Student Leaders

STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTES (SUSI) FOR STUDENT LEADERS ON U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

The United States State Department and the US Embassy in Brazil are pleased to invite candidate nominations for a 2012 Study of the United States Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders from Brazil interested in the topic of U.S. History and Government.  Program dates are January 6 to February 11, 2012.  The institute will host a group of up to 20 students from Brazil, ideally from indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and other historically underserved communities.  The institute will be hosted at North Carolina Central University, and will be conducted in English.

The deadline for candidate applications is October 14, 2011 and will not be extended. Please apply online at www.usembassyprograms.org.br. Application period: September 19 to October 14, 2011.

Candidates must be fluent in English.

General Program Description

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders are intensive 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 institute 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, local site visits, and volunteer opportunities. The institute will include an academic residency component of approximately four weeks and a domestic travel component of approximately one week.  During the academic residency, participants will also have the opportunity to get out of the classroom to explore historical sites including a site visit to the State Capitol and North Carolina History Center and to the Civil Rights museum in nearby Greensboro. During their study tour they will take a three-day trip to Atlanta, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama, to visit the historical sites that are emblematic of the civil rights movement.  Then, the program will conclude with a 3 day-s in Washington DC where they will meet the participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay who participated in concurrent institutes at Wheelock College and George Mason University.

The Institute at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), entitled "The Fight for Civil Rights," will be conducted in English, and will focus on contemporary American life, as it is shaped by historical and/or current political, social, and economic issues and debates.  Students will be provided with an overview of the foundations of democracy as they learn about the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, the federal system of government, elections, the court system, etc.  Students will learn about the foundations of U.S. democracy, the institutions that implement the ideals of our founding documents, and the political and social movements that have contributed to our development.  Students will explore the various complex historical and contemporary issues associated with identity throughout the Americas, including race, ethnicity, and color, with a special focus on the indigenous peoples in North Carolina (Cherokee and Lumbee) and African-Americans. Through an exploration of the theme of "Politics of Personal and Economic Security", with a focus on land rights, students will also have an opportunity to compare and contrast political activism throughout the Americas. The institute will also address bilateral relations between the U.S. and Brazil, although this will not be the main focus.

Other core components of the institute include leadership development, community service, and fostering cross-cultural understanding.  Each week will include a study and application of leadership theories as well as a community service activity. Participants will engage with Americans on campus and will also participate in a weekend homestay.

Other Essential Program Information:

1. Program Funding: The US State Department will cover all participant costs, including: program administration; international and domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances; and housing and subsistence.
2. Housing and Meal Arrangements: Participants will reside in dormitory housing on campus.  Students will live in suite apartments; they will each have their own room, and they will share a small common space and a bathroom with a few other participants of the same gender.  Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though some meals will be provided by the program, and participants will also receive per diem that they can use to go out to local restaurants.
   Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied.
3. Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State's coverage of $50,000 with a $15 co-pay for the duration of the program.  Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
4. Program Requirements and Restrictions: Participants are expected to participate fully in the academic program. They are expected to attend all lectures and organized activities, and complete assigned readings.  Candidates should be made aware that the institute is very intensive and that there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program. Under no circumstances are participants allowed to arrive in the U.S. prior to the start date of the institute or remain in the U.S. after its end date.  Similarly, participants will not be allowed to leave the institute to visit relatives or friends while in the U.S. If a relative or friend wishes to visit them, it will be addressed on a case by case basis, in consultation with the program director.
   Violations of program rules, host institution rules or local, state or federal laws can be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
5. English Language Ability: English language proficiency is a requirement to participate in this program.  The program will be conducted in English.  The institute is a rigorous and demanding program; participants will be expected to handle short reading assignments in English and to be full and active participants in all seminar and panel discussions.

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 will include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and other professional fields. Candidates from non-elite backgrounds, from both rural and urban sectors, and with little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere outside their home country will be given special consideration.

1. Candidates should 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;
2. be between 18-25 years old;
3. have had little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country;
4. demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and community activities;
5. indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
6. have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated in grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
7. have demonstrated commitment to community and extracurricular university activities;
8. be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, and inquisitive;
9. be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel program; and,
10. 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.

Mais informações: http://www.usembassyprograms.org.br/