FY 2019 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars: A Multi-Dimensional Examination of U.S. Society and Institutions

Overview: The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars will provide multinational groups of experienced scholars, university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The Institute will include four weeks of academic residency at a U.S. academic institution and up to two weeks of an integrated study tour that will expose the scholars to another region of the United States. The Institute will host approximately 18 participants. These activities and the roles and responsibilities of your organization are outlined below. A. Award Recipient Responsibilities: 1. Designing and overseeing one six-week Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars; 2. Providing overall coordination of your Institute including programmatic and administrative oversight; 3. Providing syllabi and program calendars to UM for your Institute; 4. Managing any visa/legal issues that arise during the Institute; 5. Assisting participants in managing their accident and sickness health benefits program for the duration of the Institutes and distributing health benefits identification cards for each participant as issued by UM; 6. Coordinating logistical and administrative arrangements for participants such as pre-departure information, airport pick-up and drop-off, lodging and meals, domestic travel, any medical treatment, and the disbursement of program funds; 7. Developing and implementing, in coordination with UM, a media (including social media) outreach effort to publicize the program; 8. In coordination with UM, providing participants with follow-on guidance and resources and facilitating continued interaction among participants after the conclusion of the program; 9. Conducting an evaluation program that links outcomes of your Institute to stated program goals and objectives to ensure that your Institute meets high levels of quality in fulfilling program goals; 10. Informing and consulting with UM about any program or participant problems, emergencies, or other issues as well as the progress of necessary corrective action; 11. Managing ECA and other funds for this activity, including submitting required quarterly and final financial and program reports to UM, as well as weekly updates to UM Project Director during the Institutes; and 12. Providing reasonable accommodations for participant needs, including disability accommodations if needed, in support of ECAs commitment to diversity and the involvement of participants from traditionally underrepresented audiences. B. UMs Responsibilities: 1. Obtaining participant list from ECA for distribution to each Institute. 2. In coordination with U.S. embassies and consulates or Fulbright commissions, arranging and purchasing international round trip travel for participants as well as any travel related to visa issuance, and dispersing international travel allowances prior to departure to the United States as needed; 3. Enrolling the participants in an accident and sickness health benefits program for the duration of the Institutes and issuing health benefits identification cards for each participant; 4. Developing and implementing, in coordination with ECA, a media (including social media) outreach effort to publicize the program; 5. Providing participants with supplementary follow-on guidance and resources and facilitating continued interaction among participants after the conclusion of the program; 6. Conducting an evaluation program that links outcomes of the Institutes to stated program goals and objectives to ensure that all Institutes meet comparable and high levels of quality in fulfilling program goals; 7. Informing and consulting with ECA about any program or participant problems, emergencies, or other issues as well as the progress of necessary corrective action; 8. Managing ECA and other funds for this activity, including submitting required quarterly and final financial and program reports to ECA, as well as weekly updates to the program office during the Institutes; and 9. Supporting partner in providing reasonable accommodations for participant needs, including disability accommodations if needed, in support of ECAs commitment to diversity and the involvement of participants from traditionally underrepresented audiences. 10. Keeping Institute partner fully informed on all ECA developments. 11. Reimbursing Institute partner for invoiced expenses on a quarterly basis within 30 days of invoice submission. 1. Purpose: Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars are intensive academic programs whose purpose is to provide foreign university faculty and other professionals the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, values, 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.