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Community College Initiative (CCI) Program

Scholarship awards for the 2025-2026 Community College Initiative (CCI) Program
are contingent on the appropriation of Federal funding by the United States Congress.

Program Overview
The Community College Initiative (CCI) Program provides participants from underserved and
underrepresented groups with a one-year non-degree academic program at a U.S. community college. Since the
program’s inception in 2007, more than 3,900 participants from 26 countries have received scholarships for
study at community colleges throughout the United States. The CCI Program is a program of the U.S.
Department of State.

The CCI Program encourages a holistic learning and exchange experience and focuses on five program
pillars: academics, cultural exchange, service learning, internships, and leadership and community
impact. All five pillars of the CCI Program are of equal importance.

The Program provides participants with a non-degree, academic program at a U.S. community college designed
to build participants’ technical skills in applied fields, enhance their leadership capabilities, and strengthen their
English language proficiency. It also provides opportunities for professional internships, service learning, and
community engagement. After completing the program, participants return home with enhanced skills to help
them contribute to the economic development of their countries.

The CCI Program demonstrates U.S. commitment to increasing access to higher education for international
students from underrepresented and underserved communities in selected countries and highlights the learning
environment offered at U.S. community colleges. The program also builds U.S. community colleges’ efforts to
deepen international education partnerships and programming.

Community colleges are predominantly publicly funded, inclusive institutions in local communities that
welcome all who desire to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage, or previous academic experience. Community
colleges offer individual courses (credit and non-credit), certificate programs, workforce development training,
and associate degrees. Associate degree coursework at community colleges is roughly equivalent to that offered
in the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree program. There are more than 1,100 public, independent,
and tribal community colleges across the United States. Community colleges focus on teaching rather than
research and work closely with the community and local industry to assess need when developing
programming.

Fields of Study Summary

The CCI Program offers study in the following fields:
• Agriculture • Early Childhood Education
• Applied Engineering • Information Technology (IT)
• Business and Entrepreneurship • Creative Economy and Media

The CCI Program offerings within these fields of study are limited to specific concentration areas listed on the
2025-2026 CCI fields of study summaries and included as part of this application. Applicants must select just one
field and subfield choice.

Courses and programs of study vary by individual colleges. All colleges offer introductory classes that would be
taken during the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree. The CCI Program does not offer advanced
field-specific courses. Participants will work with their Program Coordinators at each host college to develop an
individual program plan with broad goals within their field of study and concentration area. In this application,
The Community College Initiative Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government.
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participants should describe their specific areas of interest in their proposed field of study and concentration
areas, their related experience, and the how the CCI Program will contribute to their long-term goals.
Participants are applying for the CCI Program and are not applying to a specific academic degree program at a
particular institution. Based on their proficiency in English, participants will have access to courses at the CCI
community college where they are placed. Participants may choose to pursue an academic certificate in their
field of study (if eligible) or complete courses that are relevant to their professional goals, which may include
courses outside of the chosen field of study or subfield. Certificate programs are not available for all programs
at all campuses and are contingent upon multiple factors, including the participant’s level of English.
Participants will combine academic or professional coursework with first-hand practical experiences through
internships or service learning that will help them build their professional skills and capacities.

The educational system in the United States may be different from the educational systems in the participants’
home countries. To be successful in U.S. academic courses, participants will need to attend all classes,
participate fully, complete assignments on time, and complete additional coursework (such as readings, essays,
individual and group projects) during their own time outside of the classroom. It is common practice to have 6-
10 hours of homework each week after each 3-hour class.

CCI Eligibility Requirements

Competition for the CCI Program is merit-based and open to anyone who:
• Is a citizen, national or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by a country
participating in the CCI Program.
• Is currently residing in the eligible country.
• Is 18 years or older by July 1, 2025.
• Has successfully earned a secondary school diploma.
• Has not completed the equivalent of three years toward a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of
study the applicant is nominated to pursue. Nominees without substantive post-secondary education will be
given placement priority.
• Has demonstrated commitment to the selected field of study through some academic or professional
experience. The program aims to identify participants with proven skills or interest and limited professional
experience in the fields of study offered.
• Has basic working knowledge of English language as demonstrated by a minimum English Language
Proficiency exam score on one of the accepted exams, such as TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo. For example,
a candidate must submit with their application a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 480 to be eligible.
Note: To enroll in credit-bearing courses in an academic field of study, the applicant must meet the
minimum language requirements of the host college—usually 500 on the TOEFL test or equivalent scores
on other accepted exams. Participant language skills will be evaluated upon arrival at the host institution. A
host campus testing result will be the score used to determine course placements. English language training
will be necessary and is available for those who score below the host college’s unique requirements and
must have an interest in taking English language classes as an initial primary academic focus; they will
have limited access to courses in their field of study until the requisite level is met.
A list of accepted exams and minimum scores is provided to the relevant staff at the Embassy of the United
States or Fulbright Commission conducting the recruitment in the applicant’s home country.
• Has limited or no overseas study experience. Nominees with no prior overseas study or travel to the United
States will be given placement priority.
• Meets any customized requirements of the home country Embassy/Consulate or Commission.
• Submits a complete original application.
• Is able to receive a U.S. J-1 visa and meet the program conditions to maintain that status.
• Is willing and mentally and physically able (with accommodations as required) to complete the program in
its entirety, including activities or travel that may be programmed on any day of the week, possibly
including early morning or evening hours.
• Is committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program and satisfying the J-visa
two-year residency requirement.
The Community College Initiative Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government.
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• Is able to begin the academic exchange program in the United States in July 2025.

