Campus Collaboration that Works: The Spelman College Example

Spelman College is committed to enabling African-American women to study abroad as part of their preparation to be global citizens. In pursuit of that goal, we allow all our financial aid to transfer to approved programs. We also have some of our own special study abroad scholarships, which are distributed based on a combination of merit and need.

One of the actions the College has taken to make our money go farther is the requirement that all students who have a Pell Grant and who also want our scholarship dollars in order to study abroad, must apply for a Benjamin Gilman Scholarship. If they fit the qualifications for the IIE-administered Freeman Asia grants, we have them apply there as well.

This has substantially increased our numbers of applicants and award recipients. Of the 38 Spelman College students studying abroad in Fall 2005, 10 students applied for the Gilman and 5 received the grant.

The Study Abroad Director keeps a list of applicants and passes it on to the financial aid office. Thus, if a student does not win a Gilman scholarship, and if the student’s need is more than the amount they get from the Gilman Scholarship Program, they will be considered for other types of scholarships that are offered through our office such as those from The College Fund, UNCF, Alumnae donations etc.

The partnership of Financial Aid, Study Abroad and Faculty means that more students will be able to study abroad, and the Gilman Scholarship is part of our strategy for making that happen.

Michelle Dass Pickard is Manager of the Gilman International Scholarship Program at the Institute of International Education.

Margery A. Ganz, Ph.D. is Director of Study Abroad and International Exchange and a Professor of History at Spelman College.

Published previously in the print version of the Fall 2005 .

How to Apply for the Gilman Program
The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving a federal Pell Grant and attending a 2-year or 4-year college or university in the U.S. Selected by competition, recipients are awarded up to $5000 to defray the costs associated with studying abroad for a minimum of four weeks and up to one academic year. Upon their return from abroad Gilman recipients are expected to carry out a Follow-on Project that helps to promote international education and understanding at their home campus or in their community.

Application Deadline(s): *April for Fall & Academic Year Study Abroad, *September for Spring Semester Study Abroad. Summer or May-term programs are not eligible. *Please visit the website for this year’s exact deadlines for both students and advisors.