Students from Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities will receive special consideration for admission to the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry and the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.
That’s the result of a new agreement between the University of Pikeville and the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, or AIKCU.
Through this partnership with UPIKE, students from all 18 of our member colleges and universities throughout Kentucky can take advantage of these pathways to high demand jobs in the healthcare industry,” said OJ Oleka, president of AIKCU. “If there’s one thing COVID has taught us, it’s the importance of having good, quality professionals in the healthcare industry all across Kentucky.”
Under the agreement, the Kentucky College of Optometry will reserve up to 10 spots in its entering class each year for qualified students applying from AIKCU’s 18 member colleges and universities. The college typically matriculates around 65 new students each year.
The Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine will guarantee an admissions interview for applicants from Kentucky’s independent colleges and universities who meet the college’s admissions requirements. With nearly 4,000 applications to the college competing for fewer than 150 seats in each first-year class, the guarantee of an interview is a significant advantage for students applying from Kentucky independent institutions.
“The University of Pikeville is eager to partner with all of the independent colleges in the commonwealth of Kentucky to make available an opportunity for their students to have ready access to medical education,” said Burton Webb, president of the University of Pikeville. “This gives the brightest minds in the commonwealth of Kentucky the opportunity to study and train right here in the mountains, at some of the finest medical training institutions in the state.”
AIKCU members are Alice Lloyd College, Asbury University, Bellarmine University, Berea College, Brescia University, Campbellsville University, Centre College, Georgetown College, Kentucky Christian University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Lindsey Wilson College, Midway University, Spalding University, Thomas More University, Transylvania University, Union College, University of Pikeville and University of the Cumberlands.