FTCC is one of 34 colleges and universities in the United States to be awarded a grant this year from the U.S. Department of State program, which is aimed at developing and expanding study-abroad programs around the world.

"FTCC is pleased to be selected as one of only eight community colleges across the nation to participate in the U.S. Department of State's IDEAS Program," said FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells in a press release. "The objective of the project is to design a curriculum-aligned study abroad experience for students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM) disciplines. I applaud instructors Kerri Donahue and Krissy Smith for initiating the work to build a study abroad program in science that will provide students with 'hands-on' research experience in STEM."

The program, known formally as Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS), is intended to contribute to the State Department’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts to engage the American people in foreign policy. The proposals selected for 2023 grants will develop new international partnerships, train faculty and staff, internationalize curriculum, engage diverse students in study abroad, broaden the destinations where U.S. students study, and create virtual and hybrid exchanges, according to the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

FTCC received its grant for a proposal called FTCC STEM Abroad. Under the proposal, students would have opportunities to go to Belize and Bermuda to study subjects dealing with the foreign policy issues of climate, energy and the environment. The grant will fund initial planning of the proposed FTCC program. 

Of the 34 recipients of this year’s IDEAS grants, eight are community colleges and 13 are minority-serving institutions. Most of the grantees will receive up to $35,000 while one consortium will receive $50,000. In all, this year’s IDEAS grants totaled nearly $1.2 million. 

“Increasing and diversifying U.S. students going abroad for educational opportunities, as well as diversifying the places where they study, is a State Department priority,” said Lee Satterfield, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs in a press release. “This year’s recipients reflect the true greatness of America – our diversity – as almost 25 percent represent two-year institutions, 40 percent represent minority-serving institutions, and 25 percent represent rural-serving institutions.”