ISBER's primary mission is to facilitate and enable social science research. This is accomplished by providing:
- Efficient pre-award through post-award grants administration,
- Research development assistance and stimulation through consultations and a small grants program, and
- High level research services that are most efficiently delivered through an ORU to a broad audience faculty, researchers, and graduate students.
ISBER also fosters and supports topical research communities in the form of several research centers, programs housed within the unit.