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English for Heritage Language Speakers Scholarships
The goal of the program is to enable participants to reach professional working proficiency in English, as
The program equips participants with the ability to read, write, speak, and listen at a superior level in an effort to build a critical base of future leaders to serve in the federal government service and the broader professional community.
A native Arabic speaker with a Masters degree in agriculture wishes to work in horticultural sciences and issues related to food security.
A native Mandarin Chinese speaker with expertise in accounting is currently looking for positions in federal financial management.
A native Russian speaker with a Ph.D.
in nuclear physics hopes to secure a position with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the United States through five major areas: peacekeeping and war-fighting efforts, Homeland Security, evacuation and humanitarian causes.
Program Accomplishments
The first cohort of participants completed the programs at the University of Washington, Seattle and Georgetown University in August 2006. Results will be available later in the year.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Scholarship awards are made to U. S. citizens with at least a bachelor's degree participating in one of the EHLS program sites.
Scholarship recipients agree to seek employment with the U. S. federal government, and serve in a position for no less than one year.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
(1) Must be a U.S.
citizen at the time of application; (2) Must have a minimum proficiency in English of advanced low (as defined by ACTFL) or level 2 (as defined by ILR); (3) must also possess excellent skills in your heritage/native language (ILR level 3/ACTFL superior language proficiency or higher in all modalities of English; (4) Must have received at least an undergraduate degree by the time of application; and (5) may not be a current U.S.
government employee.
Eligible native languages of interest are updated annually, a list of which is available on the program web site.
Beneficiary Eligibility
U.S. citizens with superior-level proficiency in their native language, and partner institutions of higher education.
Credentials/Documentation
Proof of U.S. citizenship and Bachelor's degree or higher.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
All eligible U.S. citizens may apply for scholarships in response to the relevant agency announcement.
Award Procedures
Award decisions will be based on a competitive selection of proposals resulting from an independent merit review.
Deadlines
Specified in annual application, usually in October.
Authorization
50 U.S.C. 1901-1911.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Between 70 and 90 days.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Eligible students may receive EHLS scholarships for the duration of one program term (approximately six months).
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual progress reports required on initiatives to fulfill service obligations incurred.
Audits
None.
Records
Not applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
97-0100-0-1-051.
Obigations
FY 07 $2,000,000; FY 08 est not reported; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Scholarships include all tuition and fees and a small monthly stipend for the duration of the program approximately six months. The average scholarship is approximately $24,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
50 U.S.C. 1901-1911 (Chap. 37); Department of Defense Instructions 1025.02, "National Security Education Program," March 09, 2006; and Department of Defense Instruction 1025.6, "National Security Education Program Service Agreement," December 20, 1996.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Dr. Kevin Gormley, Department of Defense, National Security Education Program, Rosslyn P.O. Box 20010, Arlington, VA 22209-2248. Telephone: (703)696-1991, E-Mail Address: nsepo@ndu.edu or Mr. Christopher Powers, Institute for International Education, English for Heritage Language Program, 1400 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005-2403. Telephone: (800)618-6737, E-mail Address: nsep@iie.org.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
None.
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