The SSWR Research Capacity Development Committee (RCDC) was created in 2017 to build research capacity across the career lifespan of social work scholars. The objectives of the RCDC include, but are not limited to: 1.) Increase research knowledge and skills of early-career scholars by increasing training opportunities, collaboration/team science, dissemination, and grant writing; 2.) Increase career development supports for mid-career and senior scholars; 3.) Increase the capacity of mentors of doctoral students and early career scholars.
- July 30, 2020 – SSWR-GADE Job Market Webinar Series – Part 1 – Winding Pathways to the Tenure Track
- August 20, 2020 – SSWR-GADE Job Market Webinar Series – Part 2 – Making A Difference
- February 10, 2021 – SSWR Navigating the Path to Full Professor
- May 27, 2021 – SSWR Impact of COVID 19 and State Violence on Tenure and Promotion
- October 22, 2021 – SSWR Navigating the Academic Job Market
- April 28, 2022 – SSWR Roots & Wings Session I: Mentorship For Anti-Racist and Inclusive Research
- May 24, 2022 – Roots & Wings Session II: Strategies for Supporting Anti-Racist Pedagogy & Scholarship: Reimagining Institutional Systems & Structures
SSWR-GADE Job Market Webinar Series – Part 1 – Winding Pathways to the Tenure Track – July 30, 2020
This webinar features information about the academic job market, including preparing application materials, interviewing, and negotiating. The webinar will feature four panelists who will share their tips for success on the academic job market in both tenure track positions and other positions that can be later leveraged to obtain tenure track positions. Panelists will discuss how they positioned themselves to successfully move from positions such as postdoctoral fellowships and research scientist positions to the tenure track.
SSWR-GADE Job Market Webinar Series – Part 2 – Making A Difference – August 20, 2020
This webinar features information on positions beyond the tenure track, including how to prepare for and maximize social work research skills in a range of positions. The webinar features four panelists who share their experiences in positions such as policy research associates, research institute directors, writers, and research professors. Panelists discuss how they employ their social work research skills beyond traditional tenure track positions to make an impact.
SSWR Navigating the Path to Full Professor – February 10, 2021
This webinar features a discussion on navigating the path to becoming a full professor in the academy. The path to full professor is seldom straightforward. This uncertain path is even more difficult for women and minorities. Further, fewer resources are available for mid-career scholars that offer clarity on the process to the top faculty rank. This webinar features an expert panel and provides resources on how mid-career scholars can harness individual and institutional power to navigate the path to full professor.
Impact of COVID 19 and State Violence on Tenure and Promotion – May 27, 2021
As the higher education community responds to the COVID19 pandemic, we are more fully discerning the long-term impact of COVID-19 induced disruptions on academic careers and trajectories. COVID-19 is particularly exacerbating productivity and leadership opportunities and, thus, tenure and promotion processes for women and faculty of color, which have been historically inequitable in the first place. In addition to the growing demands of multiple roles and responsibilities in personal and professional lives intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, the alarming rise in racism, xenophobia, and state violence perpetuated against racial and ethnic minoritized populations carry distinctive detrimental impact on faculty of color. While many institutions are modifying their faculty review processes, including tenure timeline adjustments, broadening productivity measures, and shifting academic achievement priorities, significant questions remain about navigating tenure and promotion processes during the COVID-19 era. SSWR is responding to this crucial issue facing our membership by bringing an expert panel of social work academics to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and state violence on tenure and promotion.
Navigating the Academic Job Market – October 22, 2021
Navigating the academic job market has always been a stressful and complicated process. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the process even more complicated for both institutions looking to hire and candidates looking for employment. This webinar brings together academic leaders as well as those with recent job market experience to discuss their views on the changing job market for social work academics.
SSWR Roots & Wings Session I: Mentorship For Anti-Racist and Inclusive Research – April 28, 2022
A primary focus of doctoral education is to prepare the next generation of scholars, researchers, and educators who function as stewards of the discipline (GADE Strategic Plan, 2016). Systemic racism and a political climate that fuel xenophobia and hate against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) challenge doctoral education to revisit how we are preparing the next generation of social work scholars to decolonize and de-center whiteness in social work research. As part of the SSWR Roots and Wings session held at the SSWR conference every year, this webinar aims to generate a dialogue about fostering anti-racist and inclusive mentoring practices and how to prepare our doctoral students to conduct anti-racist and inclusive research across various stages of their career trajectory. Join us for this timely conversation!
Roots & Wings Session II: Strategies for Supporting Anti-Racist Pedagogy & Scholarship: Reimagining Institutional Systems & Structures – May 24, 2022
Institutions of higher education have a critical opportunity to support anti-racist pedagogy and scholarship, understand the ways in which white supremacy and structural racism operate both within and beyond higher education, and recognize how higher education has been complicit in reinforcing and perpetuating institutionalized forms of racism and work towards reforming institutional policies and practices to end systemic racism within our institutions. Social work scholars are uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of these efforts, model, and document concrete tools and policies that can lead to equitable and inclusive environments to support anti-racist research practices and methodologies.
Our session convenes a panel of academics at various stages of their careers and administrative roles to discuss their experiences of addressing systemic racism within their institutions and in their scholarship. Join us for this timely conversation!