In 1969
the Board of Regents approveed the status change from DEPARTMENT TO THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE Dr. Arthur Katz, dean at this time, was the proponent of naming the School the School of Social Welfare instead of the School of Social Work, as he believed the broader term “social welfare” provided more flexibility and the possibility to allow for future program offerings other than social work. In addition, he rejected the invitation to have the newly named School part of the graduate division; therefore, making the School of Social Welfare the third school at KU to have independent status following in the footsteps of the School of Medicine and the School of Law.
TRANSFORMING LIVES FOR MORE THAN 83 YEARS SINCE 1937
In 1972
the BSW PROGRAM was FULLY ACCREDITED after receiving temporary accreditation approval status in 1970
In 1937, the KU Sociology Department recruited Esther Twente to join faculty by invitation from Dr. Carroll Clark, chairman of the Sociology Department, to develop a social work curriculum for the department.
the University of Kansas (KU) has offered SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION Growing interest for a needed graduate program and the decision to join the American Association of Schools (now the Council on Social Work Education).
In 1946
In 1974
TWENTE HALL S O C I A L W E L FA R E
the School of Social Welfare renovated the vacant student health center and hospital building located on the Lawrence campus and named its NEW HOME TWENTE HALL, in honor of Ester Twente, founder of the social welfare program at KU
In 1981
the School LAUNCHED its DOCTORAL PROGRAM and admitted its first cohort of five students
the Department of Social Work was created, and curriculum for a BA DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN SOCIAL WORK and a CERTIFICATE IN SOCIAL WORK AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL was launched
In 1947
Shortly after the unveiling of the program, George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University decided to close its Kansas City unit, which offered KU the opportunity to quickly move from offering a BA to a MSW.
the Kansas Board of Regents approved the arrangement and the MSW was OFFICIALLY ACCREDITED
In 1949 4
the first graduating class included TWO STUDENTS who earned a BA and the FIRST SEVEN STUDENTS to earn their MSW
In 1989
then recently appointed dean Ann Weick and colleagues at KU were the first to FORMALLY NAME AND ARTICULATE THE STRENGTHS PERSPECTIVE in an essay for the journal Social Work (Weick, Rapp, Sullivan, & Kisthardt, 1989) They summarized its main insight this way, “All people possess a wide range of talents, abilities, capacities, skills, resources, and aspirations… a belief in human potential is tied to the notion that people have untapped, undetermined reservoirs of mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual abilities that can be expressed. The presence of this capacity for continued growth and heightened well-being means that people must be accorded the respect that this power deserves” (p. 352). Learn more about the strengths perspective history at socwel.ku.edu/strengths-perspective. 5
STRATEGIC PLANNING JOURNEY
REVIEWED PAST RESEARCH
PhD Student Survey 2016, Implicit Survey 2015-16, School of Social Welfare Admitted MSW Survey 2015-16, School of Social Welfare Destination Survey 2014-15, School of Social Welfare Senior Survey 2014, Academic Information Management System Student Satisfaction Measures 2013-14, KU Alumni Survey 2013
HELD STAKEHOLDER FOCUS GROUPS
Faculty, Research Center Directors, Research Staff, Student Services, Field Education, Advisory Board
2016
CONDUCTED STAKEHOLDER SURVEY
September 2016 survey of current KU pre social welfare, BSW, MSW, and PhD students, alumni, field liaisons, instructors, and agencies, adjunct instructors on key questions about perceptions and hopes for the future of the School
DISCOVERY PHASE implemented
Faculty and staff retreat to realize a COMMON VISION
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sep.
MISSION REVISION COMMITTEE organized
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
VISIONING TEAM appointed
Follow-up faculty and staff retreat to develop NEXT STEPS
DISCOVERY PHASE analyzed and reported to faculty and staff and INNOVATIONS list created and mapped to visioning wheel
2017
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE
Our Vision & Mission All individuals, families, & communities utilize their power to achieve justice, equity, & well-being. The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, rooted in the Strengths Perspective, aims to transform lives and social contexts and promote social, economic, and environmental justice in Kansas, the nation and the world. We do so by educating students to practice with integrity and competence; advancing the science and knowledge base of social work through scholarship and research; and participating in community-engaged service.
Guiding Principles & Values Relationship Building: We engage in relationship building that fosters creativity, collaboration, and mutual learning. Relationship building is essential across practice, scholarship, education and service. We take a strengths approach as we serve our local, state, national, and global communities. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We embrace the inherent worth of all people. By taking the position of cultural humility and applying the lens of intersectionality, we seek to develop and promote modes of anti-oppressive social work and dismantle structures of exclusion. Practice with Integrity: We demonstrate our integrity and trustworthiness as scholars, educators, practitioners, and community members by promoting social work values, ethical practice, and the process of critical reflection. Multisystem Competency: We recognize that social, economic, and environmental injustices are the root causes of inequities and multiple strategies are necessary to address these. Our work integrates micro/macro social work and builds collaboration across systems and disciplines to create multi-level change. Critical Perspective: We engage in deliberate and continuing examination of social conditions and solutions. We use critical inquiry to analyze and challenge existing structures and systems in order to advance the field and promote social, economic, and environmental justice. Empirically Informed Social Work: We rigorously advance empirical research that impacts the social work knowledge base. By translating and applying evidence, we continually transform practice and policy across multiple systems.
