The Student International Initiatives Fund  
 

a small grant program for projects abroad 

  
 

SIIF

A SIIF small grant is...

a “doorway” to deeper interaction with a host culture

 a prestigious award

a chance to conduct original research abroad

a means of integrating study abroad into a student’s academic program

a great way to practice writing grants, a valuable skill

a way to make study abroad unique and unforgettable
 
   
 

 

SIIF
 
 

addressing the disconnect

 
  A disconnect often exists between off-campus and on-campus experiences. Students returning from abroad may encounter a dissonance between the experiences that can frustrate attempts to apply what they have learned.  The SIIF program addresses this disconnect by linking the study abroad experience with academic and social activities  following students’ return.  
  program strategy  
  SIIF provides small grants to motivated students abroad to undertake projects abroad that build upon their own interests or that augment their existing course of study. The fund encourages students to dig deeper into the culture they are exploring by focusing special studies on topics of interest to them, and provides students with structured outlets to share their experiences.  
 

new media of exploration

  
  Though photography is a popular SIIF research tool, there are many other media that can serve as ports of entry into a culture. SIIF requirements are flexible in order to encourage students to “think outside of the box” in finding innovative ways to explore their host-countries. Other possible media of exploration include video, radio, music and writing.  
 

project guidelines

  
  All SIIF projects should 1) deepen and enrich the total experience of the student on an off-campus program by helping the student explore a topic of interest, and 2) enrich and edify the wider on-campus community and further the internationalization of our respective institutions.  
 

Application (pdf)

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