As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers,

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professionals, students, and educators.

ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world.

Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today.

ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society - including young people, women, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals - increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans.

The purpose of Special Academic Exchange Programs is to provide targeted support for U.S.

and foreign students who may not otherwise have the resources to pursue international exchange opportunities or who are in fields directly relevant to identified needs in their countries.

Fiscal Year 2012: In FY 2012, there were 13 participants on the Tibetan Scholarship Program.

In additional to ongoing Clearinghouse functions, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, in 2012, paid special attention to promoting opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in international exchanges within the Western Hemisphere.

The USTL scholarship is very highly regarded in Timor-Leste. Selected students come not only from the capital city of Dili, but also from the outlying districts. In 2012, four scholarships were awarded out of a pool of 128 applicants.
The USSP scholarship is well-known throughout the Pacific as an excellent opportunity for outstanding students each year. In 2012, four scholarships (two bachelor s level and two master s level) were awarded out of a pool of 148 applicants. Finalists were from Vanuatu, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Niue. Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Special Academic Exchange Programs support participants in undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree professional development programs.

Special Academic Exchange Programs target underserved populations from the U.S., developing world or strategically important areas.

These programs provide selected participants with the opportunity to participate in exchanges and develop international competencies and skills, which allow them to serve as leaders in their professions and communities.

Funding is provided to non-profit organizations, colleges, and universities to support their work in designing and administering programs as well as coordinating program logistics.

Funding supports publicity and recruitment, screening of applications, communication with participants, payment of participant costs, and the provision of enrichment activities.

American Overseas Research Centers are located throughout the world -- in Europe, Latin America, the Near and Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and West Africa -- and provide services to scholars, including assistance with research and publication.
The Benjamin A.

Gilman International Scholarship Program provides scholarships to U. S. undergraduates with financial need for study abroad, including students from diverse backgrounds and students going to non-traditional study abroad destinations.

The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) provides information to the disabilities community about exchange opportunities and assists exchange organizations with incorporating people with disabilities into their programs.

The United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program provides educational opportunities for academically talented individuals from South Pacific island nations to pursue bachelor"s and master"s degrees at U. S. institutions in fields that are directly relevant to development needs in the South Pacific region.


The Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) provides scholarships for students from the Tibetan refugee communities of India, Bhutan, and Nepal to study at U. S. graduate institutions in fields that will contribute to those communities.

Student enrichment activities include a U. S. based mid-year and reentry workshop and a mentoring component to support students during and after their exchanges.


The Timor-Leste Scholarship Program provides educational opportunities for academically talented future leaders from Timor-Leste to pursue bachelor s degrees at U. S. institutions in priority fields that are directly relevant to development needs in Timor-Leste.

Special Academic Programs include several other academic exchange initiatives in which the U. S. Congress has particular interest.

Please refer to Grants.gov for further information.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S.

Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions.

Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).

Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.

Please refer to the grants.gov announcement for further eligibility criteria.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Beneficiaries include recipient organizations, educational institutions, other non-government organizations (NGOs) that meet the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), as well as sponsored participants, and the American people and the people of participating countries who interact with the international participants.

Credentials/Documentation

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the grants.gov announcement for further eligibility criteria. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Announcements are made on the grants.gov website for organizations meeting eligibility requirements. Announcements are made throughout the fiscal year and are posted to the Department of State"s website: http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding. The application procedures are described in the grants.gov announcements.

Award Procedures

Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the recipient s responsible officer identified in the application.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended, Public Law 87-256, 22 U.S.C 2451.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and mailed to the recipient s responsible officer identified in the application.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

As stated in the Grants.gov announcements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is awarded/released through the Department"s central financial management database.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Financial and Program Reporting requirements are described in the Grants.gov announcement.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.

As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. The Recipient must comply with the OMB audit requirements. For all DOS awards, regardless of business type, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in OMB audit requirements. In addition, the Recipients are subject to the audit requirements found in the Single Audit Act of 1984, 31 U.S.C. 7501-7507. Please refer to the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (http://fa.statebuy.state.gov) for additional guidance.

Records

The Recipients must maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to an award for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. Please refer to the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions for Domestic Financial Assistance Awards (http://fa.statebuy.state.gov ) for additional guidance.

Financial Information

Account Identification

19-0201-0-1-154.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 12 $24,907,897; FY 13 est $23,662,502; and FY 14 est $23,662,502 - None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$469,988 to $13,039,998.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

As stated in the grants.gov announcements. In addition, organizations should be familiar with OMB Circulars A-110 (Revised) (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations), A-122/A-21 (Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations; Indirect Costs), and A-133/A-128 (Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Organizations) on cost accounting principles.
For a copy of the OMB circulars cited, please contact Government Publications or download from http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Lana Muck Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, 2200 C Street, NW, SA-5, Fourth Floor, Room 4B07, Washington, District of Columbia 20037 Email: fulbright@state.gov Phone: (202) 632-3238

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

As stated in the Grants.gov announcements.