Impact
Through the IIE American Passport Project, IIE aims to grant 10,000 U.S. students their passports by the end of this decade.
Education is critical to helping solve the world’s most pressing problems, and international experience is vital for individuals to thrive in a world as interconnected as ours. Study abroad is one of the best ways that students can acquire global skills and create personal and professional opportunities. The IIE American Passport Project represents IIE’s commitment to create access to international education opportunities and enable equity by removing a financial barrier; thereby, increasing diversity and inclusion of students studying abroad. For students of limited means, studying abroad can require long-term planning and involve financial hurdles, like the cost of a passport, which could bar them from moving forward.
IIE American Passport Project Award Recipients
In the IIE American Passport Project’s third year, IIE awarded 48 U.S. colleges and universities representing diverse institutions and students from 25 states. The grant will assist up to 1,200 Pell-eligible U.S. students to obtain their U.S. passport and empower them to kick-start their study abroad plans. The goal is to reach first-year students. This allows ample time to go through the passport application and study abroad planning processes, with the advising and support from the awarded institutions.
| Bentley University | Borough of Manhattan Community College | California State University – Channel Islands | California State University – East Bay |
| California State University – San Marcos | Capital University | DePaul University | Dillard University |
| Elizabeth City State University | Emerson College | Florida Gulf Coast University | Illinois State University |
| Maricopa County Community College District | Morgan State University | Mount Holyoke College | New College of Florida |
| Newman University | Northeastern Illinois University | Northern Kentucky University | Northwestern Michigan College |
| Oklahoma City Community College | Oregon State University | Rutgers-State University of New Jersey | Southern Oregon University |
| St. Cloud State University | Texas A&M University | Towson University | Transylvania University |
| University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa | University of Arizona | University of California – Davis | University of Florida |
| University of Indianapolis | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | University of North Alabama | University of North Carolina – Asheville |
| University of San Diego | University of Tulsa | University of Wyoming | Vanderbilt University |
| Virginia Military Institute | Virginia State University | Virginia Union University | Western Carolina University |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester State University | Wright State University – Main Campus | Xavier University |
Program Highlights
Institutional Demographics
- 38% of selected institutions (18) represent racial/ethnic minority-serving student populations (AANAPISI, HBCU, HSI, MSI) or are community colleges.
- 50% geographic representation of the U.S. with 25 U.S. states represented (35% South, 29% Midwest, 21% Northeast, 15% West).
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access Efforts
The majority of the institutions are expanding their diversity, equity, access, and inclusion efforts by targeting these top 4 student populations: students with demonstrated financial need, first-generation students, racial/ethnic minorities, and students who have never traveled abroad.
In the program’s second year, many institutions applied to the IIE American Passport Project, each with a curated plan to demonstrate how they would be able to utilize the grant to support diverse student populations to obtain their U.S. passport and plan for studying abroad. Many institutions will be working collaboratively across their campus with teams such first-year faculty, admissions, financial aid, and TRIO programs, among others, to reach eligible students. Receiving their passport is just the first part of the student journey, and the awarded institutions have innovative plans to provide the advising and unique support to enable their study abroad plans.
| Alverno College | Ball State University | Bergen Community College | Boise State University |
| Bryn Mawr College | California State University – Chico | Chapman University | Coastal Carolina University |
| College of Southern Nevada | Denison University | Doane University | Goucher College |
| Grand Rapids Community College | Hollins University | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Joliet Junior College |
| Louisiana State University | Miami Dade College | Michigan State University | Oglethorpe University |
| Oklahoma State University | Pacific Lutheran University | Prairie View A&M University | Sinclair Community College |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of Central Arkansas | University of Colorado Denver | University of Connecticut |
| University of Kansas | University of Massachusetts – Amherst | University of Nebraska, Lincoln | University of Puget Sound |
| University of Rhode Island | University of San Francisco | University of Texas – El Paso | University of Wisconsin – Stout |
| Vassar College | Virginia Commonwealth University | Virginia Wesleyan University |
Program Highlights
Institutional Demographics
- 11 institutions represent minority-serving student populations (AANAPISI, HBCU, HSI, MSI) or are community colleges.
- There is a 58% geographic representation of the U.S. with 29 states represented (30% South, 30% Midwest, 20% Northeast, and 20% West).
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access Efforts
The majority of institutions are expanding their diversity, equity, access, and inclusion efforts by targeting these top 4 student populations: students with demonstrated financial need, racial/ethnic minorities, first-generation students, and students who have never traveled abroad.es.
2021 was the inaugural year for the IIE American Passport Project. In this first year, IIE received an overwhelming number of applications for the number of awards available. Nearly 200 IIENetwork member institutions in the U.S. applied proposing the various ways higher education institutions of all types and locations would utilize the grant to support diverse student populations. At a time when COVID-19 was impacting all aspects of international education, these institutions demonstrated the drive to restart international initiatives they had been planning (either prior to the pandemic or during).
For the 40 institutions selected, the IIE American Passport Project provided one critical piece of the multi-faceted effort needed to reach students who are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad: a passport. The selected institutions provided the innovative programming, engagement efforts, advising, and support for those students they have identified with the goal of sending them on a study abroad program during their college experience.
| Alcorn State University | Goshen College | Ohio Northern University | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| Amherst College | Harper College | Rochester Institute of Technology | University of Nebraska at Omaha |
| Butler University | Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Marten’s University | University of New Mexico |
| Central Michigan University | Juniata College | San Diego State University | University of New Orleans |
| Central State University | Kapiʻolani Community College | Savannah State University | University of North Carolina-Wilmington |
| Chatham University | Kings College | Stockton University | University of South Alabama |
| College of DuPage | Massachusetts College of Art & Design | University of Arkansas-Fayetteville | Ursinus College |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Montclair State University | University of Illinois-Chicago | Virginia Tech |
| DePauw University | North Carolina Central University | University of Louisville | Western Michigan University |
| Fayetteville State University | North Park University | University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Xavier University of Louisiana |
Program Highlights
Institutional Demographics
- More than 50% represented minority-serving student populations (HBCU, HSI, MSI) or are community colleges.
- More than 50% are IIE Generation Study Abroad Commitment Partners.
- Nearly 50% geographic representation of the U.S. with 24 states represented (33% South, 32% Midwest, 25% Northeast, and 10% West).
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access Efforts
Most of the institutions are expanding their diversity, equity, access, and inclusion efforts by targeting these top 4 student populations: students with demonstrated financial need, racial/ethnic minorities, students who have never traveled abroad, and first-generation students.
