Recruitment for the Community College Initiative (CCI) 2023-2024 programme is OPEN!
Completed applications should be sent by e-mail to civ.eca_exchanges@state.gov until 16 December 2022. (Application form found at the bottom of this page.)
Programme overview
Since 2007, the Community College Initiative (CCI) programme has been funded as a US government international exchange programme by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The CCI programme offers participants from disadvantaged areas and under-represented groups a one-year non-degree academic programme at a US community college. The programme is designed to develop participants' technical skills in applied fields, enhance their leadership abilities and strengthen their English language proficiency. The programme also offers opportunities for professional internships, service learning and community involvement activities that build mutual understanding through immersion in the culture and daily life of the United States.
CCI encourages a holistic learning and exchange experience and focuses on five programme pillars: academic, cultural exchange, service learning, professional and career development, and leadership and action planning. All pillars of the CCI Programme are of equal importance. After completing the programme, participants return home with enhanced skills to help them contribute to the economic development of their countries.
The JRC demonstrates the U.S. commitment to increasing access to higher education for international students from underrepresented and underserved communities in selected countries and highlights the learning environment offered at U.S. community colleges. The programme also strengthens US community colleges' efforts to deepen international education partnerships and programming.
Community colleges are predominantly publicly funded inclusive institutions in local communities that welcome all who wish to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage or previous academic experience. Community colleges offer individual courses (credit and non-credit), certificate programmes, workforce development training and associate degrees. The associate degree course at community colleges is roughly equivalent to that offered in the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree programme. There are more than 1,100 public, independent and tribal community colleges in the United States. Community colleges are sometimes called technical colleges or junior colleges.
Summary of Fields of Study
The CCI Programme offers studies in the following areas:
- Agriculture
- Applied Engineering
- Management/Business Administration
- Early childhood education
- Information Technology (IT)
- Digital Media, Journalism and Communications
- Social Services, Health and Public Safety
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
The JRC Programme's offerings within these fields of study are limited to specific concentration areas listed in the JRC 2023-2024 fields of study summaries and included as part of this application. Applicants must select and rank their top three subfield choices within a selected field of study and be interested in studying in any subfield.
Courses and study programmes vary according to the individual faculties. All faculties offer introductory classes that would be taken during the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree. The CCI Programme does not offer advanced field-specific courses. Participants will work with their programme coordinators at each host college to develop an individual programme plan within their field of study and area of concentration. Participants should develop their objectives broadly within these fields of study and areas of concentration. In this application, participants should describe their specific areas of interest in their proposed fields of study and available areas of concentration, their related experience and their long-term goals. Participants are applying for the CCI Programme and are not applying for a specific academic degree programme at a particular institution. Based on their English proficiency, participants will have access to courses at the CCI community college where they are placed. Participants can obtain an academic certificate in their field of study or complete courses relevant to their professional goals. Certification programmes are not available for all programmes on all campuses and depend on various factors, including the participant's level of English. Participants will combine academic or professional courses with first-hand practical experience through internships or service learning that will help them develop their professional skills and capabilities.
The educational system in the United States will differ from the educational systems in the participants' home countries. To succeed in US academic courses, participants will need to attend all classes, participate fully, complete assignments on time and complete additional courses (such as readings, essays, individual and group projects) during their own time outside the classroom. It is common practice to have 6-10 hours of homework per week after each 3-hour class.
JRC Eligibility Requirements
Everyone who meets the JRC eligibility criteria listed below can apply regardless of race, colour, nationality, sex, age, religion, geographical location, socio-economic status, disability (physical or mental), sexual orientation or gender identity. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The competition for the CCI Programme is based on merit and open to anyone who:
- Be a citizen, national or permanent resident entitled to hold a valid passport issued by a country participating in the ICC Programme.
- Currently residing in the eligible country.
- Be 18 or older by 1st July 2023.
- Have successfully completed secondary school.
- Has not completed the equivalent of three years toward a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher in the field of study in which the candidate was nominated. Applicants without substantive post-secondary education will be given priority placement.
- Demonstrated commitment to the selected field of study through some academic or professional experience. The programme aims to identify participants with proven skills or interest and limited professional experience in the fields of study offered.
- Possess a basic working knowledge of the English language, as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 420. (Note: in order to enrol 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 standardised tests. English language training will be required and is available for those who do not demonstrate this level of proficiency. Participants with scores below 500 should be interested in taking English classes as their main academic focus; they will have very limited access to courses in their field of study. Participants' language skills will be assessed on arrival at the host institution. The result of the host campus test will be the score used to determine course placements).
