[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23830-23831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11311]
[[Page 23830]]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
Provision of Overseas Educational Advising Services Seeking
Partnerships; Call for Concept Papers
SUMMARY: The Office of Academic Programs of the United States
Information Agency's (USIA) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
announces an opportunity to create public/private sector partnerships
with USIA in order to ensure the long-term viability of educational
advising centers abroad which provide information on and facilitate
access to U.S. institutions of higher education to overseas audiences.
Because of the important role of these centers in achieving the United
States' educational exchange and foreign policy objectives, USIA is
committed to maintaining comprehensive and objective educational
advisory services to overseas audiences. Recent budget reductions,
however, have limited the operational, material and training support
that USIA can offer to the network of overseas educational advising
centers. USIA is seeking outside funding, contributions and creative
solutions to continue providing educational advising services in
cooperation with United States Information Service (USIS) posts abroad.
USIA invites public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit
organizations with significant substantive experience in international
education to submit statements of interest for collaborating with USIA
and USIS posts abroad. Limited support for initiatives may be
available, depending on the specific circumstances of the advising
program in each country, the interest and requirements of individual
USIS posts, and the availability of funds.
Background Information
Advising and Student Services
The Advising and Student Services Branch (E/ASA) of the United
States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
promotes the international exchange of students and scholars through a
network of educational advising centers located overseas and through
partnership with the international education community in the United
States. The Branch works toward strengthening the infrastructure for
the administration of international educational exchange and
facilitates cooperation between educational advisers overseas and their
counterparts at U.S. academic institutions. The Branch provides
material support for advising centers within the USIA network in the
form of books, other reference materials and appropriate equipment, as
well as staff training and professional development opportunities
through training in the U.S., overseas workshops and conferences, and
services offered by Regional Educational Advising Coordinators.
Overseas Educational Advising Centers
The educational advising centers in the USIA network, located in
nearly every country in the world, provide foreign audiences, including
prospective students and scholars, with the information they need to
understand the U.S. higher education system, and, if appropriate, to
apply for admission to a U.S. college or university. Centers can be
found in a wide variety of institutions, including U.S. embassies,
Fulbright commissions, local universities, private foundations, U.S.
non-profit organizations with operations overseas, and other local
institutions. USIA provides operational support for some of these
centers; but all centers receive at least a minimum level of material
support. Topics for which information is readily available at a center
include:
--profiles of U.S. higher education institutions, including course
descriptions
--application procedures and strategies
--financial assistance options
--information on standardized tests required for admission such as
TOEFL
--information on secondary education in the U.S.
Range of Participation
USIA is seeking non-governmental organizations to collaborate in
one or more of the following types of activities:
(A) Under direction of the USIS post, to accept responsibility for
all or part of the operation of an overseas educational advising center
currently operated by the post.
(B) To establish a cooperative relationship with a Fulbright
commission, a host-country institution or a USIS post in support of a
new or existing educational advising activity.
(C) To contribute material, technological, staffing or other
support to ongoing advising operations.
(D) To contribute to professional development programs for
advisers.
Operational Standards
I. USIA requires advising centers within its network to adhere to
the following basic principles:
(A) They should provide impartial, accurate information about the
full range of accredited institutions of higher learning in the United
States and must not serve as agents or recruiters. Ethical standards of
appropriate professional associations must be followed.
(B) They should provide, at no charge, access to essential
reference materials and to an introductory advising session, which may
be a group or video presentation.
II. If an advising center decides to offer fee-based services, the
following principles also apply:
(A) All services beyond the introductory level may be provided for
a fee that is in accordance with the local market and laws. These
services might include one-on-one advising, transcript evaluations,
translations, pre-departure orientations, and specialized workshops.
(B) Services may be provided to U.S. colleges, universities and
schools (e.g., college fairs, assistance in logistical arrangements for
recruitment) provided that the center maintains impartiality and
continues to present the full range of accredited U.S. academic
institutions. Fees may be charged for these services.
(C) Students who are clearly not qualified for U.S. study, i.e.,
lack financial resources, English language ability, and/or sufficient
academic preparation, should not be offered fee-based services.
(D) Centers may recruit sponsors for specific activities, provided
solicitation is done in coordination with the local USIS post.
Announcement Title and Number
All communications with USIA concerning this announcement should
refer to the above title and reference number E/ASA-97-11.
Submissions
Organizations wishing to pursue collaborative activities as
described above should prepare a concept paper, not to exceed five
pages. This paper should include the following information:
(A) Name and address of organization(s).
(B) Principal contact information (name, phone/fax numbers, e-mail
address).
(C) Outline of organization's history, mission, and scope.
(D) Brief description of organization's involvement with U.S. and
foreign higher educational systems, educational exchange, and overseas
educational advising and/or other services.
(E) Resources (human, financial, in-kind etc.) which applicant
organization proposes to contribute to the achievement of the goals of
the educational advising program.
[[Page 23831]]
(F) Countries or regions of interest.
(G) Scope of proposed activity.
The original and five copies of the concept paper, along with the
same information on a 3.5'' diskette in ASCII text format, should be
sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/ASA-97-11, Office of Grants
Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20547.
USIA will use the electronic submissions to transmit concept papers
to appropriate USIS posts for their review and comment.
Deadline for Submission
All concept papers must be received at the U.S. Information Agency
by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on July 25, 1997. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked July 25 but received
at a later date will not be accepted.
Review Process
USIA will review concept papers using as criteria the degree to
which the applicant organization demonstrates:
--Experience with U.S. and foreign higher education systems;
--Significant involvement in international educational exchange, in the
U.S. or abroad;
--Commitment to the mission of overseas educational advising and to
maintaining operational and ethical standards;
--Experience in the provision of educational services overseas;
--Ability to provide a financial base for advising and related
operations abroad.
All eligible concept papers will be reviewed by a panel that may
include the program office and USIA geographic area offices where
appropriate to recommend those that should be approved for further
consideration by USIS posts. Statements may also be reviewed by the
Office of the General Counsel or by other Agency elements. Recommended
concept papers will be shared with appropriate USIS posts. E/ASA will
facilitate communication between submitters and USIS posts. Further
action on concept papers will depend upon USIS post requirements and
will involve E/ASA's oversight. Discussions between USIS post and
submitter may lead to the negotiation of a formal agreement with the
submitter. It is anticipated that agreements will be executed by
January 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Advising and Student Services Branch, E/ASA, Rm. 349, U.S.
Information Agency, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547,
telephone 202-619-5434; fax 202-401-1433; e-mail Advise@usia.gov.
Contact officer is Amy Forest.
TO RECEIVE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA FAX ON DEMAND: This announcement may
be requested from the Bureau's Grants Information Fax on Demand System,
which is accessed by calling (202) 401-7616. The Table of Contents
listing available documents and order numbers should be the first order
when entering the system.
TO DOWNLOAD THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA INTERNET: This announcement may be
downloaded from USIA's website at http://www.usia.gov/ or from the
Internet Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov. Under the heading
``International Exchanges/Training,'' select ``Request for Proposals
(RFPs).'' Please read ``About the Following RFPs'' before downloading.
Dated: April 23, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-11311 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
