Roger Williams University Expands Its "Passport to Your Future" Program

BRISTOL, RI (09/23/2009)(readMedia)-- As part of the University's enduring commitment to increase global learning opportunities for its students, Roger Williams University (RWU) today announced that it has expanded its "Passport to Your Future" program. This innovative program, which began in 2006 for select sophomores, now waives passport application fees, postal service handling fees and passport photo fees, for all eligible sophomores, juniors and seniors who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Representatives of the Bristol, RI Post Office will be campus at the new Global Heritage Hall from September 22 through September 24 to walk students through the passport application process and to accept applications for submission to the U.S. Department of State. A local photographer will also be on hand to take passport photos for students and the Peggy and Marc Spiegel Center For Global & International Programs at RWU will showcase international travel opportunities for students during the event. Over 1,200 students were invited by RWU President Roy J. Nirschel to participate in this program.

"Traveling abroad is an irreplaceable opportunity that encourages students to seek meaningful knowledge and experiences outside of the American sphere of influence. By essentially bringing the passport application process directly to eligible students free of charge, we are encouraging international travel which we hope will deepen the sense of global citizenship within our campus community," said RWU President, Dr. Roy J. Nirschel. "I have had the privilege of studying and traveling abroad and am on my third passport. Being a 20-year-old in Taiwan, Japan and Korea was a life-changing experience for me as it will be for our students in our nearly fifty study abroad opportunities; up from six when I began my presidency."

Committed to fostering a global culture on campus and within the student body, nearly one-third of the junior and senior classes at RWU currently participate in a study abroad experience. RWU presently offers 42 outbound study-abroad program locations in 29 countries.

About RWU: Roger Williams University is a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university at which students live and learn to be global citizens. With 40 academic programs and an array of co-curricular activities on its Bristol, R.I., campus, RWU is committed to its mantra of learning to bridge the world. Under the leadership of President Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D., the University has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report named RWU the seventh-ranked baccalaureate college in the north.