2020-2021 Community College Initiative (CCI) Program in Cote d’Ivoire

Deadline: 27 December 2019

U.S. Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire is seeking proposals for Community College Initiative (CCI) Program 2020-2021 with an aim to foster mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States and the citizens of participating CCI country.

The CCI Program provides participants with a non-degree, academic-year program at a U.S. community college designed to build participants’ technical skills in applied fields, enhance their leadership capabilities, and strengthen their English language proficiency. The program also provides opportunities for professional internships, service learning, and community engagement. The CCI Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.

Fields of Study

The CCI Program offers study in the following fields:

Agriculture
Applied Engineering
Business Management/Admin
Early Childhood Education
Information Technology (IT)
Media
Public Safety
Tourism and Hospitality Management

Benefits

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 allowance for books and incidental expenses.
Limited Accident and Sickness coverage.
A variety of personal and professional development activities.

Eligibility Criteria

Everyone who meets the CCI eligibility criteria listed below is welcome to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability (physical or mental), sexual orientation, or gender identity. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Competition for the CCI Program is merit-based and open to anyone who:
- Is a citizen, national or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by a country participating in the CCI Program.
- Is currently residing in the eligible country.
- Is 18 years or older by July 1, 2020.
- Has successfully earned a secondary school diploma.
- Has not completed the equivalent of three years toward a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of study the applicant is nominated to pursue. Nominees without substantive post-secondary education will be given placement priority.
- Has demonstrated commitment to the selected field of study through some academic or professional experience. The program aims to identify participants with proven skills or interest and limited professional experience in the fields of study offered.
- Has basic working knowledge of English language as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 400. (Note: To pursue credit-bearing courses in an academic field of study, the applicant must meet the minimum language requirements of the host college—usually 500 on the TOEFL test or equivalent scores on other standardized tests. English language training will be necessary and is available for those who do not demonstrate this level of proficiency; these participants are likely to have extremely limited access to courses in their fields of study and must have an interest in pursuing English language study as their primary academic focus. All participants will be retested upon arrival at their host institutions. The host campus testing result will be the score used to determine course placements.)
- Has limited or no overseas study experience. Nominees with no prior overseas study or travel to the United States will be given placement priority.
- Meets any customized requirements of the home country Embassy/Consulate or Commission.
- Submits a complete original application.
- Is able to receive a U.S. J-1 visa and meet the program conditions to maintain that status.
- Is willing and physically able (with accommodations as required) to complete the program in its entirety, including activities or travel that may be programmed on any day of the week, possibly including early morning or evening hours.
- Is committed to returning to his/her home country after completion of the program and satisfying the J-visa two-year residency requirement.
- Is able to begin the academic exchange program in the United States in July 2020.
Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Community College Initiative Program:
- U.S. citizens.
- Non-U.S. citizens 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.
- 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. embassy and Fulbright Commission 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).