Bringing KU to the world with International Affairs’ passport initiative

KU senior Gabriel Reed’s study abroad journey started where every KU student’s international education journey does – with a passport. Since he was a kid, the music major knew he wanted to travel and knew that he wanted to learn Spanish as a second language. Studying abroad in Costa Rica would give him the opportunity to do both, but as a student who had never traveled internationally before, Gabriel knew there were many steps before he would be able to plant his feet in another country. 

One of the first was visiting KU’s Passport Center. Managed by Study Abroad and Global Engagement, the office assists students who are applying for their first passport, including taking photos, and offers scholarships to cover associated fees. The $165 cash passport application fee is a financial barrier many students struggle to overcome but is one KU’s Office of International Affairs seeks to eliminate through their passport initiative.  

“The feeling of getting my first passport was one of excitement,” said Reed. “To me, it represented the first step for me to finally go abroad. It was something I’ve always wanted to do and to be able to have that passport in my hand and know that I’m closer now to being in Costa Rica.”