Building an Academic Community That is Diverse, Accomplished, and Collegial

Retaining a diverse population of students begins prior to students being admitted. The hard work begins with building an academic community. The Department of Communication Disorders has graduated a majority minority graduate cohort for two years in a row. Currently the undergraduate program is majority minority. Fostering this kind of growth of a program in a profession where only 6% of its members are from an underrepresented group nationally, requires building an academic community that is diverse, accomplished, and collegial. This workshop will present lessons learned and strategies programs can use to support the success of all students from admittance to graduation and beyond.
Learner Objectives:
1. Discuss ways to recruit and retain talented faculty.
2. Identify ways to diversify the applicant pool for graduate programs.
3. List ways to help decrease attrition risks for students.
4. Describe ways to mentor undergraduate students through the pipeline to graduate school.
5. Connect the importance of engaging alumni with retention and success of current students.
This workshop will address the university’s stated mission and shared value of promoting a diverse student body and inclusive campus community and its goal to promote the success of all students.

Presented by:
Dr. Valarie Fleming, Professor and Chair, Communication Disorders
Dr. Celeste Domsch, Professor, Communication Disorders

Zoom Link: https://txstate.zoom.us/j/95038780229