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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2021-2022


SLP Academic Progression and Counseling Policies

Academic Standards for SLP Students
Every student enrolled in the graduate program in speech-language pathology is required to maintain a high level of performance and to comply fully with the policies of the program and the institution. Failure to do so will lead to academic probation and ultimately to dismissal from the program. Students who are not meeting academic standards in any course will receive a letter from the Program Director during the semester. Copies of all warning letters will be placed in the student’s file.
To remain in good academic standing, graduate students in speech-language pathology must maintain a 3.0 semester GPA.

Grades Below C
Only courses completed with a grade of C or above are acceptable for degree requirements, certification, and licensure.  Students who earn a grade of D, F, or NC in a course will be eligible to repeat the course one time, during the next course rotation. Repeating the course does not replace the original grade.  For the purpose of calculating GPA, the grade obtained when a course is retaken is averaged with previous grades.


Academic Counseling Criteria
The SLP curriculum is designed in a lock-step structure which is different in some ways from a traditional format. Students are required to take classes in a set schedule of semesters that are fixed at the start of the program. Unless they intend to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the program, students are not permitted to vary from this schedule.
Each term, the faculty will review students' performance at mid-semester.  If there are concerns about a student’s academic or clinical work, the student will receive a letter from the Program Director, instructing him or her to meet with the instructor(s) and Program Director to discuss the concerns and to determine what measures the student needs to take to return to good academic standing.  Copies of all warning letters will be placed in the student’s file.


Academic Performance Policies
To remain in good academic standing, graduate students in speech-language pathology must maintain a 3.0 semester GPA.

Academic Probation
A graduate student may be placed on academic probation for one or more of the following:
  • failing to maintain a semester graduate GPA of 3.0.
  • earning a grade of D, F, “fail”, or “no credit” in any course
  • failing to complete an individualized student support plan when required to remediate Learning Outcomes.
Graduate credit will be allowed for a course with a grade of C, but the experience cannot be used to satisfy departmental clock hour minimums and competencies for the KASA.
Academic Probation and Externships
A student who is on academic probation or receives two or more course midterm warnings for poor academic performance may not be assigned an externship placement for the upcoming semester until a GPA of 3.0 or better has been attained. This may delay the start of the clinical externship and may result in a placement other than the student’s requested site.  Also, the Director of Clinical Education will not develop new affiliation agreements for students who are not in good academic standing.  If/When the student returns to good academic standing, his/her externship placement will be at a facility with an existing affiliation agreement.
Repeating a course: Courses completed with a grade of D or below will not meet graduation requirements. Students who earn a D or F in a course will have one opportunity to repeat the course, during the next course rotation.  Failure to earn a C or better when the course is repeated will result in dismissal from the program. A student will not be allowed to graduate until all courses have been completed with a grade of C or above.  Any clinical enrollment completed with a D or F (including “fail” or “no credit”) will result in loss of all clinical hours obtained during the semester and will not count toward departmental clock hour minimums.
Repeating a course does not replace the original grade. For the purpose of calculating GPA, the grade obtained when a course is retaken is averaged with previous grades.
Students on academic probation will not be allowed to participate in a clinical externship until they return to good academic standing.  To return to good academic standing, the student must earn a semester GPA of at least 3.0 in the semester following probation.
Students may be placed on academic probation for a maximum of two semesters during their graduate program.   Meeting the conditions for academic probation a third time will result in dismissal from the program.
As per the SHP policy on Academic Probation, students will be notified that they are being placed on academic probation via a letter from the Program Director. Copies of the letter will be provided to the student, the Program Director, the Department Chair, and the Director of the Office of Admissions and Student affairs. (Policies of the School of Health Professions can be accessed through the following URL: https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/current/policies.aspx)
Remediation
An array of remediation options may be recommended for students placed on academic probation. Options for remediation as determined by the Program Director, in consultation with appropriate faculty, may include but are not limited to:
  • Individual tutoring with a program faculty member.
  • Individual tutoring with a student who is performing well in the program.
  • Auditing courses.
  • Repeating courses or clinical experiences.
  • Participating in faculty-directed group or individual study.
  • Preparing a research paper or project.
  • Completing reading assignments pertinent to areas needing remediation.
All meetings with the student regarding remediation must be documented, to include the student’s understanding of the problem and willingness to comply with the plan.  Routine follow-up counseling with the student is scheduled to assess and document the student’s progress and the outcome of the remediation plan.  The student should be aware that some remediation plans can delay projected graduation.
Dismissal
A graduate student will be dismissed from the program for one or more of the following:
  • violating the academic and/or non-academic misconduct policies of the School of Health Professions.
  • failing to achieve a semester GPA of 3.0 while on academic probation.
  • failing to earn a grade of C or better when repeating a course in which the student previously earned a grade of D or F.
  • failing to successfully complete remediation as established by the program.
  • meeting the conditions of academic probation for a third semester.
  • failing comprehensive examination remediation
A graduate student whose semester GPA falls below 2.75 in the final semester of the program will be ineligible for graduation.
As per the SHP policy on Academic Dismissal, students will receive an “intent to dismiss” letter generated by the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs and signed by the Department Chair.This letter will provide information about the student’s right to appeal the dismissal.Copies of the letter will be provided to the student, the Program Director, the Department Chair, and the Director of the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs.
(Policies of the School of Health Professions can be accessed through the following URL: https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/current/policies.aspx)


