U.S. Embassy in Guatemala

Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs)

Ana Julissa Axpuac, SUSI Secondary Educator 2019 Fellow, on a visit to Washington D.C.

SUSI – Secondary Educators

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators is an intensive post-graduate level academic program with integrated study tours for secondary school educators and administrators to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.

Selected fellows will be part of a multinational group of 20 experienced secondary school educators (including teachers, administrators, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, ministry of education officials, and others).

More about the scholarship

Selected secondary educators will travel to the U.S. for four weeks. The four-week academic residencies will take place at U.S. universities and colleges campuses and will consist of a balanced series of lectures, panels, seminar discussions, readings, workshops, site visits, meetings with practitioners in the field, and cultural activities.  One-week study tours to a different region of the United States will complement the academic residencies.

Through a combination of traditional, multi-disciplinary, and interdisciplinary approaches, program content will examine the history and evolution of U.S. institutions and values.  The programs will also serve to illuminate contemporary political, social, and economic debates in American society.

The costs of international travel, accommodations, meals, books, and cultural activities will be covered by the scholarship.

THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2022 CYCLE IS NOW OPEN
Submit your application from November 3, 2021 to December 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Candidate Profile:

• Guatemalan citizens (without dual U.S. citizenship)
• High school teachers, educational administrators, teacher trainers who teach topics related to the English language or the U.S.
• Full-time educators with at least five (5) years of verifiable experience
• Minimum intermediate level of English language
• Leading teachers in your community
• Be eligible for a J-1 visa
  

Important note for all potential applicants to U.S. exchange programs:

As of November 8, 2021, all non-U.S. citizens seeking to enter the United States by air are required to comply with new requirements related to COVID-19 testing and vaccination status. In order to be eligible for consideration at this time, you must be able to meet these new requirements.

Please review the information available here: https://gt.usembassy.gov/updated-requeriments-for-air-travelers-to-the-u-s-due-to-covid-19/.

For further details and guidance, we refer you to the U.S. CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html

How to apply

1. Complete the SUSI Secondary Educators 2022 fillable form  (PDF – 823KB) (If you should encounter any difficulties filling out this form, please email us at BecasEEUU@state.gov
2. Submit the documents listed below to BecasEEUU@state.gov, following the requested naming convention for each file:
   1. Completed form (PDF)
   2. Scan of your ID document (DPI or unexpired passport) (PDF)
   3. Proof of employment as a secondary educator for five years or more (PDF)
   4. Recommendation letter from your current employer

Note: When submitting your application, please fill in the “Subject” field of your email as follows:

SUSI Secondary Educators 2022 Application – LASTNAME, NAME

Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be reviewed.

Timeframe

• The call for applications for the 2022 cycle is open from November 3, 2021 to December 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
• Interviews will be held in late January to early February 2022. Applicants selected to be interviewed will be contacted via email. Please note interviews will be conducted in English. Applicants who have not received an email invitation to this interview by February 20, 2022, were not selected to continue in the selection process.
• It is anticipated that selected fellows will travel to the United States in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I don’t have a visa. May I apply?
Yes. Having a visa is not required to apply. Candidates should be eligible for a J-1 visa.

What expenses does the SUSI scholarship cover?
The scholarship covers the costs of visa, travel, accommodation, tuition fees, and medical insurance.

Can a family member of a U.S. Embassy employee apply to the program?
Family members of U.S. Embassy employees are ineligible for this program. 

Can a relative travel or stay with the SUSI program participant?
No. Relatives cannot travel or stay with participants during the program. 

Where do fellows live?
During the program, fellows live in shared university dorms with common bathrooms on campus.  Mos meals are provided at campus facilities.