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The Institute of International Education (IIE) has awarded the Center for Africana Studies at Central an American Passport Project grant. IIE annually awards the grants to U.S. colleges and universities in its network to help U.S. students obtain a U.S. passport.
“This amazing opportunity will support Pell-eligible students at Central in obtaining their first U.S. passport—opening doors to study abroad experiences that many may have thought were out of reach,” says Toyin Awoderu, director of the Center for Africana Studies. “This initiative is a powerful step toward expanding both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing global learning opportunities, especially in Africa and the African diaspora.”
As part of its mission, the IIE promotes international education and exchange, so that all students can gain the academic and career benefits of international experiences. Nationally, less than 10 percent of U.S. college students study abroad, according to the IIE.
The American Passport Project (APP) provides grants to U.S. higher education institutions to support their study-abroad participation goals. APP grants cover the cost of passport fees, which can be a barrier for students who wish to pursue study-abroad opportunities. Institutions allocate grant funds to students in underserved and underrepresented populations, including students with demonstrated financial need; first-generation college students; racial and ethnic minority students; and students who have never traveled abroad.
IIE aims to assist a total of 10,000 Pell-eligible U.S. students through this program by the end of the decade. At Central, 35 percent of students are eligible for Pell grants.