Each year, ASSIST conducts conversations with schools that would like to join the program and receive international scholars in their school communities. ASSIST staff and/or Directors visit prospective member schools to fully discuss what the program offers and what is expected of each member school. We believe that an open dialogue that covers fully this comprehensive relationship leads to strong partnerships that typically last for many years.

ASSIST welcomes both day and boarding schools to apply for membership. After exploration by ASSIST and the prospective member school, schools that wish to pursue membership are presented to the School Membership Committee of the ASSIST Board of Directors. Offers of membership are extended as space allows, as we are conscious of maintaining close partnerships with our membership, as well as sustaining and ensuring the quality of the applicant pool.

A summary of benefits and requirements follows; fuller information is available upon request.

Benefits of ASSIST Membership

• Enroll leading scholars with significant academic credentials who enliven classrooms and add to the vitality of your academic program.
• Enroll students from countries underrepresented in your student body – extend the knowledge of other cultures within your school community to students, faculty and host families. While scholars first, ASSIST students are selected because of their ability and instinct to contribute to other programs of importance to your school.
• After enrolling a student on full scholarship, enroll additional, talented students on partial scholarships.
• Our careful, personal selection and placement protocols provide a student who is an excellent match for your school.
• You will have continuous access to the full support of the ASSIST staff in the U.S. – as well as the staff overseas for liaison work with parents.
• ASSIST manages the J-1 visa application process and thoroughly prepares each candidate prior to departure – and upon arrival in the U.S. at a special, four-day ASSIST Orientation.
• ASSIST students are a pleasure to teach, coach and come to know. They will thankfully and cheerfully earn the scholarship that you invest in them.

School Membership Requirements

• ASSIST member schools must be fully accredited members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
• Prospective schools are visited by ASSIST staff and/or Board members. Returning schools reenroll annually in the fall, after which offers of membership are made to prospective schools based on capacity and on the projected size of the applicant pool.
• Each school pays a modest membership fee for access to all ASSIST programs and support ($640 in 2009/10).
• Member schools reserve a place and offer at least one full scholarship to an international student identified and placed by ASSIST.
• The scholarship includes tuition, room and board for a boarding student; tuition and volunteer host family for a day student. All other expenses are the responsibility of the candidate’s parents or guardian (some students receive funding from generous donors to underwrite personal expenses).
• We ask schools to eliminate or limit expenses (enrollment fees, technology fees, comprehensive fees) that are burdensome to scholarship students.
• With guidance from ASSIST, schools recruit and steward volunteer host families for each student.
• Scholarships are offered for one year only, after which each scholar must return home to complete his or her secondary education.
• Each school designates an ASSIST Representative, who serves as a liaison between ASSIST and the school and who works with ASSIST to ensure compliance with Department of State regulations

For fuller information regarding ASSIST membership, please contact us. In the interim, please click here for a PDF document entitled, An Introduction for Prospective Member Schools.