The mission of The University of Iowa School of Social Work is to build knowledge about compelling social welfare issues, policies and practice interventions and integrate that knowledge in teaching and public service. Using family-centered and community-based practice approaches, the School prepares highly qualified, culturally competent social work scholars and practitioners with a commitment to social justice and social work values and ethics. The public service mission is to promote the application of these theories and practice approaches to the development, implementation and evaluation of social welfare policy and practice with vulnerable populations, especially children and the elderly.
	In addition to the core values of the broader University, the School's organizing principles are consistent with family-centered and community-based practice principles. The School uses these principles to guide our organizational processes and educational programs: Mutuality  Collaboration  Contextual  Strengths focus  Cultural competence  Teamwork Advocacy
	The University of Iowa School of Social Work has a long tradition of innovation in social work education, research and public service. The School's National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice (NRC/FCP), Creative Writing Workshop, Child Welfare Traineeships, Mexico Travel Study Seminar, West Liberty Community Partnership Project and partnership in the international journal, Social Development Issues, are among the unique features of the School. Our distinctiveness resides in the family-centered and community-based approach and in the interdisciplinary and inter-cultural focus of our educational programs on the undergraduate and graduate levels.
	Goal 1.	Articulate a vision of social work education that demonstrates the centrality of research to our mission.
	Objective 1.1:	Increase knowledge for teaching practice and policy.
	Indicator 1.1.a.	Establishment of the Center for Social Work Research and Training on Families and Communities.
	Indicator 1.1.b.	Integration of faculty and NRC/FCP staff research in curriculum innovations and course revisions.
	Indicator 1.1.c.	Increase in articles in statewide and national media regarding the contributions of faculty and NRC/FCP research projects to teaching and practice.
	Objective 1.2	Increase influence of faculty and staff research and expertise on development of state and national policy.
	Indicator 1.2.a.	Increase in faculty and staff collaborations with state policy makers.
	Indicator 1.2.b.	Increase in faculty and staff participation in policy debates.
	Objective 1.3	Increase the visibility of the School of Social Work as a leader in social welfare research and education.
	Indicator 1.3.a.	Increase in faculty publications in major social work and social science journals.
	Indicator 1.3.b.	Increase in faculty presentations at national conferences.
	Indicator 1.3.c.	Increase in faculty participation as journal and grant reviewers.
	Goal 2.	Shape, strengthen, and develop our undergraduate and graduate curricula, making the best use of teaching resources and emerging technologies.
	Objective 2.1	Maximize efficient and effective use of faculty teaching efforts.
	Indicator 2.1.a.	Increase opportunities for faculty to teach electives in areas of expertise.
	Indicator 2.1.b.	Increase in number of faculty teaching at more than one program level.
	Indicator 2.1.c.	Increase in number of faculty teaching at more than one site.
	Objective 2.2	Use emerging technology appropriately to enhance delivery of curriculum.
	Indicator 2.2.a.	Increase in use of ICN to deliver appropriate off-campus courses.
	Indicator 2.2.b.	Increase in use of web technology.
	Indicator 2.2.c.	Joint courses with other academic institutions are offered using video conferencing and web technology.
	Objective 2.3	Maintain accredited status and continue to strengthen B.A., M.S.W. and Ph.D. programs.
	Indicator 2.3.a.	Appropriate numbers of students are recruited to maintain program viability at each level.
	Indicator 2.3.b.	Increase in financial support provided for students (i.e., traineeships, fellowships, scholarships and assistantships).
	Indicator 2.3.c.	Increase in family-centered and community-based content in the curriculum.
	Indicator 2.3.e.	Increase in integration of current trends and practice issues in the curriculum.
	Indicator 2.3.f.	Increase in student publications in major social work and social science journals.
	Indicator 2.3.g.	Increase in student presentations at state and national conferences.
	Indicator 2.3.h.	Increase in student external grants and awards.
	Objective 2.4	Use appropriate technology to increase off-campus students' access to main campus faculty and other educational resources.
	Indicator 2.4.a.	Increase in faculty/student interaction across sites using a variety of technologies.
	Indicator 2.4.b.	Increase in number of main campus faculty advising and supervising research of off-campus students.
	Goal 3.	Creatively support excellence and diversity in our faculty and staff.
	Objective 3.1	Achieve a faculty of sufficient size and rank to meet all program needs.
	Indicator 3.1.a.	Increase in number of associate and full professors.
	Indicator 3.1.b.	Increase in number of core courses taught by tenure track and clinical faculty.
	Indicator 3.1.c.	Major administrative functions are performed by tenure track and clinical faculty. (Back to top)