3 minute read
Presbyterian Foundation Partnership
By Michelle Goff
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” These words, from Psalm 121:1, are etched at the bottom of the iconic 99 steps that lead to the University of Pikeville. They embody the spirit of the group of Presbyterian ministers who in 1889 crossed the valleys and hills of the Appalachian Mountains on horseback and selected Pikeville as the location to establish a church and a school.
More than 130 years later, UPIKE continues to honor our vision by serving as a beacon of opportunity for any student who desires to embark upon an educational journey and by creating opportunities for the people of Central Appalachia.
Our recent partnership with the Presbyterian Foundation, which provided start-up funding via a $400,000 zero percent interest loan for our Master of Social Work (MSW) program, also embodies the spirit of those enterprising ministers and that of the Presbyterian Foundation. “The University of Pikeville’s mission, as well as our commitment to servant leadership, perfectly align with that of the Presbyterian Foundation,” says UPIKE President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D. “The creation of a new program requires the expenditure of a great deal of start-up costs before we accept the first student. This business model and the Presbyterian Foundation’s collaboration allowed us to hire faculty and staff, purchase materials and supplies, and create curriculum. We are deeply grateful to the foundation for helping us establish a program that will serve our region.”
Indeed, UPIKE’s Central Appalachian service area is the center of the nation’s opioid drug epidemic. Our MSW program, which admitted the inaugural cohort of students in fall 2020, offers a specialization in mental health and addictions. In addition to giving behavioral health professionals a fuller understanding of human behavior, a master’s degree is required for careers as certified social workers, licensed clinical social workers, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor associates, and licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselors.
UPIKE’s MSW program is designed to prepare students for advanced practice in the field of social work and is delivered online with courses offered year-round to meet the needs of working professionals. The program offers two programs of study: a 30-hour Advanced Standing option for students who hold a degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and meet additional admission criteria; and a 60-hour Regular Standing program for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in an area other than social work or completed a social work degree with a program that was not accredited by the CSWE.
Currently, faculty are delivering curriculum to 28 future behavioral healthcare professionals. All of this was made possible, in part, by the Presbyterian Foundation, which has been acting on behalf of such worthwhile projects since its incorporation on March 28, 1799, as the Trustee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Presbyterian Foundation gathers, stewards and distributes funds for the mission of the church.
According to the foundation’s website, “We work hard to strengthen congregations and related mission and ministry efforts by developing gifts and managing funds on their behalf. We work with them to build communities of generosity among their members and constituents. And we provide all Presbyterians an avenue to realize their philanthropic goals through a variety of giving and investment options. In all our work, we remain focused on the reformed values that have guided our stewardship and investment for more than 200 years.”
The Celtic Cross, a symbol of the Presbyterian Church, can be seen on buildings across campus including here on The Coal Building. A Celtic Cross was also included as part of the Health Professions Education Building and Record Memorial. Women of the Presbyterian Church gave $100,000 to fund Record Memorial, which was dedicated in 1962.
