U.S. Department of State Announces $2.1 Million IDEAS Program to Enhance Study Abroad Diversity: SFOP0010162

·        Expanding the higher education institutions offering U.S. study abroad programs, including but not limited to community colleges, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and institutions in states with traditionally lower study abroad numbers.

·        Increasing the number of study abroad students from groups that are currently underrepresented in study abroad, which may include but are not limited to first-generation students, racial/ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and/or students from underrepresented academic disciplines; and

·        Expanding study abroad to new, safe overseas destinations, particularly those that are less common study abroad destinations.

The FY 2024 IDEAS Program aims to increase and diversify study abroad through two main components, the administration of small grants and the implementation of capacity building initiatives for the U.S. higher education community. Pending availability of funds, the recipient will work in close consultation with ECA to implement these two components under this award:

1.      Administration of Small Grants to Support Capacity Building:  The award recipient will implement at least one open, merit-based competition that will result in approximately 32 subawards to accredited U.S. colleges and universities to create, expand, and/or diversify their study abroad programs in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.  The award recipient should look for efficiencies to maximize the number of subawards available thereby providing further opportunities to U.S. institutions under this program.  Selection criteria for subawards should fully reflect the overall goals and criteria for the small grants as stated in Section A of this NOFO. The award recipient will provide programmatic support and guidance to subaward applicants and recipients and monitor the fiscal and programmatic progress of the recipients and their projects, as well as the final impact of the awards.  The award recipient will provide semi-annual reports on results to ECA.  Additionally, the recipient is required to alert the Program Office of any impediments to successful implementation as they arise and consult with ECA to resolve programmatic and/or financial challenges. The recipient must provide an evaluation of activities as outlined below.

2.     Implementation of Capacity Building Initiatives for the U.S. Higher Education Community:  The award recipient will design and implement initiatives for the wider U.S. higher education community to increase and diversify U.S. student mobility abroad. These initiatives may take the form of in-person and/or virtual workshops, seminars, trainings and/or other creative mechanisms to bolster the capacity and knowledge sharing of and by U.S. higher education staff and faculty to expand U.S. student mobility overseas. Applicants should propose at least six total virtual and/or in-person capacity building activities, which can be of various formats and lengths, for the wider higher education community. For any in-person activities, proposals should include relevant funding to enable broad and diverse participation of U.S. higher education representatives, including those requiring financial support to participate. Proposals for this element should not exceed $150,000 in total.

Please see the full announcement for additional information.