CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — SUNY Cortland students looking to study abroad but don’t yet have a U.S. passport can receive assistance from the new Red Dragons Global Passport Program.
The SUNY Cortland International Programs Office’s new program is offering to cover the $165 passport fee for a U.S. passport for students who qualify.
The program will provide as many as 20 grants this semester in its first application process. If the program does well, more grant opportunities will be made available next semester.
Eligibility criteria includes:
• Current SUNY Cortland students who are eligible for an adult U.S. passport
• Degree-seeking students in good academic standing
• Those eligible for a Pell Grant or TAP; or a first-generation college student
• Those planning to study abroad while enrolled as a SUNY Cortland student
• Application for a passport during the term in which the award is granted
Priority will be given to:
• Students who may not be able to study abroad without this assistance
• Students who have never had an adult U.S. passport
• First-year students who will have more time to use their passport and study abroad
Approximately 50% of SUNY Cortland students interested in studying abroad do not yet have a U.S. passport, spurring the college to begin the new program.
“By prioritizing students who have not previously studied abroad and who do not yet hold a passport, the program expands access to global experiences and helps ensure that study abroad is attainable, inclusive and equitable for a broader range of SUNY Cortland students,” SUNY Cortland Director of International Programs Daniela Baban Hurrle said.
Grant applications are due by Thursday, February 26th, 2026. Students can get more information about the Red Dragons Global Passport Program by attending the Study Abroad Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, in Corey Union lower lobby. Students can also contact studyabroad@cortland.edu or visit the International Programs Office in Old Main, Room 219.