- Has little or no study abroad experience. Applicants with no previous study abroad or travel to the United States will be prioritised for placement.
- It meets any personalised requirements of the Embassy/Consulate or Commission of the country of origin.
- It features a complete original inscription.
- You can receive a J-1 American visa and meet the conditions of the programme to maintain this status.
- Is willing and mentally and physically able (with accommodation as required) to complete the programme in its entirety, giving equal importance to all five pillars, including activities or trips that can be scheduled on any day of the week, possibly including early mornings or late nights.
- You are committed to returning to your country of origin upon completion of the programme and satisfying the two-year residence requirement of the J visa.
- He is eligible to start the academic exchange programme in the United States in July 2023.
Ineligibility
Individuals in the following circumstances NO are eligible for the Community College Initiative Programme:
- American citizens.
- Non-US citizens living in the United States.
- Individuals currently participating in academic, training or research programmes in the United States.
- Individuals who are currently studying, living or working outside the eligible countries.
- Individuals who have participated in an exchange programme sponsored or financed by the US government for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled the two-year home residence requirement at the time of their application to the JRC.
- Individuals who have applied for permanent residence in the United States.
- Local employees of US missions abroad who work for the US Department of State and/or the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Employees are also ineligible for one year after their employment contract ends.
- Immediate family members (i.e. spouses and children) of US Embassy and Fulbright Commission employees. Family members are also ineligible for one year after termination of employment.
- People arrested, charged or convicted of a crime (excluding minor traffic offences).
Registration Review Process and Criteria
The CCI Programme is conducted as an open competition based on merit. After the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed in-country for eligibility and evaluated by a panel of exchange programme experts. Competitive candidates will be interviewed in their home countries by a nominating committee. All candidates will be notified of their appointment and placement status continuously from spring to summer 2023.
The nominating committee will use the following criteria to evaluate the applications (not in order of importance):
- Demonstrated interest and professional goals in the area of study the candidate wishes to pursue.
- Total commitment and emotional readiness to participate in all the components of an intensive programme.
- Intercultural interest.
- Leadership potential.
- Flexibility and suitability as an exchanger.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Physical ability and willingness to carry out the programme in its entirety, including activities or trips that can be scheduled on any day of the week and in the early morning or evening.
- Commitment to return to the country of origin after the programme to fulfil a two-year residency requirement.
- Preference will be given to candidates who have no previous experience outside their country of origin.
- Preference will be given to candidates representing disadvantaged and under-represented communities, including women.
- Preference will be given to candidates who have completed high school and have not yet obtained a diploma equivalent to an American bachelor's degree or higher.
- Preference will be given to candidates who can express how the CCI Programme connects directly to their short- and long-term personal and professional goals.
General instructions enrolment
- Send an original completed application with a signature on the last page.
- Each candidate must fill in their own application form. Candidates can consult other people for advice on how to fill in the form, but each candidate must write their own answers.
- Please answer ALL the questions on the form in English. Do NOT leave a blank space. If a question does not apply to you, type N/A (not applicable).
- First include your full legal name with family name (surname) in CAPITAL LETTERS, as written in your international passport (if available).
- Include full contact information, including postcodes for addresses and city/country codes for telephone numbers.
- Handwritten applications must be printed in an organised manner.
- Submit the application by the deadline set by the US Embassy or Fulbright Commission located in your country.
Financial Provisions of the Grant
- Support for the J-1 visa.
- Return journey from the participant's home city to the host institution in the United States.
- Compulsory tuition and university fees.
- Accommodation and meals.
- Small allowance for books, materials and ancillary expenses.
- Limited accident and illness cover compatible with the J visa.
- Various personal and professional development activities.
Click here for the registration form: CCI AY 2023-2024 Programme Filling in the application form
Completed applications must be sent by email to civ.eca_exchanges@state.gov by 16 December 2022. Scholarships for the CCI Programme 2023-2024 depend on the appropriation of federal funding by the US Congress.
Find out more about CCI programme information and social media sites:
JRC website: www.nvcc.edu/ccip
JRC Blog: https://blogs.nvcc.edu/cci/
JRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cciprogram
JRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/cciprogram
JRC Twitter: www.twitter.com/cciprogram
CCI Instagram: www.instagram.com/cciprogram
