Get Janice to Spelman College!

Hi everyone, my name is Janice. I’m 21 years old, an English Lit & Philosophy student at the University of Warwick and a Black film enthusiast/ aspiring filmmaker. I have been accepted to study for a year abroad at the top HBCU: Spelman College in the US for the Spring Term (January) however I am struggling to cover the cost of tuition/student fees and I could use your help.

 

• HBCUs (Historically Black College/Universities) are institutions of higher education that were established prior to the civil rights act of 1964 and pioneers in offering educational opportunities to African Americans.

 

Back in 2019, I was Co-President for the Black Women’s Project Society (BWP) at the University of Warwick. During my tenure, I spent time developing long term impact initiatives, specifically HBCU Partnerships, that would visibly improve the experiences of Black women at Warwick. I was then able to pitch to Spelman College for an intercalated year abroad of study at Spelman for myself, with the intention of formally establishing a study abroad exchange programme between BWP x University of Warwick and Spelman College.

 

Following this pitch and a successful application, I was accepted to study at Spelman for the Fall of 2020. Whilst I was scheduled to start Spelman in the August of 2020, my year abroad was deferred to 2021 due to COVID. However, due to the uncertainty of COVID restrictions my year abroad was only formally confirmed to go ahead in late June this year, which left me with extremely limited time to apply for funding. As of August 2021, I was not able to raise the tuition/student fees for Spelman and as a result, my place was further deferred till January (Spring Term) which has led me here.

 

I am unfortunately ineligible for further financial relief from the University of Warwick and my family’s current financial situation combined with the limited funding for international students means that I cannot accommodate for the tuition and student costs of Spelman’s Study Abroad Programme.

 

My academic journey taught me the complex weight educational environment can have on one’s academic success and trajectory of life. Particularly, my transition from attending a majorly Black state school which lacked the resources to properly equip its students into a grammar school where I was nurtured with an overflow of resources yet deprived of seeing myself in spaces of academic excellence. I know first-hand that by creating an intersection within education whereby the visibility of Black women is increased, the unison of a UK Russell Group University and America’s Top HBCU will completely restructure the coast of Black representation within the UK and US for the better.

 

Giving Black women at Warwick an opportunity to study at Spelman College would allow Black women in the UK to see themselves in spaces of higher education that they are often not represented in. Subsequently, on both Atlantic fronts Black women would be encouraged to take up space, and to do so confidently. Not just within higher education, but beyond. In addition to this, the value factor HBCU culture offers students during their university experience is both prolific and life changing. Typically founded upon values such as community, Faith and service, HBCUs have a leadership training niche that not only characterizes their cultural traditions but caters to the experiences of students in a bespoke manner that cannot be replicated. Such values have a deep personal resonance with myself due to my Faith in Christ and my belief that university should amount to so much more than simply receiving a degree.

 

Receiving funding would make me a beneficiary of the leadership training Spelman College provides. Additionally, as a Black film enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker having the opportunity to study film at Spelman College would allow me to hone my creative skillset in an educational context which does not exist to the same degree in the UK namely that of Black Hollywood. Throughout history, Atlanta has and continues to be a power centre for Black Film and visual culture. A year abroad at Spelman College would therefore intentionally equip me for my career path by strengthening my ability to tell stories centred around Black culture and further my pursuit to implement such stories in the British Film Industry.

 

Thank you for taking out the time to read this. Please give what you can, anything and everything is appreciated and lastly a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me so far on this journey, whether morally or financially.

 

Whilst I know that this journey is far from over, I know that God’s Grace and guidance will push me to the finish line.

 

Lots of Love,

Janice | 2 Corinthians 12:9

 

 

Spelman College Tuition/Student Fees Breakdown