IES Abroad and Chicago Scholars, which helps high-achieving high school students overcome the barriers to their collegiate access and success, announced the creation of a major new initiative to increase the number of disadvantaged students from the Chicago area participating in college study abroad programs. Both organizations are dedicated to providing higher education opportunities to traditionally underrepresented students, defined as racial/ethnic minorities, financially needy students, first generation, or those having a history of overcoming adversity.
The Chicago Scholars Abroad initiative, when fully funded, will provide scholarship aid of $4,000 per student for tuition/fees, plus a $1,000 transportation and living stipend, for up to 20 Chicago Scholars students each academic year. The Chicago Scholars Abroad initiative will also include study abroad workshops and peer engagement for high school and college-level Chicago Scholars students and their parents; a customized guide for preparing to study abroad; and opportunities to interact with program donors on a case-by-case basis.
IES Abroad will fund the first three years of the initiative; the first cohort of Chicago Scholars Abroad students is expected to take part in study abroad programs starting in fall 2012. IES Abroad and Chicago Scholars will work cooperatively to build a sustainable scholarship fund, supported by Chicago-area IES Abroad alumni and other donors, to support future Chicago Scholars Abroad students.
Underrepresented students make up nearly 20 percent of all students IES Abroad educates abroad, a 43.9 percent rise in just five years. Enrollment continues to grow as the IES Abroad Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad (IDEA) builds a pipeline of underrepresented students into its study abroad programs.
Learn more about Chicago Scholars or IES Abroad’s Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad (IDEA)
