Master of SLP Program Strategic Plan

Master of SLP Program

Creating excellent educational programs

The strategic plan is aligned with the mission of MSLP Program and Francis Marion University’s goal to make available excellent educational programs for the Pee Dee region, the State of South Carolina, and globally.

Vision

FMU’s MSLP Program will be known for its excellence in educating SLPs who provide evidence-based assessment, intervention and consultation for individuals with communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders and are excellent clinical researchers.

Mission

The MSLP Program seeks to provide a comprehensive academic course of study combined with diverse clinical experiences in order to prepare outstanding allied healthcare professionals capable of providing high quality assessment and treatment for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders in the Pee Dee region, in the state of South Carolina, and around the globe.

Strategic Plan

In pursuit of achieving the MSLP Program mission, and to enhance the quality and growth of the program, the program developed goals in the following areas:

  • Education
  • Clinical Training
  • Research
  • Community Engagement

These are critical for the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and the FMU Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing to address.

Education

The program will:

  • Engage in at least three educational opportunities with related disciplines at FMU per academic year.
  • Provide students with at least three practical experiences with inter-professional collaboration and practice per academic year.
  • Sponsor a minimum of one continuing education program for clinical educators who provide graduate student training per academic year.
  • Include at least one activity with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in each course per academic year.

Clinical Training

The program will:

  • Obtain at least two new referral sources for the FMU Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing per academic year.
  • Provide at least one new advanced clinical training opportunity (e.g., FEES training) in the FMU Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing per academic year.
  • Require the implementation of at least two strategies to reduce bias in service delivery per academic year.

Research

The program will:

  • Prepare students to apply clinical research skills to promote evidence-based practice by critiquing a minimum of three empirically-based articles per academic year.
  • Require students to cite at least one evidence-based resource as rationale for each treatment approach in the on-campus clinic.
  • Involve students and faculty in critically needed evidence-based research (EBR) focused on South Carolina and surrounding states by requiring students in their second year to present Capstone research at a minimum of one conference.

Community Engagement

The program will:

  • Provide a minimum of three screening clinics at community sites to promote early detection of communication and swallowing disorders per academic year.
  • Attend at least one local health fair to establish relationships that support involvement in community-based outreach opportunities.
  • Sponsor a minimum of one continuing education program for practicing clinicians in the Pee Dee, South Carolina area per academic year.