Vision
We strive to help all people who have communication needs through global leadership in education, research, clinical care and outreach.
Mission
Rooted in the Wisconsin Idea, the UW-Madison Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders employs best practices in inclusive excellence to
- Provide exemplary educational programs that prepare the next generation of scholars, clinicians, educators, and leaders in the fields of communication sciences and disorders.
- Conduct state-of-the-art basic, translational, and clinical research in the areas of speech, language, hearing, swallowing and balance.
- Offer accessible, culturally competent, evidence-based clinical care for all people with disorders in communication, balance and swallowing.
- Engage in outreach activities that directly benefit professional colleagues, students, and individuals and their families in the community.
- Promote a welcoming and open environment where all can learn and engage.
Program Description
The UW-Madison Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders is a preeminent department in the field of communication sciences and disorders, with faculty who are national leaders in teaching, research, and clinical care.
Our undergraduate educational program provides students with a thorough grounding in theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline. Our Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Audiology (AuD) programs train students to provide the highest-quality evidence-based clinical care for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders—across the lifespan. Our doctoral (PhD) and MS/PhD programs provide students with the breadth and depth of knowledge necessary to become independent scholars, educators, and leaders for the future.
Our faculty perform cutting-edge biological, developmental, and clinical research that has real-world relevance for people with communication and swallowing disorders.
Our UW Speech and Hearing Clinic provides comprehensive, affordable evaluation and treatment of communication disorders for Wisconsin residents of all ages.
Finally, our faculty engage in an impressive array of educational and clinical outreach activities for schools, families, and communities—often at low or no cost.
Operating Principles
- We continually expand our knowledge base as the field evolves, and adapt our curricula accordingly.
- We use innovative pedagogy to foster critical thinking and skills for lifelong learning in our students.
- We embody the Wisconsin Idea by sharing our advances and learning with the broader community in Wisconsin and beyond, and by engaging our faculty and students in public service.
- We value collaborations and outreach activities that provide knowledge to students and faculty in related disciplines.
- We believe that all persons with communication and swallowing disorders should have access to the highest-quality individualized, culturally competent, and evidence-based clinical care.
Strategic Plan for 2020-2025
The initial strategic plan was created in 2016 and has been revised in January 2020. The revised version includes dates and measurable objectives. Many of the goals and objectives are ongoing on a semester or annual basis. The strategic plan will be assessed at our annual faculty/staff retreat each fall semester and updated as needed.
Grow the undergraduate student body by expanding our major and increasing awareness of electives and courses in CSD for non-majors
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Monitor Enrollment
Plan Description
Monitor the number of students in our undergraduate courses who are majors and non-communication sciences and disorders majors to determine the factors that potentially contribute to enrollment trends.
- Days of week
- Time of day
- Non – majors
- Majors
- College/University Requirements
Measurable Objective
Generate reports of major and non-major enrollment in undergraduate courses to identify emerging trends. Discuss trends and potential problems/solutions at faculty meetings.
Dates
Annually at faculty retreat.
Develop & Publicize Potential Career Options
Plan Description
Develop and publicize potential career options, (including audiology and speech-language pathology) are open to undergraduate majors.
Measurable Objective
Generate lists of career options for undergraduate CS&D majors and add to recruitment materials and website.
Dates
Spring 2020
Measurable Objective
Attend two undergraduate majors fair; advertise to undergraduate advisors, share with at least three career advising centers-report to faculty.
Dates
Annually at faculty retreat.
Increase Allied Health Professions Engagement
Plan Description
Increase awareness/ interactions with other allied health professions.
Measurable Objective
Students and/or faculty/staff will present at an allied health fair or meeting and report to faculty.
Dates
Annually at faculty retreat.
Increase Multidisciplinary Seminars Envolvement
Plan Description
Increase faculty participation in multidisciplinary seminars.
Measurable Objective
Faculty will deliver lectures in other departments on campus and report to faculty.
Dates
Annually at faculty retreat.
Increase Outside Faculty Engagement
Plan Description
Invite outside faculty to participate in our departmental seminars.
Measurable Objective
Seminar organizer invite at least 1-2 outside faculty to present at our departmental seminars during the academic year.
Dates
Annually at faculty retreat.
