A CROWDFUNDED PATHWAY FOR QUALIFIED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO EARN A BYU GRADUATE DEGREE
Gordon B. Hinckley once declared, "Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity." This maxim is acutely true in developing countries around the globe, as research demonstrates the connection between educational attainment and financial security, emotional well-being, and even life expectancy.
Communities in less-developed nations greatly benefit from citizen daughters and sons who return home with specialized graduate degrees from Brigham Young University, but most of these qualified young people and their families simply cannot afford advanced education through traditional funding mechanisms such as small grants and school loans. Paying off student debt from an American university while earning developing-world wages is an obvious challenge.
The Compass International Scholars Network was established to offer a unique new funding model for selected international students seeking BYU graduate degrees.
"The mission of the COMPASS International Scholars NETWORK is to enable qualified scholars to have a life-changing spiritual, academic and social graduate school experience at BYU and return to their home country without debt."
MODEL
The key to success for participants in the Compass International Scholars Network model is leveraging a student's existing relationships—friends, employers, teachers, community leaders, mission associates, and family. By applying a familiar crowdfunding approach within these connections, the modest individual contributions of cash or non-cash resources combine to cover the costs of a BYU graduate degree.
Cash support is paid directly into the student's BYU financial account, and non-cash support can take the form of frequent flyer miles, a computer or mobile phone, housing accommodations, groceries, local transportation, and even professional connections. These gifts are given with no expectation of repayment, and the scholars work part-time to help pay for living expenses.
ENGAGE
Anyone with an interest in supporting the international reach of BYU graduate programs can help: A couple who served as senior missionaries in a country to which they became deeply attached. A businessperson with global socioeconomic development interests. Parents of a returned missionary who served in a less-developed nation. A family who fell in love with a people and their culture while traveling the world. Immigrants who found success and would like to give back.
The Compass model does not expect or ask donors to give more than a modest gift. This is not an effort to establish a large endowed scholarship as is often done at a university. The cash contribution typically given by supporters ranges from a few hundred dollars to several thousand during the two years a student normally pursues a graduate degree. Whatever gift size fits the contributor's circumstances is welcomed and appreciated. Many hands make for easier lifting.
APPLY
If you are a potential international Compass Scholar interested in participating in this innovative academic support system, please first reveiw the eligiblity criteria below:
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You have already been admitted to the BYU Master of Public Administration (MPA) program for the upcoming Fall Semester. (Other BYU graduate programs may be involved with Compass at a future date.)
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You are 100% committed to returning to your home country after graduation.
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You are a returned missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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You hold a current temple recommend from the Church.
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You have a well-developed friendship network that can help support you.
These eligibility requirements are designed to ensure your academic, spritual and social success during your time at BYU. The MPA administration office will share—with your permission—your graduate school application portfolio with Compass. We carefully review those materials and then extend an invitation to qualified Compass Scholars who meet our criteria.
After the invited candidates accept their participation invitation, Compass then provides its full support to assist with fundraising efforts, financial planning, travel and transition needs, and getting settled into Provo and BYU. Please contact us below if you have any questions.
ABOUT
Laurie and David Preece established the Compass International Scholars Network in 2021 after many years of involvement with international students at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, most of whom needed substantial financial support from the university to pursue an undergraduate degree.
The BYU-Hawaii IWORK program is a long-standing, novel approach to educating students of limited means from the school's target region of the Pacific Islands and Asia. A key tenent of IWORK's 100% grant is a pledge by the supported student to return home and build a career, a family, their community and the Church.
In his faculty role at BYU-Hawaii, David mentored many students toward graduate degrees which would further enhance their professional and personal goals. David and Laurie observed that most international students seeking further education simply did not have the funds to pay for their graduate schooling in Provo. In addition, those applying to master's programs knew they needed the comprehensive international student support system they benefitted from while at BYU-Hawaii.
Laurie and David determied to create a crowdfunding-based system that would leverage a student's network of associates, friends and family without placing a financial burden on any individual contributor—and, importantly, would send the student home without any educational debt. Not only does the Compass system aggregate the needed financial support, the team offers guidance through the visa process, arranging travel, and getting the student connected and settled in Provo with housing, transportation, technology and Church. This is the holistic support system required for academic and social success of international qualified scholars.
Some potential donors in the Compass International Scholars Network ask about the tax-deductibility of their contributions. Compass is a not-for-profit organization but not an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) because it does not serve as a pass-through for contributions. Cash donors deposit their funds directly with BYU which are designated for a specific student. This generally makes these gifts ineligble for deductions as charitable contributions. Compass recommends donors discuss this with their tax advisor.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN BECOMING A SUPPORTER OF QUALIFIED INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS SEEKING A BYU GRADUATE DEGREE!