INSTITUTE DESCRIPTION

Study of the United States Institutes are intensive post-graduate level academic programs with integrated study tours whose purpose is to provide foreign university faculty and other scholars the opportunity to deepen their understanding of American society, culture, and institutions. The ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching about the United States in academic institutions abroad.

The institutes will take place at various colleges and universities throughout the United States over the course of six weeks beginning in June 2011. Applicants are encouraged to visit our website to obtain general information about the FY10 Institutes, http://exchanges.state.gov/academicexchanges/scholars.html

A. The Institute on American Politics and Political Thought will provide a multinational group of 18 foreign university faculty with a deeper understanding of U.S. political institutions and major currents in American political thought. The institute will provide the participants insight into how intellectual and political movements have influenced modern American political institutions. The institute will provide an overview of political thought during the founding period (constitutional foundations), and the development and current functioning of the American presidency, Congress and the federal judiciary. The examination of political institutions will include the electoral system, political parties and interest groups, the civil service system, media and think tanks, and the welfare/regulatory state. The institute will address modern political and cultural issues in the United States (including but not limited to civil rights, women’s rights, immigration, etc.) and the significance of public discourse in the formulation of public policy.

B. The Institute on Contemporary American Literature will provide a multinational group of up to 18 foreign university faculty and scholars with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and
present, through an examination of contemporary American literature. Its purpose is twofold: to explore contemporary American writers and writing in a variety of genres; and to suggest how the themes explored in those works reflect larger currents within contemporary American society and culture. The program will explore the diversity of the American literary landscape, examining how major contemporary writers, schools and movements reflect the traditions of the American literary canon. At the same time, the program will expose participants to writers who represent a departure from that tradition, and who are establishing new directions for American literature.

C. The Institute on Journalism and Media will provide a multinational group of 18 journalism faculty and other related specialists with a deeper understanding of the role of journalism and the media in U.S. society. It will examine major topics in journalism, including the concept of a free press, First Amendment rights, and the media’s relationship to the public interest. The legal and ethical questions inherent in journalistic endeavors will be incorporated into every aspect of the institute. The institute will cover strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of the tradecraft: researching, reporting, writing, and editing. The program will also highlight technology’s impact on journalism, addressing the influence of the internet, the globalization of the news media, the growth of satellite television and radio networks, and other advances in media that are transforming the profession.

D. The Institute on Religious Pluralism in the United States will provide a multinational group of up to 18 foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of U.S. society and culture, past and present, through an examination of religious pluralism in the United States and its intersection with American democracy. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing on fields such as history, political science, sociology, anthropology, law and others where appropriate, the program will explore both the historical and contemporary relationship between church and state in the United States. Participants will examine the following aspects of religious pluralism in the United States: the ways in which religious thought and practice have influenced, and been influenced by, the development of American-style democracy; the intersections of religion and politics in the United States in such areas as elections, public policy, and foreign policy; and the sociology and demography of religion in the United States today, including a survey of the diversity of contemporary religious beliefs and its impact on American politics.

E. The Institute on U.S. Culture and Society will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly-motivated foreign university faculty and other specialists with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The Institute will examine the ethnic, racial, economic, political, and religious contexts in which various cultures have manifested themselves in U.S. society, and the ways in which these cultures have influenced both social movements and historical epochs throughout U.S. history. The program will draw from a diverse disciplinary base, and will itself provide a model of how a foreign university might approach the study of U.S. culture and society.

F. The Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy will provide a multinational group of 18 foreign university faculty and scholars with a deeper understanding of how U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented with an emphasis on the post Cold War period. This institute will begin with a review of the historical development of U.S. foreign policy and cover significant events, individuals, and philosophies that have dominated U.S. foreign policy. In addition, the institute will explain the role of key players in the field of foreign policy, including the executive and legislative branches, the media, public opinion, think-tanks, non-governmental and international organizations and how these players debate, cooperate, influence policy, and are held accountable.

OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

A. Program Funding: All participant costs, including: international travel, program administration; domestic travel and ground transportation; book, cultural, housing and subsistence, mailing, and incidental allowances will be covered.

B. Housing and Meal Arrangements: Typically, participants will have a private room with a shared bathroom during the residency portion (four weeks) of the institute, and may share a hotel room with another participant of the same gender during the study tour (up to two weeks). Housing will typically be in college or university owned housing. Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may have access to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own. Full details will be provided once the grants have been approved.

C. Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s coverage of $50,000 with a $25 deductible for the duration of the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.

D. Program Requirements and Restrictions: Participants are expected to participate fully in the program. They are expected to attend all lectures and organized activities, and complete assigned readings. Family members and/or friends cannot accompany participants on any part of the program. Please note that teaching methodology and pedagogical methods will not be addressed formally in the institute. The institute is intensive and there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program. The institute should not be viewed as a research program.

CANDIDATE DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS

A. Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly-motivated and experienced professionals from institutions of higher education. While the educational level of participants will likely vary, most should have graduate degrees and have substantial knowledge of the thematic area of the Institute.