Increase Research Opportunities
Plan Description
Increase the number of undergraduate students in our research labs through active recruiting.
Measurable Objective
Advertise undergraduate research positions available in our department to our undergraduate students.
Dates
Annually
Measurable Objective
Monitor the number of undergraduate students participating in research labs by reporting annual independent study credit hours. Discuss plans to adjust strategy as needed.
Dates
Annually at faculty retreat.
Advance professional and pre-professional training opportunities through our programs in post-baccalaureate capstone, professional doctorate in audiology, and masters in speech and language pathology.
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Increase Student Recruitment
Plan Description
Actively recruit students to our programs at national and international meetings.
Measurable Objective
Faculty will bring recruitment materials to 1-2 national and/or international meetings per year. We will review this on an annual basis.
Dates
Annually
Grow Post-baccalaureate Capstone Program
Plan Description
Increase the number of students in our post-baccalaureate capstone program through advertising and advising.
Measurable Objective
Enroll a minimum of 10 students per academic year and increase to 20 students annually.
Dates
By 2025
Expand Public Visibility
Plan Description
Expand our visibility to the public and the university at large through outreach, service, and newsletters that highlight accomplishments of our programs, students, and faculty.
Measurable Objective
Redesign website and create social media accounts for department and student organizations.
Dates
Spring 2020
Measurable Objective
Generate mechanism for faculty and staff to report these events to our IT manager.
Dates
Spring 2020
Measurable Objective
Post outreach, awards, and other highlights to department website and social media accounts.
Dates
Ongoing as they occur.
Increased Graduate Student Envolvement in Outreach Activities
Plan Description
Provide graduate (MS and AuD) students the opportunity to participate in at least one outreach activity, including educational, health, and career fairs, per year during their graduate program.
Measurable Objective
Offer multiple opportunities for our MS and AuD students through student organizations and department programs.
Dates
Ongoing each semester.
Measurable Objective
Report the number of outreach events and attendance-provide data during annual retreat.
Dates
Annually
Develop Online Courses
Plan Description
Development online courses to expand course offerings.
Measurable Objective
Develop and implement one new online course.
Dates
2025
Promote Inter-professional Development
Plan Description
Further collaborative relationships with other departments to promote inter-professional development.
Measurable Objective
Develop and maintain interdisciplinary training grants (clinical and research).
Dates
Ongoing
Measurable Objective
Report and discuss the number of students participating in collaborative training opportunities (clinical and research).
Dates
Annually
Recruit, retain, and mentor academic and clinical students who will become the leaders of tomorrow
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Encourage Graduate Student Participation in WI LEND
Plan Description
Encourage graduate students to participate in the inter-professional Wisconsin Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (WI LEND) Program, and other such programs.
Measurable Objective
Increase the number of applications each year to achieve 30% application rate.
Dates
2025
Increase Student Envolvement in Local & National Organizations
Plan Description
Encourage our students to join and become active in state and national organizations.
Measurable Objective
Increase the number of students that participate in outreach up to 90%.
Dates
2025
Provide Leadership Training
Plan Description
Provide leadership training for our students.
Measurable Objective
Post leadership opportunities on campus, through student organizations, and through professional organizations.
Dates
Each Semester
Increase Department Diversity
Plan Description
Increase the diversity of the department by recruiting and faculty and staff from under-represented minority groups.
Measurable Objective
Faculty search committee members attend mandatory campus diversity in hiring workshop.
Dates
Ongoing
Increase Student Diversity
Plan Description
Recruit students from graduate programs that are known to have significant historically minority students.
Measurable Objective
Participate in campus efforts to contact minority students listed on the National Name Exchange.
Dates
Ongoing
Explore Additional Student Funding
Plan Description
Explore ways of funding students from diverse backgrounds.
Measurable Objective
Create ‘check boxes’ for diversity supplement on graduate student applications.
Dates
Spring 2020
Measurable Objective
Faculty with research grants will submit diversity supplements.
Dates
Annually
Assure Mentoring Committee
Plan Description
Assure that all new faculty have a mentoring committee to guide their path to tenure.
Measurable Objective
Hold annual mentoring committee meetings and provide faculty with follow-up recommendations in writing.
Dates
Annually