2019-2020
Introduction In fall 2018, Associate Dean for Research Amy Mendenhall worked closely with research staff and faculty through one-onone and school-wide meetings to establish seven priorities for the Social Welfare Research Office with the goal of strengthening, growing and promoting the School’s research and scholarship activity. These priority areas directly contribute to our School’s mission to advance the science and knowledge base of social work through scholarship and research and to participate in community-engaged services: Priority 1: Update and develop policies and procedures that relate to research activities within the School Priority 2: Expand internal research development support for applying for and securing external funding Priority 3: Improve internal grant management support available to researchers after securing external funding Priority 4: Expand efforts around promotion and dissemination of scholarship Priority 5: Increase communication and collaboration internally around scholarship Priority 6: Create stronger engagement & connection with external community regarding research/scholarship & training Priority 7: Increase integration of research and academic efforts in the School With the development of strategic priorities to guide Social Welfare Research Office activities, the identification of metrics to track the impact of our work was an essential next step. A workgroup convened throughout the ‘18-19 academic year to outline and define metrics relating to the priority areas. Now with this second annual report, it has been impressive to see our School’s collective research accomplishments, and where we have grown or changed over the past few years. Each of the priority areas is highlighted below with historical comparable information going back as far as 2016 for some metrics. The Social Welfare Research Office compiles this data throughout the year with an annual report available at the start of each academic year. *Please note: the first priority does not have any measurable metrics to track, thus not included.