SUCCESS in Speech-Language Pathology: Strengthening Under-served Communities through Enhanced Student Support

ABSTRACT Project Title: SUCCESS in Speech-Language Pathology: Strengthening Under-served Communities through Enhanced Student Support Discipline: Speech-Language Pathology Applicant Organization Name: University of Kentucky Research Foundation Address: 500 South Limestone, 109 Kinkead Hall, Lexington, KY 40526-0001 Project Director (s): Anne Olson, PhD, CCC/A, Chair, Associate Professor Congressional Districts Served: KY-ALL Project Director Numbers: 859.218.0570; FAX: 859.257.1058 Project Director eMail Address: [email protected]; Organizational Website Address: http://www.uky.edu/healthsciences/ Grant Program Funds Requested: $3,197,753 in scholarships Funding Preference: Graduates Working in Medically Underserved Communities The University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences will use federal funds to provide 33-37 tuition scholarships per year to full-time students earning a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) beginning in fall 2020. SUCCESS scholarships will be awarded to full-time CSD students meeting the criteria for educationally, environmentally and/or economically disadvantaged and for whom tuition would constitute a severe financial hardship. SUCCESS scholarship recipients will receive robust wrap-around retention services, including academic mentoring and social supports, to ensure they experience success in the classroom, in the clinical environment and beyond. This program is a timely articulation of the university’s strategic initiatives to enhance student success. Specific SUCCESS objectives are: 1) Target recruiting efforts to reach more educationally, environmentally, and economically disadvantaged students from rural regions, with a special emphasis on students from Appalachia, first generation students and underrepresented minorities; 2) Increase enrollment of educationally, environmentally, and economically disadvantaged students, including underrepresented minorities, each project year; and, 3) Retain at least 95 percent of SUCCESS students through graduation. Scholarship recipients will be selected each fall based on eligibility, unmet financial needs, and available funds. The funds will be applied directly to the student’s financial aid package in equal disbursements each semester, including the summer. The scholarship will be renewable as long as the student remains eligible, stays in good academic standing and is making satisfactory progress towards degree goals. University of Kentucky, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (T08HP30179) 1