Knowledge and Skills Acquisition/Learning Outcomes
In addition to satisfactory completion of coursework and clinical practica, students must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level, independent practice of speech-language pathology as specified in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology.  The program has developed 10 broad learning outcomes, tied to the larger Knowledge and Skills Acquisition document.  Selected learning outcomes are addressed in every didactic course and clinical practicum, and the instructor determines how those learning outcomes are measured. It is possible for a student to earn a grade of A or B in a course, yet not demonstrate one or more learning outcomes at a satisfactory level.  (If a student earns a grade of C or lower for a course, remediation or learning outcomes is automatically required.)
Remediation of learning outcomes. If a student does not meet one or more learning outcomes of a course, the instructor will work with the student to develop a plan outlining the steps for acquiring the lacking knowledge and skills. The plan must include requirements to receive credit for the learning outcome(s), along with a date of completion. Completion dates must be before mid-term of the semester following the course enrollment. Failure to successfully complete the requirements as established will result in the student being referred for an individualized student support plan. Support plans may include the requirement to enroll in additional coursework. Failure to complete the support plan in a timely manner may delay graduation and ultimately may result in dismissal from the program.
The program director will provide students with regular feedback regarding progress toward the degree and toward acquisition of the required knowledge and skills through Plan of Study meetings and individual counseling as needed.

Withdrawal from Program
A student who wishes to withdraw from the SLP program must schedule an appointment with the Program Director, who will provide guidance on the withdrawal process.



Expectations of Graduate Students in the Speech-Language Pathology Program

Clinical Practica
As students advance through the program, they will assume greater responsibilities as clinicians.  Below is a summary of some of the major responsibilities.
  1. Maintain a realistic daily schedule which allows sufficient time to manage patient assignments.
  2. Determine if your clinic assignments are sufficient to meet your clinical clock hour requirements.
  3. Schedule patients during regular operating hours subsequent to obtaining the supervisor’s permission.
  4. Maintain all clinical fees, hours, and records as specified in the clinic handbook.
  5. Attend all clinic meetings, supervisory appointments, and other professional activities (e.g., staffings and extracurricular departmental presentations).
  6.  Secure all equipment, files, tests, rooms, and buildings used.
  7. Fulfill all assignments issued by a Clinical Director.
  8. Solicit constructive criticism from the clinical educator(s).
  9. Incorporate constructive criticism provided by the clinical educator(s)
  10. Behave in a professional manner when interacting with clinical educators, patients, other professionals, and caregivers (e.g., parents).
  11. Obtain formal permission from the supervisor(s) prior to implementation of any communication with a patient or his or her caregiver(s) or the initiation of any clinical management (e.g., therapy, referral, dismissal from therapy, cancellation of a scheduled clinical session, assessment results and/or recommendations, etc.)

Certification and Licensure
Students who complete the graduate program in speech-language pathology will meet the academic and supervised clinical practicum requirements to apply for a clinical fellowship experience through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Texas licensure. The Program Director verifies satisfactory completion of both undergraduate and graduate academic course work, clinical practicum, and knowledge and skills requirements. The salient features of the standards for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence include:
  • Completion of required coursework culminating in a graduate degree from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
  • Skills in oral and written communication and demonstrated knowledge of ethical standards, research principles, and current professional and regulatory issues.
  • Practicum experiences that encompass the breadth of the current scope of practice with both adults and children resulting in a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised practicum (at least 375 at the graduate level).
  • A clinical fellowship completed under the direction of a mentoring speech-language pathologist who holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence.
Prior to graduation, students must demonstrate, through completion of the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) form with supporting documentation, the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information pertaining to normal and abnormal human communication across the life span, including the effect of cultural and linguistic diversity.  Similar knowledge must be demonstrated for swallowing and emerging areas of practice.  Examples of acceptable documentation to support the KASA include class projects, clinical experiences, independent studies, checklists of skills, records of progress in clinical skill development, research projects, course modules, and workshops.


Failure to Meet KASA Standards
Students not meeting departmental requirements for acquisition of knowledge and skills must complete remediation plans as defined by the program director in conjunction with the Director of Clinical Education, departmental faculty members, and/or clinical educators.  Failure to complete the remediation plan will result in dismissal from the program.