Comunidad and Umoja Scholars Program (CUSP)

Comunidad and Umoja Scholars Program (CUSP), provided by the School of Social Work, is a leadership development and mentoring program designed to enhance the training of full-time, master level social work students who show a propensity for culturally responsive practice and leadership. The CUSP targets, but is not limited to, students of color pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at Salisbury University. Applicants must identify a commitment to working with communities of color as their focus and be dedicated to seeking employment in the field after graduation

Comunidad means Community in Spanish & Umoja, the first principle of Kwanzaa, means Unity.

Purpose
• Increase the number of culturally responsive social work practitioners and leaders
• Enhance individuals’ sense of belonging through the development of relationships within the School of Social Work as well as in the larger community
• Increase leadership capabilities to make a difference in communities of color

Rationale
People generally strongly prefer those similar to them, with race being the most significant factor. Given this, the racial/ethnic concordance or discordance between social workers and the individuals they work can affect the working relationship. African Americans and Latinxs tend to have a higher preference for social workers of the same race/ethnicity (Hsu, Hackett, & Hinkson, 2014). African Americans are more reluctant to self-disclose to white clinicians in clinical settings (Williamson, 2012). This preference for racial/ethnic concordance may stem from the perceived notion that they will receive fair treatment from someone similar to themselves. Older, less educated, lower-income, and less geographically mobile individuals also tend to prefer racial concordance (Hsu, Hackett, & Hinkson, 2014).

Eligibility Criteria
An applicant must meet the following requirements:
• Current or Accepted MSW student in the Salisbury University School of Social Work with at least a 3.0 GPA

• UMGC – Germany Students are NOT eligible to apply, unless you are in the Kaiserslautern-Kapaun U.S. affiliated program.
  • Must be in good academic standing and if an incoming MSW student, cannot be provisionally admitted to the MSW Program
  • Targeted to, but not limited to, minority racial/ethnic groups
  • Enrolled in at least nine (9) credit hours per semester
• Focused on, but not limited to, students who are members of historically marginalized racial/ethnic backgrounds
• Evidence of past leadership, volunteer service, life or work experiences with racial/ethnic populations
• Complete a personal statement that expresses interest in developing a leadership project focused explicitly on supporting historically marginalized communities of color.
• Must be billed for tuition and receive all financial aid from Salisbury University, students enrolled in the social work program through UMGC/Germany are not eligible to apply.
• SU undergraduate social work students who graduate this May (or in a prior semester) are also eligible to apply as long as they have applied to the SU Graduate Social Work program and will start this coming summer or the upcoming fall semester.

General Selection Criteria
• Potential as a future social work practitioner and leader with a focus on serving racial/ethnic minority populations and communities
• Life experiences, volunteer service, or work experiences with racial/ethnic populations
• Evidence of past leadership experience
• Commitment to attending the 2-day leadership institute in late summer and a national social work conference (e.g., CSWE’s Annual Program Meeting or NASW-MD Conference).
• Academic evidence of ability to achieve timely degree completion

Program Learning Objectives
The CUSP Fellow will:
• Be prepared to enter the social work workforce with knowledge and skills for culturally responsive practice
• Build effective personal and professional relationships
• Set goals for professional growth and learning
• Develop leadership skills

Program Requirements and Expectations
Scholars are expected to participate in all program requirements to remain eligible for the fellowship.
• Must maintain a 3.0 GPA during the award period
• Serve in a field placement setting that directly serves populations of color
• Participate in the virtual leadership training seminars during the winter semester
• During Fall and Spring Semesters, meet bi-weekly with your social work mentor to review the leadership project
• Develop, deliver, and conduct a presentation on a one-year leadership project
• Attend a national or regional conference such as the NASW-MD clinical conference, the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, or the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Conference.

• A portion of the expenses related to travel, food, and lodging will be covered by CUSP
• Scholars will also apply for a travel grant through the College of Health and Human Services if needed and if available.
• If conference attendance is not feasible, the CUSP scholar may apply funds to a professional development opportunity relevant to social work with the approval of the CUSP Coordinator.

Award
• $6,500.00 per year.
• Specialized training and professional development support, and mentoring.
• Duration of the award is a maximum of two years, awarded one year at a time. The award is contingent on funding availability and whether the scholar meets program requirements and maintains satisfactory progress toward a social work degree.

Deadline
The date of 1st consideration is April 17, 2026, by 5:00 pm. *Completed applications must include all required material, including recommendations.

Questions, please contact Dr. Owens-King at apowens@salisbury.edu