UK selected to receive the IIE American Passport Project grant to empower US students to study abroad
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 15, 2025) — The University of Kentucky has been selected by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant that will enable up to 25 Pell-eligible UK students participating in UK’s signature career-readiness education abroad program for First-Generation students, Explore First: Career, Cultures, and Connections, to obtain their first U.S. passport. UK is one of 45 institutions to receive the American Passport Project grant this year.
The IIE American Passport Project aims to reach institutions that serve a variety of U.S. student populations that often may not be participating in study abroad. To date, the program has issued grants to 220 higher education institutions in 40 states and the District of Columbia. In this fifth cohort, seven of the institutions are community colleges — the most awarded in a year; two institutions have teamed up to maximize their effort; and one is a university educating “the deaf and signing community on a national and global scale.” IIE selected the institutional recipients based in part on demonstrated efforts to prioritize student populations from low-income backgrounds and students who have not traveled abroad as an adult or in a learning environment.
By removing the initial financial barrier associated with passport applications and prioritizing students early in their higher education experience, IIE and the awarded institutions are collectively working to expand participation in study abroad at each campus.
“This grant aligns perfectly with what we are doing with Explore First,” said Associate Provost for Internationalization Sue Roberts. “We are committed to making study abroad accessible because we understand the impact it can have on a student’s academic success and career readiness, and this grant helps students directly by covering the cost of obtaining their first U.S. passport. This is an important step — with practical and symbolic significance and we are very proud UK was selected to receive this grant.”
Learn more about IIE at https://www.iie.org/.