B. The ideal candidate will also be an experienced professional with little or no prior experience in the United States, whose home institution is seeking to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into its curricula, to develop new courses in the subject of the institute, to enhance and update existing courses on the United States, or to offer specialized seminars/workshops for professionals in U.S. studies areas related to the program theme. In this respect, while the nominee’s scholarly and professional credentials are an important consideration, an equally important factor is how participation in the institute will enhance course offerings in U.S. studies at the nominee’s home institution.

C. Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour.

OTHER FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION

A. Candidate Statement: In order to get a better sense of potential participants’ motivations and goals, each candidate is requested to provide a short personal statement (one page) indicating why he or she is interested in participating in the program and what he or she expects to get out of the experience. See paragraph 7, T below for more details.

B. English Language Ability: It is imperative that all candidates demonstrate English language fluency. Institutes are rigorous and demanding programs; participants will be expected to handle substantial
reading assignments in English and to be full and active participants in all seminar and panel discussions. English fluency is vital to a successful experience in the Institute, both for your participant and participants from other countries.

C. Priority Consideration: Priority will be given to candidates who have firm plans to enhance, update or develop courses and/or educational materials with a U.S. studies focus or component, who have limited experience in the United States, and who have special interest in the program subject areas as demonstrated through past scholarship, accomplishments, and professional duties

NOMINATION FORMAT

Applications for consideration must be received by the U.S. Embassy no later than Friday, November 19, 2010. All nominations must follow the format below. It is essential that all items are completely accurate.

A. Title of Institute

B. Nominee’s Full Name: Nominee’s names should match his/her passport and should be presented in the following order: Prefix (Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss), Last Name(s), First Name, Middle Name.

C. Gender

D. Date of Birth (please spell out Month, Day, Year)

E. Birth City

F. Birth Country

G. Country(ies) of Citizenship: Primary and, if applicable, secondary country

H. Country of Residence

I. Medical, Physical, Dietary or other Personal Considerations: Please describe any pre-existing medical conditions, including any prescription medication the candidate maybe taking, or any other dietary or personal considerations. This will not affect candidate selection, but will enable the host institution to make any necessary accommodations.

J. Candidate Contact Information: Home Address, City, Home State/Province, Home Country, E-mail, and Telephone.

K. Current Position Type, Title, Institutional Name, and Country.

For “Position Type,” please select one from among the following: 1) Senior Executive, President, Government Minister, etc.; 2) Junior Executive, Vice President, Dean, Government Advisor, etc.; 3) Professor, Editor, Officer, Director, etc.; 4) Associate Professor, Senior Researcher, Senior Staff, etc.; 5) Assistant Professor, Assistant Editor, Coordinator, Staff; 6) Lecturer, Teacher, Consultant; 7) Teaching Assistant, Instructor; or, 8.) Other.

L. Work Experience, including previous positions and titles, and the approximate dates of employment.

M. Education, and Academic and Professional Training, including degree earned and fields of specialization. Degrees listed should reflect the closest U.S. equivalent.

N. Active Professional Memberships. Please select from among the following position types to describe the level of the candidate’s involvement with the organizations listed; 1) President, Board Chairperson, Director; 2) Board Member; 3) Editorial Staff, Officer; 4) Contributing Member; 5) Member.

O. Publications: Publications should include the publication year, type of publication, title, and publisher. All foreign titles should be translated into English. (Maximum 10 publications.)

To identify the publication type, please choose from among the following options: 1) Book; 2) Edited volume (as primary or co-editor); 3) Book chapter; 4) Journal article; 5) Newspaper/ online article; or, 6) Conference/University/ Government working paper.

P. Previous Experience in the United States: Please list all trips the candidate has made to the United States and include approximate dates and the reason for travel.

Q. Family Residing in the United States: Please list any immediate family members who currently are residing in the United States, including city and state.

R. Evidence of English Fluency (e.g. personal interview, test score, etc.)

S. Professional Responsibilities:

Current Courses Taught- Should include the course title, level of student (Ph.D., M.A., Undergraduate, High School), number of hours per semester, number of students, and the estimated percent of U.S. studies content.

Current Student Advising- Should include the number of students advised who are studying U.S. related topics, level of students (Ph.D., M.A., Undergraduate, High School), and the number of advising hours.

Other Potential Outcomes- Please select all of the likely potential outcomes that might result from the candidate’s participation in this institute: 1) Update Existing Course; 2) Create New Course; 3) Create New Degree Program; 4) University Curriculum Redesign; 5) National Curriculum Redesign; 6) New Research Project; 7) New Publication; 8.) Professional Promotion; 9) Government or Ministry Policy; 10) New Professional Organization; 11) New Institutional Linkages; 12) Raise Institutional Profile.

T. Personal Essays to be written by nominees, limit 4,500 characters each. 1) Please discuss your professional responsibilities in greater detail, including how attending this Institute would help you achieve the “Other Potential Outcomes” you have checked above; AND 2) Please discuss how your participation would enhance this Institute, based either upon your personal and professional experience or upon the current state of U.S. studies in your home country.

Applications should be submitted via e-mail to meriwetherc@state.gov by Friday, November 19, 2010.