Access, Opportunity, and Impact Commitment
Our Commitment
Access, Opportunity, and Impact Commitment: Learning abroad can make a positive difference in every student's life. CEA CAPA is committed to providing access to study abroad opportunities that respect the individual student and their families as well as their host country.
What We Are Doing
Investment
CEA CAPA is making a long-term investment to Access, Opportunity, and Impact (AOI). We are embedding the principles into all aspects of our organization, and are ensuring that AOI is an active part of everyone's roles and responsibilities.
Commitment
Our commitment extends to offering high-quality, well-supported experiences designed for all students, and providing a positive environment for all of our staff, faculty, and students around the world.
Education
CEA CAPA will continue to build competency and capacity to address Access, Opportunity, and Impact throughout the organization through the professional development of colleagues who will participate and complete a certification program in this work.
Our AOI Leadership Council
The Access, Opportunity, and Impact (AOI) Leadership Council is dedicated to embedding AOI within CEA CAPA by advising, advocating, and endorsing initiatives, while empowering teams to elevate and sustain their efforts. The leadership council is comprised of CEA CAPA colleagues, both domestic and international, from various business functions throughout the organization.
Access, Opportunity, and Impact Stories
Read More
CEA CAPA Alum, Sabina Ali, details her experience of living and studying abroad as a Person of Color in Granada, Spain. Learn more.
Read More
CEA CAPA alum Piper details her activities while Studying Abroad in Sydney including going to the beach, trying new food, and making new friends.
Read More
CEA CAPA Content Creator, Gisele Magana, shares how she navigated mental and physical health while studying abroad in London. Read more.
Resources and Links
Embarking on your international adventure? Browse these resources that celebrate your unique identity and provide insights for an enriching experience abroad!
- DiversityAbroad.com – the student services arm of the Diversity Abroad Network that provides a space for diverse and underrepresented students to access resources and build community. It features blogs, scholarships, and specific resources for preparing to go abroad, living abroad, and coming home.
- U.S. State Department’s Student Website – covering everything from absentee voting to a traveler’s checklist to resources for different group identities, this is a great site to learn official information from the government about how to get ready for going abroad.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention – specific information by country for study abroad students on vaccines, medicines, and medical advice.
- ImFirst.org – an online community celebrating first-generation college students with video stories, blogs, guidance, and mentoring with dozens of blog posts about study abroad
- AllAbroad.us – a is a clearinghouse of resources, information, and mentors that promotes greater diversity among study abroad participants
- Center for First-Generation Student Success – source of evidence-based practices, professional development, and knowledge creation for the higher education community to advance the success of first-generation students
- The Impact of Internships and Study Abroad on the Career Readiness of First-Generation Students – A 2019 article that examines data from NACE’s 2018 Student Survey to compare the effects of these high-impact activities on first-generation students
- Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program – Scholarships available every fall and spring semester
- Goabroad.com Scholarship Directory – A directory of scholarships to help fund your abroad experience
Make sure to take the time to learn about the cultural norms, gender roles, stereotypes and politics of where you might like to go abroad. Think about how those differing ideas, attitudes, behaviors and laws might impact your experience overseas.
- National Center for Transgender Equality – an organization that advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people and the website includes relevant information about airport security, passports, and immigration documents.
- Rainbow SIG– resources like scholarships and advice guides for students studying abroad who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+)
- International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association – includes resources like a map of sexual orientation laws in the world and a report on global attitudes
- Spartacus Gay Travel Index – news, guides, events, blogs and country specific information for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQIA+)
- OutRight Action International – an organization that fights for human rights for LGBTIQIA+ people everywhere.
- TransRespect vs. Transphobia Worldwide – a global research project, seeking to provide an overview of the human rights situation for trans- and gender-diverse people in different parts of the world.
- Free and Equal – United Nations – a global United Nations public information campaign aimed at promoting equal rights and fair treatment of LGBTQI+ people.
Make sure to take the time to learn about the history, stereotypes and politics of where you might like to go abroad. Think about how that history, attitudes, behaviors and laws may impact your experience overseas, and the perception of your race or ethnicity within the unique historical context of that country.
