UAB selected to receive the IIE American Passport grant in support of 1,000 U.S. students obtaining passports and studying abroad

UAB has been awarded a grant that will help 1,000 Pell-eligible, U.S. students obtain their U.S. passports and start their study abroad journey.The University of Alabama at Birmingham has been selected by the Institute of International Education to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant that will enable UAB students to obtain a United States passport and support their study abroad journeys.

In the second year of the program, IIE awarded 40 institutions this opportunity, which will help 1,000 Pell-eligible, U.S. students obtain their U.S. passports and start their study abroad journey.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity for UAB students, as we recognize that passports can be the first barrier to considering studying abroad,” said Ashley Neyer, director of UAB Education Abroad. “Our campus-wide partnerships have expanded the project’s goal to reach a larger, more diverse student audience at UAB. The passport project, with the campus-wide partnerships, features holistic student support to help UAB students make studying abroad a reality for them.”

Through the assistance of affiliate partners, UAB has been awarded 120 passports through the Global Opportunities for Alabama Student Accessibility, or GOAL, Access project. Partners include International Studies Abroad by WorldStrides, UAB Honors College, Sparkman Center for Global Health, and Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs.

The IIE American Passport Project grant is intended to promote diversity, inclusion, access and equity in studying abroad and to support the IIENetwork, IIE’s global membership network, in their efforts to encourage students to go abroad who otherwise would not participate in an international experience as part of their college education. 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.

“This is a phenomenal opportunity for our students and demonstrates the importance of education abroad programs,” said Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., associate provost for International Education. “With the support of the Institute of International Education and our campus partners, UAB students will have the passport they need to gain a global perspective and understanding of their field while obtaining new skills that will impact the way they learn, work and live.”

For the 40 institutions selected, the IIE American Passport Project provides one critical piece of the multifaceted effort needed to reach students who are traditionally underrepresented in studying abroad: a passport. The selected institutions will provide 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.