Study abroad has long been identified as a high-impact experience. Studies show that students who go abroad are more likely to graduate, better able to work with people from different backgrounds, and seen by employers as having the career skills needed to succeed. These are only some of the benefits experienced by students who study abroad. However, this opportunity isn't available to college students equally.
In 2018 approximately 52% of college students in the US were non-Hispanic white, and yet they made up over 70% of US college students who studied abroad. We acknowledge that fundraising for scholarships to support underrepresented students is but one part of working towards greater equity and justice in higher education for BIPOC. Whether individual team members run many steps or few, we all work to keep moving forward.
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) aims to support underrepresented students "in an effort to make the demographics of US undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the US population."