset and/or improve potential deficits Pay fees associated with the full accreditation process to CAA in a timely manner Update all Salus University program documents, curriculum, websites and publications based on positive outcome in obtaining the initial full accreditation from CAA. The Salus University M.S. Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology has been designated as a Candidate Program by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) beginning July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020. The official logo earmarking this designation is shown below and will be displayed by our program to inform our various publics and constituents who we serve about our current accreditation status. For additional information contact the Chair/Program Director or the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at 215.780.1355 or 215.780.3114. You may also find additional information on Salus University as a Candidacy program by reviewing the official CAA letter of Candidacy for the university online at http://www.asha.org/academic/accreditation/caadecisions/ July 1, 2015 June 30, 2020 Salus University Dept. of SLP Strategic Plan (2015-2018/Three Years) as Approved by BOT May 2015: page 5