Academic Exchange Programs - Special Academic Exchange Programs

 

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of leaders and future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society including young people, women, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals increasing the number of U.S. citizens having international experiences and of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans and citizens of other countries. The purpose of Special Academic Exchange Programs is to provide targeted support for U.S. and foreign students and others who may not otherwise have the resources to pursue international exchange opportunities or who are in fields directly relevant to identified needs in their countries.

Active 19.011 Bureau of Educational and Cultural, Department of State B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available. The grant to the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) provides program and administrative funds to 20 Overseas Research Centers (ORCs) in all world regions, and coordinates grant management, administrative operations, and the program collaboration of these centers. Approximately 175 grants were awarded in FY 2016, including seven U.S. fellows conducting multi-country research in countries where ORCs are located. Under the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, 2,922 American undergraduate students were awarded scholarships for study abroad in countries around the world. Alumni of the Tibetan Scholarship Program are active through an alumni association and work with Tibetan refugee youth. Approximately 430 Tibetan scholarships have been awarded in the past 29 years. Under the U.S.-South Pacific Scholarship Program, one student was awarded graduate scholarships and two student were awarded undergraduate scholarship. Under the U.S.-Timor-Leste Scholarship Program, three students were awarded undergraduate scholarships with pre-academic English language study. Working to promote increased participation of persons with disabilities in international exchange, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange during FY 2016 addressed particular themes relating to 1) international students with disabilities studying in the United States; 2) encouraging U.S. citizens with disabilities to participate in experientially-based exchange programs, internships and volunteer assignments relating to sports, the arts and other fields beyond the academic world and 3) increasing the capabilities of the U.S. State Department and its program partners to more effectively manage international exchange programs including people with disabilities.
Fiscal Year 2017 In Fiscal Year 2017, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provided scholarships to more than 3,200 U.S. undergraduates from over 60 colleges and universities to study in more than 100 countries, while increasing domestic outreach efforts to U.S. colleges and universities, including engagement with advisers and program alumni. The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) supports international scholarship and educational engagement for U.S. faculty, independent scholars, and students through American Overseas Research Centers (ORCs) located around the world. The ORCs, with their scholarly connections, permanent on-the-ground facilities, and relationships with host-country institutions directly contribute to ECA’s mission of fostering mutual understanding through exchange. CAORC and the ORCs directly support the advanced research of more than 150 U.S. and host-country students and scholars and the participation of more than 200 in other CAORC and ORC programs and activities each year. Through the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program and the United States-Timor-Leste Scholarship Program, there were a total of six Asian students (three in each program) selected for study in undergraduate degree programs in the United States. On July 17, 2018, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange held a “Joining Hands” Symposium in Washington, DC. One hundred twenty-five people from the international exchanges community and the disabilities community participated in a day-long series of panel presentations and discussions regarding including people with disabilities in international exchange programs. There were nine FY 2017 Tibetan Scholarship Program participants.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY 2018, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program continued outreach efforts with advisors and other key audiences at U.S. colleges and universities, engaged with program alumni, and supported approximately 3,500 awards. Three U.S.-Timor Leste (USTL) scholarships were awarded to participants from Timor-Leste. Three U.S.-South Pacific (USSP) scholarships were awarded to two participants from Vanuatu and one from the Solomon Islands.
Fiscal Year 2019 In 2019, approximately 234 participants, including 194 Americans, were awarded Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) and Overseas Research Centers (ORC) research fellowships. In 2019, 15 Tibetan students from India and Nepal participated in the Tibetan Scholarship Program. In 2019, three students from Timor-Leste participated in the U.S. Timor-Leste Scholarship Program. In 2019, three students from the South Pacific islands participated in the U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program. In 2019, approximately 3,500 awards will be provided to U.S. students for credit-bearing study or internships abroad under the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY 2020, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange conducted the Joining Hands Virtual Symposium which was attended by 1,000 participants from more than 70 countries. In FY 2020, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program supported more than 2,500 awards to students who will carry out accredited internships and study abroad. In FY 2020, the Tibetan Scholarship Program supported 15 student awards.
Fiscal Year 2021 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2022 The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides approximately 3,100 scholarships for credit-bearing study or internships abroad to U.S. undergraduate students with significant financial need (Pell Grant recipients). The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) designed and implemented resource materials, training, guidance, best practices, and tool kits to serve the needs of U.S. and international exchange participants with apparent and non-apparent disabilities, U.S. higher education institutions, and practitioners supporting exchange participants with disabilities in the United States and globally. The U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) provided two undergraduate and one graduate scholarship for study in the United States. The U.S. Timor-Leste Scholarship Program (USTL) provided three scholarships for undergraduate study in the United States.
Fiscal Year 2023 No Current Data Available.
