Your support strengthens the Jayhawk legacy!

Our promise to students is simple: We vow to be a true partner by providing a diverse, equitable and safe environment that encourages forward-thinking and creates inclusive experiences that drive social change. We pledge to offer innovative programming that recruits, graduates and supports uniquely qualified and compassionate social workers. We are committed to driving discoveries that transform lives and embracing our responsibility to promote social, economic and environmental justice in Kansas, the nation and the world.

KU’s School of Social Welfare strives daily to achieve its vision that all individuals, families and communities utilize their power to achieve justice, equity and well-being. This vision became more relevant than ever this past year as we witnessed extraordinary events in our communities and nation.  

The school has taken a leadership role on campus in its commitment to diversity, equity inclusion and belonging by:

• Hiring two diverse tenure-track faculty members whose backgrounds and research focus on racial and social justice; 
• Reintroducing the Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice with newly affiliated faculty and a new physical location inside Twente Hall;
• Launching the LGBTQ+ Center for Research and Advocacy and hosting our first LGBTQ Research Symposium; and
• Expanding our DEI Scholars Program, now named the Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial and Social Justice Program, to ensure support for our BSW, MSW and Ph.D. students through financial support, mentoring, leadership and professional development opportunities. 

As new realities continue to emerge in our society, changes in social work education have become necessary, including refreshed and revised curricula and using new technologies for remote assistance. Increased natural disasters related to climate change have focused our attention on widening disparities in health, housing and financial security. And large and diverse groups of social workers and others have been reclaiming activism in response to discrimination against marginalized communities. 

We are asking for your support to help us prepare the next generation of social workers for the challenges of today’s world. Please consider a gift today to the School of Social Welfare. 

Thank you for being Jayhawk loyal.

Student Spotlight:

“MSW program at KU has been inspiring, provoking and enlightening. I plan on taking the knowledge gained from this program and self-reflection, alongside the wisdom from colleagues and instructors, with me in my future endeavors, empowering people with complex trauma as a licensed social worker in hospital or clinic settings. The MSW program has been a steppingstone for me to pursue my dream of becoming a clinically licensed social worker, and I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds!” – Rebekkah A., MSW 2022