Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Enhance the research enterprise of the department
- Better integrate the research laboratories with the Speech and Hearing Clinic
- Submit a training grant: Working title, “Preparing audiologists and speech-language pathologists to evaluate and treat children with auditory processing disorders.”
- Facilitate grant submissions by all faculty
- Secure a course release for 1-2 faculty members for the purpose of preparing a grant application to a Federal agency.
- Expand post award grants management
- Secure additional departmental space for research-related activities
- Purchase a low-cost, high-performance sound booth in one of the newly renovated lab spaces in the Speech and Hearing Center.
- Conduct 1-2 research projects in the Behavioral Sciences Laboratory.
Modernize facilities in design and function to better support best clinical practices
- Improve administration of the Speech and Hearing Clinic
- Hire a Clinic Manager (generate a list of duties and responsibilities).
- Procure cutting-edge clinical equipment
- Partner with an equipment vendor to sponsor a continuing education workshop for students and off-campus supervisors in exchange for discounted (50% minimum) equipment purchases.
- Establish resources to facilitate mobility and accessibility of services
- Acquire a portable audiometer with real-time noise monitoring capable of delivering a full complement of audiologic services to clients in places lacking an adequate sound booth, e.g., nursing homes, community centers, public health clinics, schools, daycare centers, etc.
- Develop effective telepractice and simulated training infrastructure
- Establish 1-2 off-campus site where audiology services including hearing aid fitting are provided via tele-practice methods.
- During 2016 and 2017 we will explore the extent to which completing simulated dx cases increases students baseline performance on measures of assessment practices.
- Further enhance specialized services to develop areas of excellence
- Initiate one half-day ‘Specialty Clinic in Audiology.’ Possible specialties include infant & toddler ABR testing (non-sedated), evaluation and treatment of auditory processing disorders, vestibular disorders screening, tinnitus assessment and management.
- Clinical faculty will explore feasibility of developing services in the area of voice and diagnostics for children with autism or developmental disabilities during AY 2016-2017.
Improve the quality of the graduate programs
- Attract top student talent with enhanced recruitment packages and training grants
- Apply for a training grant.
- Better prepare PhD students for research-intensive postdoc and faculty positions
- 1-2 doctoral students apply for an Individual Predoctoral NRSA Dual-Degree Fellowship (NIH F30).
- Rigorously train professional students in evidence-based clinical practices
- 1-2 graduate students apply for an NRSA Short-term Research Training Fellowship (NIH T35).
- Hire faculty who will foster diverse research and clinical interests while also contributing to a high quality curriculum
- Hire one Clinical Assistant Professor in AUD (NTT).
- Hire one Clinical Assistant Professor in SLP (NTT).
- Hire one Assistant or Associate Professor in AUD (TTN).
- Hire 2-3 Assistant or Associate Professors in SLP (TTN).
Innovate learning experiences to optimize development of professional knowledge and skills
- Streamline the core curriculum
- Merge content of CSD 394H (Aural Rehabilitation) into other courses in the AuD curriculum.
- Offer the following courses on a 3-yr cycle rather than a 1-yr cycle, e.g., CSD 394D, Hearing Conservation; CSD 395H, Problems in Deafness; and CSD 396D, Auditory Processing Disorders.
- SLP faculty will redesign curriculum in Spring, 2016 for implementation starting Fall, 2017.
- Expand electives to allow for specialization
- Streamlining MA SLP offerings may allow greater opportunities for advanced electives
- Promote opportunities for students to integrate current research knowledge and clinical skills
- Move CSD 396N, Research in CSD to the first year.
- Distribute the AuD Research Project over two semesters rather than just a single semester.
- Establish more extensive collaborations with local medical programs
- Explore on-site clinical opportunities with Dell Medical School
Strengthen the undergraduate academic experience
- Restructure undergraduate honors program to incorporate a significant research experience
- Include CSD 378, Clinical Audiology and CSD 178L, Clinical Audiology Lab in the CSD Honors Program.
- Enhance undergraduate pre-clinical experiences
- Offer clinic to 2-3 undergraduate students on a competitive basis (spring semester only).
- Add specialized and interdisciplinary courses to curriculum
- Increase participation of tenure-track faculty in undergraduate education
- Decreasing the frequency that selected graduate courses are offered will enable opportunities for greater faculty participation in undergraduate education.
- Better integrate undergraduate students in the scholarly life of the department
- Sponsor a CSD Undergraduate Research Day.
- Develop international collaborations to enhance undergraduate education
- Identify three international universities that provide education in English and offer 4-5 courses equivalent to those in the CSD major.
Better engage with the community
- Provide greater support for community outreach
- Acquire a portable audiometer with real-time noise monitoring to deliver the full complement of audiologic services and establish a clinic schedule that enables expanded off-campus opportunities for clinical faculty.
- Foster a collaborative environment with local professionals
- Sponsor one continuing education workshop for off-campus supervisors.
- Develop opportunities for continuing and distance education
- Sponsor one free continuing education workshop for off-campus supervisors.
- Explore the establishment of distinct certificate programs
- Increase effective communication with alumni
- Generate a list of AuD & SLP alumni.
- Enhance and integrate social media presence
- Participate in philanthropic efforts to benefit departmental infrastructure and programs
- Work with Moody College Development Office to coordinate a formal meeting with one big donor (i.e., potential gift exceeding $500K).