CALL FOR NOMINATIONFor FY2018 Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders
On Global Environmental Issues
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Study of the U.S. Branch (ECA/A/E/USS) is pleased to invite candidate nominations for a summer
2018 Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders from Brazil, China, Japan, Russia, andIndia interested in the topic of Global Environmental Issues. The program will take place in July andAugust 2018; exact dates will be communicated at a later time. The Institute will be hosted by theUniversity of Montana in Missoula, Montana, pending availability of funds and the Department of State
award approval.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW:
The Study of the U.S. Branch has sponsored Student Leader Institutes since 2003. This Institute is theonly Institute on Global Environmental Issues offered in 2018. Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for
Student Leaders are intensive short-term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups ofundergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously
enhancing their leadership skills. The five-week Institutes will consist of a balanced series of seminar
discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. The coursework and classroom activities will becomplemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within
the local community. The Institutes will include an academic residency component of approximately fourweeks and a domestic study tour of approximately one week. During the academic residency, participants
will also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom.
The four-week academic residency will explore the role that environmental policy has played in theeconomic and political development of the United States. The Institute will use experiential learningtechniques to expose participants to current themes in the field, including natural resource management,sustainable development/sustainable agricultural practices, food security, ecotourism, energy generation(new and traditional forms), and water management and treatment. The issues will be explored fromnumerous angles: local grassroots activism and civic initiatives, market-oriented approaches, and federal
government policies and regulation. Finally, the Institute will explore environmental issues in the context
of a globalized society and draw comparisons between the United States and the participants’ homecountries. Students will also have the opportunity to leave the classroom to meet with community leaders
and representatives of non-profit organizations. The academic residency will be complemented by aneducational tour that will take participants to another area of the United States where they will meet withlocal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations working in the field. The Institute will then conclude
with a three-day program in Washington, D.C.
OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
 Program Funding: Through the award given to the University of Montana, the Department of State
will cover all participant costs, including: program administration; U.S. domestic travel and groundtransportation; book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances; and housing and subsistence.
Housing and Meal Arrangements: Housing will be in shared university dorms on campus with
common bathrooms. Male participants will be housed on one floor and female participants on a
separate floor. Most meals will be provided at campus facilities, though participants may haveaccess to a kitchen to cook some meals on their own. It is important that nominees are aware ofthese arrangements and that they are comfortable with such accommodations.

This Application is free of charge and may be duplicated.

Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, andmedical care are satisfied.

Travel Arrangements: The U.S. Embassy Tokyo will arrange economy class round trip international
travel for each selected participant in this Institute.

Health Benefits: All participants will receive the Department of State’s coverage of $100,000 with a$25 co-pay per medical visit and $75 co-pay per emergency room visit for the duration of theprogram. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Information on the health benefit program may befound online at usdos.sevencorners.com.

Program Requirements and Restrictions: Participants are expected to fully participate in theacademic program. They should 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 belittle 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 theInstitute or remain in the U.S. after its end date. Similarly, participants will not be permitted to leave
the Institute to visit relatives or friends while in the U.S. Participants are required to return to theirhome countries immediately following the end of the Institute.

Violations of program rules, host institution rules, or local, state or federal laws can be grounds for
immediate dismissal from the program. It is important that these requirements and restrictions be
made clear to all candidates before nominations are submitted.

English Language Ability: All candidates must be proficient in English so that they can actively
participate in the academic program. Host institutions will take into account that the level ofcomprehension and speaking ability of students may vary and will prepare lectures and discussions
that meet the highest academic standards while using language appropriate for students where
English is their second or third language. Applicants must indicate the level of his/her English
language fluency.

CANDIDATE DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS:The participants are expected to be highly motivated first through third year undergraduate students fromcolleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education, who demonstrate leadership throughacademic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Their fields of study will bevaried and may include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, business, and otherprofessional fields. Emphasis should be made on recruiting participants from non-elite backgrounds,
from both rural and urban areas, and with little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhereoutside their home country. In addition, recruitment of participants should include historicallyunderserved groups, indigenous groups, disadvantaged groups, individuals with disabilities, and ethnicminority communities.
Candidates nominated for this program will:
be proficient in English;
This Application is free of charge and may be duplicated.

