{"id":447412,"date":"2026-02-03T23:12:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T23:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/447412\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T23:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T23:12:07","slug":"university-to-cover-u-s-passport-fee-for-qualifying-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/447412\/","title":{"rendered":"University to cover U.S. passport fee for qualifying students"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
\n \"University <\/p>\n

02\/03\/2026<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SUNY Cortland\u2019s International Programs Office hopes to encourage more Red Dragons to give study abroad a try with its new, free passport program \u2014 offering to cover the $165 fee for a U.S. passport for qualifying students.<\/p>\n

The university will provide up to 20 grants this semester in the pilot program\u2019s application process. More will become available next semester if the program succeeds. Grant applications are due by Thursday, Feb. 26.<\/p>\n

This deadline allows students enough time to be ready for summer or fall study abroad programs.<\/p>\n

Students can learn more about the Red Dragons Global Passport Program by attending the Study Abroad Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, in Corey Union lower lobby.<\/p>\n

Or they can contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> visit the International Programs Office in Old Main, Room 219.<\/p>\n

The program serves to remove both financial and logistical obstacles for select students with limited funds. Selected applicants must be eligible for a Pell Grant or TAP or a first-generation college student.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though a fee of $165 might not seem like the biggest barrier, for some students with high financial need it can be,\u201d said Julian Findlay, assistant director of study abroad.<\/p>\n

Approximately 50% of SUNY Cortland students who wish to study abroad do not yet have a U.S. passport, highlighting the need for such program.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognizing that this barrier has affected many of our students, we developed the program to directly address this challenge,\u201d said Daniela Baban Hurrle, the university\u2019s director of international programs.<\/p>\n

Eligibility criteria includes:<\/p>\n

current SUNY Cortland students who are eligible for an adult U.S. passport
\ndegree-seeking students in good academic standing
\nthose eligible for a Pell Grant or TAP; or a first-generation college student
\nthose planning to study abroad while enrolled as a SUNY Cortland student
\napplication for a passport during the term in which the award is granted<\/p>\n

Priority will be given to:<\/p>\n

students who may not be able to study abroad without this assistance
\nstudents who have never had an adult U.S. passport
\nfirst-year students who will have more time to use their passport and study abroad<\/p>\n

\u201cBy prioritizing students who have not previously studied abroad and who do not yet hold a passport, the program expands access to global experiences and helps ensure that study abroad is attainable, inclusive and equitable for a broader range of SUNY Cortland students,\u201d Baban Hurrle said.<\/p>\n

In addition to the financial support, International Programs Office staff will help students through the process of applying for their passport, Findlay said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working with Career Services to take passport photos, eliminating another step for the students to go get photos taken elsewhere,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more red tape we can remove or alleviate, the more accessible study abroad becomes to students who may have not previously considered or been able to travel outside the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The entire program provides step-by-step guidance over an extended period, recognizing that obtaining passports is often taking longer than expected, Baban Hurrle said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreparing in advance helps alleviate additional stressors for students and increases confidence in completing all necessary steps,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Annually hundreds of universities across the U.S. compete for the Institute of International Education\u2019s IIE American Passport Project<\/a> to underwrite campus programs to give students passports.<\/p>\n

Findlay\u2019s research found that Boston University, University of California at Davis, Ohio University and Oregon State University already offered similar programs to SUNY Cortland.<\/p>\n

For more than 15 years, the university\u2019s International Programs Office has regularly hosted an on-campus Passport Fair in collaboration with the United States Postal Service to assist students with the passport application process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this model provided valuable access, the Global Passport Program builds on those efforts by offering more sustained and targeted support,\u201d Baban Hurrle said. \u201cBy reducing obstacles and providing comprehensive guidance, the program motivates students to take the first critical step toward international experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three of SUNY Cortland\u2019s four initial applicants plan to study abroad during the summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe award would have an immediate impact for them,\u201d Findlay said.<\/p>\n


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