SLP Strategic Plan Page 1 of 10

DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology

#160-500UniversityAvenueToronto,OntarioM5G1V7

tel:416946-5456slp.chair@utoronto.caslp.utoronto.ca

STRATEGIC PLAN 2018

SLP Strategic Plan Page 2 of 10

PREAMBLE

Iampleasedtosharethe2018–2023StrategicPlanoftheDepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology(SLP)attheUniversityofToronto(UofT).Thisstrategicplanprovidesaroadmapforthefuturegrowthofthedepartment.IwouldliketothanktheSLPStrategicPlanningCommitteewhoprovidedguidanceandvaluabletimetothisendeavour.Ialsogratefullyacknowledgetheindividualsandgroupswhowereconsultedtoprovideinputintoplanning.Iamdeeplyappreciativeoftheirinput,expertiseandsupport.

TheDepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathologyisinaperiodoftremendousgrowth.Ithasmadesubstantialgainsinthesizeofitsstudentbodyandresearchproductivityandispoisedtogrowfurtherintermsofeducation,research,disseminationandstrategicpartnerships.Thenextfiveyearswillbecriticalfordevelopingnewopportunitiestosupportourstudentsandfaculty.Wearewellpoisedtoachieveourvisionof“Globalleadershipinimprovingcommunicationandswallowingthrougheducation,researchandpartnerships”.

Sincerely,

PascalvanLieshout,PhDProfessorandChair

STRATEGICPLANNINGCOMMITTEE

PascalvanLieshout ProfessorandChair,DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathologyChair,StrategicPlanningCommittee

KimBradleyManagerofCollaborativePractice,St.Michael’sHospitalAssistantProfessor(Status-only),DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology

MaryCook ExecutiveDirector,OntarioAssociationofSpeech-LanguagePathologistsandAudiologists

SusanWagner AssociateProfessor,TeachingStream;GraduateCoordinator;CoordinatorofClinicalEducation,DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology

ElizabethRochon Professor,DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology

MarkMelchior BusinessManager,DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology

StephanieNixon Director,InternationalCentreforDisabilityandRehabilitation;AssociateProfessor,DepartmentofPhysicalTherapy

SLP Strategic Plan Page 3 of 10

INTRODUCTION

TheDepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathologyintheFacultyofMedicineisagraduatedepartmentthatoffersaMasterofHealthScience(MHSc)professionalgraduatedegreeprogram.SinceSeptember2012,100full-timestudentshavebeenenrolledintheMHScprogram(50studentsinbothYear1andYear2).For2017,enrollmentwastargetedtobeincreasedby5studentsandfor2018another5studentswillbeadmitted,whichwillultimatelybringthetotalnumberofstudentsinourprogramto120.UntilSeptember2015,thedepartmentalsoprovidedtworesearch-streamprograms(MScandPhD),butthesehavesincebeenhandledadministrativelybytheRehabilitationSciencesInstitute(RSI).Alltenuredortenure-streamfacultymembersteachfoundationsand/orclinicalcoursesintheMHScstreamandsuperviseresearch-streamstudents.ThetwofacultymembersintheteachingstreamaretheAcademicCoordinatorsofClinicalEducationwhoorganizetheclinicalplacementcoursesfortheMHScstudentsandteachclinicalcoursesinthedepartment.Toaccommodatetheincreaseinenrolmenttheclinicaleducationteamwasstrengthenedbya0.6fteteachingstreamlecturerpositionin2017.TheDepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathologyreceivedafullsevenyearaccreditationfromtheAccreditationBoardofCanadianProgramsinAudiologyandSpeech-LanguagePathology(September2016)andcompletedasuccessfulexternalreviewfromtheOntarioUniversitiesCouncilonQualityAssurance(May2011).ThefollowingstakeholderswereconsultedforinputintotheStrategicPlan:

GROUP CONSULTATIONDATE

SLPStrategicPlanCommittee June,2017

Faculty&Staff June,2017

SLPSeniorAdvisoryCommittee September,2017

ClinicalEducatorRepresentatives October,2017

MHScStudentPresidents(Years1and2) October,2017

MSc/PhDStudentRepresentatives October,2017

CognateDepartmentChairs October,2017

SLPAlumniAssociation October,2017

SLP Strategic Plan Page 4 of 10

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

THEDEPARTMENT’SSTRATEGICPLANOUTLINESTHREEMAINPRIORITIES:

TheimplementationoftheseprioritieswillbeguidedbytheChairoftheDepartmentandtheSeniorAdvisoryCommittee,whichiscomposedoftheChair,BusinessManager,AssociateChair,andCoordinatorofGraduateStudies.Specificdepartmentalcommitteeswillhavetheresponsibilityforworkingonprioritiesrelatedtotheirspecifictermsofreference.TheStrategicPlanoftheDepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathologyiswellalignedwiththeFacultyofMedicine’sStrategicPriorities(http://medicine.utoronto.ca/about-faculty-medicine/strategic-priorities)andtheUniversityofTorontoStrategicResearchPlan2012-2017(http://www.research.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SRP-2012-web.pdf).Additionally,itsupportsthestrategicprioritiesofotherdepartmentsintheRehabilitationSciencesSector(i.e.,RehabilitationSciencesInstitute,DepartmentofOccupationalScienceandOccupationalTherapy,andtheDepartmentofPhysicalTherapy).Furthermore,manyoftheDepartment’sprioritiescontributetotheoveralldirectionoftheInternationalCentreforDisabilityResearch.

