U.S. Embassy Bangkok invites interested scholars to apply for six Summer 2018 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for multinational groups of experienced university faculty, scholars, and other related professionals.
The program will be held on the following six themes in U.S. Studies:
- American Politics and Political Thought
- Contemporary American Literature
- Journalism and Media
- Religious Pluralism in the United States
- U.S. Culture and Society
- U.S. Foreign Policy
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars will take place at various colleges, universities, and institutions throughout the United States over the course of six weeks beginning in or afterJune 2018. Applicants can download the application form on the U.S. Embassy, Bangkok website via this link (PDF 387KB).
Applications must be received at the Media and Cultural Section, U.S. Embassy Bangkok no later than Wednesday, December 27, 2017. Applications can be submitted to one of the following addresses:
Post
Media and Cultural Section (Application for 2018 SUSI for Scholars)
U.S. Embassy, Bangkok
95 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Email
Alternatively, you can email your application to us at BangkokPD@state.gov with the subject line, stating “Application for 2018 SUSI for Scholars_Your Full Name.”
Applicants will be selected for interview based on the criteria below. Interviews will take place at the Media and Cultural Section of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok in January 2018. Interviewees must be able to travel to the interview site, the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, on the day of their interview. Only selected interviewees will be notified of the details before the interview.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs) 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 U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The ultimate goal of the Institutes is to strengthen curricula and to enhance the quality of teaching about the United States in academic institutions abroad.
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars will take place at various colleges, universities, and academic institutions throughout the United States over the course of six weeks beginning in or after June 2018. Each Institute includes a four-week academic residency component and up to two weeks of an integrated study tour. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit our website to obtain general information about the Institutes. The website address is: http://exchanges.state.gov/susi.
SUSI for Scholars will be held in the following six themes in U.S. Studies:
1. American Politics and Political Thought
The Institute on American Politics and Political Thought will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners insight into how intellectual and political movements have influenced modern American political institutions and a deeper understanding of major currents in U.S. political thought from the colonial period to the present. Drawing upon the American Political Development approach, the Institute will provide a full and diverse understanding of U.S. political thought and its connection to U.S. politics, public policy, and institutions by linking contemporary issues with historical and social debates. The Institute will explore particular themes including self-rule and limited government, liberty and freedom, individualism and identity, equality and inequality, and the American Dream. The Institute will conclude with an integrated two-week study tour to New York City; Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Washington, D.C. Pending final grant approval, the University of Massachusetts, Donahue Institute in Amherst, MA will host this Institute.
2. Contemporary American Literature
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 (U.S.) 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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. Pending final grant approval, Seattle University in Washington will host this Institute.
3. Journalism and Media
The Institute on Journalism and Media will provide a multinational group of 18 journalism instructors and other related specialists with a deeper understanding of the roles that journalism and the media play in U.S. society. The Institute will examine the rights and responsibilities of the media in a democratic society, including editorial independence, journalistic ethics, legal constraints, international journalism, and media business models. The Institute will examine pedagogical strategies for teaching students of journalism the basics of the tradecraft: researching, reporting, writing, and editing. The program will also highlight the impact of technology on journalism, such as the influence of the Internet, the globalization of the news media, the growth of satellite television and radio networks, and other changes that are transforming the profession. Pending final grant approval, Ohio University in Athens, Ohio will host this Institute.
4. Religious Pluralism in the United States
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 and drawing on fields such as history, political science, anthropology and sociology, law, and others, the program will explore both the historical and contemporary relationship between religion and state in the United States. Participants will examine the ways in which religious thought and practice have influenced, and been influenced by the development of American-style democracy. Study will also include a survey of the diversity of contemporary religious beliefs in relation to the 1st amendment to the US constitution, elections, public policy, and the demography of the United States. Interfaith dialogue in the American context will be practiced in the context of the group itself as well as site visits to a diversity of religious communities. Pending final grant approval, the Dialogue Institute at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA will host this Institute.
5. U.S. Culture and Society
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, social, economic, political, and religious contexts in which various cultures have manifested in U.S. society while focusing on the ways in which these cultures have influenced social movements and American identity 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. Pending final grant approval, New York University in New York City will host this Institute.
6. U.S. Foreign Policy
The Institute on U.S. Foreign Policy will provide a multinational group of 18 experienced foreign university faculty and practitioners with a deeper understanding of how contemporary U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented. The Institute will include a historical review of significant events, individuals, and philosophies that have shaped U.S. foreign policy. The Institute will explain the role of key players in U.S. foreign policy including the executive and legislative branches of government, the media, the U.S. public, think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral institutions. Pending final grant approval, Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY will host this Institute.
