The School of Social Welfare is committed to building a more equitable society based on the values of human dignity, inclusiveness, diversity, equality, and on economic, environmental and social justice. 

By advancing knowledge, engaging in systematic inquiry, and developing professional skills, we prepare students for social work practice and leadership with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and governments in a global context. The School teaches a person-in-environment perspective, community advocacy, therapeutic intervention, individual and group empowerment, and the affirmation of strengths as a means of promoting individual and social change. As an integral part of our student-centered and evidence-informed pedagogy, we prepare students to identify and analyze the nature and extent of structural inequality. We focus in particular, on social welfare leadership as a pathway to enhance emotional, psychological and social well-being. We work closely with the university and greater community to fulfill this mission.

We recognize that structural inequality exists in multiple and overlapping layers of discrimination including class, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, age and disability, among others.  We therefore seek to remediate the impact of interpersonal and historical trauma, to foster human relationships that are grounded in social justice; human dignity and mutual respect; to develop new and just organizational forms; to transform already existing structures to reflect values that affirm and enhance human dignity and social diversity; and to identify new ways to influence social, economic and political systems to equitably distribute power, resources, rights and freedom.

Strategic Plan 2020-2023