Indiana University School of Dentistry > About Us > Mission and Goals

Mission and Goals

Indiana University School of Dentistry Mission Statement

The mission of the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) is to advance the oral health and general overall health of the people of the State of Indiana and others worldwide through excellence in teaching and learning, research and creative activities, patient care, civic engagement and service.

Goals for Implementing IUSD’s Mission

TEACHING AND LEARNING

  • Attract and support a well prepared and diverse student population for the dental assisting, dental hygiene, pre-doctoral dental, and postdoctoral graduate specialty and research programs.

  • Enhance student learning and develop graduates who are highly competent critical thinkers and lifelong learners who are ethical, socially responsible, and culturally sensitive professionals of general dentistry, the dental specialties, other relevant postdoctoral disciplines, dental hygiene, and dental assisting.

  • Attract quality faculty and provide support to enhance effective teaching and learning in clinical, laboratory, classroom, and service-learning settings.

  • Maintain a successful continuing education program to support the opportunity for career-long learning for the responsible dental professional.

RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

  • Conduct world-class research, scholarship, and creative activities to increase the knowledge base in all areas related to oral health and general overall health through an extensive, innovative research program that attracts external funding and engages faculty, students, and staff.

  • Facilitate the translation of new findings to improve oral health and general overall health of the people of the State of Indiana and beyond.

  • Maintain and enhance the role of the School of Dentistry as a vital and productive member of the scholarly community of the Indiana University family by encouraging local, national, and international partnerships and collaborations.

PATIENT CARE

  • Offer diverse clinical educational opportunities for the students by providing a comprehensive broad spectrum of quality oral health services, education, and dental care.

  • Maintain a clinical education system that simulates a high quality practice of general dentistry supported by the oral health specialties.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE

  • Serve local, state, national, and international communities through partnerships involving clinical care, service-learning, and community engaged scholarship in addition to serving the university and the profession.

 

Endorsed by IUSD Faculty Council