The Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Amman is pleased to announce the 2015 Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on Civic Engagement. Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders are intensive short term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. Interested students can apply via email toammanexchanges@gmail.com or ammanexchanges@state.gov by December 6, 2014.
Program Description:
The Institute will be hosted by Miami University from June through August 2015. The five-week Institutes will consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. The Institutes will include an academic residency component of approximately four weeks and a domestic study tour of approximately one week. During the academic residency, participants will also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom.
The four week academic residency will provide students with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society both as individuals and groups. The program will define civic engagement, examine its development in the U.S., and explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism. Other topics such as civil rights, entrepreneurship, ethics, leadership, and media will be discussed. Students will also have the opportunity to leave the classroom to meet with community leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives of non-profit organizations. The academic residency will be complemented by an educational tour that will take participants to another area of the U.S. where they will meet with local, state, private, and not-for-profit organizations working in the field. The Institute will then conclude with a visit to Washington, D.C.
Candidate description and Qualifications:
The participants are expected to be highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their fields of study will be varied, and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields. Emphasis should be made on recruiting participants from non-elite backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and with little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere outside their home country. In addition, recruitment of participants should include historically underserved, indigenous groups, disabled and disadvantaged groups, and ethnic minority communities.
Candidates nominated for this program will:
- be proficient in English;
- be interested in the topic of Civic Engagement;
- be between 18 and 25 years of age;
- have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies, and therefore be committed to return to their home universities following completion of the program;
- demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities;
- indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
- have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
- demonstrate commitment to community and extracurricular university activities;
- have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country;
- be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
- be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel; and,
- be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to make adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.
Funding:
The Department of State will cover all participant costs, including: program administration; domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances; housing in university dorms and subsistence.
Interested students can apply via email toammanexchanges@gmail.com AND Ammanexchanges@state.gov by December 6, 2014.
Applications should include:
- Candidate’s updated CV in English, in Word or PDF format, including:
- Complete birth data,
- Complete contact information
Academic information; - Work and volunteer experience;
- Memberships in associations, clubs, etc.;
- Previous experience in the United States (dates)
- Level of English fluency;
- Candidate’s personal statement, in Word or PDF format:
To answer the following questions: Tell us about yourself and your goals including the following: What about your background and /or interests makes your competitive for this particular Institute? What will you contribute to the group? How do you expect this experience will affect your future academic and professional career? How will it affect you personally? Essay should be structured in paragraphs and should not exceed 250 words.
For further information on the program, please contact Ms. Rawan Mloukhieh at the Cultural Section of the US Embassy in Amman, Tel: 590-6287; Fax: 592-0121.
