While KU might call the Midwest home, the Jayhawk community expands beyond the borders of any state or country. KU International Affairs helps prepare students to be successful in a world that is more connected than ever.
While KU might call the Midwest home, the Jayhawk community expands beyond the borders of any state or country. KU International Affairs helps prepare students to be successful in a world that is more connected than ever.
Each year, our program facilitates more than 165 study abroad programs in more than 70 countries and supports the more than 1700 international students who have chosen Lawrence as their home away from home. When a student has the chance to spend extended time studying in a different country or to learn from an international student sharing their life story right here on campus, that student is exposed to a diversity of thought that enhances their entire educational journey.
The impact of an international education experience extends far beyond a particular semester. These programs help our students in identifying and solving global problems. By supporting our commitment to ensuring every KU student has a passport, our efforts to expand KU’s undergraduate research opportunities abroad and our drive to put study abroad scholarships in students’ hands and to make sure our international students have emergency support in times of need, you are helping Jayhawks think beyond Kansas and dream beyond borders.
Join us in ensuring KU’s position as an international and global-minded university, building connections and community across the world.
Now is the time to make a transformative gift to KU International Affairs to address the following priorities:
Whether a student hopes to spend a semester studying abroad, take a research trip overseas with a faculty mentor or sees themselves working in an international career after graduation, that journey starts with a passport. However, the $165 cash passport application fee is a financial barrier that many of our students struggle to overcome. Funds for this effort would cover this cost for all students, giving every Jayhawk the ability to start their global journey at KU.
Undergraduate research experiences outside the U.S. not only allow students to use and develop skills in their fields of study and build connections that will shape their careers, but they also give students the opportunity to see the world through a different lens. Supporting this effort means supporting a Jayhawk’s ability to engage in research at a prestigious lab, visit an archive, conduct primary research in the field, or establish connections with international institutions and scholars.
Each year international students who are thousands of miles away from their family face unexpected challenges, such as a home country suddenly facing civil unrest or experiencing a natural disaster. Such events can result in unforeseen financial hardship for a student. When these issues abruptly arise, international students are unable to access the same traditional emergency aid sources as domestic students, putting them in an even more vulnerable position. Funds for this initiative would help international Jayhawks navigate through unanticipated hardships, allowing them to complete their KU degree.
National surveys of college students show strong demand for international educational experiences, yet just 1 in 4 KU students currently study abroad prior to graduation. Cost is cited as a key obstacle to students seeking to advance their global education goals. Giving to an unrestricted scholarship fund ensures access to study abroad for all KU students, regardless of academic discipline or financial means, allowing students to craft a study abroad experience that is well aligned with their academic objectives, career goals and personal aspirations.
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1891 Constant Ave, Lawrence, KS 66047 | PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 | 785•832•7400 | 800•444•4201
