"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 supervision process.
• Creating/modifying the handbook to meet current procedures and regulations. Requires knowledge of procedural/regulatory changes. (Updated each semester)
• Notifying the students of their placements; providing them with the course handbook; and informing them of their responsibilities for contacting their supervisors.
• Fielding inquiries for student interns from schools, private practices, etc.
• Seeking new placements and vetting supervisors at the sites (i.e., checking ASHA certification, CA license, years of experience, populations served, number of direct contact hours available, etc.).
• Maintaining a database of off-campus sites, including contract expiration dates, last time a student was placed, history of supervision/students, etc.
• Implementing new contractual agreements between SJSU and off -site clinical placements, including communication with placements on the standard affiliation agreement and communication with the university procurement officer on non-standard affiliation agreements.
• Maintaining contractual agreements between the department and off-site clinical placements, including communication with placements on the standard affiliation agreement and communication with the university procurement officer on non-standard affiliation agreements.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a multicultural population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching and other comparable experience.
• Knowledge of the subject matter of the discipline to which the individual is assigned.
• Ability to relate well to others within the academic environment and ability to instruct and evaluate others.
• Evidence of satisfactory achievement in previous academic work.
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
• Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly learn, SJSU policies, procedures, and requirements related to student teaching placements.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to issues faced by students from minoritized communities including first generation students
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective, cooperative, and harmonious working relationships in circumstances that involve the denial of requests or the necessity to persuade others to accept a different point of view.
• Experience collaborating effectively with administrators, professional staff, and faculty to support student growth and retention.
• Experience carrying out complex assignments without detailed instructions.
• Experience collecting and evaluating data to organize complex information.
• Experience interpreting and applying program rules and regulations; using initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to use software applications such as google docs/drives, excel spreadsheets, word processing, and databases.
• Knowledge of and ability to consistently apply FERPA regulations; awareness of the importance of student confidentiality.
• Experience managing time in order to be most available to students and faculty while maintaining appropriate response time for phone and email messages.
• Strong-problem solving and creative thinking skills, as well as exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Willingness and experience to present information to student groups.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Experience working in a self-directed environment and as a member of an interactive and collaborative team.
• Experience maintaining documentation for accountability purposes.
• Ability to work with representatives from public and private entities and handle potentially sensitive situations.
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training.
• Six years of administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.A. or M.S. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology and CA License in Speech-Language Pathology.
• Record of successful teaching, and/or clinical practice in speech-language pathology.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to teach graduate speech-language pathology students.
• Experience in academic setting.

Compensation

Classification: Administrative Analyst/Specialist – Exempt III

Anticipated Hiring Range: $6,970/month - $7,437/month

CSU Salary Range: $6,970/month - $13,544/month

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: May 15, 2024 through June 1, 2024. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel

jobs@sjsu.edu

408-924-2252