SPEAKS Field Placement Coordinator

Job Summary

The dynamic and diverse department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences houses among the first Speech-Language Pathology graduate programs in California and values scholarly research, pedagogical innovation, student and community engagement, and clinical practice that is equity-minded, culturally responsive, and centers the rights of persons with disabilities. The Department enrolls about 250 students in its B.A. (in CDS) and M.S. programs, houses the on-campus Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders (KACCD), and multiple faculty research labs. The CDS department is one of seven departments in the Lurie College of Education, committed to preparing transformative therapists while striving to be community engaged, interdisciplinary, culturally sustaining, and holistic in its work.

The online MS in speech language pathology track, SPEAKS, will be offered completely online. There is not a requirement for students to travel to campus. Students will take academic courses online and complete clinical placements in schools, private practices, and hospitals with certified and licensed clinicians in their local area, serving individuals in their community.

Reporting to the Director of Resources & Operations with work lead direction from the SPEAKS Director, the SPEAKS Placement Coordinator provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and will serve as the main point of contact for arranging student clinician placements each semester.  This role ensures alignment with the College’s mission, vision, strategic plan, and the Departments’ Program Learning Outcomes. The position involves high-level analysis, development, and integration of ASHA standards and supervision requirements.  The SPEAKS Placement Coordinator will work primarily with school district administrators, site principals, and mentor clinicians to maintain positive site-university relationships to support the quantity, quality, and variety of field placements needed such that SJSU remains a high priority for partner sites (i.e., school districts, private practices, medical sites).

The coordinator orients candidates to the field placement process, reviews candidates’ eligibility to begin the field experience, and responds to questions from candidates, site personnel, faculty, and other San José State University staff. The position will require someone who is adept at written and verbal communication and well-versed in communicating with students and placement partners. Given the College’s focus on emancipatory education, the successful candidate must demonstrate an understanding of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion policies and practices. The coordinator also works on special projects as assigned to support the SPEAKS Program.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate awareness of and address the needs of a student population of great diversity–including age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation–through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• All classes must be offered and meet as scheduled throughout the entire semester or term, in the mode assigned and listed in the schedule of classes (e.g., asynchronous, synchronous, in-person, or hybrid).
• Keeping up with changes in ASHA standards (CFCC and CAA) and supervision requirements.
• Surveying students regarding placement preferences. (Provide survey, meet with each member of each cohort individually, and schedule follow up meetings as requested by individual students, ongoing communication with each student as their needs/preferences changes). Facilitate entry/application and sort students into summer/fall/spring placements.
• Verifying suitability of sites and supervisors (e.g.,license and certification, workload)
• Locating a placement for each eligible student and verifying/initiating a Memo of Understanding with the site and SJSU.
• Ensuring that students have completed all required fingerprinting, and any other forms and processes of their placement site. (Each site has specific and unique requirements. Placement coordinator is responsible to provide student with the resources for completing drug testing, health care background checks, approved CPR courses etc., and the process for getting program director’s approval to sign off on the attestation).
• Maintaining ongoing communication with the supervisors regarding the mid-semester review so as to monitor any remediation that might be necessary.
• Communicating with the site supervisor regarding the tasks, forms, and protocols involved in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences superv