Fiscal Year 2024 No Current Data Available. The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 87-256, 22 U.S.C. 2451 Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement for further eligibility criteria. Beneficiaries include recipient organizations, educational institutions, other non-government organizations (NGOs) that meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), as well as sponsored participants, and the American people and the people of participating countries who interact with the international participants. Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement for further eligibility criteria. OMB Guidance2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E Cost Principles under Special Considerations for States, Local Governments, and Indian Tribes applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600 entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Announcements are posted on the Grants.gov and Department of State's website: http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic website for organizations meeting eligibility requirements. Announcements are made as necessary during the fiscal year. The application procedures are described in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcement. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed/validated by an authorized Grants Officer, and sent via the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the application. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 60 to 90 days. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the application. Not applicable. As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements. As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements. Special Academic Exchange Programs support participants in undergraduate, graduate, and/or non-degree professional development programs. Special Academic Exchange Programs target underserved populations from the U.S., developing world or strategically important areas. These programs provide selected participants with the opportunity to participate in exchanges and develop international competencies and skills, which allow them to serve as leaders in their professions and communities. Funding is provided to non-profit organizations, colleges, and universities to support their work in designing and administering programs as well as coordinating program logistics. Funding supports publicity and recruitment, screening of applications, communication with participants, monitoring of participants, payment of participant costs, and the provision of enrichment activities for both participants and alumni. American Overseas Research Centers (ORCs) are located in Europe; North Africa; the Middle East; Central, East, South, & Southeast Asia; the Caucasus, Latin America; and West Africa- and provide services to scholars, including assistance with research and publication. The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is the umbrella organization that administers and manages the ORCs. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides approximately 3,100 scholarships for credit-bearing study or internships abroad to U.S. undergraduate students with significant financial need (Pell Grant recipients), broadening the U.S. student population that studies abroad by diversifying the pool of participants, as well as the destinations where they study. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the Gilman-McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families provides awards up to $5,000 to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid. The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) works to increase the number of persons with disabilities participating in international exchange, and to support their exchange experiences. Specifically, the Clearinghouse: 1) provides information, resources, and advice to the disabilities community about exchange opportunities, and encourages persons with disabilities to participate; and 2) gives technical assistance, advice, information, and materials to international exchange organizations and institutions, colleges and universities, and other exchange program practitioners to assist them in increasing the number of persons with disabilities participating in their exchange programs and better serving these program participants. The United States South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) provides scholarships for academically talented individuals from 11 sovereign island nations of the South Pacific to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees at U.S. institutions in fields important to the region’s development. The Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) provides the opportunity for talented young Tibetans who are living in the refugee communities of India and Nepal to study in the United States. The goal of the program is to educate future Tibetan leaders, build the participants’ capacity to contribute to their communities when they return home, and to foster mutual understanding. United States Timor-Leste Scholarship Program (USTL) provides educational opportunities for academically talented future leaders from Timor-Leste to pursue undergraduate degrees at U.S. institutions in priority fields that are directly relevant to development needs in Timor-Leste. Special Academic Programs include several other academic exchange initiatives in which the U.S. Congress has particular interest. Please refer to Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic for further information. Performance Reports: As stated in the Grants.gov announcements. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Guidance 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F Audit Requirements, a nonfederal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific -audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. The Recipient must comply with the OMB audit requirements. For all DOS awards, regardless of business type, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in OMB audit requirements. Please refer to the U.S. Department of State's Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm) for additional guidance. The Recipients must maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to an award for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. Please refer to the U.S. Department of State's Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm) for additional guidance. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic. Assistance is awarded/released through the Department's central financial management database. None/Not specified. Adam Meier (U.S.-South Pacific Scholarship Program and U.S.-Timor Leste Scholarship Program)
EAP Branch Chief, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic Exchanges, 2200 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, SA-5, Fourth Floor, Room 4B12
Washington, DC, DC 20037 USA
meieraw2@state.gov
Phone: (202) 632-6067

Heidi Manley (Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program)
U.S. Study Abroad Branch Chief, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Global Educational Programs, 2200 C Street, NW, SA-5, Fourth Floor, Room 4CC13, Washington, DC 20037
Washington, DC 20037 USA
studyabroad@state.gov
Phone: (202) 632-9265 http://exchanges.state.gov 19-0209-0-1-154 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$22,611,000.00; FY 23 est $22,611,000.00; FY 24 est $22,611,000.00; FY 21$22,283,352.00; FY 20$22,501,984.00; FY 19$22,126,000.00; FY 18$18,985,000.00; FY 17$19,925,000.00; FY 16$18,150,000.00; - $375,000 to $16,000,000. As stated in the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's SAMS Domestic announcements. In addition, organizations should be familiar with OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600 entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. For a copy of the OMB Guidance cited, please contact the U.S. Government Publishing Office or download from www.ecfr.gov website. Not applicable.