Student Projects Abroad (SPA)
SPA-General Info
The Students Projects Abroad (SPA) grant and fellowship program is designed to help defray the costs of a Senior Individualized Project (SIP) or other College-related activity (civic engagement, internship, research projects) in an international location. In order to facilitate a deeper understanding of another language and culture, these fellowships and grants are designed to provide additional funding to allow recipients to undertake a project that they could not otherwise afford. Applicants and award recipients must be enrolled K college students. We regret that the fellowships and grants are not available to graduates of the College. SPA funds cannot be used to pay for tuition, classes, or program fees abroad. Additionally, the CIP is not able to disperse SPA funds to students who have unpaid K bills.
All applicants must be Kalamazoo College students in good social standing who, at the time of the application:
- can demonstrate proficiency in the foreign language needed to carry out the project
- can give evidence of the ability to operate independently in an international environment (most typically this will mean having successfully undertaken study abroad in the country or region where the project is planned),
- can demonstrate how the proposed project relates to their long-term personal and professional goals,
- have K faculty endorsement of their capability to complete the proposed project, (e.g. the project has been approved by a faculty advisor and, if the research involves human subjects, the student will seek approval from the Institutional Review Board*), and have the support for the project by a mentor abroad.
*Please note that IRB approval is not required at the time of application.
HOW THIS FUNDING DIFFERS FROM FINANCIAL AID AND OTHER AWARDS.
The funding assistance for Student Projects Abroad (SPA) described in the following pages is only available for individual, independent projects completed during the official Kalamazoo College summer breaks. Eligibility for SPA funds from Beeler, Collins, and/or Riley will be determined based on financial need, project proposal, and host partner support. Lastly, funds received for SPA will not have any impact the financial aid package you received for Fall, Winter, or Spring academic K terms.
We highly encourage students seeking funding to do SIP & other academic projects abroad to pay close attention to their host country’s visa policies and safety protocols to assess the likelihood of being able to fulfill project goals.
STUDENTS WHO ARE ACCEPTED/FUNDED- SPA IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR STUDY ABROAD
Due Dates
Winter Break
Applications are due Thursday of 4th week in Fall Quarter.
Summer Break
Applications are due Thursday of 4th week in Spring Quarter.
The selection committee will review applications and awards will be announced within 30 days after the application deadline. Funds should be available after the academic term has ended. A personal interview may be required at the selection committee’s discretion. Students who have already received SPA funding will receive priority for subsequent applications.
Beeler Fellowship
Honors the late Mrs. Isabel Beeler
- Typically funds up to half of the projected cost of a SIP overseas
- Maximum award typically $2,750; number of Fellowships determined by amount of funding in a given fiscal year; (typically fewer than 15 awards per year)
- Applicants must have a junior or senior standing, minimum of 2.75 GPA
- Applicants must spend a minimum of 4 weeks overseas pursuing project
*At the discretion of the committee, the combination of a Beeler Fellowship and a Collins Fellowship is possible, as is the combination of a Beeler Project Grand and a Collins Fellowship. A student may not apply to both the Beeler Fellowship and the Beeler Project Grant. If applying for two fellowships, only one application should be submitted.
Beeler Project Grant
Honors the late Mrs. Isabel Beeler
- Typically provides up to five awards of $600 each
- Available to all Kalamazoo College Students, regardless of class standing
- Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.5
- Applicants must spend at least 1 week abroad conducting project
*At the discretion of the committee, the combination of a Beeler Fellowship and a Collins Fellowship is possible, as is the combination of a Beeler Project Grand and a Collins Fellowship. A student may not apply to both the Beeler Fellowship and the Beeler Project Grant. If applying for two fellowships, only one application should be submitted.
Collins Fellowship
Honors the late Paul Collins, former Dean of Students at the College
- Fellowship provides round-trip airfare to project location in a country in development
- Student must plan to carry out SIP or other project which will allow them to learn first-hand about suffering caused by:
- Poverty, Famine, Undernourishment
- Typically one Collins Fellowship is awarded each fiscal year
- Available to all Kalamazoo College students, regardless of class standing
*At the discretion of the committee, the combination of a Beeler Fellowship and a Collins Fellowship is possible, as is the combination of a Beeler Project Grand and a Collins Fellowship.
Riley Fund
Honors the late David Riley, K’71
- Typically provides up to five awards of $500 each
- Available to all Kalamazoo College Students, regardless of class standing
- Applicant must have a GPA of at least 2.5
- Applicants must spend at least 1 week abroad conducting project
*At the discretion of the committee, the combination of a Beeler Fellowship and a Collins Fellowship is possible, as is the combination of a Beeler Project Grand and a Collins Fellowship.
Todd Memorial Classics Study Abroad Grant
Todd Memorial Classics-General Info
Todd Memorial Classics Study Abroad Grant – this grant (typically $1000-$6000) provides partial support for students participating in programs focused on archeological field schools, digs, programs in Classical languages during K academic breaks.