Communication Sciences & Disorders Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Jan. 1, 2024-Dec. 31, 2028

Mission Statements

The University of Tulsa Mission

The University of Tulsa is a private, independent, doctoral-degree-granting institution whose mission reflects these core values: excellence in scholarship, dedication to free inquiry, integrity of character, and commitment to humanity.

The university achieves its mission by educating men and women of diverse backgrounds and cultures to:

1. Demonstrate literacy through information inquiry and application of knowledge in the sciences, humanities, and arts.
2. Think critically by analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information.
3. Write and present clearly, practicing the skills of effective communication across the curriculum.
4. Recognize ethical dilemmas and determine how best to respond to them.
5. Apply knowledge and talents to identify and address real world problems in the local or global community.

Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences Mission

The mission of the Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences is to advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge and promote human health and welfare through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. We prepare our graduates to be leaders and innovators in their respective fields by providing a robust interdisciplinary education that integrates theoretical and applied learning, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration, diversity, and social responsibility.

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders Mission

The mission of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders is to provide a high-quality educational experience, clinical training, and research opportunities for students pursuing professional careers in speech-language pathology, audiology and other related fields. The undergraduate and master’s programs combine a broad liberal arts curriculum with specific and sequential academic and clinical coursework in communication sciences and disorders. The department seeks to produce competent master’s degree graduates to treat persons with communication and swallowing disorders in any professional setting. Based on this mission statement, the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders has established several overall goals listed below:

Graduates from the master’s degree program in speech-language pathology will be able to:

• Meet eligibility for ASHA certification
• Meet eligibility for licensure in many states
• Meet eligibility for SLP teacher certification in many states
• Provide services as an entry level professional in a medical facility, educational facility, or private practice setting

Mary K. Chapman Center for Communication Disorders Mission

The Mary K. Chapman Center for Communication Disorders provides a setting for the clinical education of undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at The University of Tulsa. The clinic further provides speech, language/literacy, cognitive communicative, hearing and swallowing/feeding services to clients and their families who exhibit communication and swallowing disorders. Finally, the clinic contributes to the community by providing speech, language and hearing screenings; information regarding communication disorders; and culturally competent supports for persons with communication disorders and their families.

Long-Term Program Goals

1. Continue to provide culturally competent speech, language/literacy, hearing, cognitive communicative, and swallowing/feeding services to the community at the Mary K. Chapman Center for Communication Disorders, including outreach of these services to the Spanish-speaking and the low-income communities in the Tulsa area.
   1. Provide diagnostic evaluations and therapy services for child and adult communication disorders including specialty clinics: cleft palate, feeding, apraxia boot camp, autism spectrum disorders, and concussion center.
   2. Clinical outreach: advertise in local magazines; conduct speech and hearing screenings in the Tulsa community and offer community support groups.
   3. Respect cultural differences and integrate cultural humility into practice; e.g. working with interpreters, persons with disabilities, and persons who are culturally-linguistically diverse and/or from lower SES backgrounds.
2. Continue to meet departmental mission by documenting that master’s students in speech-language pathology meet eligibility for ASHA 2020 certification standards.
   1. Continue to document student competence in knowledge and skills in communication sciences and disorders by using electronic tracking/evaluation systems; specifically, Calipso, Teams, Simucase, Qualtrics, TruLearn, etc.
   2. Establish additional interprofessional partnerships and educational opportunities for students (Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, Little Light House, Cleft Palate Clinic, school screenings, etc. (TBI clinic, Food School)
   3. Continue to increase student knowledge about the needs for persons who have hearing loss and serving individuals with various disabilities/abilities, ethnicity, languages, etc.
3. Continue to increase faculty and student presence in state, regional, and national arenas.
   1. Increase number of students completing original research.
   2. Establish supports for faculty and student research within and outside the department.
   3. Increase student and faculty presentations at local, state, regional and national conferences.
4. Identify areas/methods for growth within the undergraduate and graduate programs.
   1. Increase social media presence via Instagram, Facebook, and Podcasts.
   2. Increase alumni involvement in recruitment and support of program.
   3. Identify additional funding sources for graduate students.
   4. Explore additional programs or tracts to offer within the department.
   5. Continue to increase supports for students from diverse backgrounds.

Specific Measurable Objectives

Focus Area 1

Continue to provide speech, language, hearing, cognitive, and swallowing services to the community at the Mary K. Chapman Center for Communication Disorders, including outreach of these services to the Spanish-speaking and low-income communities in the Tulsa area.

Issue:

• Continue to provide services to the community and to develop knowledge and skills for students in speech-language pathology, by identifying and treating persons with communication and swallowing disorders, including culturally and linguistic diverse and/or children/families from lower SES.

Outcomes:

1. Continue to serve approximately 100 clients per semester at MKCC.
2. Continue to advertise to the community including reaching out to persons who are culturally-linguistically diverse and/or lower SES, by initiating two to three contacts per year.
3. Add two new specialty clinics to offerings from MKCC.

Indicators of success:

Focus Area 2

Continue to meet accreditation standards for the master’s program in speech-language pathology, evaluate program quality and document student progress/success.

Issue:

• Analysis of student data used as basis for continuing improvement for the program; renew Advisory Council for input regarding program plans and curriculum; and plan for changes in departmental leadership positions, e.g. department chair, undergraduate and graduate advising, writing continuing improvement reports, liaison with UTulsa Department of Education, etc.

Outcomes:

1. Use student data and analysis as basis for continuing improvement for the program. Continue to implement analysis procedures for reports related to student performance on Calipso, Simucase, Harvey, Student Surveys, Tru Learn, course evaluations etc. in order to determine areas of strength/weakness and subsequently make program improvements in faculty teaching strategies and student learning outcomes.

Indicators of success:

Focus Area 3

Increase student and faculty presentations and participation in state, regional, and national professional presentations, associations, and professional events.

Issue:

• Identify ways to increase student/faculty research and presentations, as well as participation in professional associations.

Outcomes:

1. Increase of student/faculty presentations and presentations of research by 50%.

Indicators of success:

Focus Area 4

Identify areas/methods for student and faculty growth/recruitment within the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Issue:

• Identify ways to increase student/faculty research and presentations, as well as participation in professional associations.

Outcomes:

1. Increase awareness of The University of Tulsa graduate program.
2. Two new supports for graduate students with particular focus on students from diverse backgrounds
3. New hire of tenure-track faculty member.

Indicators of success: