Visiting Faculty Program

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS has been a leader in academic exchanges for over 35 years, with one of its primary missions being the advancement of foreign language learning in the United States. The Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) fulfills this objective by placing university scholars of linguistics and philology at U.S. colleges and universities for temporary teaching and curriculum consulting positions. The VFP is a service for U.S. colleges and universities to enhance their area studies and foreign language curricula by bringing native speakers from regions where American Councils maintains a vast network of higher education institutions and scholars (see Where We Work for more information on countries and regions).

Program Details for Prospective Visiting Faculty Participants:

The VFP is a unique opportunity to participate in cultural and educational exchange while gaining professional development experiences in teaching and research at a U.S. college or university. American Councils seeks VFP candidates with the following qualifications:

- Not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
- 1+ years of teaching experience (and currently employed) at a higher educational institution recognized by the government of the country where it is located;
- Advanced education and training in linguistics, literature, philology, or language pedagogy; and,
- A high level of English language proficiency.

A VFP participant is placed at a U.S. college or university where he or she is required to hold a full-time visiting scholar/faculty position. Program activities include: teaching or co-teaching classes, consulting on the methodology and content of curricula, collaborating on research and institutional linkages, leading conversation clubs, and other responsibilities designated by the host institution for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for teaching and learning in area studies and foreign language and literature. The program also provides professional development to VFP participants through access to library resources and teacher training workshops.

Inquiries and applications are accepted year-round. For further details about eligibility and how to apply, please complete and send a Participant Inquiry Form to vfp@americancouncils.org.

Program Details for Prospective U.S. Host Colleges and Universities:

American Councils actively recruits experienced, university-level educators who are scholars of linguistics, literature, philology, or language pedagogy. Through a detailed online process, American Councils helps U.S. colleges and universities review, interview, and select suitable candidates to host. VFP can also facilitate pre-existing faculty ties through an institution’s direct nomination of a particular candidate. American Councils strives for appropriate matches between host institutions’ curricular needs and proposed visiting faculty members’ qualifications, however, institutions have the right to decline candidates whom they feel are not qualified or suitable for a position.

American Councils provides: 1.) J-1 Visa documentation and fees; 2.) Monthly living stipend paid directly to the participant; 3.) Pre-departure orientation materials for preparations prior to arrival in the U.S. host community; 4.) Federal tax withholding and tax return documentation support; 5.) Comprehensive accident and illness insurance; and, 6.) Ground transportation and domestic and international air travel (all roundtrip). American Councils also provides ongoing support for participants and U.S. hosts through regular communications as well as on an as-needed basis.

In addition to paying the nomination deposit and program fee, VFP host institutions are expected to: 1.) Assign a full-time position at the institution for the VFP participant; 2.) Locate on-campus or off-campus housing appropriate for the stipend level; 3.) Provide a campus orientation; and, 4.) Demonstrate how the VFP participant will contribute to the expansion or enhancement of curricula in foreign language, literature, or area studies. Please note that VFP is not intended to replace a U.S. faculty member or an existing U.S. person’s work position, i.e. a position that has been vacated by a U.S. person and needs to be temporarily or permanently filled, or, a position that could be readily filled (through a reasonable recruitment effort) by a qualified U.S. person (by training or education received in the U.S. or abroad).

The length of the program is fully determined by the U.S. host institution, and can vary from one month up to a maximum of five years. Inquiries and applications are accepted year-round. The host fee depends on the program length and the cost of living in the institution’s city or region. Please inquire with American Councils using the form below to receive information about the hosting fee for your institution’s location.

For further details, please complete and send a U.S. Host Inquiry Form to vfp@americancouncils.org.

Program Resources

• Documents