November 28, 2011
Interim Assessment of New Program
Communicative Science and Disorders
1. Overview:
The Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program at the University of Montana was
resurrected in 2008 after a nearly twenty year absence from campus. The program consists of the
following three components: 1) A Bachelor of Arts degree offered beginning fall semester 2008.
The BA degree requires completion of 39 total CSD credits with 24 credits obtained at 300 or
above levels. This degree is designed to meet standards required for individuals pursuing Clinical
Certification in Speech and Language Pathology. 2) A Master of Science degree offered for the
first time fall semester 2009. The MS degree can typically be completed in two years for
students enrolled full-time. Thesis or non-thesis program options exist for entering graduate
students but research options are available to all. 3) A leveling program, offered beginning in
2008, consists of a series of ten courses taught at the undergraduate level for students wishing to
enroll in the graduate CSD program who do not have sufficient undergraduate CSD credits.
2. Progress of Program Development
a. Status of new faculty and staff
The initial CSD program proposal included the department chair along with three
academic faculty and two clinical faculty (one who serves as the clinic director) and one
administrative associate hired at the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year. Since
2008-09, the program has added two faculty – one clinical and one academic. In
addition, one non-tenure, grant supported clinical educator has been hired at a .6 FTE. All
academic faculty hold doctoral degrees, while the clinical educators have masters level
degrees.
b. Implementation of program curriculum
All three components of the program have been successfully launched. The BA in
Communicative Sciences includes 42 credits of departmental course work, independent
research and clinical observation. The bridging or leveling program provides a
foundation for non-majors to apply to the graduate program and consists of 30 credit
hours. The MS degree in CSD requires 48 to 51 academic and clinical hours with a thesis
or non-thesis option. The graduate program submitted its accreditation application in
2008 and was granted candidacy in 2009.
Courses at the undergraduate and graduate level are offered both face-to-face and through
distance learning. Students in the distance learning program participate in the same
learning community as the face to face students, either synchronously or asynchronously.
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c. Availability of resources – additional resources requested
The base budget for the 2010-2011 academic year for the CSD program was $643,393
(including salaries, benefits and an operating budget of $31,308). Tuition revenue
generated by undergraduate and graduate students in 2010-2011 totaled $758,842
indicating that salaries, operating costs and expenditures are covered by the program and
that the program is self-supporting.
CSD has contracts through the Western Montana Scottish Rite Foundation, the Montana
Office of Public Instruction, the Montana County Public School District, and the
Veteran’s Administration that brought in over $200,000 during the 2010-2011 academic
year. The length of the contracts was not specified in the report. The potential for
additional resources also may materialize as a marketing plan is developed to promote
clinical services and establish a billing system for client services.
d. Plans for continued development
Plans for development include ongoing evaluation of curriculum, improving the use of
technology, increasing research time, identifying funding opportunities and enhancing
diversity.
3.
Recruitment of Students
a. Assessment of current success – (numbers of majors, etc. compared to goals in proposal)
Undergraduate Program: CSD has exceeded its goals in regard to recruitment of
undergraduate students. The CSD proposal indicated that the program would enroll 50 to
60 undergraduate students on an annual basis with a goal of 15 bachelor’s degree
graduates per year. Since courses were first offered in 2008-2009 the undergraduate
program has averaged approximately 100 undergraduate and leveling students taking the
CSD courses per year. The first cohort of seniors completing their Bachelor of Arts
degree in CSD included 11 students in May 2010. The current senior class has 24
students and will be the first to start in the SCD program as freshmen and complete their
degree.
Graduate Program: CSD set a goal of admitting 15 to 20 graduate students per year. In
2009 they received 52 applications and admitted 31 students (one left the first week); in
2010 they received 156 applications and admitted 19 students; and in 2011 they received
198 applications and admitted 25 students.
Of the 30 individuals who constituted the first cohort of graduate students, 21 graduated
in the spring of 2011. Twenty graduates sought and found employment in the field - 14 in
educational settings, 4 in medical facilities, and 2 in clinical or private practice.
Seventeen graduates chose to remain in Montana.
Two of the 9 remaining students in the first cohort will graduate in December. Seven
students are part-time and five of those students are expected to graduate in the spring of
2012.
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b. Plans for attracting new students
Arrangements are underway to provide high school career counselors with information
about the program and to encourage paraprofessionals working in schools across
Montana to enroll in the program.
4. Institutional and System Fit
a. Connection to previously existing programs at institution or MUS system
The CSD program is a unique and unduplicated program in the MUS system. Many
foundational courses at the undergraduate level align with the College of Arts and
Sciences and the College of Technology. Currently, there is room for only one other
elective in the graduate program.
b. Impact on Other programs
There is minimal impact on other programs since outside of undergraduate
foundational courses, the graduate program requires only one 3-credit elective.
5.
Assessment
In August 2009 the program was awarded candidacy status by the Council on Academic
Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA requires ongoing and systematic
assessment of academic and clinical education of the program’s students and graduates.
Students have the opportunity to evaluate the academic and clinical education aspects of the
program. Results of the evaluations are used to plan and implement program improvements
that promote high-quality educational experiences for students. Program review at both levels
has resulted in changes and improvements in the course sequence, course numbering, and
scheduling.
A second, highly reliable assessment tool is the Praxis series examination in speech-language
pathology. All graduate students are required to take and pass the exam before graduation.
Of the 21 students in the first graduating class in 2011, 21 of them took the exam and passed.
Conclusion:
The resurrected Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program at The University of
Montana addresses a long standing critical need for the citizens of Montana. Since the former
CSD program was terminated in 1989, the ability of Montana school districts, healthcare centers,
public and private clinics to recruit and retain CSD qualified professionals has been significantly
curtailed. Graduates of the CSD program have the potential to meet Montana’s health care needs
in this area.
Presently, the CSD program appears to be meeting and/or exceeding expectations outlined in
their original proposal. They have sought and gained five year candidacy accreditation status
from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
(CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The five year
accreditation period is the maximum timeframe allowed for programs upon initial review. They
have enrolled a greater number of undergraduate and graduate students than anticipated; met
their expected graduation rates for both undergraduate and graduate programs; generated income
sufficient to meet their program expenditures; and obtained a 100% pass rate on the Praxis series
examination in speech-language pathology. In addition, over 95% of the first graduating class is
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gainfully employed and 80% of those graduates are employed in Montana.
This program‘s current success is due, in no small part, to the diligent and tireless work of the
University and College Administrators, the program’s Dean, faculty and the staff of the
Communicative Sciences and Disorders program.
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