Mission

The mission of the University of Maine School of Social Work is to improve the quality of life for all people by promoting excellence in social work practice.  We view the domain of social work as the promotion of social justice, celebration of diversity, elimination of oppression, and promotion of human achievement and well being of people across the entire life span, all of which are essential characteristics of a society in which individuals and groups can exercise their rights to grow and realize their potential to its fullest.  In keeping with the Land Grant mission of the University of Maine, the School carries a special responsibility to work toward these ends on behalf of the people of Maine. In defining our mission, the School of Social Work builds on the University of Maine’s commitment to scholarship, outreach and service, its quest for “honor[ing] the heritage and diversity of our state and nation,” its vision for “inspired and dedicated teaching.”

Students studying at Fogler Library
Students Studying at Fogler Library

Consistent with the mission, the School of Social Work has four goals:

  1. To educate competent and effective baccalaureate and masters social workers for professional social work practice with particular regard for providing knowledge and skills relevant to serving the people of rural areas and small communities characteristic of the State of Maine;
  2. To improve social work practice by providing continuing educational and professional development opportunities open to all social workers wishing to examine their values, increase their knowledge and improve their practice skills;
  3. To contribute to the knowledge base of the social work profession through faculty research and scholarship, student-faculty collaborative inquiry, and promotion of knowledge development within the social work community;
  4. To render service and function as an academic resource center to local, state, national, and international social service communities and to those concerned with social welfare.

Achievement of each of these goals is guided by a philosophical framework which synthesizes a liberal arts foundation, a systems world view, principles of the generalist perspective and social work values and ethics as set forth by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.