JJC Named American Passport Project Grant Recipient

Joliet Junior College has been selected as a recipient of an American Passport Project grant from the Institute of International Education (IIE) to support students in their study abroad journeys.  

The grant funding enables up to 25 Pell-eligible JJC students to obtain their U.S. passport, allowing them to participate in the college’s study abroad offerings. 

"We are very excited to be part of the American Passport Project. The timing of this award is perfect for JJC as we are restarting our study abroad programs,” said JJC International Education Coordinator Dr. Nataliya Marchenko. “We hope that this award will help many JJC freshmen of limited financial needs to open doors to the world of possibilities in the U.S. and abroad.”

This is IIE’s second grant cycle for the American Passport Project. JJC is one of 40 higher education recipients this year and the only school in Illinois. By decade’s end, IIE plans to have enabled 10,000 students to have passports.

Passports provide a critical piece in the multi-faceted effort to reach students who are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. The institutions selected will provide innovative programming, engagement efforts, advising and support for the students they have identified with the goal of sending them on a study abroad program while in college.    

JJC's International Education Office (IEO) will be informing students about study abroad opportunities. It will help select the program that is best suitable for their academic, career, and personal goals and assist in completing their U.S. passport application. IEO will work with JJC’s Center for Multicultural Access and Success, as well as other departments and programs to provide additional support and guidance to students as needed. 

“We are excited to resume trips with our first post-pandemic study abroad cohort. Five JJC students in our veterinary medical technology program depart this week for Guatemala, with another five total students studying abroad this summer in Costa Rica, France, Spain and Ireland. We are currently accepting applications for fall 2022 and spring 2023 full semester programs in England, Ireland, Spain, and Austria,” said Marchenko. 

About the Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is a world leader in helping people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. As a not-for-profit with 17 offices and affiliates worldwide, IIE manages 200+ programs with participants from 180+ countries. Each year, tens of thousands of people participate in IIE-managed programs. IIE collaborates with a range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe to design and manage scholarship, study abroad, workforce training, and leadership development programs. 

The IIENetwork is the global membership network connecting more than 10,000 professionals from over 1,500 organizations to resources, including IIE’s extensive knowledge and decades of experience supporting student mobility and exchange, campus internationalization, and international partnerships.

About Joliet Junior College

Located in the south Chicago suburbs, JJC is the nation’s first public community college, with six campuses and education centers that serve approximately 27,000 students annually. JJC’s nine academic pathways offer customized, affordable certificate and associate degree options for immediate career placement or seamless transfer capabilities. JJC students also benefit from a collective $13 million in state and federal grants, and scholarship assistance in excess of $800,000 each year. Learn more at www.jjc.edu.