PREPARE

Aim 1: Prepare and educate

leading clinicians and scientists who will contribute to

fullfilling the vision and mission

of SLP at UofT

Aim 2: Expand the funding base and

existing infrastructure to

support educational and

research initiatives

DISCOVER

Aim 1: Strengthen research

enterprise and impact

Aim 2: Disseminate

innovations that improve the

communication and swallowing of populations locally

and globally

PARTNER

Aim 1: Cultivate and expand

partnerships, resources,

environment and advocacy to enable

local and global leadership in

communication and swallowing

well-being

SLP Strategic Plan Page 5 of 10

DepartmentofSpeech-LanguagePathology

Vision,Mission,andValues

Vision

Globalleadershipinimprovingcommunicationandswallowingthrougheducation,researchandpartnerships.

Mission

Wedevelopleaders,contributetoourcommunities,andimprovethehealthofpeopleandpopulationsthroughthediscovery,applicationandcommunicationofknowledge.

Values

Weareguidedbyourcorevalues:

® Excellenceandinnovationineducation,researchandprofessionalpractice

® Researchthatsupports/facilitatesevidence-informedpractice

® Integrityandprofessionalism

® Socialresponsibility,equityanddiversity

® Supportive,responsiveandrespectfulrelationships

® Advocacyforandwithindividualswithcommunicationandswallowingimpairments,theircommunitiesandthosewhoworkwiththem

® Interprofessionalcollaborationwithouracademic,clinicalandglobalpartners

SLP Strategic Plan Page 6 of 10

STRATEGICPRIORITY1[PREPARE]

AIM1:PREPAREANDEDUCATELEADINGCLINICIANSANDSCIENTISTSWHOWILLCONTRIBUTETOFULLFILLINGTHEVISIONANDMISSIONOFSLPATUofT

GOALS IMPLEMENTATIONACTIONS

1.AttractthebestandbrighteststudentstotheSLPDepartment

• Increasethenumberandsizeofentrancescholarships• Maintainandstrengthenourinvolvementin

undergraduateteachingaspartofexistingandpotentiallynewprogramsatUofT

• Exploreoptionsforrecruitinginternationalstudents,includingfundingsources

• Increaseprofileandexpandoutreachregardingprogramquality

• Increasenumberofapplicantstotheprogram

2.UndertakeacurriculumreviewoftheMHScprogram

• Accommodatelargerenrollment• Enhancecompetency-basededucationthroughoutthe

curriculum• Reviewadmissionsprocess• Integratearesearchcomponent• Exploretheneedforachangeinthedegreename(i.e.,

MScSpeech-LanguagePathology)

3.Leverageclinicaleducation

• Exploredifferentclinicaleducationmodelstoaccommodatelargerenrollmentlevels

• Highlightandpromotethevalueofclinicaleducationwithinthecurriculumandthebroadercommunity

• ContinuetoadvanceinternationalclinicalplacementswiththeInternationalCentreforDisabilityandRehabilitation(ICDR)

4.AttractthebestandbrighteststudentstotheSLPprogramintheRehabilitationSciencesIntitute(RSI)

• Exploreopportunitiesforpathwaysfromtheclinicalmaster’stoPhDentry

• ExpandMScandPhDenrolmentwithintheRSI/SLPprogram

SLP Strategic Plan Page 7 of 10

STRATEGICPRIORITY1[PREPARE]

AIM2:EXPANDTHEFUNDINGBASEANDEXISTINGINFRASTRUCTURETOSUPPORTEDUCATIONALANDRESEARCHINITIATIVES

GOALS IMPLEMENTATIONACTIONS

1.Enhancefundingtosupportthefirstfourstrategicpriorities

• Raisefundstocreateendowedresearchchairs• Expandsupportforstudentbursariesand

scholarships• SupporttheSLPAlumniAssociationintheir

fund-raisingactivities• Developandmarketacontinuingeducation

program

2.Renewinfrastructuretosupporteducation

• Renovateclassroomspacestoaccommodatelargerstudentenrollment

• Expandandupdateteachingandclinicalresources

• Exploreoptionsforclinicaleducationexpansion(e.g.,in-houseclinic,softwaresystemssupport)

SLP Strategic Plan Page 8 of 10

STRATEGICPRIORITY2[DISCOVER]

