Program Information

Employment rates in speech-language pathology for graduates

from CSULB with a M.A. in Communicative Disorders

Prior year	100%
2 years prior	100%
3 years prior	100%
*3 year average*	*100%*

Pass rates on the national examination in speech-language pathology for graduates from CSULB with a M.A. in Communicative Disorders

Prior year	100%
2 years prior	100%
3 years prior	100%
*3 year average*	*100%*

Average program completion time for graduates from

CSULB with a M.A. in Communicative Disorders

Students with an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders

2.5 years

Students without an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders

4.5 years

Department of Communicative Disorders

California State University, Long Beach

Strategic Plan
2007-2010

GOAL 1: Create and sustain a weekend Special Cohort M.A. Program to be completed in 2 academic years and 2 summers, commencing Fall 2007.

OBJECTIVE 1: Outline the plan, with time-lines, ASHA standards, curriculum schedule, proposed faculty.
OBJECTIVE 2: Obtain approval of plan from Dean and UCES
OBJECTIVE 3: Set criteria for acceptance and prepare applicationmaterials.
OBJECTIVE 4: Market the program to the academic and professional communities
OBJECTIVE 5: Accept students to the first (and subsequent) cohort(s) based on criteria
OBJECTIVE 6: Provide courses and clinical practice equal to regular M.A. program; advise and support students; maintain records
OBJECTIVE 7: Evaluate Special Cohort Program on a continuing basis and make adjustments and improvements, as needed. Students will evaluate the program at the end of each semester.
OBJECTIVE 8: Plan Cohort II to begin Fall 2009 and continue objectives 4-7.

STRATEGIES FOR ATTAINMENT: Maintain cooperation of department and adjunct faculty; promote and maintain cooperation of dean through reports of progress and involvement in the program. Co-directors, Dr. Carolyn Madding and Jennifer Ostergren to be in daily contact.

SCHEDULE FOR ANALYSIS: Program will be analyzed and amended on a continuing basis, with full report to faculty each year at the Spring Retreat.

SHARING WITH CONSTITUENTS: Reports of academic success, student evaluations of professors, student evaluation of the program, monetary information, and other relevant data will be shared with the full faculty at the Spring Retreat, with students on an annual basis, with the Community Advisory Board at their biannual meetings, and with ASHA in the annual report.

GOAL 2: Update the curriculum for currency in the field and to maintain ASHA standards at the highest levels.

OBJECTIVE 1: Hold regular faculty discussions of current curricular topics at faculty meetings and retreats
OBJECTIVE 2: Revise, amend, design or augment courses, following faculty approval of process (Curriculum Committee)
OBJECTIVE 3: Make revisions to curriculum according to university policies and procedures

STRATEGIES FOR ATTAINMENT: Faculty will be responsive to input relative to curricular changes, as provided by students, Advisory Board, professionals in the field, the literature, and to ASHA communications of same. The department chair will promote interest among the faculty, encouraging them to be aware of changes that should be made to improve the curriculum and to submit ideas to the faculty at-large.

SCHEDULE FOR ANALYSIS AND EVALAUTION OF THE PLAN: Faculty will analyze ideas brought forth by its members or others at regular faculty meetings and committee meetings, and at the annual retreat. The plan to revise curriculum will be evaluated for its effectiveness and progress by the entire faculty at the annual retreat.

SHARING WITH CONSTITUENTS: Not only will the faculty be open to changes proffered by its constituents (professionals, students, Advisory Board, and others), but will share any changes proposed to the same groups via notices posted in the department, NSSLHA meetings, professional conferences, state meetings, and through mailings.

GOAL 3: Development and maintenance of compliance with HIPAA regulations within the department and clinic.

OBJECTIVE 1: Department representatives will attend meetings on campus to be advised of the rules and regulations.
OBJECTIVE 2: A Department Compliance Officer will be appointed to compile a manual of compliance for the department. She will maintain the schedule for faculty review of compliance, according to HIPAA regulations.
OBJECTIVE 3: A secure file room will be established to house all clinic files and tapes. A keypad will be installed that will allow admission to the file room solely to approved graduate students, staff and professors, using person-specific codes.

STRATEGIES FOR ATTAINMENT: Faculty will be educated in all aspects of HIPAA compliance and will be responsible to maintain compliance, as directed by the Compliance Officer. All faculty and staff will assure compliance of students on an on-going basis. Periodic review of procedures and other information will be provided per HIPAA and university regulations.

SCHEDULE FOR ANALYSIS: On-going analysis with discussion at faculty meetings will be mandatory. The Compliance Officer will hold biannual training of faculty at the beginning of the fall semester and at the spring retreat.

REGULAR EVALUATION OF THE PLAN: Same as above.

SHARING INFORMATION WITH CONSTITUENTS: Students, and especially graduate students, will be fully trained in HIPAA procedures and will be an essential element in compliance. The Department Chair and Compliance Officer will monitor compliance and share information with students. The Advisory Board will be brought up-to-date on compliance procedures at each meeting of that group.

GOAL 4: Promote and actively participate in the American Association of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the California Association of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

OBJECTIVE 1: Pay dues to the AAAPCSD and the CAAPCSD.
OBJECTIVE 2: Send representatives at department expense to the annual/biannual meetings of the above-mentioned organizations.
OBJECTIVE 3: Encourage faculty representatives to accept leadership roles in the above-mentioned organizations.
OBJECTIVE 4: Require faculty representatives who attend the meetings/conferences of the AAAPCSD and/or CAAPCSD to report the proceedings in-full to the faculty upon their return.

STRATEGIES FOR ATTAINMENT: Encumber funds from department or clinic budgets to pay dues and expenses of faculty representatives to the meetings/conferences. Consider and value service to the above-named organizations in tenure and post-tenure reviews. Include reports of representatives on the agenda of the next scheduled faculty meeting.

SCHEDULE FOR ANALYSIS: On-going analysis by Department Chair, Administrative Committee, and the faculty.

EVALUATION OF THE PLAN: Faculty will evaluate the plan to determine if the funds expended for dues and conference expenses are compensatory with the value to the department as-a-whole.

SHARING INFORMATION WITH CONSTITUENTS: Information gathered by attendance and participation in the AAAPCSD and CAAPCSD meeting and conferences will be shared, as needed, with students, Advisory Board, professionals in the field, and university personnel.

NOTE: Attendance at the meetings of the above-named organizations provides representatives with the latest information from other academic programs, activities of the State Licensing Board, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Representatives become acquainted with their counterparts in other academic programs, which allows for future interchanges of information, etc.