For students in health programs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2016) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded Spalding University more than $3.6 million in two new federal grants to provide scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program promotes diversity in the health workforce through grants to eligible colleges and universities for use in making scholarships to first generation college students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled in full-time master’s- or doctoral-level health programs.
“We’re increasing the number of psychologists and social workers in underserved communities through this long-term investment in student scholarships,” says Spalding University President Tori Murden McClure, M.Div., JD, MFA.
Two schools within the Kosair Charities College of Health and Natural Sciences at Spalding University received SDS program awards: the School of Professional and School of Social Work. Under these grants, both schools will implement recruitment strategies and academic supports to increase enrollment and retention of full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds and encourage a greater number of health program graduates to practice in primary care environments within medically underserved communities.
“For students that are financially disadvantaged, this scholarship means that they can focus on their studies and pursue career paths that are in line with their passion to meet the needs of underserved communities,” says Steve Katsiskas, Ph.D., chair of the School of Professional Psychology and director of Spalding’s American Psychological Association-accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology.
HRSA’s Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students grants awarded in fiscal year 2016 will provide program funds for four years and support 65 to 70 full-time doctoral candidates in the clinical psychology (Psy.D.) program and up to 97 full-time graduate students in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. SDS grants support the majority of Spalding’s Psy.D. and MSW students and provide at least 50 percent tuition scholarships for eligible program applicants for whom the cost of an advanced academic degree would represent a significant financial burden.
The SDS grants awarded in 2016 represent each school’s continued dedication to preparing diverse cohorts of students for leadership roles within the health professions – both programs received HRSA grants during the 2012 SDS funding cycle and collectively provided more than 150 scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds over the duration of the previous four-year grant.
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