Member Advisory--November 1, 2005

HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program launched

During HACU’s recent 19th Annual Conference, held in Phoenix on October 15-18, the HACU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Laureate International Universities to launch one of the largest international scholarship funds dedicated to encouraging U.S. Hispanic student participation in study abroad.

The HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program was created to eliminate one of the most substantial barriers preventing Hispanic students from studying abroad – lack of financial resources. The program will make available more than $20,000 in scholarships to students at each U.S. HACU member institution for a total value exceeding $8 million.

The program will offer one partial tuition scholarship (on average 50% of the tuition cost) to a student from each U.S. HACU member institution to attend each of Laureate International Universities Study Abroad Programs in Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain and Switzerland.  Thus, as many as 15 students from each national member may receive scholarship awards.

When a student applies to the HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program, he/she will at the same time be applying to study abroad at one of the fifteen Laureate campuses.  To qualify, a student must attend a HACU member institution in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and possess a minimum 2.7/4.0 GPA.  Additionally, most Laureate universities will require a minimum level of language ability in Spanish or French. 

In addition to the scholarship, a student can ordinarily apply federal financial aid (Pell Grant, Stafford Loan, and PLUS loan) toward this study abroad program.   Program costs beyond tuition will include travel and housing, program fees for services provided in preparing the student to go abroad (academic advising, financial aid counseling, and pre-departure orientation) and services while abroad (airport reception, on-site orientation and support).  Published program fees can be found on the International Scholarship Program website at www.internationalscholarships.net.

While all the Laureate International Universities are accredited institutions in their own countries and their courses should easily be able to transfer, in the event that a U.S. transcript is required, Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, TX) has agreed to be the School of Record for the Program. 

We strongly encourage you to visit the Program website where you will find more detailed information including costs, subject areas, and photos.  Please pass this information along to the director of your study abroad programs and promote it to interested faculty and students. 

Visit www.internationalscholarships.net.

 HACU Member Advisories are a service
of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.