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Interim Portable Aid Initiative

The Office of Off-Campus Study/International Programs is pleased to announce a new initiative that provides the opportunity for financial aid students to use their aid for off-campus study on approved non-Colgate programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years.  Other non-traditional study abroad destinations, such as the Balkans or former Soviet States, may also be considered.

The Interim Portable Aid Initiative, funded by the Office of the President, is designed to support off-campus study in lesser-traveled regions of the world. Previously, students on aid were able to apply their Colgate aid only to Colgate Study Groups, most of which are located in Western Europe.  With this new initiative we will enable students to apply their need-based Colgate aid to non-Colgate programs under the following conditions:

1. Interim portable aid will only be considered for off-campus study in the targeted regions. Non-Colgate programs located in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand are not eligible for funding.


2. Interim portable aid will be available only when all of the following conditions are met:
• either Colgate does not offer a study group in the target country, the student is not accepted to study on Colgate study group in the target country, or there is a strong and compelling argument that the student’s academic needs will be better met by the non-Colgate program;
• participation in the approved program is endorsed by the student's academic department/interdisciplinary program and faculty adviser;
• the student will receive at least one credit toward the major; and,
• the student has not already studied abroad on a Colgate Study Group or non-Colgate program (extended study courses excluded).


3. The Interim Portable Aid Initiative applies to financial aid availability only.  Programs approved for interim portable aid are subject to Colgate's existing academic regulations concerning academic leaves of absence.


4. Should student demand for interim portable aid exceed the funds available, preference in granting awards will be made as follows:

For 2012-13:
1.      Members of the Class of 2013 applying to study abroad in the fall 2012
2.      Members of the Class of 2014 applying to study abroad in the fall 2012
3.      Members of the Class of 2014 applying to study abroad in the spring 2013

For 2013-14:
1.      Members of the Class of 2014 applying to study abroad in the fall 2013
2.      Members of the Class of 2015 applying to study abroad in the fall 2013
3.      Members of the Class of 2015 applying to study abroad in the spring 2014

To learn more about this initiative and to identify programs that may be eligible for funding, please contact Kara Bingham, director of Off-Campus Study/International Programs. Application for interim portable aid will be managed through the regular academic leave of absence and financial aid processes.