USD Awarded Grant to Support First-Year Students with U.S. Passports

Twenty-five incoming University of San Diego (USD) students will receive their first U.S. passport, free of charge, as part of the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) American Passport Project grant received by the university. The institute awarded 48 U.S. universities and colleges a Passport Project grant. This grant will be facilitated by USD’s Office of International Studies Abroad.

“We are thrilled and grateful to receive this grant from the Institute of International Education. We always seek to ensure that all students have an opportunity to study abroad while at USD and this grant will help us remove a huge barrier for students in our new, incoming class who do not currently have a U.S. passport,” says Kira Espiritu, PhD, assistant provost for International Affairs and director of the Office of International Studies Abroad. “This is the first step in helping them go abroad and we are excited to work with them to support them throughout the entire process. I cannot wait to see the adventures these students have as a part of our study abroad programs over the next four years.”

USD is one of five higher education institutions in California selected by the IIE American Passport Project to assist Pell-eligible U.S. students to obtain their passports so they can study abroad. The program aims to create access and equity to international education opportunities by removing the financial barrier of obtaining a U.S. passport.

Eligibility is limited to students entering USD in the 2023-2024 academic year to ensure they have ample time to apply for and receive their passport and work with advisors to build a study abroad plan that aligns with their academic goals.

More details regarding the IIE American Passport Project and its impact at USD are forthcoming. Please visit the USD Study Abroad webpage for more information on our international education opportunities.

— Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)