Strategic Plan 2025-2030
A Strategic Plan for College of Social Work at the University of Utah.
The University of Utah College of Social Work, established in 1937, has long been a leader in social work education and innovation in the Intermountain West.
With a history rooted in advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and preparing skilled and compassionate practitioners, the college has continually evolved to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. Today, we stand on the cusp of a new chapter—one filled with possibility and purpose.
Social work, at its core, is a profession grounded in hope, resilience, and the belief in the potential for positive change. These same values have shaped this strategic plan, which reflects our unwavering optimism for the future of the college and our discipline. The challenges and transformations of recent years have only reinforced the critical importance of social work in building stronger, healthier communities. Across our state and nation, the call for innovative practices, community partnerships, and well-prepared social work professionals has never been more urgent—and the College of Social Work at the University of Utah is ready to answer that call.
This plan represents a shared vision for the future of our college. It builds on our strengths while focusing on the foundational pillars that define our mission: advancing cutting-edge research, fostering meaningful community partnerships, providing transformative educational experiences, and supporting the success of our students. By reinforcing our efforts in these areas, we not only respond to the needs of today; we also shape the future of social work, locally and nationally.
This ambitious undertaking would not have been possible without the contributions of our dedicated college community. We are deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external stakeholders who lent their voices, ideas, and expertise to this effort. Special thanks go to our steering committee and university leadership for their guidance in helping us articulate this bold vision for the college.
As we look ahead, we commit to investing in the resources, support systems, and collaborations needed to ensure our continued growth and impact. Together, we will advance research that transforms practice, forge partnerships that empower communities, and educate the next generation of social work leaders. With this plan as our guide, we are poised to lead with excellence, compassion, and integrity into a future brimming with opportunity.
Our Mission
The College of Social Work is dedicated to educating and training students, conducting
transformational research, and engaging with communities to promote social justice
and enhance well-being.
Our Vision
To lead as a nationally recognized college of social work, preparing future social
work leaders, conducting impactful research that improves lives, and driving change
for communities.
Our Values
Service
Social Justice
Integrity
Importance of Human Relationship
Dignity and Worth of the Person
Implementation
This plan charts a clear and distinctive path forward for the College of Social Work, rooted in our commitment to continuous improvement and meaningful impact.
We are committed to maintaining strong alignment with the priorities identified through the University’s current strategic planning process. Moving forward, we will focus on developing an implementation plan that outlines clear targets for all metrics and sets timelines for our work, ensuring accountability and progress tracking. Our aim is to continually reference this document as a college, ensuring timely progress and strategy-aligned decision making.
Priority Areas
This strategic plan outlines the path of the College of Social Work for the coming years.
It is focused on five priority areas, each with overarching goals that outline success, actionable strategies and initiatives to drive implementation, and measurable success metrics to ensure accountability. These priority areas anchor our strategic plan and will guide our path forward.
Advance Research and Discovery