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CSD Strategic Plan

Wichita State University (WSU)

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

Executive Summary of Strategic Plan (Fall 2025–Spring 2027)

DEPARTMENT MISSION, VISION, AND GOALS

Mission of the Department of CSD: To prepare qualified speech-language pathologists and audiologists as scholars/practitioners who are professionally competent to practice in educational and medical settings on behalf of children and adults who have disorders of communication and related difficulties.

Vision of the Department of CSD: To be recognized for leadership, innovation, and excellence in communication sciences and disorders.

Goals of the Department of CSD (Aligned with University Strategies):

  • Enhance both the educational quality and the experiential quality of all CSD programs (UG, Masters, AuD, PhD).
  • Expand current partnerships and develop new ones to (a) provide educational and workforce-related opportunities for students and (b) address resource concerns.
  • Enhance quality and quantity of research of all CSD programs (UG, Masters, AuD, PhD).

WSU CASSAT CLINIC MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

Mission of the WSU Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (WSU Cassat Clinic): To provide opportunities for graduate students to develop their clinical knowledge and skills directed by certified, licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Objectives of the WSU Cassat Clinic:

  • Provide clinical services to individuals with communicative and hearing disorders.
  • Provide consultative services to agencies in the community.
  • Provide facilities and opportunities for students to develop diagnostic and clinical skills to demonstrate competencies required for entry in the professions.
  • Promote the generation and dissemination of new information through clinically applicable research.

University Strategy 1. Student Centeredness and Campus Culture: Empower students, faculty and staff to create a supportive culture that inspires growth, meets evolving needs and fosters success.

Department of CSD Goal 1 (Aligned with University Strategy 1): Enhance both the educational quality and the experiential quality of all CSD programs (UG, Masters, AuD, PhD).

Strategy 1.1 Ensure that every CSD student has a quality applied learning experience in the classroom and clinic practicums.

  • The syllabus for each CSD course is reviewed and updated annually to ensure inclusion of latest evidence/research and match with most recent Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) standards.
  • Ensure that appropriately qualified and experienced faculty (academic and clinical) are teaching both academic and clinical courses.
  • Ensure that appropriate external placements are found for all CSD students.
  • The department will engage in curriculum review every three years to ensure the optimum sequence of courses is being offered for UG, MA (SLP), AuD, and PhD programs (schedule: Year 1 – UG; Year 2 – MA; Year 3 – AuD & PhD). Note: This target does not preclude on-going adjustments to curriculum as deemed necessary by the faculty.

Strategy 1.2 Maintain CAA accreditation and compliance with CHP and WSU metrics.

  • Submit annual accreditation reports to the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA).
  • Establish an “Assessment Coordinator” position to develop assessment plans and monitor all assessment aspects for each CSD program (i.e., UG, SLP Masters, AuD, PhD).
  • Track and report departmental metrics related to the university’s next accreditation review (2027) by the Higher Learning Commission.

Strategy 1.3 Promote the development of critical thinking and leadership in all CSD students.

  • Continue development critical thinking and leadership skills within the CSD 832A-C curriculum.
  • Develop a “Critical thinking and leadership” module for CSD Honors students.
  • Promote internal and external leadership opportunities for CSD students.

Strategy 1.4 Increase CSD’s ability to attract high quality students.

  • Seek funding for new student scholarships and fellowships.
  • Increase recruiting activities with related departments and colleges across campus (e.g., psychology, engineering, sociology, anthropology, social work, education, music).
  • Participation in career fairs across campus.
  • Develop creative ways to reward high achieving students in both UG and graduate CSD programs.

University Strategy 2. Partnerships and Engagement: Advance industry and community partnerships to provide quality educational opportunities and collaborations to satisfy rapidly evolving community and workforce needs.

Department of CSD Goal 2 (Aligned with University Strategy 2): Expand current partnerships and develop new ones to (a) provide educational and workforce-related opportunities for students and (b) address resource concerns.

Strategy 2.1 Ensure that all CSD graduates engage in significant and meaningful inter-professional educational activities.

  • Participation in interprofessional activities available in CHP, especially those with Physical Therapy.
  • Continued participation of audiology and SLP students in CSD 834.
  • Increase number of CSD-generated IPE activities through increased collaborations across departments/universities/community.
  • Add specific IPE module to CSD 832A to help students connect the concepts of critical thinking, EBP, and IPE.

Strategy 2.2 Increase enrollment in AuD and SLP Masters graduate programs.

  • Seek funding for new graduate student fellowships.
  • Increase recruiting activities at local high schools.
  • Increase recruiting activities with related departments and colleges across campus (e.g., psychology, engineering, sociology, anthropology, social work, education, music).
  • Develop creative solutions to secure additional clinical extern placements for AuD and SLP Masters students to enable increase in enrollment in those programs.

Strategy 2.3 Stabilize/increase WSU Cassat Clinic revenue.

  • Optimization of clinic functioning and billing practices.
  • Expanded clinic hours of operation.
  • Additional clinical faculty to maximize revenue.
  • Outsourcing student practicum opportunities (e.g., USD 259, Independent School).
  • Explore clinic sponsorship/partnership with community health agencies.

University Strategy 3. Research and Scholarship: Find solutions to emerging problems and accelerate the discovery, creation and dissemination of new knowledge and innovation.

Department of CSD Goal 3 (Aligned with University Strategy 3): Enhance quality and quantity of research of all CSD programs (UG, Masters, AuD, PhD).

Strategy 3.1 Ensure that CSD students (undergraduate honors, MA, AuD, and PhD) have a quality research experience.

  • Ensure that all research labs have sufficient and up-to-date equipment to allow for students to be involved in quality research.
  • SLP non-thesis students will be assigned to “research teams” with a specific faculty member to engage in a research project.
  • Increase number of students in UG Honors (includes required research component).
  • Increase the number of publications and presentations that include students.

Strategy 3.2 Increase research productivity in CSD.

  • Increase number of publications (including professional journals, books, book chapters) by faculty.
  • Increase number of applications for external funding for research.
  • Increase number of applications for internal funding for research.
  • Sustain high number of national and state presentations of research.

Strategy 3.3 Increase external funding.

  • Increase number of applications for external research grants/awards.
  • Increase number of applications for external training grants/awards.
  • Focus on collaboration across departments, colleges, and the university for funding proposals.
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