Kentucky is one of only four U.S. states that calls itself a “commonwealth”, but it holds six distinct geographic regions. Each is beautiful, and each has its own economy and ecosystem, from the coal fields of the east to the banks of the Mississippi River in the west.
I’ve been drawn to topography my entire life, and the eastern part of our state has always held a special place for me. Perhaps my ancestors are part of the reason, my closest DNA matches live along the Kentucky–Virginia border.
The same mountains that make eastern Kentucky so beautiful also make life there harder in some ways. Ten of the poorest 50 counties in the United States are in eastern Kentucky. For students growing up in these counties, a college degree can feel out of reach, both financially and geographically.
For the past 30 years, I have watched Berea College receive much of the credit for serving the students of Appalachia, and rightly so. I am a fan of Berea’s mission and model. But another college deserves a place in that conversation. Union Commonwealth University, formerly Union College, is quietly creating a new pathway to degrees for its neighbors in eastern Kentucky.
Union was founded in 1879 as the first college in the Kentucky mountains, with a goal of improving educational and cultural opportunities in the rugged southern Appalachians. I know that mission firsthand. As a born-and-raised Kentuckian and a first-generation college student, I found the campus to be the perfect blend of warmth and adventure on my first visit. Three hours from home felt like just the right distance, and those mountains looked like an opportunity to learn and explore another part of my favorite state. It all proved true. Union was a safe place to grow, and it brought local students together with students from around the globe, creating unique friendships and bonds. Today, Union’s student body represents 46 states and 72 countries, and, perhaps most importantly, it includes 334 students from our surrounding communities.
That local commitment is now stronger than ever. Through Union’s Tuition-Free Pathway, students from Knox County, the university’s home county, can have 100% of their tuition and comprehensive fee covered for up to eight semesters. When the program launched in 2026, the community responded: 151 Knox County students received the scholarship, and 85 enrolled, the largest number of Knox County students in the university’s history. In fall 2027, the program will expand to Bell and Clay Counties, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Union’s name reflects this same spirit. In 2024, the college became Union Commonwealth University. “University” reflects its graduate degree offerings, but when choosing the new name, the trustees felt the word “commonwealth” best captured who we are. The word traces back to the idea of the “common weal,” or the common good.
As an alum and now a trustee, I have never been prouder of my alma mater. Union has called the mountains of eastern Kentucky home for nearly 150 years, and it is living up to its new name: a true commonwealth, working for the common good of its neighbors and its students.
Jessica Terry Bergman
UCU Class of 1998
Member, Board of Trustees
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here