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About GADE - Group for Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work

GADE Strategic Plan

Mission

Promote rigor in doctoral education in social work, focusing on preparing scholars, researchers, and educators who function as stewards of the discipline.

Goal 1: GADE will build the capacity of doctoral programs to prepare scholars, researchers, and educators who function as stewards of the discipline.

  • Objective #1: GADE will develop and provide information on best practices related to social work doctoral program education and doctoral program administration 
    • Activity #1: GADE will continue to ensure that the GADE annual conference has a balanced focus on both broad trends in the field of social work scholarship as well as doctoral program administration. 
    • Activity #2: GADE will develop and/or co-host events at other conferences attended by GADE members and others interested in doctoral education to formally and informally network and to learn about best practices in doctoral education. 
    • Activity #3: GADE will develop a handbook on doctoral program administration that will be available to doctoral program administrators. 
    • Activity #4: GADE will make relevant materials broadly available, such as video recordings of presentations, PowerPoints, and conference materials.  
    • Activity #5: GADE will update the PhD quality guidelines as needed. 
    • Activity #6: GADE will develop a list of former GADE members (GADE Alumni) who will receive bi-annual updates regarding GADE and be invited to select GADE events. 
    • Activity #7: GADE will continue to host the popular GADE listserv.

GOAL 2: GADE will be recognized as the leading voice for issues related to doctoral education

  • Objective #1: GADE will increase strategic alliances with other organizations (e.g. NADD, SSWR, CSWE, Associate Deans of Research, SSWR’s Research Development Capacity Committee) similarly invested in how doctoral programs promote scholars, researchers, and educators who function as stewards of the discipline. 
    • Activity 1: GADE Steering Committee members will regularly attend meetings with partner organizations, including NADD, SSWR, CSWE, the St. Louis Group, the Leadership Forum, and the Leadership Roundtable 
    • Activity #2: GADE members will be represented on committees, task forces and sub-committees addressing research capacity and educational development for social work education.  
  • Objective #2: GADE will provide more opportunities for those interested in doctoral education to be involved in discussions about best practices in doctoral education.
    • Activity #1: GADE will help facilitate the development of a Special Interest Group at SSWR for PhD Program Directors. 
    • Activity #2: GADE will collaborate with SSWR in developing a preconference institute at SSWR for those interested in doctoral education (first year: focus on models of dissertations). 
    • Activity #3: GADE will continue co-sponsoring the CSWE doctoral student breakfast and will make a partnership presentation on “preparing for the academic job market”.  
  • Objective #3: GADE will improve strategic communications to ensure that relevant stakeholders understand the role of GADE. 
    • Activity #1: GADE members will be encouraged to seek leadership roles in national organizations.

Goal 3: GADE will recognize excellence in doctoral education.

  • Objective #1: GADE will continue to recognize and promote outstanding achievements among doctoral students.
    • Activity #1: GADE will increase participation in doctoral student award reviewing, including participation by GADE alumni as award reviewers. 
    • Activity #2: GADE will develop new strategies to provide recognition to award winners.  
  • Objective #2: GADE will recognize and promote outstanding faculty contributions to doctoral student education.
    • Activity 1: GADE will develop a new faculty award in educational leadership in doctoral education. 
    • Activity #2: GADE will develop a new faculty award in excellence in mentoring of doctoral students.

Goal 4: GADE will enhance its ability to provide leadership in the field.

  • Objective #1: GADE will enhance its internal capacity to provide leadership in the field. 
    • Activity #1: GADE will develop a plan to increase resources for the organization. 
    • Activity #2: GADE will develop a plan to provide ongoing staff support for GADE. 
    • Activity #3: GADE will develop an annual budget. 
    • Activity #4: GADE will create MOUs for conferences. 
    • Activity #5: GADE will create an advisory panel consisting of GADE alumni that meet bi-annually. 
    • Activity #6: GADE will review and revise its constitution and bylaws to fit with changing nature of GADE as needed. 
  • Objective #2: GADE will increase its ability to communicate with doctoral program directors and other constituents.
    • Activity #1: GADE will update and maintain an excellent website about doctoral education in social work. 
    • Activity #2: GADE will increase awareness of its role in preparing scholars, researchers, and educators through creating a communication strategy. 
    • Activity #3: GADE will create a communications strategy that can reach the larger audience of faculty interested in doctoral education.

Approved by the GADE Steering Committee, March 30, 2016.