UNC Pembroke has received a $3.25 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide need-based scholarships for an estimated 615 students pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The five-year award will expand access to graduate education while preparing more social workers to serve rural, tribal and medically underserved communities.

Approximately $3.1 million of the grant will go directly toward scholarships for full-time MSW students based on financial need.

“By reducing financial barriers to graduate education, we can help more aspiring social workers complete their degrees and pursue careers addressing critical needs in rural and underserved communities,” said Dr. Eva Skuka, dean of the College of Health Sciences, in a press release.

Dr. Cindy Locklear, an associate professor in the Social Work department and principal investigator for the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students grant, said many MSW students work full- or part-time while pursuing their degrees. Some manage multiple jobs alongside family responsibilities, making the cost of graduate education a significant consideration.

“We hope it will encourage people to apply, especially those who thought a graduate degree was not an option for them,” Locklear said in a press release. “Once they’re in the program, we hope it will take some of that stress off and ease the burden of worrying about debt after graduation.”

The funding is intended to support students from economically, educationally or geographically disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate financial need. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time in the MSW program and express an interest in practicing in the region or another rural, tribal or medically underserved community after graduation.

Scholarship funds will be applied directly to students’ university accounts. Award amounts will vary according to individual need and available funding, with scholarships typically covering the cost of in-state tuition and fees.

For Locklear, the availability of dedicated graduate scholarships is especially significant.

“This is exciting because it gives us a direct financial resource to offer our students,” she said in a press release. “You don't see as many scholarships available for graduate students as you do for undergraduates.”

Beyond helping students complete their degrees, the grant supports UNCP's longstanding role in preparing professionals to address behavioral health and social service needs across southeastern North Carolina.

Students participating in the scholarship program will receive training in priority areas, including integrated behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder treatment and telehealth delivery. These skills are particularly important in rural communities, where residents may face limited access to behavioral health services and other healthcare resources.

Summer Woodside, professor and chair of UNCP’s Social Work department, said the grant builds on the department's commitment to preparing professionals who understand the communities they serve.

“Our department of Social Work has a longstanding commitment to preparing professionals who understand the unique strengths and challenges of rural and underserved communities,” Woodside said in a press release.

The university’s location in southeastern North Carolina, a rural region with a significant American Indian population and communities facing persistent healthcare workforce shortages, aligns closely with the grant’s goals.

Social workers serve in a wide range of settings, including schools, healthcare organizations, behavioral health programs and community agencies. Through its MSW program, UNCP prepares graduates to work with individuals, families and communities while addressing complex social and behavioral health needs.

Locklear said students who have firsthand experience with the communities they hope to serve bring valuable perspectives to the profession. Graduates with ties to southeastern North Carolina may also choose to build their careers in the region, helping strengthen access to services over time.The new funding builds on UNCP's efforts to prepare social work professionals and connect students with opportunities to serve communities where their skills are needed.

UNCP is currently accepting applications from enrolled MSW students. The deadline is Nov. 6. Another application cycle will be launched in January for new and continuing students.

For information about the MSW program, visit uncp.edu/msw.  For more information about the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students scholarship program, email Dr. Locklear at cindy.locklear@uncp.edu.