Hollins University is one of 40 institutions selected by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant. The grant will enable up to 25 first-year Hollins students to obtain a U.S. passport and start their study abroad journey.
The IIE American Passport Project is intended to promote diversity, inclusion, access, and equity in study abroad and to support the IIENetwork, IIE’s global membership network, in its efforts to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an international experience as part of their college education.
“This grant will enable traditionally underrepresented students at Hollins to take the first step in studying abroad – to acquire a passport,” said Ramona Kirsch, director of international programs at Hollins. “This will not only serve them well during their time at Hollins but also after they graduate and continue to explore the world and become globally engaged.”
Increasing participation and diversity in study abroad has long been part of IIE’s mission. Through the American Passport Project, IIE plans to enable 10,000 students to have passports by the end of this decade.
The goal of the IIE is to help people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. As a not-for-profit with 17 offices and affiliates worldwide, IIE manages more than 200 programs with participants from over 180 countries. The IIENetwork connects more than 10,000 professionals from over 1,500 organizations to resources that support student mobility and exchange, campus internationalization, and international partnerships.
