LU to award IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarships
Lamar University has been selected to receive $7,500 to support new study abroad scholarships as part of its commitment to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Generation Study Abroad® initiative to increase the number and diversity of students who study abroad by the end of the decade. LU will match this funding, to make a total of six $2,500 student scholarship awards. These scholarships will be used by students toward the cost of tuition, books and travel related to study, service learning or internships abroad between Fall 2016 and Summer 2017.
Lamar University use the IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarships to help make study abroad opportunities accessible to all students, especially those that are typically underrepresented in U.S. study abroad.
The university joined the Generation Study Abroad initiative in October 2014 with a commitment to double the number of students going abroad in the coming year, said Jeffrey Palis, director of LU’s Global Studies and Study Abroad program. The university surpassed its goal with nearly triple the number of students experiencing the benefits of study outside the U.S., Palis said.
“We are very pleased to receive this recognition for this accomplishment,” Palis said. “And we are even more pleased that we will be able to use these dollars to further the growth of Study Abroad at Lamar University while we increase the diversity of students who are able to realize their dream of studying abroad while in college.”
The goal of increasing diversity among study abroad participants extends beyond race and ethnicity, to include students with disabilities, first-generation college students, non-traditional students, and veterans, among others, Palis said. “We look forward to continuing to grow our global studies and study abroad program with the continued strong support of Lamar’s faculty and administration and the IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarship Grant.”
LU is one of 14 colleges and universities selected based on its notable progress toward meeting its Generation Study Abroad commitment. IIE Generation Study Abroad grants are made possible through IIE’s Study Abroad Fund, with the support of IIE, STA Travel and individual donors, to award scholarships for study in any destination that the college approves. IIE will award a total of approximately $200,000 in scholarships for campuses to provide as scholarships to their students. This is IIE’s second round of grants to support campuses’ efforts to provide scholarships to expand study abroad participation among American college students.
Less than 10 percent of American college students study abroad and few of those students come from underrepresented groups. Lamar University joined the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative to take action to make it possible for more U.S. students from a broad range of backgrounds to participate in an academic, internship, or service-learning experience abroad.
“All college students need international educational and work experience in order to compete and thrive in a global workforce,” said Allan E. Goodman, IIE’s President and CEO. “But students need financial resources to go abroad. That’s why IIE is dedicated to supporting its Generation Study Abroad commitment partners’ goals to provide more students with international education opportunities.”
This year’s IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarship grants will go to Appalachian State University; Case Western Reserve University; Central Piedmont Community College; Elmhurst College; Hawaii Pacific University; Johnson & Wales University; Lamar University; Missouri University of Science and Tech; Peralta Community College District; Rochester Institute of Technology; Salve Regina University; University of South Carolina, Upstate; Utah State University; and Washington and Jefferson College.
Some of the actions that winning campuses are taking include: providing funding for first-generation college students to study abroad, developing student ambassador programs to promote study abroad on campus, increasing freshman study abroad programs, and creating targeted advising programs specifically for veterans, minority students, and STEM students.
Launched in March 2014, the Generation Study Abroad network continues to gain momentum and now has over 600 partners from the U.S. and abroad. As part of their commitments, Generation Study Abroad partner campuses have pledged to raise money and give scholarships, and a number of study abroad program providers and host campuses outside of the United States have pledged to award scholarships toward the cost of their programs.
About Institute of International Education
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,400 member institutions.
About Generation Study Abroad®
Generation Study Abroad is a five-year initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade.. Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing study abroad programs.
Generation Study Abroad also provides resources for students, campus advisers, and parents. IIE’s latest publication, A Parent Guide to Study Abroad, provides practical and comprehensive advice for parents on clarifying the value of study abroad, figuring out the financials and identifying the right study abroad program for their kids. Additional resources for parents and students include IIE’s online directory of study abroad programs, IIEPassport.org, and its database of grants and scholarship opportunities, StudyAbroadFunding.org.
