Troy University has introduced a new grant that will pay for student passports
The Passport Project is in collaboration with the International Institute of Education (IIE). Troy is one of 51 schools selected to receive this grant, and it will pay for the passports of 25 Troy students.
“They [IIE] just started this four years ago, and they offered a grant to apply for to help students get their first passport, hopefully to encourage them to study abroad just to make that one less thing that they have to pay for,” said Sarah McKenzie, Troy University’s study abroad director.
According to the IIE’s website, “The grant is intended to promote access to and equity in study abroad by supporting underrepresented student communities and support IIENetwork members in their efforts to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an international experience as part of their college education.”
McKenzie says students will be nominated for these grants. To receive the grant, students must be in their first year at Troy. This must be their first adult passport, and they must be eligible for a Pell Grant. They must also identify with an underrepresented group.
“I see this grant for passports really benefiting students,” said Johanna Alberich, a Spanish professor and study abroad leader at Troy. “It'll give some students who can't afford a study abroad opportunity to get a passport, not only just to study abroad, but also the opportunity to travel the world since passports are good for 10 years.”
With this grant, Troy University and the International Institute of Education aim to make international travel more accessible for students.
Troy also provides the Chancellor’s Award for Global Competitiveness, a scholarship that provides students $1,250 towards study abroad programs.
“Few college students can afford tuition, board, food and a study abroad trip, but the Chancellor’s Award has helped to offset the cost of study abroad trips tremendously,” said Elizabeth McMahan, a junior biomedical sciences major from Decatur, Alabama. “The award has helped me to go abroad twice now.”
Troy promotes global competitiveness among its students, and this grant is one more way to achieve that goal.
“I see this opening new doors for a lot of students who normally don't have the opportunity to travel and I am looking forward to promoting this grant and getting more students abroad,” Alberich said.
Inquiries about the Passport Project should be directed to Sarah McKenzie in Troy University’s study abroad office.
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