Giving Thanks for Support in Expanding Diversity Abroad

Since 1947, CIEE has led change in international exchange programs by opening doors and expanding diversity abroad. I write today in this season of gratitude to THANK YOU for your partnership in helping to democratize study abroad. With your support and collaboration, we’re making positive change in our world by expanding diversity abroad in international education for students, participants, and professionals.

Why Do We Do It?

In 1947, CIEE was founded as a nonprofit to advance peace in our world through people-to-people exchange. Our founding documents call for us to provide access to international exchange programs to all students from all backgrounds, particularly those from challenged socioeconomic backgrounds. 

What Have We Achieved Together?

For 75 years, CIEE has broken down barriers to study abroad, including the barriers of cost, curriculum, and culture. Over the last decade, our commitment to access has been as strong as ever. By working with you, our partner schools, we have accomplished the following:

• Between 2014 and 2019, CIEE doubled the number of students participating in CIEE study abroad programs, also doubling the number of student participants from diverse backgrounds. We awarded millions of dollars in scholarships each year, offered the most and most affordable program options for students, and invested in training programs and special grants for HBCU and MSI college presidents, faculty, and students. CIEE was the only provider that doubled diversity abroad and we’re proud to have done it with all of you.  
• Between 2019 and 2024, CIEE added scores of programs that appeal to diverse students, established programs that help students from diverse backgrounds afford study abroad programs, and we tripled the number of professionals of color who work at CIEE, making us the most professionally diverse study abroad provider in the country. We want to thank you for referring highly talented professionals from diverse backgrounds to CIEE.

How Do We Do It?

The way we ensure that CIEE is the leader in increasing diversity abroad is that we invest significant financial resources in opening doors to all students from all backgrounds. Here’s a small sampling of our current investments to expand diversity abroad:

• $6 million in annual CIEE High School Global Navigator Scholarships to help 1,200 high school students – 74% of whom are students of color – study abroad in 35 international cities.
• $5 million in annual CIEE College Study Abroad grants and scholarships to help 2,600 college students – 42% of whom are students of color – study abroad in 40 international cities.
• $4 million in CIEE Study Abroad Challenge Grants to four universities to establish innovative study abroad programs that will improve student outcomes for over 2,000 students from nontraditional backgrounds, including: 
  • ASU’s Early Start Global Accelerator Program for high-risk, first-year students to improve student retention and graduation rates;
  • BMCC’s Global Scholars Program for Pell-eligible, diverse, and first-generation students to improve student retention, graduation rates, and employability;
  • Northeastern University’s two-week summer courses on public health in Botswana and Ghana for underrepresented students as part of their broader university-wide commitment to invest in Africa and global health; and
  • UC San Diego’s Global Internship for Pell-eligible, underrepresented students to improve retention, graduation rates, employability, and economic mobility.
• Funding the annual CIEE Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship in Ireland Program, a program that provides 12 exceptional student leaders from diverse backgrounds a transformative eight-week summer internship in Dublin, Ireland, during which they study Irish history and culture, gain practical work experience, and establish an international professional network. The program is co-sponsored by CIEE, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN).
• Funding the winning student team from Rwanda in last year’s CIEE UNHCR global refugee challenge at CIEE’s Annual Global Internship Conference (GIC). The 2024 student winners were a group of students from Rwanda with a plan to help refugees in Rwanda from neighboring African countries. CIEE has provided $50,000 to help them implement their plan.

We could not do this alone. From all of us at CIEE, we want to thank you for your partnership, support, and collaboration as we work together to increase diversity abroad.