Passport to Global Empowerment Program

Building Global Access Pathways for Pell-Eligible Students

The Passport to Global Empowerment Program initiative, housed within the Center for Africana Studies, is supported by the President’s office, the Provost’s office, and IIE American Passport Project grant, launching in Fall 2025, to provide passports to 25 Pell-eligible low-income Central students who are first time applicants.

This aligns with the mission of Center for Africana Studies to expand access to transformative global opportunities—especially across Africa and the African Diaspora—through international education, cultural engagement, and student development. In addition, to expand equitable and structural innovative pathways for access to global experiences while at the same time reducing financial and social barriers for the underrepresented student population.

Did You Know?

At Central, 40% are students of color, 53% of students are first-generation, and 35% are Pell-eligible with low-income. Nationally, only 10% of U.S. undergraduates study abroad, with even lower participation from underrepresented communities according to IIE.

This helps break down those barriers—creating life-changing, transformative experiences for our students. Let’s open the world to our students—one passport at a time.

We, as an institution, envision a world where all Central students - regardless of income, background, or identity - have the tools to become global citizens, engage in transformative learning, and thrive in a diverse workforce.

Our Commitment

• Encourage global exploration to diversified study abroad locations.
• Support experiential learning and internships.
• Increase global experiences for underrepresented student population.
• Advanced cross-cultural skills for career readiness.