Scholarship awards for the 2014-2015 Community College Initiative (CCI) Program

Community College Initiative (CCI) Program

Scholarship awards for the 2014-2015 Community College Initiative (CCI) Program
are contingent on the appropriation of Federal funding by the United States Congress.

CCI Program Overview

The Community College Initiative Program provides participants from selected countries with opportunities to study at community colleges in the United States to build mutual understanding through a non-degree program of academic, vocational, and cultural studies.  The CCI Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.

The 2014-2015 program provides academic instruction at community colleges throughout the U.S. in the fields of agriculture, applied engineering, business management and administration, early childhood education, information technology, media, and tourism and hospitality management.  

Participants spend one academic year in the United States.  Participants may earn an academic certificate in their field of study and gain first-hand practical experience through internships in their field of study.  In addition to professional training, participants develop leadership skills, build English language proficiency, and learn principles of U.S. society and culture, including community service and social responsibility.  After completing the program, participants return home with enhanced mutual understanding as well as new skills and expertise to help them contribute to the economic growth and development of their countries.

Since the program’s inception in 2007, nearly 2,000 students from 15 countries have received scholarships for study at community colleges throughout the United States.

The Community College Initiative Program demonstrates U.S. commitment to increasing access to higher education for underserved international students in key regions and utilizes the unique resource represented by U.S. community colleges.  The program reinforces U.S. community colleges’ efforts to deepen international education partnerships and programming.

CCI Eligibility Requirements

Candidates will be considered without respect to race, color, religion, national origin, or gender.  Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.  Competition for the Community College Initiative Program is merit-based and open to anyone who:

·         Is a citizen, national or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by Indonesian Government.

·         Is currently residing in Indonesia.

·         Is 18 years or older by the program start date.

·         Has successfully earned a high school diploma.

·         Has not earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of study the applicant is nominated to pursue. However applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are eligible if they are applying in a field different from the field of their degree and have relevant work experience in the field for which they are applying. 

·         Has some academic or work experience or demonstrated rationale for selecting a particular field of study.  The program aims to identify participants with proven skills or interest in the fields of study offered.

·         Has basic working knowledge of English language as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 450.  (Note:  To pursue credit-bearing courses in an academic field of study, the applicant must meet the minimum language requirements of the host college.  English language training will be necessary and is available for those who do not demonstrate this level of proficiency.)

·         Has limited or no overseas study experience. 

·         Meets any customized requirements of AMINEF.

·         Submits a complete original application.

·         Is able to receive and maintain a U.S. J-1 visa.

·         Is physically able to complete the program in its entirety.

·         Is committed to returning to Indonesia after completion of the program.

·         Is able to begin the academic exchange program in the U.S. in the late summer/early fall of 2014.

Please note that preference will be given to applicants with High School diploma. Applicants with D1, D2 or D3 degrees may also apply.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Community College Initiative Program:

·         U.S. citizens or individuals living in the United States.

·         Individuals currently participating in academic, training, or research programs in the U.S.

·         Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of the eligible countries.

·         Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the time of application.

·         Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years;

·         Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  Employees are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment.

·         Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and children) of U.S. Department of State or USAID employees.  Family members are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment.

·         Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime (excluding minor traffic violations).

• Individuals with MA or PhD degrees are not eligible to participate.

Application Review Process and Criteria

The CCI Program is conducted as a merit-based open competition.  After the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed in country for eligibility and vetted by a panel of exchange program specialists.  Competitive applicants will be interviewed in their home country by a nomination committee.  All applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis from spring to summer 2014.

The nomination committee will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):

·         Demonstrated interest in the field of study applicant wishes to pursue.

·         Cross-cultural interest.

·         Leadership potential.

·         Flexibility and suitability as an exchange student.

·         Proficiency in written and spoken English.

·         Commitment to returning to their home country after completion of the program;

·         Preference will be given to those applicants who have no prior experience outside their home countries.

·         Preference will be given to those applicants who represent underserved and underrepresented communities, including women.

General Application Instructions

·         Submit completed original application with signature on the last page.

·         Please answer ALL questions on the application in English (except where specified).  Do NOT leave a space blank.  If a question does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable).

·         Include your full, legal name, family name (surname) first as spelled on your international passport (if available). 

·         Include complete contact information, including dialing codes for all addresses and city/country codes for all phone numbers. 

·         Hand written application is not acceptable. Application must be typed

·         Submit application by the deadline (November 1, 2013).

Financial Provisions of the Grant

·         J-1 visa support.

·         Round-trip travel from participant’s home city to host institution in the United States.

·         Tuition and mandatory college fees.

·         Housing and meals.

·         Small incidentals allowance.

·         Limited allowance for books.

·         Accident and sickness coverage.

·         A wide variety of personal and professional development activities.

Submission of Applications

Please return to AMINEF your complete application package by the application deadline that includes:

• Completed application form.
• Copy of your most recent, less than two years old, TOEFL score report.
• Copy of high school diploma and transcript (English translation).
• Copy of identity document (KTP or passport).

Please send the three sets of application package to

AMINEF

CIMB Niaga Plaza 3^rd Floor

Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 25, Jakarta 12920

Application Deadline:

November 1, 2013.

     

Applications are available at the AMINEF offices or can also be downloaded from AMINEF website at    www.aminef.or.id

For additional information, contact: infofulbright_ind@aminef.or.id We do not accept email applications. Hard copies must be sent or delivered to American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF).

Fields of Study and Examples of Areas of Specialization

The following is a sample list of areas of specialization within each broad field of study. 

Specializations vary by individual colleges.

Agriculture

Agriculture Business, Agronomy and Veterinary Science, Animal Science, Aquaculture (Fishery Science), Farm Management, Feed and Fertilizer Marketing, Floral Design, Greenhouse Production, Horticulture, Natural Resources Technician, Organic Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture

Applied Engineering

Automotive Manufacturing Technology, Auto Tech, Basic and Advanced AutoCAD, Catia CAD, Construction Management, Electrical Tech, Electronic Tech, Engineering Assembly Technician, Engineering Tech, Engineering Technician, Environmental Studies, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Manufacturing Engineering Tech, Manufacturing Maintenance Technician, Water Treatment, Welding Technology

Business Management and Administration

Accounting, Banking and Finance, Bookkeeping, Business Technology, Customer Service, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, International Business, Leadership Development, Marketing, Marketing Management, Project Management, Office Administration, Sales, Small Business Management, Supply Chain Management

Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Development, Infant and Toddler Care Specialization, School-Age Specialization, Family Childcare Specialization, Paraprofessional Teacher Assistant

Information Technology

Cisco, Commercial Art Tech, Computer Animation, Computer Forensics, Computer Information System (CIS), Computer Literacy, Computer Support Specialist, Data Recovery, Database, Digital Media, E-Commerce, Help Desk, GIS, Multimedia, Mobile Application Development, Networking, Programming, Video Game Design, Web Analyst, Web Design

Media

Advertising, Computer Animation, Desktop Publishing, Digital Media, Digital Design, Film Making, Graphic Design, Journalism, Music Recording and Mixing, Public Relations, Social Media, TV, Video Game Design, Visual Communications

Tourism and Hospitality Management

Conference Management, Culinary Arts, Customer Service, Food & Beverage Management, Front Office Operations, Hotel Management, Meeting and Event Management, Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Travel and Tourism

Additional information about majors and courses of study in the United States is available through such resources as the Princeton Review:  http://www.princetonreview.com/majors.aspx