Kentucky Innovative Scholarship offers hope to displaced students

By Press release submission

Dec 2, 2022

The University of Kentucky is proud to be participating in a new program to support displaced students in Kentucky. The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) have launched the Kentucky Innovative Scholarship, which offers scholarships to displaced students pursuing an undergraduate degree in Kentucky.

The program, funded by a $10 million appropriation by the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly, allows colleges and universities across the Commonwealth to provide scholarships up to the total cost of attendance for displaced students. A displaced student is defined as a refugee, parolee, asylee granted or approved, TPS (temporary protected status) or SIV (special immigrant visa). Students must have been in the United States for five years or less and must live in the state of Kentucky to receive this scholarship.

The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, estimates that there are over 89 million people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. Most are internally displaced, within their home countries, but there are currently over 27.1 million refugees in the world. Since 1975, the United States has resettled over 3 million refugees. As legal entrants to the United States, refugees can apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has welcomed over 30,000 refugees since 1994. Now many of these Kentucky residents will have the chance to attend a college or university and earn a bachelor’s degree.

“Displaced and refugee students typically are resilient and resourceful folks,” said Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization. “They have had varied life experiences and bring to our campus dimensions of knowledge and diversity that are valuable. It is important that we welcome and support displaced students. So, we are very excited to be partnering with the CPE and KHEAA in this innovative program.”

This scholarship opportunity is open to currently enrolled UK students who meet the eligibility criteria, as well as new students beginning their studies at UK and transfer students who meet the criteria.

Roberts added, “I hope UK faculty, staff and students will spread the word about this new opportunity and encourage potentially eligible students and prospective students, of any age, to learn more about the scholarship.”

The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 9. Current and admitted prospective students interested in the scholarship can apply at https://uky.scholarshipuniverse.com/ by logging in with their linkblue account.

The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion four years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for" three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers." We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for five straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.