Mission and Vision of the Speech-Language Pathology Program

The vision and missions of the Speech Language Pathology (SLP) program are aligned with those of the Division of Education and the institution of Columbia College. Degree candidates are educated to meet all professional practice standards in preparation for entry into the field of communication disorders. 

Mission

The mission of the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program at Columbia College is to prepare degree candidates for the field of SLP within a liberal arts foundation. Through a variety of experiences and academic coursework, degree candidates will be prepared to serve a culturally diverse society in various employment settings. The faculty mentor degree candidates as they prepare to become reflective practitioners, lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and leaders prepared to serve people of all ages with communication disorders.

Vision

To provide a broad understanding of the nature, prevention, and treatment of communication disorders using a didactic (academic and clinical education) educational model.  Degree candidates will be prepared to excel as Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) and in graduate programs while fulfilling a humanitarian need to habilitate or rehabilitate children and adults with communication and cognitive disorders.

Speech-Language Pathology Program Requirements and Policies

Credentialing and Licensure

B.A., Clinical Track

Degree candidates in the clinical track must qualify for clinical practicum (see requirements below) and will complete the requirements for SLPA licensure through the South Carolina Labor, Licensing, and Regulations Board following degree completion and for SLPA Certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.  This includes required coursework, 100 clinical clock hours of direct patient/client contact, and 25 hours of guided clinical observation. Licensure as a SLPA varies by state, therefore, it is the degree candidate’s responsibility to verify qualifications necessary for SLPA licensure in their state of residency.  Degree candidates who complete the clinical track will also have the required prerequisites for application to an accredited graduate degree program. Completion of this degree does not guarantee acceptance into a graduate degree program.

B.A., Non-clinical track

Degree candidates who complete the non-clinical track will not be enrolled in clinical practicum and will not complete the clinical clock hours necessary for SLPA licensure and certification.  Completion of the non-clinical track includes 25 hours of guided clinical observation as well as the required prerequisites for application to an accredited graduate degree program.  Completion of this degree does not guarantee acceptance into a graduate degree program.

English Proficiency Policy

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate adequate English language skills. To be considered proficient in English, degree candidates must have earned a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission into the program. An official copy of TOEFL scores must be provided prior to enrollment.

Clinical Practicum Placement Requirements

Degree candidates in the clinical track must meet the following requirements prior to enrolling in the first semester of Clinical Practicum. All clinical clock hours earned towards licensure or certification must be completed within the Columbia College SLP Program. Clinical clock hours will not be accepted if completed at another institution. 

1. Earn a passing score on three sections (math, reading, writing) of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Exam (or provide official documentation of a current SC teaching certificate or an SAT or ACT score that meets the criteria for an exemption as stated in the program handbook). Candidates must meet this requirement by the deadline listed in Castle Branch.
2. Earn a score of score of 80% or better on an assessment of the degree candidate’s understanding of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics for Speech-Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (found at www.asha.org) as well as the South Carolina Labor, Licensing, and Regulations Board Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act and Regulations (found at www.llr.sc.gov/aud).
3. Complete all prerequisite courses: SLP 257, SLP 258, SLP 264, SLP 259, SLP 375, SLP 380, SLP 384, and SLP 387 with a grade of C or better and earn no more than two grades of C+ or below in SLP major courses, including major courses accepted for transfer credit.
4. Earn a local GPA of 3.0 or better and a major GPA of 3.0 or better by the semester prior to enrolling in the first clinical practicum course.
5. Earn a grade of B or better in SLP 260. 
6. Complete all Castle Branch requirements by the deadlines listed in Castle Branch.
7. Program Chair’s consent required to enroll in clinical practicum experiences.

Degree candidates who do not meet one or more of these requirements will not be enrolled in Clinical Practicum. If a student does not meet the above criteria, the student has one calendar year from the beginning of  the first SLP 260 semester to meet the requirements for enrollment in clinical practicum.

Degree candidates will be notified in writing by the SLP Program Chair prior to the beginning of the first clinical practicum course that they have not met the above criteria. Upon receipt of notification, the degree candidate has seven days to notify the SLP program chair of their decision to 1. attempt to meet all requirements for clinical practicum placement within one calendar year, 2. transition to the non-clinical track of the SLP Program, or 3. complete a change of major form and select an alternate major.  If student chooses # 2 or 3 above, SLP program faculty and/or the student’s academic advisor will assist student with the transition to the non-clinical track or an alternative major.

If the student still does not meet all requirements for clinical practicum placement after an additional calendar year, the degree candidate has the following options: 1. transition to the non-clinical track of the SLP Program, 2. complete a change of major form and select an alternate major, or 3. present an appeal to be allowed to enroll in Clinical Practicum the next semester that SLP 365 Clinical Practicum I is offered.

