INTERNATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PROGRAMS U.S. ACADEMIC HOST INSTITUTION APPLICATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

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1 INTERNATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PROGRAMS U.S. ACADEMIC HOST INSTITUTION APPLICATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW DEADLINE: March 10, 2015 IREX, an internatinal nnprfit rganizatin prviding thught leadership and innvative prgrams t prmte psitive lasting change glbally, seeks accredited institutins f higher educatin t hst undergraduate students fr varius prgrams, including: Tunisia Undergraduate Schlarship Prgram Ksv Undergraduate Exchange Prgram Glbal Undergraduate Exchange Prgram in Pakistan Tunisia Cmmunity Cllege Schlarship Prgram Tunisia Undergraduate Schlarship Prgram As part f the Thmas Jeffersn Schlarship Prgram s Tunisia Undergraduate Schlarship Prgram (Tunisia UGRAD) prvides schlarships fr yuth leaders frm acrss Tunisia fr ne academic year f full-time, nn-degree study in the United States in any academic field. Schlars will participate in 20 hurs f cmmunity service at lcal rganizatins in their first semester. Students will als hld unpaid, part-time internships related t their field f study in their secnd semester. These activities will help students gain glbally applicable skills and expertise t help them cntribute t the ecnmic grwth and develpment f Tunisia. Tunisia UGRAD is a prgram f the Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs f the U.S. Department f State. Ksv Undergraduate Exchange Prgram The Ksv Undergraduate Exchange Prgram (Ksv-UGRAD) prvides fellwships fr prmising students frm Ksv fr ne academic year f full-time, nn-degree study in the United States in any academic field. Ksv-UGRAD students will participate in 20 hurs f cmmunity service at lcal rganizatins in their first semester. Students will als hld part-time internships related t their field f study in their secnd semester fr an estimated 40 hurs per mnth. These activities will help students engage in their hst cmmunities as well as gain prfessinal skills and experience they can apply t their future careers in their hme cuntry. Ksv-UGRAD is a prgram f the Public Affairs Sectin f the U.S. Embassy in Ksv, U.S. Department f State. IREX Internatinal Undergraduate Student Prgrams U.S. Academic Hst Institutin Applicatin Prgram Overview 1 P a g e

2 Glbal Undergraduate Exchange Prgram in Pakistan The Glbal Undergraduate Exchange Prgram in Pakistan (Glbal UGRAD- Pakistan) prvides fellwships fr utstanding undergraduate students frm Pakistan fr ne semester f full-time, nn-degree study in the United States. Glbal UGRAD-Pakistan students will participate in 20 hurs f cmmunity service at lcal rganizatins during their semester in the U.S. and cmplete an academic skills building cmpnent. These activities will help students engage in their hst cmmunities as well as gain skills and experience they can apply in their hme cmmunities when they return t Pakistan. Glbal UGRAD-Pakistan is a prgram f the Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs f the U.S. Department f State. Tunisia Cmmunity Cllege Schlarship Prgram The Thmas Jeffersn Schlarship Prgram s Tunisia Cmmunity Cllege Schlarship Prgram (TCCSP) prvides schlarships fr students frm acrss all regins f Tunisia fr ne academic year t pursue ne-year certificate prgrams in the eligible fields f study at US cmmunity clleges. Schlars will participate in service-learning activities at lcal rganizatins in their first semester. Students will als hld unpaid, part-time internships related t their field f study in their secnd semester. These activities will help students engage in their hst cmmunities as well as gain the skills needed t cntribute t ecnmic develpment in Tunisia. TCCSP is a prgram f the Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs f the U.S. Department f State. All prgrams prvide the fllwing supprt t students: J-1 visa supprt; Rund-trip travel frm student s hme city t hst institutin in the United States; Accident and sickness cverage; Tuitin and mandatry university fees; Rm and bard (husing and meals); A small incidentals allwance ; A limited allwance fr bks; A limited allwance fr cultural enrichment activities; and Alumni netwrking pprtunities. Expectatins f Hst Institutins The U.S. academic hst institutins are critical partners fr the prgrams. Hst institutins will be selected based n: their demnstrated ability t prvide a well-runded prgram experience (with strng academic and cultural cmpnents); their ability t prvide persnalized care; IREX Internatinal Undergraduate Student Prgrams U.S. Academic Hst Institutin Applicatin Prgram Overview 2 P a g e

