IU-Bloomington will give away 280 passports to preselected students as part of a partnership program with the Council on International Educational Exchange.
The program, “CIEE Passport Caravan: Your Gateway to the World,” aims to make international experiences more attainable for minority, low-income and first-generation students at IU. The event will take place from from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall.
IU is one of 11 college nationwide participating in the program, which hopes to issue passports to 10,000 college students by 2020.
“We chose to partner with IU because IU is as committed as we are to removing the financial barriers that prevent students from traveling abroad,” said Beth Donaldson, CIEE’s vice president of global enrollment management, in a press release. “We feel that this partnership will be successful in helping future graduates excel.”
The 280 students receiving passports are all members of IU programs such as IU’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, including the Hudson and Holland Scholars and Groups Scholars.
“I am excited and proud to be part of this initiative,” said Ochmaa Escue, director of overseas study for IU’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, said in a press release. “Having a passport gives many students the open-mindedness of seeking opportunities to travel and study abroad, which will ultimately lead to personal, professional and academic growth. I have had many students say to me that they hadn’t even thought about going abroad until now.”
Martin McCrory, associate vice president for academic support and diversity and vice provost for educational inclusion and diversity, said in a press release traveling abroad is essential for students’ understandings of the world.
“It is important that first-generation, minority and low-income students have access to intercultural knowledge and communication skills if they are going to succeed in today’s global community,” McCrory said in a press release. “We are proud to help reduce barriers that make it difficult for these students to study abroad.”
Taylor Telford