If the degree candidate chooses to appeal, the appeals process is as follows:

1. Within seven days of receipt of written notification from the Program Chair, the degree candidate must submit a formal letter of appeal addressed to the SLP Program Chair and sent via email.
2. The SLP Program Chair will compile information regarding the deficient clinical practicum requirements listed above for a committee to review.
3. A Review Committee composed of at least five individuals will convene to evaluate the degree candidate’s appeal.  The committee will consist of the SLP Program Chair, at least one full-time SLP faculty member, the Division of Education Dean, and at least one full-time Columbia College faculty member from another division.  The committee must meet within thirty days of the Program Chair’s receipt of the degree candidate’s letter of appeal.  The committee will meet, review and discuss the documentation listed in 1- and 2 above, and vote to approve the appeal, deny the appeal, or approve the appeal with provisions.  The degree candidate will be notified in writing by the Program Chair of the committee’s decision within seven days of the committee’s vote.  If the appeal is approved with provisions the student will be enrolled in the Clinical Practicum the following semester. If during the Clinical Practicum, the student fails to meet the provisions stated in the appeal response, the student will be removed from Clinical Practicum. 

If the degree candidate’s appeal for enrollment in Clinical Practicum is denied by the committee, the degree candidate has the following options:
 

1. Should the student disagree with the decision of the Review Committee, the student may submit an Academic Grievance appeal following the process outlined in the College’s Student Handbook.
2. The student may choose to transition to the non-clinical track of the SLP Program.  SLP program faculty and/or the student’s academic advisor will assist student with transition to non-clinical track.
3. The student may complete a change of major form and select an alternative major.  SLP program faculty and/or student’s academic advisor will assist student with transition to an alternative major.

Grounds for Removal from Clinical Practicum and/or the SLP Program

If a degree candidate enrolled in Clinical Practicum demonstrates any of the following behaviors, this would be considered ground for removal from Clinical Practicum and/or dismissal from the SLP Program.
 

1. Failure to consistently demonstrate professional practice standards as outlined by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association https://www.asha.org/Certification/2020-SLP-Certification-Standards/.
2. Failure to uphold the Columbia College Honor Code and the Code of Student Conduct.
3. Conduct that violates the South Carolina Labor, Licensing, and Regulations Board Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act and/or Regulations.
4. Conduct that violates the ASHA Code of Ethics and/or ASHA Scope of Practice for Speech-Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants.
5. The following behaviors will result in immediate removal from clinical practicum and/or dismissal from the SLP program:

• More than two unexcused absences or tardies.  This includes clinical practicum seminars, scheduled clinical observations, and/or clinical practicum.
• Personal problems which interfere with performance.
• Failure to comply with dress code as stated in the SLP program handbook.
• Academic cheating, lying, or plagiarizing.
• Acting in a discriminatory manner toward a client or professional.
• Engaging in illegal behavior.
• Falsifying documentation related to the SLP program or clinical practicum site.
• Stealing or intentional destruction of property/resources belonging to the SLP program or clinical practicum site.
• Initiating physical confrontation with a client, a client’s family members, clinical educator, or clinical practicum site staff.
• Exploiting clients or a client’s family.
• Breaching confidentiality standards.
• Engaging in intimate (sexual/romantic) relations with a client, a client’s family member, or clinical educator.
• Engaging in abusive or degrading behavior towards a clients, a client’s family, or clinical educator.
• Repeated failure to demonstrate improvement in any areas of weakness noted in prior clinical experiences.
• Repeated failure to implement recommendations from clinical educators to improve clinical and/or interpersonal skills.
• Failure to comply the expectations and policies outlined in the SLP program handbook.

Faculty notification of misconduct may result in denial of clinical practicum placement, removal from clinical practicum placement, or dismissal from a) the SLP clinical track or b) the entire SLP program.  The degree candidate will be notified in writing of results of misconduct by the Program Chair.

If it is determined that a student should be dismissed from the SLP Program the following procedures apply:

1. The Division Dean, and/or SLP Program Chair will discuss the reasons for dismissal with the degree candidate and will notify the student in writing of the reasons for dismissal from the program.
2. Upon dismissal, the Division Dean and/or SLP Program Chair will assign a grade of F in the Clinical Practicum course.
3. If dismissed from the SLP clinical track, the Registrar’s Office will change the student’s program to the non-clinical track. If dismissed from the entire SLP program, the Registrar’s Office will change the student’s program to undecided.
4. Each Clinical Practicum course may be repeated only once. The Division Dean and/or SLP Program Chair must grant approval for the degree candidate to repeat the Clinical Practicum course.  A degree candidate wishing to appeal a grade should follow the procedures outlined in the Columbia College Student Handbook.
5. A degree candidate who receives notification of dismissal has a right to appeal the dismissal in accordance with grievance procedures outlined below.

Grievance Procedure for Dismissal from Clinical Education Program

Should a degree candidate choose to appeal the dismissal from Clinical Practicum and/or the SLP Program, the following procedures apply:

1. The degree candidate should respond in writing to the SLP Program Chair within seven business days with the reasons for appealing the dismissal decision.
2. A Review Committee will be formed, comprised of at least five members which may include the Clinical Educator, Clinical Practicum Coordinator, Division Dean, and/or SLP Program Chair, the degree candidate’s academic advisor, and one impartial representative from the Columbia College faculty. The degree candidate may have others who have direct knowledge of the dismissal issues present.
3. A majority vote of the committee will be needed to overrule the dismissal action.
4. Should the degree candidate disagree with the decision of the Review Committee, the process of submitting an Academic Grievance appeal outlined in the Columbia College Student Handbook should be followed.