Our Mission and Strategic Plan

The mission of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, consistent with the mission of the University of Maine, is to promote excellence in academic and clinical education; research and scholarship; and comprehensive outreach to improve the quality of life for people in Maine and around the world.

Excellence in academic and clinical education is accomplished through:

  • Fostering the development of independent and cooperative learning
  • Nurturing critical thinking and problem solving
  • Modeling professionalism and ethical practice
  • Providing opportunities to apply knowledge to clinical processes and practices
  • Fostering cultural sensitivity among students and faculty
  • Creating a safe and inclusive learning environment that supports the needs of students and clients from diverse backgrounds
  • Empowering students to reach their highest potential and become life-long learners

Excellence in scholarship is accomplished through:

  • Conducting research in communication sciences and disorders
  • Publishing and presenting research in scholarly journals, books and at professional conferences
  • Teaching students to access, critically appraise, and use existing research
  • Creating a spirit of inquiry among students involving them in scholarly investigation and presentation

Excellence in service and outreach is accomplished through:

  • Providing the highest quality educational and clinical opportunities for the students at the University of Maine
  • Serving as an academic and clinical resource for the professional and private communities
  • Collaborating with state agencies and governing bodies concerned with the welfare and service for individuals with communication disorders
  • Supporting the mission of the Albert D. Conley Speech and Hearing Center
  • Ensuring equitable access to communication sciences and disorders services to clients with diverse needs
  • Upholding faculty and students to the highest professional standards in client and peer interactions
  • Graduating highly dedicated professionals committed to meeting the communication needs of clients across the lifespan

Adopted March 8, 2022

 

The Strategic Plan of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is shown below:

 

Strategic goals for AY 2022-2025

  1. Assess, revise, and implement a curriculum that is student-centered, inclusive, and consistent with current ASHA standards

Short-term:

  • Review and revise graduate curriculum based on SLO assessment
  • Recruit and retain diverse student body
  • Support and mentor new faculty and adjunct instructors
  • Maintain and increase student enrollment to sustainable levels
  • Review and revise process for graduate comprehensive exams
  • Formalize Graduate assessment of SLOs

 

  1. Enhance research opportunities for students and faculty

Short-term:

  • Support and mentor new faculty
  • Increase opportunities related to research opportunities e.g. journal club

Long-range:

  • Develop collaborative relationships with other units/institutions
  • Increase efforts to obtain research funding (collaborative)
  • Further integrate research and clinic activity
  1. Provide service to clients across the life-span with a range of communication disorders while balancing teaching and research needs

Short-term:

  • Increase visibility of service mission
  • CSD collaboration with on campus and public resources

Long-term:

  • Develop more sustainable business model for clinic

4. Develop strong leadership model for the department

  • Create a working environment that fosters respect and supports diversity

5. Develop a diversity initiative for students and faculty reflective of needs of Maine
residents

 

 

Approved May 25, 2022

Updated May 19, 2023

[click here for link to ongoing action plan]

umaine.edu/…idis/action-plan-ay-2022-2025