The University of Maryland (UMD) College Park, in partnership with Bowie State University (BSU), has been selected to receive the 2025 IIE American Passport Project grant. This collaborative initiative will enable UMD and BSU to nominate 25 eligible students to each receive $165.00 to fund their U.S. passport application process.
The IIE American Passport Project is an award for U.S. colleges and universities in the IIENetwork, which aims to support Pell-eligible students in obtaining U.S. passports and encourages participation in study abroad. The program prioritizes students early in their academic careers, providing them ample time to plan for international experiences with support from their institutions.
This is the first year a grant has been awarded to partnering institutions, and builds upon an existing partnership between UMD and BSU to further international education. Over the past year, the two institutions have worked together to enhance study abroad opportunities for marginalized populations through the U.S. State Department IDEAS Program. The IIE Passport Project will further strengthen this initiative by addressing a fundamental barrier to study abroad–access to passports.
“This grant reflects the strength of partnership and a shared commitment across [the University System of Maryland] to expanding access to global learning. By working together with our colleagues at Bowie State University, we’re removing financial barriers to pave the way for students to engage with global grand challenges and new perspectives, opportunities critical to their academic and professional growth.”
UMD and BSU will also provide guidance and support for nominees to successfully navigate the passport application process and future study abroad opportunities.
How To Apply
Students interested in being considered for nomination should complete the brief applications at go.umd.edu/passportgrant. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by both UMD and BSU until all spots are filled.
To be eligible for nomination, students must:
- Be an enrolled student at either the University of Maryland College Park or Bowie State University for the Fall 2025 semester
- Be a U.S. Citizen who is 18 years or older
- Meet the Pell Grant eligibility criteria
Contact
For more information about this opportunity, please contact:
Asia King
Program Manager for Global Learning Abroad, University of Maryland College Park
Maura Frishmann
Study Abroad Coordinator, Bowie State University