Reasons to Study Abroad – Series of posts about WHY students of color should study abroad from allabroad.us
- African-American Students
- Asian/Pacific Islander Students
- Hispanic/Latin@ Students
- Native America Students
Additional Resources
- Black Students Study Abroad: The Good, The Bad, The Weird – reflections from a black traveler on goabroad.com
- Leave Them Woke in Your Wake: 9 Truths for Black Students Traveling Abroad – from goabroad.com
- Meaningful Travel Tips & Tales: African American Perspectives – a free ebook published by Goabroad.com
- Meaningful Travel Tips & Tales—LatinX Perspectives – a free ebook published by Goabroad.com
- Meaningful Travel Tips & Tales: Asian Travelers’ Perspectives – a free ebook published by Goabroad.com
- What it Means to Be An Asian-American in Europe – one blogger’s experience abroad
- NAFSA Tamara H Bryant Memorial Scholarship – for African-American undergraduate students
Make sure to take the time to learn about the cultural norms, gender roles, stereotypes, and politics of where you’re going abroad. Think about how those differing ideas, attitudes, behaviors, and laws might impact your experience overseas.
- Mobility International USA – a disability-led non-profit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities in international exchange, leadership development, disability rights training, and community service. MIUSA also publishes a semi-annual journal, books, videos, and brochures with useful information for those with disabilities who are planning international opportunities.
- Traveling with Disabilities – U.S. State Department Information
- Department of Transportation Office of Consumer Affairs – U.S. airlines are required to accommodate travelers with disabilities. A publication called New Horizons for Air Travel with a Disability will tell you about your rights.
- Society for the Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) – On foreign carriers, accessibility varies. If you plan to travel on a non-U.S. airline, find out what their policy is regarding Individuals with disabilities and let them know what you need well in advance of departure.
- Open Doors® Statistics on U.S. College-Level Study Abroad Students with Disabilities – a brief article with key information for those wanting to learn more about the number of students with disabilities who study abroad.
Make sure to take the time to learn about the cultural norms, gender roles, stereotypes and politics of where you’re going abroad. Think about how those differing ideas, attitudes, behaviors and laws might impact your experience overseas.
- International Religious Freedoms Report
- World Buddhist Directory – searchable database to find Buddhist centers around the world
- Church Finder: Limited international church listings.
- Christianity Today International – International network of Christian ministries, search for your denomination and your host country or city name.
- Hindu Temples Worldwide: Details of various Hindu temples around the world
- Islamic Finder: Directory of prayer times, Islamic organizations, and mosques worldwide.
- Muslim Internet Directory: organizations and resources worldwide.
- Halal Restaurants & Stores: Directory of halal restaurants and stores worldwide.
- Jewish Virtual Library: List of synagogues worldwide
- World Union of Jewish Students: WUJS is an international umbrella organization comprised of 48 national independent Jewish Student Unions around the world.
- Have Halal Will Travel: provides travel guides, itineraries, accommodation options, and more for Muslim students
- Yeah That’s Kosher: provides a guide to keeping kosher internationally, at a country level
Make sure to take the time to learn about the cultural norms, gender roles, stereotypes and politics of where you’re going abroad. Think about how those differing ideas, attitudes, behaviors and laws might impact your experience overseas.
- Sexual Health while Studying Abroad – a CEA resource to help keep you safe
- Information for Women Travelers – US State Department
- Pathways to Safety International – Empowering victims of interpersonal & gender-based violence abroad
- Her Own Way – A Woman’s Safe-Travel Guide – Resource from the Canadian government
Each state has its own legislation pertaining to veteran educational funding. Be sure to check out the information because some individuals can receive both federal and state veteran educational funds. Funds apply differently depending on the program, be sure to talk to your university's Office of Veteran's Affairs for more information for your specific case.
- US Department of Veteran Affairs
- How to Study Abroad as a Veteran – an article about studying abroad as a Veteran in the Havok Journal, which seeks to serve as a voice for the veteran community