Baylor seeks to foster a vibrant, caring, global community where every person can thrive and each member of the community works toward being a reflection of God’s love for every person. We must be attentive to our Baylor community culture, nurturing growth in existing areas while also seeking new opportunities to illustrate how our differences make us stronger. Baylor will strive to be a place where civility, respect and the ability to communicate in a way that is invitational to others. We will grow by embracing our differences, expanding global partnerships—especially in Latin America, our closest international neighbor—and deepening alumni connections. In addition, through the arts and local collaboration, we will seek to enrich campus life and strengthen our role as good neighbors in Waco, across Texas and beyond. The University has prioritized seven institutional-level strategies through Commitment III. In support of this Commitment, 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 strengthen our care and connections through embedded resources for students and scholarship development for students working with marginalized identities. (1c)
3.1.1 Dean will seek to develop new scholarships in support of students working with marginalized populations.
The GSSW will pay attention to the well-being, mental health, and belonging of our faculty and staff through opportunities for individual feedback, structural hospitality, and recurring assessments.
The GSSW will provide staff and faculty with structural benefits such as weekly wellness hours and flexible scheduling.
3.2.1 ADDEI will support reassessment of faculty and staff belonging/workload.
3.2.2 Dean will focus on building culture of belonging as part of each faculty/staff meeting in GSSW.
The GML Program will continue to strengthen partnerships with international alumni who lead non-government, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations around the world to recruit students and support alumni. (3, 4a, 4b)
The GSSW will develop new scholarship opportunities to expand the reach of the GML both in social work and with interdisciplinary options. (and C1, 3f)
The GSSW will provide opportunity for GSSW alumni to continue to flourish professionally through continuing education opportunities with our Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I), our practicum office, and interdisciplinary guest lectures. (6b)
The GSSW will expand opportunities for student service and engagement with community experts through into new and diverse practicum sites, practitioner development workshops, and federal work-study collaboration with community agencies. (7b)
3.7.1 Director of practicum will continue to strengthen community engagement as measured by self-study.
(#) denotes how this strategy maps back to Baylor in Deeds.