Mission Statement Approved in the December 2020 Faculty Meeting
From the beginning, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMD) at Louisiana State University (LSU) has been invested in the mission of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: ‘making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.’ But the events of 2020 have further opened our eyes to injustices that have long existed in the greater society, including our profession and department.
COMD faculty and staff are committed to having a department that is inclusive and anti-racist. As we move forward in this work, we will listen with humility to understand the experiences and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We will identify opportunities for self-education and clear action that will help transform the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology.
The racial and ethnic makeup of our profession does not adequately reflect the communities we serve. As in all academic fields, diverse voices improve our ability to train students, serve clients, and conduct research. Our members work primarily in healthcare and education; these are institutions where disparities are highly evident and impactful. We know we are part of a society that has been shaped by racism, and these experiences have shaped all of us regardless of our intentions. We know we must be agents of systemic change, and we invite you to help us and hold us accountable.
COMD faculty and staff pledge to modify our academic program and departmental practices. We will add educational requirements for faculty, staff, and students. We will increase our efforts to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive department to the benefit of individuals from all racial, cultural, gender, and linguistic backgrounds. This work will reverberate throughout our communities, professions, and workplaces. We welcome your input and feedback on our multi-year action plan. Feedback can be sent to comd_dei@lsu.edu.
LSU Diversity Statement
“LSU strives to create an inclusive, respectful, intellectually challenging climate that embraces individual differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, spirituality, socio-economic status, disability, family status, experiences, opinions, and ideas.” For more information regarding Diversity at LSU, please visit the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website, or contact them in 135 Thomas Boyd Hall, by phone 225-578-5736, or by email at diversity@lsu.edu.
COMD Commitment to Diversity
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is strongly committed to promoting diversity defined as, but not limited to age, race, color, creed, culture, ethnicity, religion, national origin, Any person who believes that he, she, or another person has been subjected to discrimination that is not permitted by this Policy, may file a complaint using the complaint and grievance procedure.
Policies and Procedures for Complaints
Complaints should be reported to LSU’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX. Reports can be made:
- in-person at 118 Himes Hall
- by phone at (225) 578-9000
- online on the LSU Cares website’s Bias or Discrimination Incident Report