Bylaws

February 2022

Table of contents

Preamble

The name of this body shall be known as the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The purposes of the department are to encourage cooperation in teaching, research and clinical practice among the members of the department and to advance scientific and professional knowledge. Whenever these bylaws conflict with the statutes of the Board of Governors of Wayne State University or the university's agreement with the American Association of University Professors, the terms of the latter documents shall prevail. The department in its dealings with faculty, staff, students and clients supports the affirmative action policies of Wayne State University.

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Article I: Department chairperson

Section 1: Selection and review of chairperson

This department shall be administered by the chairperson, whose continuation in office shall be reviewed one year prior to the end of his/her term. Terms of appointment shall not exceed five years. Selection and review of a chair will follow the procedures specified in the agreement between Wayne State University and the Wayne State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

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Section 2: Duties

The duties of the chairperson are:

1. Preside at departmental meetings.

2. Represent the faculty to the college and the university.

3. Supervise departmental budgets and fiscal operation.

4. Supervise departmental personnel actions.

5. Coordinate curricular and instructional programs.

6. Supervise departmental policies and procedures.

7. Serve as the program director and maintain CAA Accreditation in conjunction with the program coordinator for audiology and the clinical program director for speech-language pathology.

8. Establish committees and appoint members.

9. Be responsible in general for the proper functioning of the department within university policies.

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Article II: Departmental officers

Appointments of department officers will be made by the chairperson for an indefinite length of time. Department officers will be reviewed annually by the chairperson in consultation with the salary committee. Job descriptions and load consideration shall be discussed.

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Section 1: Graduate officer

The duties of the graduate officer are:

1. Oversee the work of the graduate admissions officer.

2. Supervise graduate student advising, probation and graduation.

3. Maintain graduate program policies and procedures; approve plans of work.

4. Assist with periodic review of graduate programs.

5. Supervise graduate student awards and scholarships.

6. Chair the graduate faculty.

7. Represent the department to the Graduate School.

8. Convene the graduate faculty as needed.

9. Maintain an updated, complete and organized file on the graduate students in the department.

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Section 2: Graduate admissions officer

The duties of the graduate admissions officer are:

1. In consultation with the chairperson and the faculty, determine admissions procedures to be followed by M.A. and Au.D. students.

2. In consultation with the chairperson and the faculty, establish applicant review procedures to be used by faculty.

3. Maintain a prioritized list of admissible applicants.

4. Recommend to the university the admission of applicants from the prioritized list as appropriate.

5. Report to the chairperson and faculty on admissions activities and outcomes.

6. Arrange admissions-related training for faculty and staff as necessary.

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Section 3: Undergraduate Officer

The duties of the Undergraduate Officer are:

1. Implement the policies of the undergraduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the department.

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Section 4: Program coordinator for audiology

The duties of the program coordinator for audiology are:

1. Elicit, review and maintain records of evaluation of student clinical performance and progress to ensure and to demonstrate competency across the scope of audiology practice, consistent with accreditation standards.

2. Assist the chairperson with accreditation reports and standards.

3. Assist the chairperson in promoting effective operation of the Au.D. clinical education program.

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Section 5: Clinical coordinator for audiology

The duties of the clinical coordinator for audiology are:

1. Assist in developing and maintaining external affiliation relationships for student clinical experiences.

2. Supervise external student practicum experiences.

3. Maintain current roster of clinical sites and instructors, including instructor credentials.

4. Conduct site visits to external placements and maintain records of site visits.

5. Review student evaluations and assign practicum grades.

6. Create clinical schedules.

7. Elicit, review and maintain records of student evaluations of clinical instructors.

8. Assist in planning to provide internal and external clinical instructors with CEU event.

9. Provide external clinical instructors with orientation and training on methods for practical training of students.

10. Report to the chairperson and the faculty on clinical practicum matters.

11. Assist the faculty to implement new clinical programs as required by the CAA or which become timely.

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Section 6: Director of WSU Audiology Clinic

The duties of the director of the WSU Audiology Clinic are:

1. Act as the director of the Wayne State University Audiology Clinic.

2. Orient students to clinical processes and responsibilities.

3. Maintain and ensure calibration of clinical equipment and supplies.

4. Maintain patient records.

5. Create and maintain clinical schedule for student rotations.

6. Create and maintain clinical schedule for patient appointments.

7. Communicate with the state of Michigan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program.

8. Coordinate with the director of the WSU Speech and Language Center for screening and diagnostic serves for SLP clients and students.

9. Collaborate with other faculty and institutions as appropriate in clinical and research endeavors.

10. As appropriate, provide students direct instruction during clinic hours.

11. As appropriate, model direct patient care as required for student training and oversee patient care during clinic hours.

