Central College has been awarded a $35,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Program.

Central is one of 44 colleges and universities across the United States and the only college in Iowa to receive the IDEAS grant to create, expand and/or diversify American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals.

“We are so grateful for this U.S. Department of State grant that will support the work-intensive, collaborative development of faculty-led study abroad programming. Through this grant, faculty will create curricula with integrated travel to re-invigorate our study abroad opportunities for students,” says Linda Laine, Associate Academic Dean and Professor of Communication Studies. “This funding is key as Central relaunches its international education options for Central students.”

This grant supports and is supported by the development of Central’s new Engaged Citizen core curriculum. International education is an invaluable tool in developing engaged citizens who will work to address social inequalities and other pressing problems.

“We envision the development of a sustainable structure of faculty-led study abroad offerings that appeals to a diverse student body,” Laine says.

This grant is funded by the U.S. Department of State and supported in its implementation by World Learning.

“The U.S. Department of State is committed to supporting U.S. colleges and universities as they continue to rebuild study abroad capacity impacted by the global pandemic,” says Heidi Manley, USA Study Abroad Chief, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “That is why ECA is proud to be awarding double the number of IDEAS grants this year so that we can support more institutions as they work to provide important international educational opportunities to their students.”

Since 2016, the IDEAS Program has awarded 145 grants to 139 institutions in 48 states and territories to create, expand, and diversify their U.S. study abroad programs in 71 countries across all world regions. In addition to the IDEAS grant competition, the program also offers opportunities for faculty, staff, and administrators at U.S. colleges and universities to participate in a series of free virtual and in-person study abroad capacity building activities.