Strategic Plan 2026-2029

Goal

Provide engaging and innovative academic and clinical education.

Strategic Objectives

1. Build more clinical placements in health care and private practice
2. Alignment of academic training and clinical opportunities
   

   Goal	Provide engaging and innovative academic and clinical education.	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029
   Strategic Objectives:
   Extend clinical placements in health care and private practice, including OHNS opportunities
   Expand trainings for Clinical Educators in the field regarding supervision and expectations for student KAS at various levels
   Increase IPE opportunities with KSOM and USC clinical programs
   Alignment of academic and clinical opportunities
   Develop IPE opportunities with Rossier School of Education (RSOE)
   Issues (barriers):

Issues (Barriers)

1. Geographic area large making access difficult for students and faculty in some areas
2. Health care settings limited in the number of student placements they will take, including number of students they can take for placement
3. Time for academic faculty to connect with clinical educators to ensure application of skills

Baseline

1. Robust academic requirements
2. Estimated 125 clinical placements

Desired Outcomes

1. Increase health care placements
2. Increase private practice placements
3. Increase number and variety of clinical opportunities.
4. Support Student specialization and employment opportunities
5. More academic and clinical connections

Goal

Expand the USC MS-SLP Student Experience through program traditions, USC Value-Added Experiences and engagement  with KSOM and the USC Community.

Strategic Objectives

1. Increase Access to Well-Being Resources
2. Increase Faculty Training and Resources to support students
3. Identify opportunities to expand experiences unique to USC program
   

   Goal:	Expand the USC MS-SLP Student Experience through program traditions, USC Value-Added Experiences and engagement with KSOM and USC Community	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029
   Strategic Objectives:
   Increase number of student applicants for admissions
   Ensure access to Well-Being Resources
   Establish awards and recognition program
   Increase branding for MS-SLP
   Promote Student Activities in NSSHLA and Across Campus
   Issues (barriers):
   Low number of student applicants
   Changes in financial aid for graduate programs at federal level
   Cost of tuition at USC
   Need to develop a MS-SLP Wellbeing Plan
   Baseline:
   Est. 50 student applicants for 2026 admissions, representing a significant decrease from prior years
   Desired Outcomes:
   › 200 applicants for admissions

Issues (Barriers)

1. Time limitations for both faculty and students
2. Awareness of our program throughout university and Health Sciences
3. Limitations of resources

Baseline

1. KSOM Wellbeing Survey for SLP showing high level of burnout, although high level of engagement in their studies
2. Participation on KSOM Learner Wellbeing Committee (Students and Faculty)
3. Increased number of faculty to make connections

Desired Outcomes

1. Develop Well-being plan for MS SLP
2. Dedicated time to promote program within other programs

Goal

Connect the MS-SLP Program to academic, research and clinical opportunities within the University and KSOM, including scholarship support.

Strategic Objectives

1. Scholarships
   • Connect with Donors
   • Funding -Development Fundraisers
2. Investigate funding resources from UPC for KSOM
3. Explore resources for faculty research
4. Ways to involve students in presenting capstone research
   

   Goal	Connect the MS-SLP Program to academic, research and clinical opportunities within the university and KSOM, including scholarship support	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029
   Strategic Objectives:
   Engaging in Research
   Continue to identify Scholarship opportunities
   Research connections for students and faculty with Capstone Labs
   Issues (barriers):
   Difficulty identifying scholarship donors
   Development support not available
   Limited time to work on research grants
   Baseline:
   No direct scholarships for our program
   Desired Outcomes:
   Build Student Scholarship Program

Issues (Barriers)

1. No Scholarships
2. Time to work on this
3. No dedicated time for research for faculty

Baseline

1. Dean’s Scholarship 2023
2. Education Fund for MS SLP Established
3. Growing faculty engagement with researchers

Desired Outcomes

1. Create information on Scholarships and other Financial Aid resources for students
2. Build Student Education Fund

Goal

Increase local, state, and national program recognition through increased outreach to USC, KSOM, and CSD Community.

Strategic Objectives

1. Identify opportunities to expand community outreach
2. Build stronger presence w/ USC, KSOM, Keck
3. Establishing Mechanisms for Post-Grad engagement such as Alumni network/USC Professional Network/Outreach to former USC CSD Alums
   

   Goal	Increase local, state and national program recognition through increased outreach to USC, KSOM and CSD Community	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029
   Strategic Objectives:
   Track and support student publications and presentations at professional conferences
   Annual survey with alumni re their activities,  work settings and needs
   Newsletter – 2x year
   Participation in KSOM and USC events
   Issues (barriers):
   Post-graduate engagement
   Baseline:
   Desired Outcomes:
   Documented activities

Issues (Barriers)

1. New Program
2. Large institution
3. Time constraints for outreach and networking due to other responsibilities

Baseline

1. IPE Day Participation and Faculty Planning
2. New NSSHLA Chapter

Desired Outcomes

1. Initiate training opportunities for clinical educators and CSD community
2. Host One Professional Conference Annually
3. Establish Alumni Club
4. Increased faculty participation on KSOM committees

Goal

Awarded Full Accreditation by CAA.

Strategic Objectives

1. Approval of CAA Annual Reports submitted 8/1
2. Address concerns raised by CAA
3. Submit Application for Initial Accreditation
4. Initial Accreditation Approval

Issues (Barriers)

1. Time to work on reports for CAA
2. Addressing surprises in CAA feedback
3. Keeping up with new CAA requirements and/or changes

Baseli

Baseline

1. Approval of first Annual Report 2022

Desired Outcomes

1. CAA Initial Accreditation Approved