Communication Disorders – Clinical Assistant Professor

As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change-in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges-2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools-2023 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu

The College of Health Professions at Sacred Heart University invites applications for the position of a 10-month, non-tenure track, full time Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology program, within the Communication Disorders department, available August 2024. In our Center for Healthcare Education in Fairfield, the Clinical Assistant Professor will support the department in providing clinical education and supervision. The credit load for the position is 24 credits distributed over the calendar year and the faculty member will report to the Department’s Director of Clinical Education and the Chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise and administer student assignments to appropriate educational fieldwork sites, student evaluation of sites and evaluation of student’s performance on fieldwork.
• Provide on-site clinical supervision as assigned for students; assess and grade student performance; covering 24 credits per year of clinical supervision and/or teaching activities
• Conduct regular visits and/or meetings with clinical field work sites for the purpose of observing student clinicians, connecting with off-campus supervisors, and maintaining relations with sites
• Teach clinical seminars to enhance students’ learning from field work experiences
• Participate in the development and implementation of assessment methods for documenting student clinicians’ acquisition of clinical competencies, as specified by ASHA’s CFCC standards
• Provide support to Directors of Clinical Education in the directors’ role in developing, implementing and maintaining records for forms and documentation for clinical education activities, and providing reports and other documentation on clinical services and activities for accrediting agencies
• Contribute to students’ education and implementation of evidence-based practices
• Participate in the development and implementation of remediation plans for students struggling with clinical skill acquisition
• Participate in the development of innovative clinical experiences for student clinicians
• Participate in research and scholarship as appropriate to the position
• Participate in University, College, and Departmental service activities
• Maintain accurate student/client records, and collaborate with DCE and CEP to monitor maintenance of ASHA certification on the part of off-campus supervisors

Sacred Heart University’s Master’s program in SLP is accredited by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education and by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800 498 2071 or 301 296 5700. Our program employs innovative teaching techniques including problem-based learning, inverse teaching, simulation, and service learning. Our field-based clinical program will involve externships throughout the students’ education. Our salaries are highly competitive. Intensive mentorship for both research and teaching are available. Diversity is valued and sought after within our program, College, and University.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
• Commitment to teaching excellence.
• Demonstrates a commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in an educational environment.
• Hold Certificate of Clinical Competence in SLP from the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association
• Must hold or be eligible for a Connecticut Department of Health License in SLP
• At least three years of full-time experience, or equivalent, as a practicing SLP in primarily medical setting, or with adult clients working in the areas of speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders.
• Experience in clinical supervision of SLP students

Preferred qualifications:

• A Doctoral (Ph.D. or EdD) degree
• Previous college or university-level teaching experience, particularly in the areas of fluency and neurogenic speech-language pathology
• Hold or be eligible for Educator Certification from the Connecticut State Department of Education

Additional Information:

Statement of Personal & Organizational Responsibility for Inclusive Excellence

Inclusive Excellence is the recognition that our institution’s success is dependent on how well we value, engage, and include the rich diversity of students, staff, faculty, administrators, alums, and surrounding community. It is a mastery of inclusion that fosters a consistent sense of belonging. Inclusive Excellence is aspirational and is the pillar that guides the mission, vision, and function of this unit.

To achieve Inclusive Excellence, our personal and organizational responsibilities are to:

• Actively promote a collegial environment and consciously apply our mission and values to create a culture of inclusion and belonging; a safe space where all may thrive and succeed.
• Participate in educational and developmental activities to increase awareness and competencies of issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; apply that understanding to guide your approach to all aspects of your job and the community as a whole.
• Demonstrate that we are “Stronger Together” as described in the Office for Inclusive Excellence statements.

Application Instructions:

Qualified candidates should submit a letter of interest, current curriculum vitae, teaching evaluations, statement of teaching philosophy, and contact information for three referees. Applications will be accepted starting immediately and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Initial interviews will be via Zoom followed by on-campus interviews.

Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.