3 the institutin s experience and ability t wrk with students frm the targeted regins; the institutin s ability t engage students in the lcal cmmunity; and the prpsed cst-share and per student cst. Hst institutins will be respnsible fr prviding each student with: a) academic supprt; b) cultural and cmmunity supprt; and c) lgistical supprt. Respnsibilities are explained in mre detail belw: Academic Supprt Within the sphere f academic supprt, hst institutins are asked t: Admit participants as full-time students with the ability t take classes n campus fr academic credit. Designate an academic advisr wh will guide the student s studies and interactin with faculty at the hst institutin. Offer sufficient n-campus classes in disciplines fr which students apply. Assist students in selecting apprpriate curses, taking int cnsideratin the student s field f study, prgram requirements, ne-year certificate enrllment requirements (TCCSP nly), and the hst institutin s financial agreement fr the prgram. Direct students t academic supprt services, such as peer tutrs and the campus writing center. Wrk with students, the IREX advisr, and prfessrs t mnitr academic prgress and t develp a plan t imprve academic perfrmance, if necessary. If the hst institutin has English as a Secnd Language, Intensive English, r Summer English prgrams, crdinate student placement in these curses when necessary. Cultural and Cmmunity Supprt Within the sphere f cultural and cmmunity supprt, hst institutins are asked t: Ensure students participate in n-campus rientatin prgram assisting them with their adjustment t campus and US life. The rientatin shuld acquaint students with the hst institutin, campus culture, campus resurces, and academic expectatins. The rientatin shuld als reinfrce prgram plicies, with guidance frm IREX. IREX recmmends that the rientatin als include a skills-building sessin t help prepare students academically, such as academic research & writing, critical thinking, time management, nte-taking, and studying fr and taking tests. Engage Glbal UGRAD-Pakistan and Tunisia UGRAD students in at least ne academic skills building training each semester. 3 P a g e

4 Infrm students f cultural activities and lcal events (e.g. twn meetings, cncerts, plitical rallies, etc.) they can participate in as part f the Cultural Passprt prgram: T cmplement the academic prgram and ensure that students receive a wellrunded intrductin t American values, institutins, and peple, all students will participate in the Digital Cultural Passprt prgram. The Passprt prgram allws students t recrd explratin f varius aspects f American culture which fall under the categries f arts and music, hliday celebratins, sprts and leisure, daily life, yuth cncerns, lcal interest and cmmunity life. Prvide guidance/assistance in lcating apprpriate cmmunity service activities. Prvide guidance/assistance/supprt in lcating apprpriate internships fr Tunisia UGRAD, TCCSP, and Ksv UGRAD students which are in the student s field f study and prvide substantive experience t advance the student s persnal and prfessinal gals. Hsts are asked t share ther pprtunities fr prfessinal develpment as they becme available. Suggest apprpriate lcatins fr the students cuntry presentatins (e.g. lcal schls, libraries, rtary clubs, retirement hmes, etc.) Identify friendship families t share American family life, take students n cultural utings and/r hst students fr hlidays. Be available t discuss strategies fr dealing with rmmate issues r cultural adjustment situatins with students n a ne-n-ne basis. Lgistical Supprt Within the sphere f lgistical supprt hst institutins are asked t: Crrespnd with students prir t arrival prviding infrmatin abut the hst institutin and answering student questins. Arrange airprt pick-up fr arriving students. Secure temprary husing in the drmitry r with a hst family befre the start f classes and during breaks, as necessary. Crdinate with the husing ffice t ensure apprpriate husing assignment with a U.S. rmmate (students may NOT rm with ther internatinal students)** Sign students up fr a cmprehensive meal plan (if applicable). Assist students with any dietary needs and lcating requested religius services. Prvide access t and Internet facilities. Wrk with the apprpriate ffice n campus t waive institutinal insurance fees and/r enrll students in campus insurance, as relevant per prgram and institutin. 4 P a g e

