Study Abroad: A 21st Century Perspective - Volume
1 - Table of Contents
Creative funding for study abroad: A guide for advisors
by Charles A. Gliozzo
Assistant to the Dean, International Studies and Programs, Michigan
State University
There is failure, except in no longer trying; no defeat, except
from within; no insurmountable barrier, except our own inherent
weakness of purpose —Anonymous
Introduction
Creativity is in the eyes of the beholder. It could be a traditional
activity or development but modified with new ideas. The other alternative
is to be entirely innovative. But in both examples, the outcome
is the same, to generate funds for study abroad. This goal becomes
more apparent with reduced state and federal government support,
increased tuition costs, the high cost of technology, and increased
salary competition for quality faculty. All of these factors have
a direct impact on study abroad funding. As Thomas Disch said, "creativity
is the ability to see relationships where none exist." A review
of the following initiatives in educational institutions, the private
sector and government will assist study abroad administrators in
their continuous quest for funding.
Study Abroad Office Initiatives
Study abroad offices should take the initiative in establishing
innovative approaches in fundraising. A prime priority is that study
abroad advisors should become knowledgeable about scholarship web
sites such as Fast Web (www.fastweb.com), Mark Kantrowitz's guide
(www.finaid.org), University of Minnesota online study abroad (istc.umn.edu/study/scholarships.html),
etc. as well as publications. For example, the Office of International
Studies and Programs at Michigan State University has published
"A Student's Guide to Scholarships, Grants, and Funding Publications
in International Education and Other Disciplines" which is
a 79 page annotated comprehensive directory of information including
web sites and reference works. These citations and other sources
can be found in the SECUSSA section of http://www.nafsa.org.
In 1990, Michigan State University established an Overseas Study
Endowment Fund. The monies for this fund come from former student
participants, faculty, corporations, etc. An endowment fund has
benefits since it is permanent and the interest accrued annually
goes for study abroad scholarships. Moreover, more revenue is generated
as the principal increases. A Michigan private donor in 1999, established
an international scholars endowment fund at Grand Valley State University
(GVSU) in honor of his late wife. Approximately $50,000 will be
awarded in the first year to overseas study by GVSU undergraduates
who are primarily interested in the Arts and Humanities.
Matching funds can be a potential opportunity. Corporations such
as Coca Cola, which have given grants for study abroad usually request
matching funds from the grantee. Study abroad units in concert with
the development office and the assistance of the central administration
can tap those departments which sponsor overseas programs for matching
funds. Scholarships would be offered to their students as an incentive
to obtain funds. The matching gift concept doubles the amount of
scholarships and is symbolic of an institutional commitment to study
abroad. A unique model is the summer internship fund sponsored by
the School for Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University.
Monies are collected through various school functions and the funds
are matched by the university. In 1999, $50,000 was provided as
stipends to support student internships in the United States and
abroad.
In contacting former overseas study alumni, study abroad units
have been successful in raising revenue through organized telethons
and mail campaigns coordinated with the development office. Several
study abroad offices use commissions from the sale of Britrail,
Eurail, and International Student Identity Cards (ISIC) in funding
scholarships. At the University of Tennessee all proceeds along
with profits from the sale of ISIC's and Youth Hostel cards go directly
into the U.S. Students Abroad Scholarship program.
Another approach is to obtain a list from the local Department
of Commerce office of international corporate organizations which
own U.S. private sector firms in the state. Many of these parent
firms will contribute to a scholarship fund in the interests of
promoting community good will, particularly, if students are participating
in overseas study programs in the host country. Toyota is a good
example of a corporation which has given study abroad scholarships
and owns many subsidiaries in the United States.
Boston College has taken an innovative approach to fundraising.
Traditionally, this institution has focused on an interdisciplinary
approach to Irish studies, involving the departments of political
science, education, and business studies. Support for their Institute
of Irish Studies not only comes from the British, Irish and U.S.
governments, but from the private sector (IBM) and from organizations
such as Ireland Funds, International Fund for Ireland, and the Irish
American Partnership. The Institute administers approximately 21
programs which involve hundreds of individuals from North and South
Ireland as well as many Boston College students. Boston College's
faculty are involved as consultants in helping Ireland with marketing
tourism, corporate child care, etc.
Boston College emphasizes an academic strength in Irish studies
and utilizes the entire campus in furthering that objective. Fundraising
activities are quite extensive involving governments, the private
sector, and sponsored organizations. Concurrently, institutional
aid cannot be ignored.