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Section 7: Clinical program director for speech-language pathology

The duties of the clinical program director for speech-language pathology are:

1. Elicit, review and maintain records of evaluation of student clinical performance and progress to ensure and to demonstrate competency across the scope of speech-language pathology practice, consistent with accreditation standards.

2. Assist the chairperson with accreditation reports and standards.

3. Assist the chairperson in promoting effective operation of the SLP clinical education program.

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Section 8. Clinical coordinator for speech-language pathology

The duties of the clinical coordinator for speech-language pathology are:

1. Assist in developing and maintaining external affiliation relationships for student clinical experiences.

2. Supervise external student practicum experiences.

3. Maintain current roster of clinical sites and instructors, including instructor credentials.

4. Conduct site visits to external placements and maintain records of site visits.

5. Review student evaluations and assign practicum grades.

6. Create clinical schedules.

7. Elicit, review and maintain records of student evaluations of clinical instructors.

8. Assist in planning to provide internal and external clinical instructors with CEU event.

9. Provide external clinical instructors with orientation and training on methods for practical training of students.

10. Report to the chairperson and the faculty on clinical practicum matters.

11. Assist the faculty to implement new clinical programs as required by the CAA or which become timely.

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Section 9: Director of WSU Speech and Language Center

The duties of the director of the WSU Speech and Language Center are:

1. Act as the director of the Wayne State University Speech and Language Center

2. Supervise the fee schedule for the Center and collect fees.

3. Orient students to clinical processes and responsibilities.

4. Maintain and ensure calibration of clinical equipment and supplies.

5. Maintain patient records.

6. Create and maintain clinical schedule for student rotations.

7. Create and maintain clinical schedule for patient appointments.

8. Communicate with the Head Start, preschool agencies and Mary's Children Family Center for coordinating speech-language pathology services.

9. Coordinate with the director of the WSU Audiology Clinic for screening and diagnostic services for SLP clients and students.

10. Collaborate with other faculty and institutions as appropriate in clinical and research endeavors.

11. As appropriate, provide students direct instruction during clinic hours.

12. As appropriate, model direct patient care as required for student training and oversee patient care during clinic hours.

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Article III: Departmental membership

Section 1: Membership

All persons holding a regular faculty appointment in the department shall be members of the department. Persons with fractional appointments of .5 will also be considered members of the department. The department will consider necessity for adjunct faculty to vote as the need arises. Adjunct faculty with vote may be elected to membership on departmental committees. A member from the student body will be elected by the students to attend meetings.

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Section 2: Meetings

The department would be expected to meet once a month or at the call of the chairperson or at the request of two members, to consider issues relevant to the department and its members, at least one meeting a term is required. A quorum for such meetings shall consist of one more than half of the members present including the chairperson.

Necessary records shall be kept concerning matters discussed and votes taken at these meetings. These records shall be circulated to the members of the department.

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Section 3: Responsibilities of the department

The department shall advise the chairperson on matters concerning the functions of the department in education, research and administration. These functions include, among others, planning educational programs for students, organizing continuing education conferences, developing and evaluating clinical facilities, recruiting faculty, defining clinical and basic research goals and setting budgetary priorities. Other responsibilities include election of standing and ad-hoc committees and evaluation of student performance.

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Section 4: Agendas

A preliminary agenda of each department at meetings shall be circulated to all members one week prior to each meeting. Agenda items may be added by written request of members of the department prior to the meeting.

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Section 5: Conduct of the Meetings

The chairperson shall preside over meetings of the department according to Robert's Rule of Order. Departmental policies and procedures shall be decided by a majority vote of the full-time membership of the department.

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Section 6: Attendance

Meetings will be open to all full-time members of the department. Adjunct faculty may be invited to attend specific meetings at the discretion of the membership of the department.

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Article IV: The graduate faculty

Section 1: Membership

All members of the department who have been approved by the graduate division of the university shall be members of the graduate faculty.

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Section 2: Functions

The graduate faculty shall meet at the call of the graduate officer to consider any matters pertaining to teaching and research beyond the baccalaureate degree. A majority vote of the full-time members of the graduate faculty shall be necessary to resolve any question placed before the graduate faculty. The graduate faculty shall have the sole responsibility for structuring the graduate curriculum subject to the regulations of the Graduate Division.

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Article V: Standing committees of the department

Article VIII. Adoption of these bylaws

A copy of these bylaws will be sent to each member of the department prior to its discussion at a regular meeting of the faculty. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the members of the department shall be required for adoption of these bylaws.

Final adoption of these bylaws is dependent upon approval by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wayne State University, who shall also approve amendments as prepared by the department.

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