Home hospitality opportunity.

There are at least three PLUS students looking for housing while doing internships in the Washington, DC area over the school holiday break. They are all participants in the State Department-funded Academy for Educational Development (AED)-managed Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies Program <http://www.plus-aed.org/> . The Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) Program is an undergraduate scholarship program that allows students from the Middle East and North Africa to complete their bachelor's degrees at U.S. universities. AED is coordinating the academic phase of the program. In addition to completing coursework and other requirements for a bachelor's degree, students will be encouraged to engage actively in local campus and community life. Can you house one, two or all of them. They have money for food and other expenses. Access to public transportation is useful. Request is for about 3-4 weeks starting about December 15. Advise <mailto:tresch@att.net> or call 703 470 3166 ASAP if you would be open to hosting a student for all or part of the break.

   2004, 70 students from 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (28 from Morocco) received scholarships to complete the final two years of their university here in the US. In the second group (PLUS II), there are 21 Moroccans out of a group of 96.  Meet them all at a reception Thursday Evening, January 26, 2006 6:30-8:30PM in the Doyle Ballroom the Jury Hotel

  The Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) Program was created by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs <http://www.exchanges.state.gov>  in order to bring a diverse group of accomplished youth from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia to the United States to complete their undergraduate degrees from a U.S. institution. The goal of the initiative is to promote educational exchange and cultural understanding between young people from Muslim majority regions and Americans. It is hoped that the program will reinforce common values and provide a platform for positive dialogue. The 2004-2005 academic year was the inaugural start of the Undergraduate Studies program.  Students for the third cycle are now being recruited in Morocco and other Muslim majority countries.

 The schools that are hosting PLUS Students are:

•Ashland University <http://www.ashland.edu> , Ashland, Ohio •Beloit College <http://www.beloit.edu> , Beloit, Wisconsin •Central College <http://www.central.edu> , Pella, Iowa •Chatham College <http://www.chatham.edu> , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania •Colorado State University <http://www.colostate.edu> , Fort Collins, Colorado •Denison University <http://www.denison.edu> , Granville, Ohio •Dickinson College <http://www.dickinson.edu> , Carlisle, Pennsylvania •Grinnell College <http://www.grinnell.edu> , Grinnell, Iowa •Juniata College <http://www.juniata.edu> , Huntingdon, Pennsylvania •Kent State University <http://www.kent.edu> , Kent, Ohio •Lewis and Clark College <http://www.lclark.edu> , Portland, Oregon •Montana State University <http://www.montana.edu> , Bozeman, Montana •Nazareth College <http://www.naz.edu> , Rochester, New York •Oregon State University <http://www.oregonstate.edu> , Corvallis, Oregon •Roger Williams University <http://www.rwu.edu> , Bristol, Rhode Island •Rutgers University <http://nbp.rutgers.edu/> , New Brunswick, New Jersey •Sweet Briar College <http://www.sbc.edu> , Sweet Briar, Virginia •University of Alabama <http://www.uah.edu> , Huntsville, Alabama •University of Arkansas <http://www.uark.edu> , Fayetteville, Arkansas •University of Nebraska <http://www.unomaha.edu/home.html> , Omaha, Nebraska •University of North Alabama <http://www.una.edu> , Florence, Alabama •University of South Carolina <http://www.sc.edu> , Columbia, South Carolina
 The PLUS scholars were chosen based on their academic achievement and leadership potential, as well as their diversity of experience. Students will spend two years completing their undergraduate degrees in the social sciences and humanities at select U.S. institutions. The scholarship is fully funded by the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and includes a pre-academic English language training component administered by AMIDEAST. The Academy for Educational Development (AED) manages the academic program, including placement in a U.S. undergraduate program, monitoring, and enrichment activities.

 The PLUS program is designed to reach a broader sector of college-age youth from diverse backgrounds in the Middle East and North Africa and provide them with a greater understanding of U.S. institutions, society and culture. Students are encouraged to complement their academic work with extracurricular activities on campus and in the local community.

 The website for the program www.plus-aed.org <file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Application%20Data\Microsoft\Word\www.plus-aed.org>  details events and highlight certain students and campuses throughout the year. In addition, there is an electronic newsletter including contributions from the students on their experiences. The students are encouraged to immerse themselves in their academic and cultural experience while studying in the United States.

 In the summer of 2005 two Moroccan students took internships in the Washington, DC area and were hosted by members of Friends of Morocco.  During the winter break nine students took internships in Washington, DC and again some were hosted by members of Friends of Morocco.  The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco hosted a dinner at the Ambassador’s residence for the students, their host families and leaders in the Moroccan-American community.  Friends of Morocco members and members of the Moroccan-American community are invited to the below reception. 

 Graduating and incoming students in the PLUS Program will be taking part in a four day seminar in Washington, DC from Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29. First year PLUS students will have the opportunity to engage in seminars on leadership, the importance of a liberal arts education, and professional development. Returning PLUS students will focus on preparing for their return to their home countries, alumni networking, and reverse culture shock. Both first and second year students will have a chance to meet each other as a complete group for the first time, as well as the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Washington, DC.