[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]



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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.

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    (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 A[email protected]. 
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