The U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem - Public Affairs Office Announces the 2014 Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) for Students on Civic Engagement The SUSI Institute on Civic Engagement is a four week academic residency will provide highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students from colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, with an overview of how citizens have shaped U.S. history, government, and society both as individuals and groups. 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 nonprofit organizations working in the field. This institute will be hosted by Miami University in Oxford Ohio in June and July 2014, and will conclude in Washington, D.C. 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. 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. 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. International and domestic travel, health insurance, housing, and a living stipend in the United States will be covered for all students. All students will travel to the United States in an unaccompanied status. Participant 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. • 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. • Applicants must be Palestinians resident in Jerusalem, Gaza, or West Bank. Individuals holding permanent residence status in the United States (including U.S. citizens and green card holders) are not eligible. • Participation in the program is contingent upon the applicant qualifying for a J-1 visa to the U.S. • Holders of American passports or green cards are not eligible to participate in this program. Application Deadline and inquiries: Please submit a Nomination Form, Copy of your passport, and your CV, by January 17th, 2014. The form can be found at: Gaza Applicants: Email GazaExchanges@gmail; call 08-286-4623 for more information. For general information about the institutes, please visit the following site: exchanges.state.gov/susi
Posted on: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 02:00:10 +0000