Graduate Speech Pathology M.S. Program
Five-year Assessment Plan: Graduate
Audiology and Speech Pathology Department
The faculty of the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology reviewed the assessment plan last year and decided to revise the existing plan for future assessment reports. One major change to the new plan was to go to a five year assessment plan rather than a three year rotating assessment plan. Five areas for assessment were identified within the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology and include: assessment of overall program, assessment of student clinical training, assessment of graduate students, assessment of professional community perceptions, and assessment of consumers of clinical services. These assessments will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Audiology and Speech Pathology assessment plan includes rotating the focus of assessment each year following the new five-year cycle.
First Year Assessments (2012): The first year of the new five year cycle involves gathering data related to assessment of the overall graduate speech pathology program. This assessment process includes collecting data from the following areas: Graduate Exit Survey, Nine Month Post Graduation Survey, Graduate Course Evaluation, Town Hall Meeting (as needed), Diversity of Students Admitted, Graduation Completion Rates, and Student Financial Support. These data will be used to evaluate overall program effectiveness by obtaining input from and about one of our major stakeholders, students. Results from and about our student stakeholders will be used for program improvement and decision-making.
Second Year Assessments (2013): During the second year of the five-year cycle assessment efforts will focus on graduate speech pathology student clinical training. Clinical training for Speech Pathology graduate students will be assessed with data obtained in the following areas: Graduate Student Practicum Evaluations, Practicum Supervisor Evaluation, Consumer Evaluation of Clinical Services (clinic related questions), Diversity of Clients Served (off and on campus), and Site Evaluation. This information will be used to assess how well the program is meeting the clinical needs of our graduate speech pathology students. These data will be used to make decisions about the graduate speech pathology clinical training program.
Third Year Assessments (2014): During the third year of the five-year cycle assessment efforts will focus on assessment of our graduate speech pathology students. Assessment will be conducted using the following information: Graduate Speech Pathology Comprehensive Examination, SLP Comprehensive Examination Student Survey, Speech Pathology Knowledge and Skills Assessment (KASAs), Consumer Evaluation of Clinical Services (student questions), Pass/Fail Rates on the National Examination, Outcomes of Research Requirement, and Student Scholarships and Awards. These data should indicate how well the graduate program is meeting the needs of our graduate speech pathology students and ensure that we are graduating the best prepared students possible. Additionally, these data will provide information on how well our students are prepared for the professional examination compared to national results.
Fourth Assessment Year (2015): During the fourth year of the five-year cycle professional community perception will be the focus of assessment. The professional community is the second largest consumer of and primary target of our services/product, which are well-trained competent professionals. Tools to assess professional community perception include the following: Employer Surveys, Focus Groups, and Graduate Employment Surveys. It is imperative that off campus practicum sites meet the high standards of our program and the profession. Therefore, it is important for these sites to be part of the feedback loop. This assessment will help us address concerns and make decisions about the viability of various clinical sites for our graduate students.
Fifth Year Assessment (2016): During the fifth year of the five-year cycle the focus of assessment will be on the consumers of clinical services. Assessment will focus on: Consumer Evaluation of Clinical Services (clinic related questions), Diversity of Clients Served (UALR Clinic), and Types of Services Provided to Consumers (UALR clinic). Consumers are important stakeholders and we value their input. The data collected will be used to make decisions about changes to clinical services offered to the public by our in house clinic and when making decisions regarding marketing and quality improvement initiatives.
Audiology and Speech Pathology Department
Graduate Speech Pathology Program
Five-Year Assessment Plan (2012 - 2016)
Assessment Tool Grad SLP Objective(s) Cycle Year
Assessment of Overall Program* 1 & 2 Year 1 2016
Graduate Exit Survey
Nine Month Post Graduation Survey
Graduate Course Evaluation
Town Hall Meeting (as needed)
Diversity of Students Admitted
Graduation Completion Rates
Student Financial Support
Assessment of Student Clinical Training 1 & 2 Year 2 2013
Graduate Student Practicum Evaluation
Practicum Supervisor Evaluation
Consumer Evaluation of Clinical Services
Diversity of Clients Served
Site Evaluation
Assessment of Graduate Students 1, 2, & 3 Year 3 2014
Graduate Speech Pathology Comprehensive Examination
SLP Comprehensive Examination Student Survey
Speech Pathology Knowledge and Skills Assessment
Consumer Evaluation of Clinical Services
Pass Rates on National Examination
Outcomes of Research Requirement
Scholarships and Awards
Assessment of Professional Perceptions 1 & 2 Year 4 2015
Employer Survey
Focus Groups
Post-Graduate Job Survey
Assessment of Consumers of Clinical Services* 1 & 2 Year 5 2016
Consumer Evaluation of Clinical Services
Diversity of Clients Served (UALR clinic)
Types of Services Provided to Consumers (UALR clinic)