[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 62116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30524]



[[Page 62116]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY


Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship 
Programs Host Institution Competition

ACTION: Notice announcements.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, the Office of Academic 
Programs, European Branch, of the United States Information Agency's 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces opportunities for 
regionally and professionally accredited U.S. institutions offering 
degree programs at the master's level in business administration, 
education administration, economics, journalism/mass communications, 
law, library and information science, public administration, public 
health, and public policy to host graduate students from Armenia, 
Azerbaijan*, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Krygystan, Latvia, 
Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and 
Uzbekistan for one- to two-year degree programs under the auspices of 
the 1998 Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship 
Programs.

Application Information

    The Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act (FSA) Graduate 
Fellowship Programs are comprised of one- to two-year Master's-level 
academic programs and a three-month internship program. Pending 
available funding, the 1998 Muskie and FSA Graduate Fellowship Programs 
will be administered with USIA through cooperative agreements with the 
American Council of Teachers of Russian/American Council for 
Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACTR/ACCELS) and the 
Open Society Institute (OSI). Under these agreements ACTR and Soros/OSI 
will be responsible for recruitment, selection, academic placement, and 
monitoring of Fellows. Interested institutions should contact these 
organizations for additional program and application information:
    For programs in Business Administration, Economics, Library and 
Information Science, Public Administration, and Public Policy: Susan 
Frarie, ACTR/ACCELS, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 700, 
Washington, DC 20036, Tel: (202) 833-7522, Fax: (202) 833-7523, E-Mail: 
[email protected].
    For programs in Law, Education Administration, Journalism/Mass 
Communications, and Public Health: Sofia Skindrud, Scholarships 
Department, The Open Society Institute, 400 West 59th Street, New York, 
NY 10019, Tel: (212) 548-0600, Fax: (212) 548-4679, Email: 
[email protected].
    Current host institutions should contact the above organizations 
for renewal applications.
    All organizations must be received at the appropriate organization 
by 5 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on Friday, February 20, 1998. Faxed 
documents will not be accepted at any time. Documents postmarked by the 
due date but received at a later date will not be accepted.

Additional Information

    Increases in program expenses with reduced overall government 
funding for exchange programs make cost sharing arrangements with those 
institutions a critical part of the Muskie and FSA Graduate Fellowship 
Programs. Preference will be given to institutions that can provide 
cost-sharing toward tuition, fees, and/or room and board expenses. 
Cost-sharing may also be in the form of other direct program and 
participant costs.
    The Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship 
Programs are not intended as precursors to doctoral studies in the 
United States. At the end of their designated academic and internship 
programs, Fellows are required to return to their home countries to 
fulfill the two-year home residency requirement as specified in the 
Exchange Visitor (J-Visa) regulations and the Muskie and the FSA 
Graduate Fellowship Programs Terms and Conditions.
    ACTR/ACCELS and OSI will not approve the transfer of visa 
sponsorship to universities or the extensions of visas for the purpose 
of Ph.D. Programs, extended practical training, or other additional 
academic study. Universities that do not comply with the policies of 
the Muskie and FSA Graduate Fellowship Programs and the J-Visa 
regulations will be removed from the pool of host institutions.

Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

    Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must 
maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and 
representative of the diversity of American political, social, and 
cultural life. ``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest 
sense and encompass differences including, but not limited to 
ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic 
status, and physical challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
adhere to the advancement of this principal both in programs 
administration and in program content. Please refer to the review 
criteria under the ``Support for Diversity'' section for specific 
suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Public 
Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and 
cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom 
and democracy'', USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide 
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and 
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should account for 
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extend 
deemed feasible.

    * Please Note: Programs with Azerbaijan are subject to 
restrictions of section 907 of the Freedom Support Act: Employees of 
the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its instrumentalities are 
excluded from participation, and no U.S. participant overseas may 
work for the Government of Azerbaijan or any of its 
instrumentalities. In addition, the Government of Azerbaijan or any 
of its instrumentalities will have no control in the actual 
selection of participants.

    Dated: November 14, 1997.
Robert L. Earle,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-30524 Filed 11-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M