SLHS Mission and Strategic Plan 2026-2028

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences is to serve students, the University of Minnesota, and the broader community through education, research, and service focused on the complexities of human communication across the lifespan.

We teach students to be sensitive to the personal, social, academic, and vocational consequences of difficulties in communication.

Goals and Objectives

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Continued Research Excellence

  • Scholarship: continue dissemination of work in traditional and open access forums
  • Funding: apply for and obtain grant support for innovative research
  • Student Integration: involve students in all aspects of research
  • Collaboration: across labs, departments, programs, clinicians, centers
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Innovative Teaching and Learning

  • Practical Application: bridge classroom learning to clinical care
  • Teaching and Assessment Methods: evidence-based, student-centered practices and professional development considering SOTL, psychosocial, & neurodevelopmental needs of students
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL): digital accessibility, live captioning, use of microphones when teaching
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Reciprocal Community Engagement 

  • Responsive Services: increase skills and develop shared language

  • Professional Community: serve as leaders in professional organizations and policy boards

  • Outside Community: listening and advisory board sessions; community engagement events to address needs, share resources, and foster mutual learning