The McDonnell International Scholars Academy affirms U.S. interest in attracting talented international students for advanced educational experiences, and provides a means for the United States to learn more about the rest of the world. To ensure the highest quality program, the Academy is focused and small, involving a limited number of Scholars and partner universities of the world.

The core mission of the McDonnell Academy concerns graduate and professional students from University Partners around the world. The Academy provides these scholars with an extraordinary edu-cational experience at Washington University in St. Louis. In creating an international network of research universities, Washington University intends to develop a cohort of future leaders in a global university system, and to promote global connectedness and social responsibility.

The goals of the Academy are to:

• Provide an opportunity for talented international graduate and professional students to join the Washington University community
• Provide an on-campus experience that assists Scholars in understanding U.S. culture, history, and politics, as well as international issues
• Build stronger ties between Washington University and leading research universities around the world
• Strengthen relationships between Washington University in St. Louis and alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and governments of the Scholars’ countries

Scholars
Scholars in the Academy are important to the research effort at Washington University and enhance the educational experiences of domestic students through sharing their culture, as well as the history and politics of their countries.

Scholars are selected on the basis of their promise to become future leaders in academia, government, the professions, or the corporate world. The Academy provides academic, cultural, and social opportunities to help Scholars develop into future leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries of the world, and critical inter-national issues.

Mentors/Ambassadors
A special feature of the McDonnell Academy is that each Scholar has a mentor, who also serves as an Ambassador. The Ambassadors are appointed by Washington University to advise the Scholars and charged to strengthen collaboration with the partner universities. Collaborative efforts engage faculty and students of Washington University and those of the partner universities in a network of activities that enhance scholarly interests and international understanding.

Corporate Sponsors
Select corporations with a commitment to higher education and to international programs serve as sponsors for a group of Scholars to be known as Corporate Fellows. Each participating corporation arranges for the Fellow it supports to spend time at one of its facilities.

Special Programs for McDonnell Academy Scholars
One of the goals of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy is to create a global network of scholars and leaders. Such networks will be an increasingly important resource for addressing societal problems in the future, and they require distinctive forms of knowledge and leadership skills. The McDonnell Academy organizes special seminars, retreats, and other events. At these events distinguished scholars, politicians, and other analysts will lead discussions on political, cultural, and economic issues in the United States and the broader world. The Academy is especially interested in recruiting individuals who are concerned with such issues in addition to those covered in their normal studies.

A Community of Scholars
To help McDonnell Academy Scholars develop a sense of community, Washington University is offering them the opportunity to live together in two University-owned apartment buildings. Originally built for the 1904 World’s Fair, the two adjacent buildings are just across the street and one block north of the Danforth Campus. The apartments are fully furnished and have up-to-date systems and amenities. Details about housing will be available to those admitted to the Academy.

Senior Scholars and Academy Fellows
In addition to programs for Scholars at the graduate and professional degree level, the McDonnell Academy provides occasional opportunities for postdoctoral scholars and visiting faculty, especially from partner universities. Proposals for Senior Scholars (postdoctoral level) and Academy Fellows (faculty) are considered on a case-by-case basis. In most cases funding must be arranged by the applicant.

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