5 Assist students in filing fr a Scial Security number. Help lcate apprpriate dctrs in the area when students are sick and assist students in finding transprtatin t their ffice. Keep IREX infrmed f student prgress and any adjustment r behaviral issues. **Please nte that, placing students with a U.S. rmmate is a requirement f the Glbal UGRAD- Pakistan, Ksv UGRAD, and Tunisia UGRAD prgrams; it is preferred fr the TCCSP prgram. **Please nte that, fr the Glbal UGRAD-Pakistan and Tunisia UGRAD prgrams, Institutins that cannt prvide drmitry-like living situatins with U.S. peers will nt be cnsidered. Financial Supprt Due t funding limitatins, mst institutins selected ffer cst-share cntributin f at least 50 percent f csts. Cst-share can be in the frm f full r partial tuitin r rm and bard waivers, schlarships, r ther cntributins. While this request shuld nt deter applicants, it shuld be nted that financial arrangements are determinants f eventual placement f students. TCCSP has the fllwing additinal expectatins and pprtunities fr its cmmunity cllege partners: TCCSP Cllabrative Institute fr Internatinalizatin (CII) The TCCSP Cllabrative Institute fr Internatinalizatin prvides a space and structure fr cmmunity cllege hst partners t cnnect with each ther and IREX virtually t develp their institutin s capacity t nt nly supprt TCCSP prgramming but als the brader internatinal student cmmunity. The CII prvides a private space fr TCCSP partners as internatinal educatrs t share best practices, discuss strategies, share resurces, and reflect n challenges and best practices t supprt TCCSP, internatinal students, and internatinalizatin. Thrugh CII, IREX and hst partners wrk tgether t better equip their cllege with the knwledge and tls t imprve internatinal student supprt services and enhance a cmmitment t internatinalizatin at their cllege and in their cmmunity. This includes tpics such as, prmting academic success, supprting internatinal students prfessinal develpment, and helping t fster students persnal develpment thrugh leadership skills, cmmunity engagement, and cultural prgramming. As part f the CII, hst cmmunity clleges als set gals fr their cllege and wrk with ther hst clleges and IREX t develp strategies and find resurces t supprt them in achieving thse gals. Within the sphere f the Cllabrative Institute fr Internatinalizatin, hst clleges are asked t: Attend a virtual Pre-Prgram Meeting in the summer prir t the start f the hsting year. 5 P a g e

6 Participant in an nline cmmunity thrughut the prgram, sharing stries, highlights, challenges, successes, resurces, and questins. Attend a Mid-Prgram Partner Meeting t reflect tgether n challenges and successes frm the first semester f TCCSP implementatin. Take part in a virtual Next Steps & Reflectin Wrkshp in spring Cmplete a self-assessment will guide partners in reviewing and discussing their institutinal capacity gals, whether they were met, and hw they can be refined and imprved as cntinuing gals. Academic Supprt Within the sphere f develping and prviding academic supprt, hst clleges are asked t: Admit participants as full-time students in a ne-year certificate prgram in their field f study. Assist in selecting an apprpriate ne-year certificate that ffers sufficient n-campus classes. Cultural and Cmmunity Supprt Within the sphere f develping and prviding cultural and cmmunity supprt, hst clleges are asked t: Assign a staff member t serve as the campus advisr. The campus advisr will be respnsible fr the participants and assist them with their adjustment t campus and U.S. life. Other campus advisr duties include: Organizing mnthly cultural activities fr the participants as part f the Glbal Citizens Passprt t America prgram (see belw). Mnthly activities may include thse being rganized fr the larger student bdy. Infrming participants f lcal events (e.g. twn meetings, cncerts, rallies, etc.) t help them find self-directed cultural passprt activities. Implement 3-4 Service Learning Days thrughut the academic year, including finding apprpriate lcatins and rganizatins fr service learning activities, facilitating each Service Learning Day which includes rientatin t an rganizatin and the ppulatin it services, the service learning activity, and a reflectin sessin pst activity. Wrk Skills Supprt Within the sphere f develping and prviding wrk skills supprt, campus advisrs are asked t: Assist IREX in facilitating the Wrkplace Excellence Learning Series by drawing n campus and cmmunity resurces t prvide fllw-up r additinal training in key sft 6 P a g e

7 skills and wrkfrce preparedness trainings and facilitates site visits t lcal rganizatins t cmplement the learning series. Prviding guidance/assistance/supprt in lcating apprpriate internships fr TCCSP participants which are in the participant s field f study and prvide substantive experience t advance the participant s persnal and prfessinal gals. Prvide guidance t TCCP participants cmpletin f the Individual Develpment Plan. Meet individually nce per mnth with TCCP participants t prvide feedback and mnitr prgress n persnal, academic, and prfessinal gals utlined in their Individual Develpment Plans. Lgistical Supprt Within the sphere f develping and prviding lgistical supprt hst clleges are asked t: Crdinate with the husing ffice t ensure apprpriate husing assignment with a U.S. rmmate r ther nn-tccsp internatinal student where pssible. Find apprpriate ff-campus husing if residence halls are nt available. If ff-campus husing, crdinate leases and ther agreements where applicable with IREX. Sign participants up fr a cmprehensive meal plan (if applicable). J-1 Visa Regulatins The tw year hme-residency requirement *immediately fllwing* the cmpletin f the prgram is a key requirement f the prgrams. This requirement is strictly enfrced by IREX and the U.S. Department f State. Prir t beginning his/her prgram, each student will sign a dcument agreeing t this tw-year hme residency requirement. Students are required t return hme immediately upn the cmpletin f the prgram. The United States gvernment has invested a generus amunt f mney and time int students prfessinal develpment with the firm expectatin that they will apply their newfund knwledge and skills in their hme cmmunity upn their return. N exceptins t this rule are pssible. In additin, due t the fact that the prgrams are nndegree prgrams, IREX als cannt cnsider requests t prlng students stay in the United States in rder t cmplete an academic degree. IREX is nt permitted under any circumstances t transfer the spnsrship f the student s DS-2019 t the hst institutin. IREX will be unable t place students at, and may request a tuitin refund frm, hst institutins that d nt cmply with these prgram rules. 7 P a g e