Note: Everyone who meets the CCI eligibility criteria listed is welcome to apply regardless of race, color,
national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability (physical or mental),
sexual orientation, or gender identity. Persons with a disability and/ or require special accommodations are
strongly encouraged to apply. The application materials and medical forms should provide as accurate, and as
detailed, information as possible about any disability or special accommodations. This will facilitate the
candidate’s needs being fully understood during the final selection process and to be adequately met by
potential U.S. host campuses.

Ineligibility
A candidate may be removed from consideration if they do not meet all technical eligibility requirements.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Community College Initiative Program:
• U.S. citizens.
• Non-U.S. citizens living in the United States.
• Individuals currently participating in academic, training, or research programs in the United States.
• Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of the eligible countries.
• Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government
for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by
the time of their CCI application.
• Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency.
• Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID). Employees are also ineligible for one year following the
termination of employment.
• Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and children) of U.S. Embassy and Fulbright Commission
employees. Family members are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment.
• Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime (excluding minor traffic violations).

Note: Candidates should contact the appropriate Embassy/ Consulate or Commission staff conducting the
recruitment process to clarify any uncertainty of eligibility. Embassy/ Consulate or Commission staff may
contact the ECA Program Officer.

Application Review Process and Criteria

The CCI Program is conducted as a merit-based open competition. After the application deadline, all applications
will be reviewed in country for eligibility and assessed by a panel of exchange program specialists. Competitive
applicants will be interviewed in their home countries by a nomination committee.
The nomination committee will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):
• Demonstrated interest and professional goals in the field of study applicant wishes to pursue.
• Full commitment and emotional readiness to participate in all components of an intensive program.
• Cross-cultural interest.
• Leadership potential.
• Flexibility and suitability as an exchange student.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Commitment to returning to home country after the program to fulfill a two-year home residency requirement.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have no prior experience outside their home countries.
• Preference will be given to applicants who represent underserved and underrepresented communities,
including women.
• Preference will be given to those applicants who have not yet completed more than three years of towards a
bachelor’s degree.
• Preference will be given to those applicants who can express how the CCI Program connects directly to their
personal and professional short-term and long-term goals.

The Community College Initiative Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government.
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General Application Instructions

• Submit a completed original application with signature on the last page.
• Each applicant must complete their own application form. Applicants may consult with others for advice
on how to complete the form, but each applicant must write their own responses.
• Please answer ALL questions on the application in English. Do NOT leave a space blank. If a question
does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable).
• Include your full legal name with family name (surname) in CAPITAL LETTERS first as spelled on your
international passport (if available).
• Include complete contact information, including postal codes for addresses and city/country codes for phone
numbers.
• Handwritten applications must be neatly printed.
• Submit the application by the deadline established by the U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission located
in your country.

Financial Provisions of the Grant

• J-1 visa support
• Round-trip travel from participant’s home city to host institution in the United States
• Tuition and mandatory college fees
• Housing
• Stipend to cover basic needs, such as food and transportation. Some colleges may provide on-campus
meals.
• Small allowance for books, materials, and incidental expenses
• Limited Accident and Sickness coverage that is J-visa compliant
• A variety of personal and professional development activities

Learn More: CCI Program Information and Social Media Sites

CCI Website: www.nvcc.edu/ccip CCI Facebook: www.facebook.com/cciprogram
CCI Blog: https://blogs.nvcc.edu/cci/ CCI Twitter: www.twitter.com/cciprogram
CCI YouTube: www.youtube.com/cciprogram CCI Instagram: www.instagram.com/cciprogram

The Community College Initiative Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government.