Ìý
2025 Ãå±±½ûµØÌýOrientation and Convocation
May 29-30, 2025 inÌýWashington, DC
Attendance at the Boren Convocation is a mandatory part of award recipients’ participation in the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship. Every Ãå±±½ûµØ recipient is required to attend a Congressionally mandated counterintelligence briefing as part of pre-departure orientation and activities. This session takes place live at the Convocation event and cannot be recorded or shared. Please ensure your study abroad program does not begin until June 1, 2025 or later. For questions about this requirement, please contact the Ãå±±½ûµØ team at boren@iie.org.
Award recipients will be emailed a link to register for the Ãå±±½ûµØ Orientation and Convocation within two weeks after accepting their Boren award.ÌýThe deadline to register is to be determined.
Purpose of Event
The Ãå±±½ûµØ Orientation and Convocation event will bring together the 2025 Ãå±±½ûµØ recipients with leadership from DLNSEO (Defense Language and National Security Education Program) and IIE (Institute of International Education), expert guest speakers, and Boren alumni in Washington, DC. The Convocation event includes pre-departure orientation activities focusing on Boren Scholarships and Fellowships policies and requirements, sessions on language and culture learning as well as allyship, a counterintelligence briefing by the FBI, and regional sessions on safety and security while overseas. The event is an opportunity to meet DLNSEO and IIE team members as well as other Scholars and Fellows. Please note that this is a closed event for Boren recipients only; family and friends are not permitted to attend.
Preparing for Convocation
As part of pre-departure activities, all awardees must review required materials and must watch certain webinars prior to Convocation. Some of these will be recordings while others are hosted live and the recordings shared afterwards for those not able to attend. Information about specific webinars, including links to view them, will be communicated to award recipients by their Boren advisor.
Travel and Accommodations
IIE will facilitate travel for all Scholars and Fellows traveling to Washington, D.C. using the information submitted through the registration survey.
Flight or Train: Only one form of transit is allowed to and from convocation (ex. train both ways, flight both ways, etc.)ÌýHotel accommodations will be provided for the evenings of May 28 and May 29, 2025.
Ìý
Driving: If you choose to drive to Washington, DC, IIE may reimburse you for up to 180 miles each way for mileage expenses at the government per diem rate. IIE will contact you after the event for more details.ÌýHotel accommodations will be provided for the evenings of May 28 and May 29, 2025.
DMV Locals: Attendees based in the D.C. metro area (within 25 miles radius from the hotel) will receive a modest ground transportation stipend upon check-in at the Convocation. Local attendees should plan to commute to the hotel each day as overnight lodging will not be provided.
AFLI Scholars and Fellows ONLY: Because the AFLI summer domestic program begins on Monday, June 2nd at the University of Florida, AFLI participants staying at the hotel will receive an extra night of accommodations at the same hotel (May 30), with a flight from Washington, DC to Gainesville, FL on Saturday, May 31.Ìý
The travel booking you request in your Convocation registration is considered final. In the event of an emergency that will impact your final travel booking please contact borenevents@iie.org. Please note that adjustments are not guaranteed.
Contact Information
For general questions regarding the event, please review the FAQ section below. You may also email boren@iie.org for other questions or concerns. Event details, logistics, and information will be sent to all award recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel and Hotel
I found a cheap flight to Washington, DC. Should I book it now?
No. All travel must be booked through IIE's travel management system. IIE cannot reimburse self-purchased tickets.
My program starts on June 1. Can I fly directly from Washington, DC to my program location?
Yes. For students departing on an international flight directly to their overseas program, please indicate that you need a one-way ticket to Washington, DC in your registration for Convocation. Please note that your international flight should be booked independently and flights costs, if Fly America compliant, should be paid for through your individual Scholarship or Fellowship. International travel to/from the Convocation event cannot be booked through IIE's travel management system.Ìý
Can Boren pay for my flight from overseas to DC for Convocation?
Boren funding to and from Convocation can only be applied to domestic flights. Anybody who is overseas prior to Convocation is responsible for their own personal travel to the US. If you wish to have Boren pay for your domestic travel, you may book a separately paid ticket from your overseas location to the US and then submit your Convocation registration survey to fly in or out of a US location to Washington DC. Boren will not reimburse grantees for flights purchased outside of our travel booking partner, GBT.Ìý
When will I receive my flight/train information?
You will receive confirmation of your travel detailsÌývia email as soon as they are booked and confirmed. The email will be sent to the same email address used to register for the event. Please note that while we do our best to accommodate travel preferences, we cannot make any guarantees. We strongly encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible so we have all the necessary information needed to book your travel in a timely manner. The deadline to register for Convocation is May 1, 2025.
Once your travel has been booked, you will receive an email from IIE's travel management agency with your travel details and confirmation. Please carefully read the itinerary and ensure that logistical information is accurate (name spelling, departure airport/station, etc.). You will be asked to confirm the itinerary, so please respond to the email within 24 hours.
Will Boren cover checked luggage costs?
Boren cannot cover baggage fees. The only exception to this is AFLI students who will be flown directly from Convocation to their summer domestic program. Otherwise please check the baggage allowance for your flight with the airline.ÌýÌý
Will Boren cover meals for Convocation?
Yes. Each attendee will receive a prepaid stipend card when they check in at the hotel. The stipend card includes modest funds for meals not provided during the event.
Event Details
What is the dress code for Convocation?
All events at Convocation are business casual. Khakis, polos, blouses, slacks, dresses, skirts, and suits are all appropriate. If you choose to wear a skirt, please ensure you can sit comfortably in this. We highly recommend flats as opposed to heels as you will be moving and walking between floors a fair bit.
Do not wear flip flops, hats, t-shirts with logos, sweatshirts, or other casual wear to the event.ÌýWhile late May is typically warm in DC, the hotel and meeting rooms will be air conditioned. We recommend checking the weather forecast shortly before departing to DC for the most accurate weather predictions.Ìý
How long is Convocation?
Convocation will run from 8am - 6pm Thursday, and 8am - 3pm Friday.
Will I have a roommate?
Yes. Boren will assign a pair of awardees to each hotel room. We aim to pair grantees going to the same overseas location or region whenever possible.
I have dietary restrictions, how do I communicate this information?
The Convocation registration form includes a specific question about dietary restrictions, and this is the best way to share this information. If you have additional questions, please email BorenEvents@iie.org.
Communications
Can I connect with other Boren awardees ahead of Convocation?Ìý
When awardees register for Convocation, the form will ask if you would like to share your contact information with other award recipients going to the same overseas location. This includes your name, email, and whether you are a Scholar or Fellow. If you choose to share your information, IIE will send a group email connecting Boren awardees going to that specific country ahead of the Convocation event.Ìý
I have a specific question about the Ãå±±½ûµØ Convocation, who should I contact?Ìý
Please reach out to the Ãå±±½ûµØ Team at BorenEvents@iie.org. You may also send a message to your Boren advisor. We work closely together and will coordinate to ensure you get the right support!
Ìý