IES Abroad has raised its previous commitment to individual disadvantaged underrepresented students to a guaranteed $10,000 for each of the first 10 Chicago Scholars students accepted into 2014-15 programs abroad.
This doubled commitment per student, through the Chicago Scholars Abroad Initiative, now extends $8,000 per student for tuition/fees, plus a $2,000 transportation and living stipend, for up to 10 Chicago Scholars students on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are confirmed.
IES Abroad has worked in partnership with Chicago Scholars, a not-for-profit which helps high-achieving high school students overcome the barriers to their collegiate access and success, since September 2011 to support greater participation of students from the Chicago area 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 will continue to 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’s enhanced aid per student will round out the third and final year of the initiative; Chicago Scholars have studied in several locations, including London, Amsterdam, Milan, Dublin and Rome since the first cohort departed in the fall of 2012.
Underrepresented students made up 22.4 percent of all students IES Abroad educated abroad in 2012-13, a 6.4 percent rise over the previous year. Enrollment continues to grow this year as the IES Abroad Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad (IDEA) builds a pipeline of underrepresented students into its study abroad programs, jumping 11.3 percent for fall 2013 compared to fall 2012.
