Virginia State University Earns National Grant To Fund Student Passports For Study Abroad

The grant will help 25 VSU students gain access to the academic, professional, and personal benefits of international educational experiences.

Virginia State University is proud to announce that it has been selected by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant allowing 25 students to obtain their first U.S. passports to study abroad.

VSU earned the grant through a competitive selection process after demonstrating its commitment to expanding study abroad opportunities for its students. The University has a long history of engagement in global education, from hosting international educators to providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to study and teach abroad.

“This award will help 25 more students take the first step toward studying abroad in spring or summer 2027,” said Dr. Daniel Roberts, Executive Director of Global and Special Initiatives at VSU and Dean of the Dr. Charlie W. Hill Jr. Honors College. “We are excited about the record number of students who participated in a short-term or semester-long exchange program in 2025-2026. We expect another record number of participants in 2026-2027, and this grant from IIE will make it easier for 25 more students to realize their dream of studying abroad.”

According to Dr. Roberts, the grant will allow VSU students who are first-time passport applicants and Pell grant recipients to pursue study abroad opportunities as early as the spring 2027 semester.

Now in its sixth year, the IIE American Passport Project supports Pell-eligible students by removing the financial barrier of obtaining a first U.S. passport and expanding access to study abroad opportunities. This year, IIE awarded grants to 40 institutions in its network, helping approximately 1,000 students pursue international experiences.

Since its launch, the program has provided more than 260 grants to colleges and universities in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Through the initiative, IIE aims to help 10,000 U.S. students obtain passports by the end of the decade. Institutions are selected based on their commitment to serving students from low-income backgrounds, first-year students, and those with limited prior international travel experience.

The grant reflects Virginia State University's ongoing commitment to expanding access to global learning opportunities and ensuring that more students can participate in transformative study abroad experiences.