I studied abroad this summer in Salamanca, Spain through UConn Experiential Global Learning (EGL). After being accepted, I had only one week to commit to my program--but didn't receive notice from scholarships until weeks later.

For students with high financial need, this creates a huge barrier. Many are forced to either risk committing thousands of dollars they don’t have, or walk away from life-changing opportunities. That shouldn’t be the case at a university that values equity and global engagement.

I was fortunate to receive the Gilman Scholarship, which fully funded my program. As part of my Gilman follow-on service project, I’m working to make it easier for other UConn students to study abroad without facing the same financial uncertainty.

We’re petitioning EGL to:

Clearly inform students in their acceptance letters who to contact for funding resources.

Let students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) under $3,000 know they can request an extension on a case-by-case basis before committing.

We understand EGL has deadlines with partner programs, so this wouldn’t always mean a fixed timeline. But simply making this option transparent would reduce barriers and open the door for more students.

How you can help:

Sign the petition if you’re a UConn student, faculty member, or supporter.

Share this with friends/classmates who care about equity and access.

If you’ve studied abroad, comment your experience--the more voices, the stronger the case for change.

Making study abroad more accessible helps all of us.