Honors Independent Study Proposal
Capstone Experience/Thesis Forms
Area Study Major/Minor Proposal
Research & Engaged Activities Scholar Support for Gatton Alums
Travel Abroad Grant Directions
What is the Honors Travel Abroad Grant for?
Honors Travel Abroad Grants (TAGs) are designed to support Honors students’ intellectual development by encouraging and supporting Honors students’ participation in Study Abroad programs.
Who is eligible to apply for a TAG?
Students who are in a “warning semester” may not apply for a Travel Abroad Grant. Only students in good standing with the Honors College who are not on a warning semester may apply.
How much money can I receive from a TAG?
It depends on the length of your Study Abroad program. For short summer programs and those lasting less than a full semester, the maximum award is $500. For full semester programs or ten-week summer programs earning six or more credit hours, the maximum award is $1,000. For programs lasting a full year, the maximum award is $1,500.
Please note that the Gordon Ford College of Business will match TAG funding awarded by the Honors College up to $500 for students whose first major is in the Gordon Ford College of Business. Business majors should contact The Gordon Ford College of Business at 270-745-6311 or gfcb@wku.edu and ask to be put in contact with The Gordon Ford College of Business’s Honors Development Board Director in order to learn more about receiving matching funds.
Students are strongly encouraged to seek other sources of funding for their study abroad course, such as the WorldTopper Scholarship (sponsored by the Study Abroad Office), their home department and college, Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, and Phi Eta Sigma.
How are TAGs chosen for funding?
The Honors College does not guarantee that applicants will receive all or any requested funds. In fact, students with poor applications have previously been awarded no funds. The Honors Development Board will review each TAG application to determine funding according to the following criteria: 1) the strength of the student’s essay expressing how this program is related to his or her academic and personal goals and growth, 2) strength of the letter of recommendation, 3) available funds, 4) number of applicants for available funds, and 5) the scope of the program (longer programs generally are given priority to shorter ones). Honors students on warning will have the lowest priority relative to students in good standing.
How do I apply for a TAG?
Please type the requested information into this Word Document, save a copy on your computer, and then email the document as an attachment to: honors@wku.edu. Be sure to supply all requested information and materials by the deadline. Please note that your letter of support must be submitted by a third party, so you will need to ask them for this material well in advance of the TAG deadline.
There is one TAG deadline per semester; this deadline will be posted on the Honors College website and will be emailed to you at the beginning of each semester, or you can contact the Honors College to inquire about the deadline. TAG applications submitted after the deadline, including all supporting material, will not be considered.
How do I receive my funds?
If your grant is approved, you will receive an award letter from the Honors College advising you of the amount you are eligible for. The money will be issued as a “scholarship” that will appear in your WKU tuition account prior to the semester of study abroad. If your tuition has already been paid, WKU will issue you a residual check for the balance of money in your tuition account, approximately 2-3 weeks after the start of the semester.
If I receive a TAG, is anything else required of me?
Yes. The Honors College wants to encourage other students to have a Study Abroad educational experience, and we want to encourage you to holistically reflect on the benefits of studying abroad. Thus, upon completion of your Study Abroad program you need to submit: 1) Study Abroad Photos, and 2) a Study Abroad Essay. Additionally, we may contact you to speak to perspective Honors study abroad students at recruiting events, orientations, or other occasions.
Study Abroad Photos: Please email to honors@wku.edu at least five photos capturing special moments during your study abroad experience. The photos should be mature, appropriate, preferably contain WKU students (including you!) in them, be clearly taken outside of the United States, and be motivational in theme. In the body of the email, please describe the location and people appearing in each photo.
Study Abroad Essay: The goal of the essay is to give you a platform on which to holistically reflect on the intellectual value of your study abroad experience and encourage other Honors students to partake in such life-changing experiences. The essay should be 400-500 words, written to students who have not yet studied abroad, and thoughtfully consider (with examples) how the study abroad experience enriched you intellectually and personally. The best essays make use of the submitted Study Abroad Photos. Please submit your essay as a Word attachment along with your photos to honors@wku.edu.
The Honors College annually will evaluate submissions to select the Honors Study Abroad Picture and Essay of the Year. Winners and runner-ups will receive prizes.
You should submit your photos and essays to the Honors College within a month of your return home. Failure to submit these required materials may affect your eligibility for future funding from the Honors College. By submitting the photos and essay you are giving the Honors College permission to publish them at their discretion.