Institutional Aid
This aid is funded by the student's home institution. These scholarships
and grants can be based either on need and/or merit. Not all institutional
aid is released for overseas study since scholarships can be restricted
to the campus, state, or domestic programs. Advisors and administrators
should be able to obtain information regarding domestic and overseas
institutional aid from the Office of Overseas Study, Financial Aid
office, or from the University Development office. Institutional
aid can come from a variety of donors: alumni, faculty, administrators,
endowments, and the private sector. Motivations for giving vary
with each of these constituent groups. Colleges and Departments
have established grants in honor of faculty members who have distinguished
themselves in the field of international education. As indicated
earlier, families have established overseas study endowments in
memory of an individual or family member. Each of these scholarships
might have specified criteria. Donors are usually interested in
the applicant's academic record, foreign language competence, discipline
focus and areas of study, either country or region as well as an
essay on overseas study goals. For example, Eckerd College in St.
Petersburg, Florida has the Frida B. Marx Memorial, which are awards
for students who wish to study in Germany, and the William McLaughlin
Memorial awards for overseas study for students with financial need.
Study abroad advisors should periodically check with their colleagues
at other institutions who have received grants about fundraising
strategies. The credibility and importance of study abroad endorsed
by Federal/State governments, central administrators, and national
organizations have generated a positive environment for fundraising.
Study abroad administrators should take advantage of these opportunities
and be continuously diligent in pursuing private sector funds. Yet
the reality exists that increasing workloads, limited staff, and
at some universities non-institutional support have been a deterrent
to fundraising activities. The response is to be pro-active since
study abroad is becoming an integral part of a student's education,
which includes underrepresented students.
Underrepresented Students (Minorities, Students with Disabilities
and Non-Traditional Students)
Various types of financial aid from Federal to institutional might
apply to assist underrepresented students enrolling in overseas
study programs. Special grants or scholarships are specified for
this purpose. The Robert Bailey Minority scholarships sponsored
by the Council of Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a prime example.
Another opportunity is the Minority International Research Training
Grant (MIRT), offered by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
These grants increase student minority participation in the health
research sector either in domestic or overseas areas. The Social
Science Research Council (SSRC) offers minority incentive predissertation
awards for research in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean,
Near and Middle East. Awards include language training and appropriate
course work, etc. The School of International Training (SIT) of
World Learning was awarded a $200,000 two year grant from the David
and Lucile Packard foundation for undergraduate science majors attending
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Awardees will participate
in any of the SIT's science-oriented study abroad programs. The
American Institute For Foreign Study offers scholarships for minorities
studying on their programs.
A non-traditional student who is not matriculating for a degree
is usually enrolled in a continuing education program. These students
who aspire to go overseas to enhance their professional development
disciplines should seek information from appropriate academic units
to determine if they are eligible for overseas study scholarships.
Criteria might vary with institutions and program sponsored organizations.
Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990,
study abroad and financial aid offices are required to offer the
same services to non-disabled and disabled students.
Service Organizations, Program Sponsors and Ethnic Groups
These constituent organizations, sponsors, and groups are additional
sources of aid for study abroad. A variety of examples might suffice.
The Rotary Foundation based in Evanston, Illinois has a private,
sponsored international scholarship program which provides funds
for undergraduate, graduate and vocational students. Other civic
groups such as Kiwanis International, Lions International, and the
American Association of University Women may fund local or regional
students who wish to pursue overseas study.
Study Abroad administrators in seeking funding opportunities should
be aware that Third World areas are becoming increasingly popular
with students. The Council of International Educational Exchange
(CIEE) has travel grants (John Bowman Scholarships) for students
who wish to study in a Third World area such as Asia, Africa or
Latin America. The grants cover the transportation cost from state
to state. The School for International Training offers Freeman scholarships
for students attending public institutions who wish to study in
Vietnam and China. The Institute of International Education offers
study abroad grants for undergraduate and graduate students who
are in good academic standing and have no previous study abroad
experience. Organizations like the American Institute For Foreign
Study (AIFS) offers 100 merit scholarships for their own programs.
International Research and
Exchange Board (IREX) offers grant opportunities for graduate students
who wish to do research and study in Central/Eastern Europe, and
in the independent states (formerly part of the Soviet Union).
Ethnic and service organizations have a particular interest in
promoting cultural, historical, or language study in their country
of origin. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Dante Alighieri,
Italian American Foundation, the League of United Latin American
Citizens, Goethe Institute, Alliance Française, etc., are
significant avenues of funding for overseas study and research.
A concerted effort should be made by study abroad units to contact
these agencies and organizations as well as other ethnic groups
to acquire additional information.
International Alumni Donors
The increased pressure of universities to generate new avenues of
revenue and to meet challenging campaign goals have led fundraisers
to international alumni. Media reports of MIT, University of California
at Berkeley, and Princeton University, etc., as receiving sizable
contributions have substantiated the view that international alumni
constitutes a "major revenue stream". Yet study abroad
advisors and development officers must recognize that the task is
not easy. Major cultural differences in how countries do business,
tax restrictions on donations and entertainment costs can result
in futile results. The problem of maintaining an adequate up-to-date
alumni data base can also hinder fundraising efforts. International
educators need to understand that the view of philanthropy is culturally
different from the U.S. The key in courting overseas alumni is to
maintain patience and to understand that it is not a "one-way
street".
