More information concerning the new airline ticket grant program is available at the Office of International Education at 216 MacMillan Hall. (Michael Pickering)
Studying abroad has just gotten easier and cheaper for Miami University students with financial need.
Miami has proposed a new financial aid program that will fund airline tickets for students studying overseas for at least one semester.
Starting in the fall of 2007, Miami will provide financially needy students with a $600 grant to be used toward airfare. For airline tickets that cost more than $600, students will receive the remainder of the cost as an interest-free university loan.
The idea for the grant was developed by Chuck Knepfle, the director of student financial assistance, in response to Provost Jeffrey Herbst's inquiries on how to encourage more students to study abroad.
"It was my thought that the cost of airfare to a foreign country might be overwhelming to students with financial need," Knepfle said. "We hope that by providing at least some of the airfare cost up front we can make a study abroad experience more attainable to Miami students with financial need."
David Keitges, director of international education, believes that many students do not consider studying abroad for a semester because they think that they cannot afford the expenses. He sees the creation of the airline grant as an attempt to encourage more students to study abroad and to enhance Miami's image as an internationally active university.
Miami has been known nationally for the strength of its study abroad programs; however, many feel that the program can always be improved.
Keitges stated that Miami has set a goal for half of its students to study abroad for a semester or longer. Currently, about 30 percent of students study abroad for a semester or longer.
"Miami wants to ... provide the best possible education to our students who will work in a very globalized and interconnected world," Keitges said.
To qualify for the grant, students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to demonstrate financial need, a printed and signed estimate of the cost of their airfare and a completed consortium agreement and study abroad declaration form if studying in a non-Luxembourg program (Luxembourg students are eligible to apply as well). Students must study abroad for a semester or longer and submit documentation that the airline ticket was purchased. Students may request the grant no sooner than 90 days before their departure date and if eligible will receive a check from the university in order to purchase their ticket.
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"We want to make sure that students have had time to complete all the necessary application and consortium agreement information with the host country/program before we give the students the grant," Knepfle said about granting the aid 90 days before departure.
More information about the grant will be provided at the Study Abroad Fair, 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the Shriver Center Multipurpose Room, and on the Office of Student Financial Assistance Web site, www.muohio.edu/sfa.
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