FY 2026 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0017918
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Points of contact
-
- Tania Jazynka jazynkat@state.gov (202) 718-8378
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs seeks to procure the design and implementation of three five-week summer 2027 academic institutes for foreign university faculty, researchers, and practitioners focusing on Critical Minerals, Digital Transformation, and Economics and Business. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public and private colleges and universities, and community colleges with a minimum of four years of experience conducting international exchanges and active SAM.gov registration. Each institute must feature approximately four weeks of intensive academic residency at a U.S. educational institution plus one week of integrated academic field experience in a distinct U.S. region, with each program serving approximately 18 participants (54 total across all three institutes). Evaluation criteria emphasize program quality and feasibility, institutional capacity and track record of successful exchanges, follow-on alumni engagement provisions, comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plans aligned with ECA's MODE Framework, and cost-effectiveness. The application deadline is May 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with submission through Grants.gov.
The anticipated total award value is approximately $1,500,000 as a single cooperative agreement, with a minimum cost per SUSI of $290,000. The award period extends from the anticipated June 30, 2026 award date through 18 to 24 months of performance, with ECA's intent to renew the award for two additional consecutive fiscal years pending satisfactory implementation and fund availability. All three institutes will be conducted at U.S. college or university campuses during the June 1 through August 31, 2027 period, with academic residencies occurring on campus and field experiences taking place in U.S. regions distinct from residency locations. The award recipient may directly implement programs or utilize subawards to subrecipients, provided no single recipient institution conducts more than one SUSI per fiscal year. All programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations under 22 CFR 62 and ECA's branding and reporting requirements.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), invites proposal submissions from U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and public and private universities, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) (see section B. Eligibility) for the design and implementation of three (3) programs under the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs for Scholars). Three SUSIs for Scholars will take place over five weeks in summer 2027. Each SUSI will focus on a specific theme: 1) Critical Minerals, 2) Digital Transformation, and 3) Economics and Business. See details in Section C. Program Description.
SUSIs for Scholars are post-graduate level seminars held at U.S. academic institutions for groups of approximately 18 foreign university faculty, researchers, and practitioners, who serve as "multipliers" for students and colleagues abroad. The program goal is to provide influential scholars and experts with content and resources that enhance teaching and research about the United States in other countries. SUSIs for Scholars also promote collaboration in research, teaching, and other activities between foreign and American scholars and practitioners.
Each of the three SUSIs for Scholars focuses on a theme or topic in U.S. studies and will include an approximately four-week intensive summer residency at a U.S. educational institution and an approximately one-week integrated academic field experience that will bring participants to a U.S. region distinct from their residency location. Each SUSI must highlight American success and innovation with regard to the SUSIs for Scholars themes. The academic residency should take place on a U.S. university or college campus and should include coursework, time for independent research, and interaction with American peers. The SUSIs for Scholars should include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement once the participants return home.
The award recipient will be responsible for planning, overseeing, and implementing the program, including administering the three SUSIs for Scholars and overseeing all subaward recipients.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), invites proposal submissions from U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and public and private universities, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) (see section B. Eligibility) for the design and implementation of three (3) programs under the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs for Scholars). Three SUSIs for Scholars will take place over five weeks in summer 2027. Each SUSI will focus on a specific theme: 1) Critical Minerals, 2) Digital Transformation, and 3) Economics and Business. See details in Section C. Program Description. SUSIs for Scholars are post-graduate level seminars held at U.S. academic institutions for groups of approximately 18 foreign university faculty, researchers, and practitioners, who serve as "multipliers" for students and colleagues abroad. The program goal is to provide influential scholars and experts with content and resources that enhance teaching and research about the United States in other countries. SUSIs for Scholars also promote collaboration in research, teaching, and other activities between foreign and American scholars and practitioners. Each of the three SUSIs for Scholars focuses on a theme or topic in U.S. studies and will include an approximately four-week intensive summer residency at a U.S. educational institution and an approximately one-week integrated academic field experience that will bring participants to a U.S. region distinct from their residency location. Each SUSI must highlight American success and innovation with regard to the SUSIs for Scholars themes. The academic residency should take place on a U.S. university or college campus and should include coursework, time for independent research, and interaction with American peers. The
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | DOCX document | |
| SUSI FY 26 Scholars_Budget Template.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| SUSI FY 26 Scholars_Budget Template.pdf | ||
| FY 2026 SUSI Scholars_POGI.pdf | ||
| FY 2026 SUSI Scholars_NOFO.pdf |
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