June 18, 2015

For Immediate Release
Contact: V. Renee Russell
VCU Global Education Office
Phone: (804) 828-3636
vrrussell@vcu.edu
global.vcu.edu 

RICHMOND, Va. (June 18, 2015)—Virginia Commonwealth University has been awarded the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad grant to fund scholarships for study abroad in Ireland. With matching support from VCU, the scholarship will provide a total of $15,000 to support six student awards of $2,500 each.  These scholarships can be used for the cost of tuition, books and travel related to study, service learning or internships abroad for Spring 2016 programs.

“This award underscores the university’s commitment to increasing the number of students who study abroad,” said Education Abroad director Stephanie Tignor. “This incentive grant will help VCU by increasing awareness of study abroad opportunities in Ireland while also breaking down financial barriers for students who would not be able to do so without the support. Given the ease with which students can study in Ireland with coursework taught in English, combined with increased funding, we hope to see more students going abroad by offering this opportunity.” 

The goal of the scholarship is to help make study abroad opportunities accessible to all students, especially those that are typically underrepresented in U.S. study abroad. “The IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarships will give more students— and more underrepresented students—the opportunity to gain international experience, which is one of the most important components of a 21st-century education,” said Institute of International Education president and chief executive officer Allan E. Goodman. 

VCU was selected for this grant based in its progress in doubling the number of VCU students who study abroad each year by 2020.  To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, students must have a FAFSA on file and an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) amount of $15,000 or less.  Award preference will be given to students with disabilities, students who are the first in their families to attend college or study abroad, and students who have attended community college in the past.

A total of ten universities received Ireland-IIE Generation Study Abroad Scholarship grants for their students to study in Ireland, with funding from the Government of Ireland.