OTHER ESSENTIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Program Funding: The Department of State will cover all participant costs, including: program administration; travel and ground transportation in the United States; housing and subsistence; and book, cultural, mailing, and incidental allowances; as well as international travel costs.
Housing and Meal Arrangements: When possible, each participant will have a private room with a shared bathroom during the residency portion (four weeks) of the Institute. However, private room accommodations cannot be guaranteed during the residency portion of the program. During the study tour (up to two weeks), participants will likely share a hotel room with another participant of the same gender. During the residency, 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. Care will be taken to ensure that any special requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing, and medical care are satisfied. Please note that a portion of the program may take place during Ramadan. While the host institution will make every effort to accommodate participants who are fasting, participants should be made aware of the rigorous nature of the Institute and the expectation that the success of the Institute depends on their full participation.
Travel Arrangements: The U.S. Embassy Bangkok will arrange an economy class round trip international travel for each selected participant.
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 the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Information on the health benefit program may be found online at usdos.sevencorners.com.
Program Requirements and Restrictions: All participants are expected to participate fully in the program. Candidates should be made aware that they are applying for an intensive program and there will be little time for personal pursuits unrelated to the program. The Institute is not a research program. Participants must attend all lectures and organized activities and complete assigned readings. Family members and/or friends may not accompany participants on any part of the program. Please note that Institute curriculum will not formally address teaching methodology and pedagogical methods.
CANDIDATE DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars are highly competitive. 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 no prior or 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.
Candidates should be mid-career, typically between the ages of 30-50, highly-motivated, experienced scholars and/or professionals generally from institutions of higher education or research focused organizations (not-for-profits, think tanks, etc.). 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 or a related field.
Ideal candidates are individuals 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. While the candidates’ scholarly and professional credentials are an important consideration, the potential impact and multiplier effect of the Institute is equally important. Ideal candidates will have little or no prior experience in the United States.
Candidates must demonstrate English language fluency. Institutes are rigorous and demanding programs; participants will be expected to handle substantial reading assignments in English and to fully and actively participate in all seminar and panel discussions.
Candidates should be willing and able to fully take part in an intensive post-graduate level academic program and study tour.
Candidates will be notified regarding selection or non-selection by April 2018.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
This FAQ section addresses some commonly asked questions. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please contact us at BangkokPD@state.gov with the subject line “2018 SUSI for Scholars.”
- What degree of English proficiency should I 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.
- Can a candidate 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.
- How much free time/time for independent research will a participant have during the program? There will be some free time during the program as well as some time designated for independent research. However, candidates MUST understand that this is an intensive academic program and they are expected to participate in all lectures, activities, and scheduled events. Participants in Scholar Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the United States after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
- I have been to the U.S. before, would I be disqualified? If you have some experience in the United States, you can be considered for the program. Please be sure to clearly indicate the purpose of your prior visit(s) to the United States, the year, and the length of your stay.
- I am not a college professor; can I be considered for the program? We will consider applicants from a variety of professional backgrounds who are professors at all stages of their careers, practitioners in a designated field, college and university administrators, and community leaders, among others.
- If I have relatives in the U.S., would I have time to see them? Because of the intensive nature of the Institutes, participants will NOT be able to leave the Institute to visit relatives or friends. Participants in Scholar Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the United States after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
- Can a relative travel and stay with the participant during the Institute? Relatives are NOT permitted to travel or stay with a participant during the program. There are no exceptions to this rule. Participants in Scholar Institutes may, at their own expense, opt to extend their stay in the U.S. after the close of their program to the extent allowed by visa regulations.
- Can a participant stay after the end of the Institute? Yes. Under the terms of their J-1 visas, participants have up to 30 days after the end of the program to depart from the U.S. However, the participant must be aware that s/he is responsible for all expenses after the end of the Institute and will no longer have the Department of State-sponsored health benefits.
- 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.
- How much money will participants need to bring for the program? The Study of the U.S. Institutes cover all 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 and cash allowance to permit participants to cook or eat at local restaurants. Information on housing and meal arrangements will be provided by the host institution six weeks prior to the start of the Institute. Participants should bring their own spending money if they wish to purchase souvenirs or other items during their time in the United States. All participating scholars will receive a stipend to purchase books and research materials while in the U.S. as well as a certain amount to cover mailing costs.
