The College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs is committed to creating and advancing an understanding of the human experience, both past and present. Through research, teaching, and service the college provides unique insights regarding social conditions and public policy while engaging student learning and providing service to its local, regional, national, and global communities.

• Recognized as a leader in informing public policy making in the state
• Expanded the number and enhanced the quality of graduate programs
• Recognized for outstanding teaching and student learning
• Enhanced research productivity

The faculty, staff, and administration of the College embrace the following values:

• A world view that imparts regional, national, and global perspectives;
• A belief that learning is a life-long process that involves participation by all community members;
• A desire to make applied and scholarly research central to the educational environment;
• A commitment to service through mutual partnerships with social and civic institutions and work with our professional colleagues at BSU and across the world;
• The worth of multiple strategies to address social and economic inequities; and
• A strong commitment to shared governance.

Academic Excellence

• Continuously improve instruction to the 23% of all BSU students who major in SSPA disciplines or take SSPA courses
• Prepare students for a diverse world through the multicultural components in core classes and several specialized majors/minors
• Build on the tradition of excellent teaching illustrated by SSPA's five Carnegie Teachers of the Year
• Foster undergraduate and graduate student learning through participation in research Public engagement

Vibrant Culture

• Enhance appreciation for civil discourse and reasoned decision-making
• Enhance appreciation for multiple cultures
• Develop network opportunities in the nonprofit, state, and federal government sectors, as well as the general community
• Respond to emerging issues with innovative curricula, events, and applied research

Public Engagement

• Place the university's largest percentage of students into internships & field placements
• Lead the state in conversations on public policy issues
• Engage campus and community in the local, state, national, and international themes that run through our disciplines

Excellence in Research

• Lead the state in research on public policy issues
• Enhance the capacity to conduct social science and public policy research

Goal 1
MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY STUDENT LEARNING AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

• Expand current excellence in student learning through internships, service learning, and participating in research projects
• Build long-term relationships with alumni
• Enhance the budget and staff in the Dean's office to support overall department and faculty ability to achieve academic excellence
• Engage in mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with business, nonprofit, and government entities to support the mission of the college
• Provide training in new instructional technologies and methods to enhance learning

Goal 2
BE STWEARDS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY LEADING THE COMMUNITY IN RESPONSIVE APPLIED RESEARCH THAT INTEGRATES THEORY, PRACTICE, AND STUDENT LEARNING

• Stabilize and fund the key centers within the college
• Increase research infrastructure and support
• Attract and retain faculty engaged in research
• Enhance external funding awards for research
• Provide training and support for faculty grant writing, including release time, budget assistance, etc.
• Work to build a budget of matching funds to open the door to match-required grants
• Work to build long-term relationships with alumni and other donors to fund research

Goal 3
MAKE RECOGNIZED CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOLARSHIP IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES

• Enhance support for faculty peer- reviewed research and scholarship projects and the dissemination of research results
• Enhance external funding awards for peer-reviewed research
• Provide training and support for faculty grant writing, including release time, budget assistance, etc.
• Work to build a budget of matching funds to open the door to match-required grants
• Work to build long-term relationships with alumni and other donors to fund research

Goal 4
LEAD THE STATE IN INFORMING PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

• Continue the Annual Public Policy Survey
• Continue the Bi-Annual State of the Region Report
• Continue to work with the Frank Church Institute Advisory Board in fostering the Annual Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs
• Be the "go to" entity for information on public policy issues by enhancing the capacity of the college to conduct research and write white papers on public policy issues
• Support public events on emerging public policy issues
• Be the "go to" entity for the media for information regarding public policy issues

Goal 5
ENHANCE GRADUATE EDUCATION AND GRADUATE CULTURE

• Increase graduate student opportunities to engage in research
• Add new faculty lines in key graduate programs
• Seek funding for Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships
• Support and encourage the research of the graduate faculty and the integration of graduate students into research activities
• Develop and fund the Ph.D. in Public Policy, the MA in Political Science, The MA in Community & Regional Planning, and the MA in Sociology
• Permanently fund the Masters Certificates in Community & Regional Planning and Conflict Management

Goal 6
PROVIDE CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY

• Internationalize the curriculum and expand student and faculty international experiences
• Recruit and retain a diverse faculty and student body
• Deliver diversity rich courses
• Support activities and events that enhance cultural awareness