LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a state where most counties still qualify as rural and nearly 40 percent of residents live outside metropolitan centers, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is meeting their rural students where they are and opening the door a little wider.
CoSW has launched KY E.D.G.E., a statewide initiative aimed at expanding educational access and preparing more Kentuckians for careers in social work and criminal justice — fields that have long struggled to keep pace with the needs of the state’s growing communities.
The program, whose name stands for Education. Development. Growth. Empowerment., combines financial assistance with academic and professional support for undergraduate students who call Kentucky home.
The aim of the KY E.D.G.E is to provide scholarships that not only to reduce the financial pressures associated with earning a degree, but also to strengthen the number of workforce-ready graduates entering professions that are central to the wellbeing of Kentucky communities.
“The people who grew up in rural communities understand the realities their neighbors face,” said Ramla Osman, director of philanthropy. “When individuals invest in programs like KY E.D.G.E., they help expand opportunities for students who want to stay, serve and strengthen the communities that shaped them.”
Under the program, students receive an application fee waiver, up to $5,000 in financial assistance, tailored advising and tutoring, mentorship from faculty and alumni, flexible online learning pathways and structured professional development experiences, including work-study and networking.
Internal data show that 62.5 percent of CoSW students face unmet financial needs, more than double the university average. Over 60 percent of CoSW students require additional academic assistance. Those figures, leaders say, illustrate the importance of donor-supported programs designed to help students stay enrolled and persist to graduation.
“Removing barriers and increasing a sense of belonging for our students are central to this initiative,” said Dr. Matthew Moore, associate dean of academic and student affairs. “Donor partnership ensures we can continue expanding access for rural Kentuckians and strengthening the professional capacity of the communities we know and love.”
The College’s statewide network of more than 500 community partnerships will also play a role by connecting students to field placements, mentorship and long-term employment across Kentucky’s social service and justice systems.
KY E.D.G.E. is the latest in a series of efforts from the College designed to close gaps in opportunity for rural students. It builds on initiatives such as the Rural Health and Well-Being Graduate Certificate, the behavioral health workforce partnership with ARH, and the College’s expanding portfolio of quality-certified online degree programs.
Individuals interested in supporting rural Kentucky students and contributing to the KY E.D.G.E. initiative may do so at https://ukcosw.com/KY-EDGE-Fund.