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be interested in the topic of Global Environmental Issues;
be between 18 and 25 years of age;have at least one semester left of their undergraduate studies, and therefore be committed toreturn to their home universities following completion of the program;demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university and communityactivities;
indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
have a sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, andteacher recommendations;demonstrate commitment to community and extracurricular university activities;
have little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of
their home country;
be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful, andinquisitive;
be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service,
and educational travel; and,be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to makeadjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:This FAQ section addresses some commonly asked questions by applicants and candidates. If you cannot
find an answer to your question please contact the U.S. Embassy Tokyo.
a.

What degree of English proficiency should a nominee have? All participants must be fully
proficient in English; throughout the Institute they will need to fully understand lectures, actively
participate in discussions, and read and write assignments in English.

b.

Can a nominee who is a dual citizen (U.S. and country of origin) participate in Study of
the U.S. Institutes? No. U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) are NOT
eligible to participate in this program.

c.

A nominee has been to the U.S. before; would he/she be disqualified? No. Nominees withvery minimal experience in the United States may be considered for the program. However,priority will be given to nominees with no previous experience in the United States. Please be
sure to clearly indicate the purpose of the nominee’s visit to the U.S., the year, and the length of
his/her stay as requested on the nomination form.

d.

How much free time will a participant have during the program? There will be some freetime during the program. However, nominees MUST understand that this is an intensive
academic program and they are expected to fully participate in all lectures, activities, site visits,and scheduled events.

e.

Can a participant arrive early/late or stay after the Institute? No. Participants who choose
to travel to the United States on a Study of the U.S. Institute are required to abide by the terms
This Application is free of charge and may be duplicated.

and conditions of the program. These terms state clearly that student leaders may NOT arrive in
the United States before the program start date or remain in the country after the close of theInstitute.
f.

Can a graduate student participate in this Institute? No. Study of the U.S. Institutes aredesigned exclusively for undergraduate students with at least one remaining semester of study.

g.

Can a participant miss one part or component of the Institute? No. All participants are
expected to participate in all scheduled lectures, events, site visits, trips, and activities.

h.

How much money will participants need to bring for the program? The Study of the U.S.
Institutes cover all basic costs of an individual’s participation including transportation, lodging,and meals. Generally, host institutions provide for meals through a combination of a cafeteria
meal plan, a pre-loaded debit card for use at local restaurants, and/or a cash allowance to permitparticipants to purchase food for cooking. Information on housing and meal arrangements will beprovided by the host institution six weeks prior to the start of the Institute. Other than the meal
stipend mentioned above, participants should not expect to receive any spending money from theInstitute. Participants should bring their own spending money if they wish to purchase souvenirs
or other items during their time in the United States.

i.

Are participants permitted to smoke during the Institute? Yes. However, participants
should be aware that many places in the United States now prohibit smoking. Smoking in suchplaces could be considered a violation of the law. Some places that may prohibit smoking areuniversity housing, classrooms, office buildings, restaurants, public parks, and otherlocations. Smoking laws will vary from location to location so participants who smoke shouldlook for designated smoking areas.

j.

Will applicants with disabilities be considered? Yes, the Study of the U.S. Branch welcomesnominations for individuals with disabilities. We are committed to working with our Institutehosts to arrange reasonable accommodations for all participants. While notification of a disability
will not negatively impact selection, we ask that you identify disabilities during the nomination
process so that we can begin working with our Institute hosts to ensure appropriate
accommodations.

NOMINATION FORMAT:
Please fill out the nomination format in English as completely as possible. The information you provideon this application will provide the basis for selecting semi-finalists for this program. Answer thequestions carefully and completely. The semi-finalists will be called for phone interview for the week ofJanuary 15th.
You may attach any additional documents such as resume.
All documents should be submitted to Ms. Noyuri Mitsuhashi, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy
Tokyo via email (MitsuhashiNX@state.gov) by January 8, 2016, 23:59 Japan Time.

This Application is free of charge and may be duplicated.