8 Organizatin Descriptins Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department f State The Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs' (ECA) missin is t increase mutual understanding between the peple f the United States and the peple f ther cuntries by means f educatinal and cultural exchange that assist in the develpment f peaceful relatins. As mandated by the Mutual Educatinal and Cultural Exchange Act f 1961, the U.S. Department f State s Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs (ECA) wrks t build friendly, peaceful relatins between the peple f the United States and the peple f ther cuntries thrugh academic, cultural, sprts, and prfessinal exchanges, as well as public -private partnerships. In an effrt t reflect the diversity f the United States and glbal sciety, ECA prgrams, funding, and ther activities encurage the invlvement f American and internatinal participants frm traditinally underrepresented grups, including wmen, racial and ethnic minrities, and peple with disabilities. Artists, educatrs, athletes, students, yuth, and rising leaders in the United States and mre than 160 cuntries arund the glbe participate in academic, cultural, sprts, and prfessinal exchanges. Public Affairs Sectin f the U.S. Embassy Pristina, Ksv The Public Affairs Sectin f the U.S. Embassy t Ksv explains and advcates American plicy, acts as a fcal pint fr media and cultural relatins, and advises the U.S. Embassy in Ksv n the issues f public diplmacy. The Public Affairs Sectin wrks t strengthen the bilateral relatinship and ffers a wide variety f prgrams and infrmatin related t the media, educatinal and cultural exchanges, American gvernment and institutins, legislative develpments, freign and dmestic plicies, and scial, ecnmic, plitical and security issues. IREX (Internatinal Research & Exchanges Bard) IREX is an internatinal nnprfit rganizatin prviding thught leadership and innvative prgrams t prmte psitive lasting change glbally. We enable lcal individuals and institutins t build key elements f a vibrant sciety: quality educatin, independent media, and strng cmmunities. T strengthen these sectrs, ur prgram activities als include cnflict reslutin, technlgy fr develpment, gender, and yuth. Funded in 1968, IREX has an annual prtfli f ver $70 millin and a staff f ver 400 prfessinals wrldwide. IREX emplys field-tested methds and innvative uses f technlgies t develp practical and lcally-driven slutins with ur partners in mre than 125 cuntries. Hw These Organizatins Wrk Tgether n These Prgrams The Bureau f Educatinal and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and IREX wrk in partnership n the Thmas Jeffersn Schlarship Prgram s Tunisia Undergraduate Schlarship Prgram, the Thmas Jeffersn Schlarship Prgram s Tunisia Cmmunity Cllege Schlarship Prgram, and the Glbal Undergraduate Exchange Prgram in Pakistan. As a prgram f the U.S. Department f State, ECA develps, funds, and versees the prgram, and IREX is a grantee that implements all aspects f the prgram. 8 P a g e

9 The Department f State s Public Affairs Sectin f the U.S. Embassy in Ksv and IREX wrk in partnership n the Ksv Undergraduate Exchange Prgram. As a prgram f the U.S. Department f State, the Public Affairs Sectin develps, funds, and versees the prgram, and IREX is a grantee that implements all aspects f the prgram. Submissin Guidelines Please read all instructins and infrmatin carefully befre filling ut the entire nline applicatin frm. We recmmend that yu print a final cpy f all pages f the nline hst applicatin and attachments fr yur recrds and reference. T apply t hst fr any f the prgrams please submit all applicatin material thrugh the nline applicatin system fund n the IREX website. Selectin f hst institutins and placement f students is cntingent upn the availability f U.S. Gvernment funding and apprval and receipt f J-1 visas by prgram participants. Please direct all questins t IREX via at [email protected] r phne at DEADLINE FOR ALL HOST INSTITUTION APPLICATIONS: MARCH 10, P a g e