Gifts to the School of Social Welfare on One Day One KU will support social work students as they gain valuable experience and graduate into a profession focused on helping people.

Practicum Student Support Fund
Completing a practicum, or internship, is a vital part of social work education at KU. Students gain real-world experience and receive one-to-one mentoring during their practicum placement. While some of these practicum placements are paid, many are not.

Your gift to the Practicum Student Support Fund at the School of Social Welfare will help us offset the unseen costs of practicum and provide important financial relief for our students.

Practicum sites include small and large nonprofits, hospitals and clinics, behavioral health centers, child welfare offices, residential settings, schools, and others.

Awards from the Practicum Student Support Fund will help students cover costs such as gas and vehicle wear and tear; professional clothing; childcare; and professional development training. Offsetting these costs at the start of each semester gives students room to focus on learning.

Student Emergency Support
A gift to the Dean's Opportunity Fund will support student emergency needs at the School of Social Welfare. Emergency funds provide one-time support for students to navigate unplanned expenses or emergencies, such as eviction, food insecurity, medical care, or transportation costs. 

In 2024-2025, the Emergency Fund provided over $46,000 in support to students, helping them overcome financial obstacles and stay enrolled in their social work programs.

Scholarships
The need for skilled, compassionate social workers continues to grow. In Kansas, social work graduates fill critical roles in areas including behavioral health, child welfare, health care, and more.

Scholarships support this next generation of social workers by increasing access to education, improving retention to graduation, and lowering student debt. Your gift to increase scholarships means Social Welfare graduates can pursue their passion for helping others without worrying about excessive financial burdens.