AIM1:STRENGHTENOURRESEARCHENTERPRISEANDIMPACT

GOALS IMPLEMENTATIONACTIONS

1.Increaseresearchfundingandproductivity

• Adoptkeyperformanceindicatorstotrackresearchfundingandproductivity

• Exploreotherfundingmechanisms(e.g.,foundations),includinginternationalfunding(e.g.,EuropeanUnion,Australia)

• Exploreoptionstosupportfacultytobesuccessfulingrantapplications(e.g.,reduceteachingloadbyaddingmoreTAhours;moreformalizedinternalreviewprocess)

2.Enhanceparticipationininterdisciplinaryresearch

• ExplorestrategicresearchpartnershipswithRSI,otherunitsintherehabilitationsciencessector,UofTandothernationalandinternationalinstitutions

3.Increaseengagementwiththehospitalresearchinstitutesandresearchers

• Increasethenumberofjointandstatus-onlyappointmentsinaffiliatedteachinghospitals

• Continuetoengageprofessorialrankstatus-onlyfacultyindepartmentalresearchactivities

4.IncreasevisibilityandimpactofSLPresearch

• Showcasefacultymembers’researchontheSLPwebsiteandothermedia

• InvestigateandselectmethodsforassessingimpactofSLPresearch

• IncreaseSLPleadershipinkeyresearchcommunities,nationallyandinternationally

Ourprofessionalmaster’sprogramcontinuestobeinnovativeanduniqueinNorthAmericaandinthewordsoftheCACUP-ASLPsitereviewers“showsclearevidencethatthecurriculumhasbeencarefullydesignedtomeettherequirementsthatstudentslearnknowledgeandskillsinthevariousareasofpracticeasdescribedinthe“SpeechLanguageandAudiologyCanadaAssessingandCertifyingClinicalCompetency:FoundationsofPracticeforAudiologistsandSpeech-LanguagePathologists”document.Inarecentsurveyconductedbyourdepartmentin2015,studentsexpressedthattheylikedthecurriculumandthiswasconfirmedinthe2016CanadianGraduate&ProfessionalStudentSurvey,where91.2%oftheSLPgraduatesindicatedtheywouldchoosethesameprogramand82.4%saidtheywouldrecommendUofTtosomeoneconsideringdoingSLP.PascalvanLieshout,Chair

SLP Strategic Plan Page 9 of 10

STRATEGICPRIORITY2[DISCOVER]

AIM2:DISSEMINATEINNOVATIONSTHATIMPROVETHECOMMUNICATIONANDSWALLOWINGOFPOPULATIONSLOCALLYANDGLOBALLY

GOALS IMPLEMENTATIONACTIONS

1.Strengthenevidence-informedpractice,knowledgedisseminationandinnovations

• ExploreContinuingProfessionalDevelopment(CPD)opportunitiesfornationalandinternationalparticipants

• Trackimpactanduptakeofresearch,teachingandeducationalscholarshipusingexistingtoolsandon-linerespositories

2.Informandcontributetopolicyatlocalandglobalfora

• Ensurefacultyandstudentparticipationonkeyprofessional,governmental,regulatoryandfundingbodies

• Increasefacultyparticipationwith(inter)nationalassociationsandatresearchmeetings

• Collaboratewithprofessionalassociationstocreateandoptimizeoppornitiesforthedevelopmentoftheprofessionthroughadvocacyandknowledgedissemination

SLP Strategic Plan Page 10 of 10

STRATEGICPRIORITY3[PARTNER]

AIM1:CULTIVATEANDEXPANDPARTNERSHIPS,RESOURCES,ENVIRONMENTANDADVOCACYTOENABLELOCALANDGLOBALLEADERSHIPINCOMMUNICATIONANDSWALLOWINGWELL-BEING

GOALS IMPLEMENTATIONACTIONS

1.EnhancetheDepartment’sexternalprofile

• Continuetooptimizeuseofthedepartmentalwebsiteforvariouspurposes,includingstudentrecruitment

• Investigatetheuseofsocialmedia(e.g.,Twitter,Linkedin,ResearchGate,Facebook)

• Createacommitteetopromotepublicrelationsandcommunityoutreach

2.Continuetodeveloprelationshipswithkeystrategicpartners

• Enhancerecruitmentandengagementstrategiesforadjunct/status-onlyappointments

• Developrecognitionopportunitiesforclinical,status-onlyandadjunctfaculty

• CollaboratewithICDRtobuildeducationandreseachpartnershipsinareasofcommunicationandswallowingdisorders

3.Createacultureofcommunityengagementthatsupportsthevisionandmissionofthedepartment

• Maintainstrongalumnirelationships• Createopportunitiesforthecommunityto

beinvolvedinthelifeofthedepartment(e.g.,townhalls,fund-raisingactivities,SpeechandHearingMonthevents)

• Showleadershipinemergingfieldsofclinicalcareandresearch