The work of a Christian research university must be informed, first and foremost, by its faith commitment. It is crucial that Baylor be recognized as a global expert on issues at the intersection of Christianity and society. As Christians, we are uniquely called to love God and neighbor, to be faithful and wise stewards of God’s creation, to care for the sick and wounded, to feed the hungry, and to stand up for and attend to the needs of “the least of these.” In doing so, Baylor has an opportunity to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.
Contributing meaningfully to society’s greatest challenges through research will require us to think and act beyond our comfort zone, to move beyond our siloed areas of interest and expertise, and to embrace collaboration at the intersection of where a global Baylor meets a diverse and complex world. The University' seven Commitment II Strategies are focused on building systems to support growth in existing areas of research excellence and developing new areas, supported by an infrastructure that values innovation and elevates interdisciplinarity. In support of Commitment II, the Garland School of Social Work will focus on the selected University strategies listed below. Here you will find our actionable items in support of these strategies alongside our key performance indicators (or KPIs).
The GSSW will ensure new research faculty and staff hires have a demonstrated (capacity for) capability and desire for interdisciplinary research through their records of publication and grants and opportunity to collaborate across disciplines at Baylor.
2.1.1 Begin measure of interdisciplinary grant and publication involvement as part of annual review of faculty.
2.1.2 Develop transformative initiative focused on mental health with interdisciplinary leadership and faculty involvement.
The GSSW’s next research faculty hire will focus on mental/behavioral health research. (2a)
The GSSW will promote interdisciplinary research in mental, behavioral, and cognitive health and human flourishing across the lifespan with partners across campus. (2a, (2b)
2.2.1 Create faculty search committee for fall 2025 with focus on mental health research and teaching.
2.2.2 ADR and Director of Grants and Research will foster support of health related research funding for 25% of new projects (see 2.1.2).
2.2.3 ADR will foster interdisciplinary mental health research as GSSW research strength.
The GSSW will develop competencies in teaching and research for the use of emerging technologies and generative artificial intelligence in social work and allied health professions. (4b)
2.4.1 Faculty will begin to understand and incorporate role of AI for SW practice in teaching and research.
The GSSW will build on historical relationship with the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty to identify research partnerships and propose hire of research faculty member (endowed chair) to conduct interdisciplinary research in partnership with BCHP. (5b)
The GSSW will build upon recent funded interdisciplinary research efforts related to food and economic security and disabilities among our faculty. (5b, 5c)
2.5.1 Seek funding for endowed chair in poverty and hunger studies.
2.5.2 ADR and Director of Grants and Research will support hunger and poverty research opportunities with BCHP.
The GSSW will foster opportunities for faculty to connect across schools and departments as it relates to topics of shared interest, supporting an annual interdisciplinary research retreat.
The GSSW will ensure a majority of our grants have interdisciplinary components, either through an interdisciplinary investigator team or research impact.
2.7.1 ADR will develop interdisciplinary writing retreat.
2.7.2 (see 2.1.1)
(#) denotes how this strategy maps back to Baylor in Deeds.