Vision Mission & Strategic Plan

Vision

The Speech-Language Pathology program aspires to be a pioneering program, providing students with a problem-based, interprofessional education that fosters the development of competent, reflective leaders who will transform lives through the practice of Speech-Language Pathology.

Mission

The mission of the program is to provide an educational experience which prepares students for fulfilling careers as leading professionals in the field of speech-language pathology, who are educated consumers of research, dedicated to interprofessional collaboration, and who integrate reflection and critical thinking into their practices in order to facilitate positive communicative and quality-of-life outcomes for others.  Stakeholders will strive to create an environment that removes barriers to success and promotes a culture of inclusivity compassion and mutual respect.

Goals

To prepare graduates who:

1. Are responsible, competent, ethical, autonomous and reflective speech-language pathologists in educational and healthcare systems
2. Value critical inquiry and engage in evidence-based practice
3. Engage in collaborative service provision and serve as contributing members on transdisciplinary teams that provide optimal client care
4. Respect, appreciate and respond to differences and diversity in interactions with clients, colleagues, and the community
5. Advance the profession through clinical service provision, advocacy, research and leadership

Strategic Plan Summary

• Prepare graduates who are responsible, competent, ethical, autonomous and reflective speech language pathologists in educational and healthcare systems
  • Reflect a commitment to the complementary relationship between liberal arts and professional studies that enables graduates to adapt to constantly evolving societal and professional needs
  • Encourage and include reflection in the teaching and learning process
  • Emphasize professionalism and leadership across all aspects of the program
  • Engage students in the professional community by promoting participation in professional organizations and activities
  • Monitor student achievement of knowledge and skills outcomes across time
• Prepare graduates who value critical inquiry and engage in evidence based practice
  • Use a problem based, self-directed learning philosophy to instill curiosity
  • Provide research opportunities for students to engage in evidence-based practice to foster professional growth
  • Provide students with an innovative and high-quality education that integrates a foundation of theoretical and empirical information to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills central to clinical practice and scholarly activities
  • Engage in research and cross-disciplinary collaborative scholarly activities that enhance the theoretical and applied knowledge in the fields of speech, language and hearing sciences, and speech-language pathology
• Prepare graduates who engage in collaborative service provision and serve as contributing members on transdisciplinary teams that provide optimal client care
  • Support students in their development of professional interpersonal and communication skills by guiding each student in the navigation of challenges through ongoing educational opportunities and problem based instruction
  • Seek out clinical opportunities where students can serve as part of a community of scholars and practitioners
  • Include coursework that spans multiple professions to create opportunities for transdisciplinary education within the department
• Prepare graduates who respect, appreciate and respond to differences and diversity in interactions with clients, colleagues, and the community
  • Promote scholarly study in the areas of normal communication, linguistic variation, and disorders in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) populations
  • Emphasize best clinical practices regarding prevention, identification, and treatment for CLD populations
  • Integrate diverse academic and clinical learning experiences, research, and service
  • Promote ethics and cultural competence within a diverse and multicultural society
• Prepare graduates who advance the profession through clinical service provision, advocacy, research and service.
  • Develop a problem based curriculum that allows students to meet outcomes as demonstrated through coursework and clinical experiences
  • Conduct ongoing evaluation of outcome-based education
  • Emphasize professionalism and leadership across all aspects of the program