Universities must cultivate a partnership with their international
alumni. This means responding to their concerns, enhancing their
professional development, and awarding incentive benefits such as
recognizing distinguished alumni, etc. International alumni as a
primary fundraising resource for study abroad scholarships cannot
be underestimated. International Alumni want U.S. students to study
their respective cultures and languages.
The establishment of home-stay and internship programs by international
alumni are prime examples of providing study abroad opportunities
for U.S. students. These initiatives can be equated in monetary
terms as service-in-kind benefits. These support services supplement
university fundraising efforts of international alumni for overseas
study support. Moreover, many of these overseas alumni are in key
positions in government or in the private sector and can be instrumental
in providing contacts or information which can lead to fundraising
initiatives resulting in overseas scholarships. For an excellent
example of how international alumni can be a productive constituent
group in study abroad, see http://msuaa.alumni.msu.edu/internships.
Private Sector—Corporations and Foundations
Other than governmental and institutional aid, the private sector
is an additional source of funding for study abroad. Private sector
aid supports both need-based and merit-based scholarships. Since
higher educational institutions are spending more money on financial
aid, the private sector becomes increasingly important. Concurrently,
the end of the cold war, the significance of broad-band internet
technology, increased U.S. prosperity, and globalization have enhanced
the role of the private sector as an enormous potential resource
for overseas study funding. For example, the Amoco Foundation, the
Chrysler Corporation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Lear Corporation
have funded study abroad scholarships. If it is a corporation, it
will dispense funds through its foundation. Since the foundations
rarely offer grants to individuals, but to organizations such as
educational institutions, the student generally receives funding
through the home institution.
Funding priorities at a foundation usually focus on a field of
study, a specific geographical area (city, state, or region), but
some give nationally and internationally with specified types of
support (endowment, international studies, seed money, operating
support, etc.)
Study abroad units should partner with the development office in
seeking funds for their students. The institutional development
unit has a data base of foundations and corporations as well as
a list of international alumni. Development officials have the expertise
to assist study abroad administrators in their quest for funding.
Development officers act as an important liaison between study abroad
officers and the private sector. Many universities have individual
development staff members whose sole purpose is to raise funds for
international studies and programs. Development units can enlist
institutional support from central administrators who are vital
in obtaining private sector funding.
Title VI Government Grants/Scholarships and the Role of State Governments
Fulbright IIE related grants for graduate study/research abroad,
Fulbright-Hays doctoral dissertation grants, NSEP graduate fellowships/undergraduate
scholarships and Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships need
to be cited. These programs supplement a student's "revenue
stream" in obtaining funds. These programs can be a forerunner
in enhancing professional development and in strengthening existing
study abroad programs.
State Governments
Student study abroad advocacy groups allied with institutional support
and state legislators represent a powerful constituency in obtaining
funds. Wisconsin and Texas state governments have taken a formidable
role in establishing study abroad scholarships. The Wisconsin governor
with the approval of the state legislature has allocated two million
dollars for study abroad scholarships for two years (July 1, 1999
through June 30, 2001). Scholarship money is allocated to each state
university contingent on their student population. Eligible recipients
must be Wisconsin residents and demonstrate financial need. Since
1989, the Texas legislature each year on the initiative of Texas
students has enacted a student $1.00 fee for international education
which includes study abroad scholarships. Recently, in the Fall
of 1999, students at the University of Texas Austin have increased
that fee to $3.00.
Conclusion
This article is only a sampling of what could be done in utilizing
external sources of funding. Funding prospects cannot be underestimated.
Innovation and having an entrepreneurial spirit can generate opportunities.
For example, what about revenues which can be generated through
institutional agreements and distance learning programs?
The increasing significance of study abroad has produced more revenue
for student scholarships and grants, but the amount is insignificant
in proportion to the growing numbers of U.S. students studying overseas.
There was approximately a 15% increase in 1998-1999 in contrast
to 1997-1998. As study abroad advisors become more knowledgeable
about fundraising, they become invaluable resources in helping overseas
study students. Any university-sponsored fundraising campaign should
have a study abroad component. Study abroad advisors must be diligent
in working closely with their development colleagues. Concurrently,
they must be continually active in obtaining institutional support
for study abroad. The rationale is that the education of our students
must have an international dimension in this age of globalization.
The message is that an educated overseas study student dispels parochialism.
We must seize the day (carpe diem) in seeking alternate sources
of funding from faculty, international alumni, the private sector,
government, etc. The positive outcome is that the professional development
of our future citizens is enhanced as well as the academic excellence
of our institutions.
Next article: Breaking New Ground: The Impact
of International Service-Learning on the Study Abroad Field
by Howard Berry
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