Mission and Vision

The mission of Indiana University School of Social Work is to advance just and thriving local and global communities. We prepare competent, ethical, and socially and culturally responsive social work practitioners through applied learning, research, and community-engaged practice to promote human well-being and community transformation to challenge the conditions that marginalize, under-serve, or under-resource individuals, families, organizations, and communities.

The Indiana University School of Social Work envisions a just and thriving global society where individuals, families, and communities experience dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunity. As a nationally and internationally recognized R1 institution, we lead transformative social work education, research, and community engagement that promotes human rights and strengthens local and global communities.

Our innovative leadership, culturally and socially responsive, anti-oppressive practices, and dynamic partnerships prepare ethical and competent social work practitioners and leaders to confront the world’s most pressing social and economic challenges.

We live this value by:

• Leading in progressive curriculum development and standards-based education to strengthen effective teaching and learning.
• Ensuring curriculum quality through rigorous evaluation.
• Creating a culture of academic and research excellence that supports systematic, transferable knowledge and skills.
• Providing educational experiences that equip our students to promote well-being for individuals, families, communities, and organizations.

We live this value by:

• Demonstrating equity and inclusion through ethical practice to ensure that all voices are heard, respected, and considered.
• Practicing collaborative and transparent decision making that engages and responds to all individuals regardless of rank or status.
• Emphasizing diversity as a critical value in implementing collaborative community-wide system initiatives.
• Providing educational experiences that equip our students to promote well-being for individuals, families, communities, and organizations.

We live this value by:

• Modeling formal and informal leadership through education, scholarship, and service.
• Fostering engagement and communications within and across our systems with transparency, collaboration, and strong interpersonal relationships.
• Being stewards of a well-defined and transparent infrastructure to support students and all constituents.
• Providing educational experiences that equip our students to promote well-being for individuals, families, communities, and organizations.

We live this value by:

• Ensuring the ideals of the profession are apparent in all of our interactions with one another and the community.
• Engaging meaningfully with our alumni throughout their professional careers.
• Adhering to the profession’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Technology in social work education and practice.
• Maintaining the standards of professional practice, including but not limited to, licensure requirements, continuing education, certifications, and professional development.
• Developing dynamic partnerships and innovative solutions with the community at large.

We live this value by:

• Supporting faculty and staff by creating multiple pathways for success, recognition, compensation, and opportunities to contribute and grow.
• Demonstrating a commitment to clear, fair, and effective hiring and retention practices.

We live this value by:

• Demonstrating integrity in the admissions process by welcoming students who are committed to advocating for social justice.
• Providing quality education that inspires future social work practitioners to be curious lifelong learners that seek best and evidence-based practices for a diverse world.
• Providing our students with consistent, high-quality principle-based education responsive to emerging social, environmental, and economic needs.
• Employing an experiential and affective learning platform in class and field education.
• Seeking and supporting an inclusive and diverse student body by providing fair, transparent, consistent, and efficient recruitment, admissions, and retention processes.
• Relying on rigorous academic standards, a supportive environment to enhance student wellbeing, and incorporation of student voices during their time at the School.