New Scholarship Supports Global Experiences for Community College Students

Warren, Rhode Island, March 11, 2026 — The Forum on Education Abroad today announced a new scholarship program that will expand access to education abroad opportunities for community college students, a population that is significantly underrepresented in study abroad and global learning initiatives. 

Supported by a $50,000 commitment from the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), a leading provider of international education and cultural exchange programs, the Community College Access Scholarship (CCAS) will reduce barriers to high-impact global experiences by providing direct financial support for students to participate in nonprofit or charity-owned programs of their choosing, including faculty-led, short-term, semester or summer programs. Funding may support program fees, travel, passport and visa costs, and other document expenses. ​

​“We are grateful to AIFS for facilitating these experiences for community college students who too often face insurmountable hurdles to education abroad opportunities,” The Forum on Education Abroad President & CEO Melissa Torres said. “At a time when the career and workforce benefits of education abroad are becoming increasingly clear, we are heartened that more students will be able to gain from the career-defining skills they will develop while abroad.” 

Community colleges educate nearly 40% of undergraduate students in the U.S. Yet of reported U.S. students who studied abroad in academic year 2023-2024, just 1.6% were enrolled in associate’s degree programs. The CCAS aims to address this disparity and strengthen pathways to education abroad for community college students. 

“As a graduate of Sullivan County Community College in upstate New York, I can attest to the value of community colleges,” AIFS Chairman William L. Gertz said. “I developed not only critical thinking skills and knowledge of a wide variety of subjects but also important career building blocks. I was able to participate in European history and journalism courses, and the individual attention I received at this small institution was invaluable. This experience led me to my career and role as global leader of AIFS.”

As The Forum’s recent studies show, education abroad is linked to many measures of economic and career success. 90% of alumni report building in-demand job skills while abroad, including critical thinking, adaptability and cross-cultural communications. Business school students who study abroad earn, on average, $4,159 more in their first post-graduate jobs than their peers who do not. Additionally, education abroad alumni take on leadership roles more than their peers in the crucial fields of IT, health care, education and finance. 

About the Community College Access Scholarship

The CCAS is open to community college students enrolled in at least six credit hours in a degree-seeking program at an accredited U.S. institution during the 2026-2027 academic year, with education abroad programs occurring between June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027. The program aims to support 10-15 students in its first year, with awards ranging from $3,000-$5,000 depending on need and program cost. 

Applicants must demonstrate economic need through Pell eligibility, financial aid documentation, or explanation of financial circumstances. Eligible programs include faculty-led, short-term, semester, or summer programs run by a nonprofit institution of higher education or a nonprofit or charity-owned education abroad organization. 

About The Forum on Education Abroad

The Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership association recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as the Standards Development Organization (SDO) for the field of education abroad. The Forum provides training and resources to education abroad professionals and its Standards of Good Practice are recognized as the definitive means by which the quality of education abroad programs may be judged. The Forum’s mission is to cultivate educators who champion high quality education abroad experiences that ignite curiosity, impact lives, and contribute to a better world. In service of this mission, in 2025, it launched the Education Abroad: The Career Catalyst campaign. 
  
The Forum’s institutional members include U.S. colleges and universities, overseas institutions, consortia, agencies, organizations, and foundations who are committed to improving education abroad. Under the strategic leadership of the Board of Directors, the Forum staff develops and manages member programs, resources, services, and benefits. The Forum Council represents the interests of the Forum membership, communicates the needs of the field, and works collaboratively with Forum staff to assess and move initiatives forward. The Forum relies heavily on the expertise of colleagues in and outside of the education abroad field, and much of The Forum’s work is accomplished through the support of committees, working groups, facilitators, assessors, reviewers, and volunteers. 

About AIFS

The American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) is a charity-owned organization that has been a leader in cultural exchange and international education for more than 60 years. AIFS is also the sole funder of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF), named in honor of founder Sir Cyril Taylor, which donates more than $2 million annually to nonprofit organizations worldwide. AIFS Abroad, a division of AIFS, offers study abroad and international internship programs—including short-term and semester opportunities—in more than 30 destinations around the world. AIFS Abroad has long partnered with community colleges to expand access to global education, including launching the first customized, semester-long faculty-led program in London with a consortium of San Francisco Bay Area community colleges in 1986. Today, 13 of the nation’s top 20 community colleges partner with AIFS Abroad to deliver customized international programs for their students. 

CONTACT:
Mary Keister
PR Manager (Consultant)
The Forum on Education Abroad
[email protected]