-1SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
Student Learning
Outcomes Assessment:
Annual Report
Department of Communication Sciences
and Disorders
June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011
Submitted by Martha K. Brennan, Director, Undergraduate Program
To Travis T. Threats, Chair, Department of Communication Sciences
and Disorders
2
Saint Louis University
College of Arts & Sciences
Student Learning Outcomes Assessment
Annual Report June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011
In the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, five learning outcomes are
assessed annually each May for the academic year. These outcomes are derived from the five
dimensions of the Mission Statement of Saint Louis University. The learning outcomes,
indicators of engagement, method of assessment, and measure of achievement are listed below.
This report summarizes the outcomes for all students who graduated in either December 2010 or
May 2011 (20 students); of these, 18 completed a capstone project as part of Senior Seminar and
2 completed a capstone project as part of the Research Seminar/Practicum sequence instead.
Department/Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Learning Outcome Assessed
Learning outcome: 1.1. Students will acquire a core
body of knowledge of the discipline, specifically the
normal processes of human communication, common
disorders of human communication, and common
principles and procedures associated with clinical
practice within the discipline (scholarship and
knowledge).
Indicator of engagement: 1.1. Students will be
academically prepared for advanced study in the
discipline.
Description of assessment
method or assessment tool
Method of Assessment: Undergraduate Program
Director performs transcript audits on all graduating
seniors and reports aggregate data to Department Chair.
Measure of Achievement: At least 80% of the seniors
will be able to meet the minimum GPA requirements
(3.0) for admission into a graduate school or
professional degree program.
Assessment Results
(Summarize the overall
findings)
Assessment results: 85% of graduating seniors had a
GPA 3.0 or better.
Describe departmental action
plan and priorities to address
findings
Goal met
3
Department/Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Learning Outcome Assessed
Learning outcome: 2.1. Students will express their ideas
clearly and effectively both orally and in writing in the
classroom, clinic and other departmental activities.
Indicators of engagement: 2.1. Students will
demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills
essential for their level of education within the discipline,
2.2. Students will demonstrate that they can apply their
knowledge to new situations, including clinical
observation reports, presentations, projects, writing
assignments in courses and critiques of research articles.
Description of assessment
method or assessment tool
Method of Assessment: Capstone/research
experience; statement of student performance
provided by instructor of course (Department Chair)
Measure of Achievement: At least 80% of the
seniors will achieve a B or better in Senior Seminar or
the Research Practicum.
Assessment Results
(Summarize the overall
findings)
Assessment results: 100% of graduating seniors
received a B or better
Describe departmental action
plan and priorities to address
findings
Goal met
Timeline for Implementation
N/A
4
Department/Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Learning Outcome Assessed
Learning outcome: 3.1. Students will demonstrate the
ability to work effectively and collaboratively with
others in social, academic, and clinical activities.
Indicators of engagement: 3.1. Students will
demonstrate knowledge of and appreciation for
diversity within the discipline and the community.
3b. Students will demonstrate acceptance of and
respect for differences.
Description of assessment
method or assessment tool
Assessment Results
(Summarize the overall
findings)
Method of Assessment: 3. Capstone /research
experience; statement of student performance
provided by instructor of course (Department Chair)
Measure of Achievement: At least 80% of students
will demonstrate knowledge and appreciation of
diversity on the capstone/research project
Assessment results: 91% of graduating seniors
(Senior Seminar) achieved a B or better
Describe departmental action
plan and priorities to address
findings
Goal met; develop a rubric for Research
Seminar/Practicum for evaluation of knowledge of
and commitment to diversity if applicable to research
project
Timeline for Implementation
Develop rubric for Research Seminar/Practicum by
May 2012.
5
Department/Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Learning Outcome Assessed
Learning outcome: 4.1 Students will demonstrate a
commitment to service in the spirit of social justice, by
leading through example.
Indicators of engagement: 4a. Students will
demonstrate commitment to social justice on
capstone/research project
4b. Students are encouraged to participate in
departmental, college, and community organizations.
4c. Students are encouraged to volunteer in service
activities and events.
4d. Students are encouraged to join the student
organization, the National Student Speech-LanguageHearing Association.
Description of assessment
method or assessment tool
Method of Assessment: 4. Method of Achievement:
capstone experience; statement of student
performance provided by instructor of course
(Department Chair)
Measure of Achievement: At least 80% of seniors
will demonstrate a commitment to social justice in
their capstone experience.
Assessment Results
(Summarize the overall
findings)
Assessment results: 91% of graduating seniors
(Senior Seminar) demonstrated commitment to social
justice in capstone project
Describe departmental action
plan and priorities to address
findings
Goal met; develop a rubric for Research
Seminar/Practicum for evaluation of commitment to
social justice if applicable to research project
Timeline for Implementation
Develop rubric for Research Seminar/Practicum by
May 2012.
6
Department/Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Learning Outcome Assessed
Learning outcome: 5.1. Students will demonstrate the
ability to make informed and ethical decisions pertaining
to personal, social, and academic experience
Indicators of engagement: 5a. Students will
demonstrate the practice of values-based self-reflection
in the classroom, observations, and other departmental
activities.
5b. Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical
conduct as outlined by a professional code of ethics (e.g.,
the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association).
Description of assessment
method or assessment tool
Method of Assessment:
5a. Capstone experience; statement of student
performance provided by instructor of course
(Department Chair)
5b. Class performance on questions pertaining to the
ASHA Code of Ethics in Clinical Methods
Measure of Achievement:
a. At least 80% of the seniors will demonstrate valuesbased self-reflection on their capstone/research
experience.
b. At least 80% of the students will successfully respond
to at least 80% of the questions concerning the
ASHA Code of Ethics in the Clinical Methods course.
Assessment Results
(Summarize the overall
findings)
Assessment results: a. 91% of graduating seniors
(Senior Seminar) demonstrated commitment to social
justice in capstone project
b. 95% scored correctly on at least 80% of the
questions
Describe departmental action
plan and priorities to address
findings
Goal met; develop a rubric for Research
Seminar/Practicum for evaluation of values-based
self reflection if applicable to research project
a. Goal met
Develop rubric for Research Seminar/Practicum by
May 2012.
Timeline for Implementation
7
Summary: This report is compiled by the Director of the Undergraduate Program and
submitted to the Department Chair each year in May for review. This year, all five outcomes
were achieved according to the criteria outlined above. An action plan based on these
learning outcomes is therefore not necessary at this time. Historically, most students in the
department elect to complete a capstone project as part of the Senior Seminar class
(offered each Spring). Students occasionally elect to do human subjects research under the
mentorship of a faculty member of the department as part of the Research Seminar and
Research Practicum sequence senior year. The department is currently in the process of
developing a rubric as a method of assessment for Learning Outcomes 3, 4, and 5a for the
research project.