Strategic Plan

School of Social Work (SSW) Strategic Plan 2023-2028

Mission Statement (updated Feb. 2026)

The Bridgewater State University School of Social Work prepares students for the profession through transformative coursework and experiential practicum education opportunities that foster interprofessional collaboration. We develop visionary leaders who champion equity, justice, anti-oppressive practices and policies to advance the well-being of individuals and communities.

Preamble

Implementation of this strategic plan requires a culture that is committed to respect for each other, the willingness to have difficult dialogues, and hold each other accountable for our successes and for overcoming our challenges. The spirit of inclusion in our efforts will include engagement of SSW (School of Social Work) constituents—students, alums, community partners, legislative/governmental and other stakeholders in problem-solving and implementation. We will continue to create a culture with members who strive to overcome internal challenges related to inclusion, equity, power, and privilege.

The BSU SSW Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Ability (DEIA) Committee statement guides the execution of our strategic plan:

The Bridgewater State University School of Social Work faculty and staff are committed to inclusive education and to equity and social justice. We recognize the dimensions of diversity include the intersectionality of social identities including age, class, race, ethnicity, culture, disability and ability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, immigration status, nationality, religion, and tribal sovereign status.

The School of Social Work faculty and staff appreciate that these social identities exist within systems of oppression and privilege, resulting in experiences of marginalization, poverty, discrimination, and advantage. We work actively to pursue equity, inclusion, and social justice for our students and faculty/staff, as well as the larger community, through the rejection of white supremacy culture, and the intentional dismantling of institutionally oppressive structures.

We welcome all students to the School of Social Work and offer you a place of inclusion, acceptance, and support.

Strategic Goal 1: Strengthen a justice-informed identity

Objectives:

A.  Develop and critique SSW policies using current best practices with a social justice lens:

1. Develop clear policy/governance (internal SSW operation) processes that are participatory and inclusive of all faculty by Fall 2021.
2. Facilitate increased MSW/BSW program integration.
3. Ensure policy processes include consideration of existing university policy and stakeholder perspectives.

B.  Recruit and retain racially diverse faculty and staff

1. Provide formal mentorship for junior faculty from Chair, Program Coordinators etc., facilitate access to resources, offer more organized ways to get to know SSW faculty, as well as increase 1-1 orientation and support for tenure-track and part-time faculty. (Orientation, brown bag lunch gatherings, junior faculty and staff gatherings with senior faculty and staff.
2. Increase diversity in part- and full-time faculty and staff.
   1. Gather data about student, staff and faculty diversity factors and retention to better meet student and faculty needs.
3. Examine White Supremacy Culture and its impact on BSU (Bridgewater State University) and SSW hiring of racially diverse faculty and their retention.

C.  Infuse social justice content throughout the curriculum sequentially from the generalist through specialized years so that students develop and integrate their own philosophy of social justice-informed social work practice.

1. Review the BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) and MSW (Master of Social Work) curricula ensuring that:
   1. Issues of social justice are addressed in each course with content appropriate to the generalist and specialized year curriculum, guided by the DEIA Diversity and Social Justice Action Plan.
   2. Explore/increase opportunities for leadership, community interaction/involvement, and participatory action.
2. Build a range of tools and resources through which to deliver social justice related content:
   1. Resources to reflect current issues and in student’s “language.”
   2. Selection of tools and resources informed by collaboration with social justice minded agencies, programs, and institutions.
   3. Resources for content also include expertise of faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders.
3. Provide more organized time for faculty/staff discussion of justice informed dynamics of privilege and oppression and related teaching/administrative strategies.

D.  Provide Justice-Informed Student Services 

1. Explore course scheduling and delivery options to best meet the needs of current and prospective students in the BSW and MSW programs based on relevant data. 
2. Strengthen student support within the School of Social Work, including the continuation of community town halls. 
3. Develop alternative degree pathways within the SSW and best options for students unable to meet BSW degree standards with attention to issues of time, cost, dignity, and justice.

E.  Enhance the justice-informed reputation of SSW and the reputation of our school, faculty, staff, and students regionally and nationally at social work conferences/ presentations, service on national committees, site visits, NASW (National Association of Social Workers) local or national venues.

Strategic Goal 2: Prepare for and successfully achieve CSWE Accreditation in 2028 when the BSW and MSW programs are aligned for reaccreditation

Objectives:

A.  Identify faculty and staff to participate in training for the 2022 EPAS (Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards) and implement necessary changes to curriculum by fall 2024.

B.  Decide on the process and timeline for writing the self-study.

C.  Stay focused on assessment efforts for both programs.

Strategic Goal 3: Provide expanded educational offerings providing greater access to our BSU SSW programs, meeting contemporary needs in practice and growing revenues for SSW

Objectives:

A.  Support the MSW Saturday Program (ongoing).

B.  Exploration and launch of BSW evening program (ongoing).

C.  Consider opportunities that align with our justice-informed focus, values, and workforce needs.

D.  Publicize the expedited admissions from BSW to MSW.

E.  Consider moderate expansion of the Professional Development Institute (PDI).

Strategic Goal 4: Implement new and enhanced experiential and applied innovations in teaching and learning

Objectives:

A.  Embrace additional opportunities for experiential and applied learning (study abroad, simulation, domestic travel courses, case method teaching, etc.). 

B.  Identify applied and experiential learning opportunities that are social justice informed and attend to the needs and experiences of our diverse student body.

C.  Provide faculty development and expand the use of case method teaching in the School of Social Work for courses and/or a second-year capstone course.

D.  Encourage faculty and staff learning of new pedagogy and methods.

E.  Take inventory of faculty, staff, and student workloads and academic assignments by programs and field education. Reflect upon ways to simplify and streamline innovations and methods while maintaining CSWE (Council of Social Work Education) standards and outcomes.

Strategic Goal 5: Build community partnerships (especially/including field internships) that align with our values, support workforce development, and address student retention (including economic resources such as paid internships)

Objectives:

A.  Develop community partnerships for tuition-revenue share—access and workforce development (e.g., JRI).

B.  Continue biannual advisory committee meetings.

C.  Continue to engage and pursue opportunities for external funding for our students from private and public courses and funds to enhance BSUSSW’s goals and strategic plan.