Goals To prepare B.S.W., M.S.W. and Ph.D. students to practice with integrity and attain multi-level competency while working to promote well-being and build community. To conduct, disseminate, and translate theoretical and empirically informed scholarship and research that impacts the social work knowledge base and transforms practice and policy. To promote social, economic, and environmental justice through service at local, state, national, and international levels.
Jan.
6
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Mission Revision committee proposed NEW VISION, MISSION, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND VALUES, AND GOALS to faculty for approval
May
Jun.
MICHELLE MOHR CARNEY officially starts as Dean of the School of Social Welfare
Jul.
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Fall Semester - Dean Carney gathers input from INTERNAL & COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS
7
2018 Faculty and staff retreat to share the DEAN’S SIX STRATEGIC PRIORITIES & the academic programs, research, recruitment, communications and advancement strategic plans
CURRICULUM RE-IMAGINING TEAM formed to develop the process for curriculum revisions
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
A FOCUS ON STRENGTHS A VISION OF JUSTICE A MISSION OF CHANGE
INNOVATIONS LIST analyzed by faculty and staff
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
CURRICULUM INNOVATIONS COMMITTEE appointed and divided into subcommittees to analyze existing research involving innovations & gather more information surrounding potential curriculum innovations
through
Reinventing. Innovation.Transforming. Education.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
2019 SCHOOL’S STRATEGIC PLAN release & asked for feedback
Jan.
Sep.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Jun.
Rooted in the Strengths Perspective, our direction is clear – to transform lives and social contexts and to promote social,
Workshop, research publication, alumni events, new donors/ student emergency fund, building mini makeover, admitting
economic and environmental justice. As social workers, we have dedicated our lives to the betterment of society and
PhD cohort, faculty and staff leadership positions nationally, student outreach - Cookies and Conversations with Carney,
advocating for our most vulnerable populations. No other profession claims for itself such a broad mandate as social work!
living/learning community, pathways to the profession, freshman admit, child welfare certificate.
As a profession committed to social justice, with deep
We have been making great progress, but it doesn’t stop here. A strategic plan is crucial to guide the efforts and to
heritage and a long history of helping people and being change agents, it is our responsibility to grow and continually
focus our priorities, so we can continue to make a difference and be leaders in our community in promoting a diverse,
improve the profession through growing the social work community and sharing our scholarship and research with our partners. Among the greatest assets of the School are our
equitable and inclusive environment for everyone.
people. By leveraging our research and teaching expertise, encouraging a supportive environment through faculty and
stakeholders, which started by assessing strengths and challenges revealed through the visioning and mission
staff collaboration, and ensuring all actions are supporting a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment, we can truely make an impact on the community, nation and the world.
work and continues to evolve with continued conversation, reinvention and innovation. The plan aligns goals and stategies with measurable tactics to guide and achieve our
When we excel together, our success can not only help one person in need, we can transform lives.
priorities in innovation adn quality in education, faculty and staff engagement, research advancement, community
Our priorities and actions are based on input from community
We celebrate some of the successes that we have already
engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion, and effective communication.
accomplished in one year: new budget director, model & transparent process, successful search - three new t/tt faculty members, new professors of the practice, new staff,
We know the School’s vision, “all individual, families and communities utilize their power to achieve justice, equity, and
DEI associate dean position, CSWE self-study, CSWE site visit, KBOR report, KU program report, expanded western Kansas MSW program, successfully tenured & promoted
well-being,” is arduous, and we can’t achieve it individually. By supporting each other, continually communicating and being transparent, we believe each day will bring us closer to
four faculty & promoted one to full professor, increased marketing/public relations, MSW student standards &
realizing this momentous vision in front of us.
advancement policy work, curricula revision plan, Research Impact Talks/Child Welfare conference/Needs Assessment
This is a working document, so in the future, please visit socwel.ku.edu/strategicplan2018 for the most current version. 1
Jul.
KU launches Chancellor’s VISION & MISSION
Aug.
Sep.
KU holds campus wide VISIONING DAY
Oct.
Nov. Dec.
View at http://ku.edu/strategic-planning-2020
2020 KU STRATEGIC PLAN release on May 1
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
KU work groups identified, objectives and strategies finalized to create the DRAFTED PLAN
8
Apr.
May
KU distributes DRAFT PLAN for review & revision
Narrowed six priorities into four broad areas to create FOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
School ADJUSTS ITS STRATEGIC PLAN to ensure alignment and coordination with the KU plan
School distributes DRAFT PLAN with new changes for review
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
SCHOOL’S STRATEGIC PLAN released with revisions on Dec. 31 9