Deadline: 31-Dec-21
The U.S. Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire is accepting applications for its Community College Initiative Program that seeks to foster mutual understanding between the citizens of the United States and the citizens of participating CCI countries.
Since the program’s inception in 2007, more than 3,500 participants from 24 countries have received scholarships for study at community colleges throughout the United States. The CCI Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State.
CCI encourages a holistic learning and exchange experience and focuses on five program pillars: academics, cultural exchange, service learning, professional and career development, and leadership and action planning. All pillars of the CCI Program are of equal importance. After completing the program, participants return home with enhanced skills to help them contribute to the economic development of their countries.
CCI offerings within these fields of study are limited to specific concentration areas listed on the 2022-2023 CCI fields of study summaries and included as part of this application. Applicants must select and rank their top three sub-field choices under one selected field of study and be interested in studying in any subfield. Courses and programs of study vary by individual colleges. All colleges offer introductory classes that would be taken during the first two years of a four-year Bachelor’s degree. The CCI Program does not offer advanced field-specific courses. Participants will work with their Program Coordinators at each host college to develop an individual program plan within their field of study and concentration area. Participants should develop their goals broadly within these fields of study and concentration areas.
The educational system in the United States will be different from the educational systems in the participants’ home countries. To be successful in U.S. academic courses, participants will need to attend all classes, participate fully, complete assignments on time, and complete additional coursework (such as readings, essays, individual and group projects) during their own time outside of the classroom. It is common practice to have 6-10 hours of homework each week after each 3-hour class.
Fields of Study Summary
CCI offers study in the following fields:
- Agriculture
- Applied Engineering, including renewable energy technology
- Business Management/Admin
- Early Childhood Education
- Information Technology (IT), including cyber-security
- Media
- Social Services, Health, and Public Safety, including for community health workers, pharmacy technicians, and phlebotomists
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
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 allowance for books, materials, and incidental expenses.
- Limited Accident and Sickness coverage that is J-visa compliant.
- 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, 2022.
- 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. (Note: To enroll in 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. Participants with a score below 500 must have an interest in taking English language classes as a primary academic focus; they will have very limited access to courses in their field of study. Participant language skills will be evaluated upon arrival at the host institution. A 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 their 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 2022.
For more information, visit https://ci.usembassy.gov/apply-now-for-the-community-college-initiative-cci-program-2022-2023/