On Thursday, November 1, AACRAO hosted a delegation from the U.S. Department of State sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program project entitled “University Admissions processes and Study Abroad in America." The North Eastern Affairs (Gulf countries) group began a three week visit administered by Meridian International Center in Washington DC. From there the ministerial officials from Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates visited Baltimore, MD, Raleigh, NC, Kalamazoo, MI and Los Angeles, CA visiting a broad range of colleges and universities and learning about topics from accreditation to study abroad.
During the brief visit, AACRAO staff Mike Reilly, Melanie Gottlieb, Tom Green, and Julia Funaki discussed the topics of "Accreditation and Recognition" and "Admissions Systems and Selection Practices for Higher Education in the United States."
The objectives of the Program include developing strategies to improve Gulf Country students' acceptance into university degree programs in the United States, and exposure to merit-based admissions programs in the United States. While the education systems of the visitors have many of the same features of the U.S. system, the specifics of accreditation and selection practices is unique in the U.S. The visits to the states and regions provided an opportunity to discover and engage with the diversity of types of institutions and programs available at U.S. HEIs.