International Student Services

U.S. Department of State NWCCI Program

Edmonds initiated and coordinates the Northwest Community College Initiative (NWCCI) with 2 other Washington State Community Colleges – Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA, and Pierce College, in Lakewood, WA. Utilizing grant funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), the Initiative’s goal is to strengthen other societies by developing capable young professionals who will acquire technical and professional skills, leadership abilities, and an understanding of American society, democracy and culture. To achieve these objectives, the colleges will host students from developing countries and provide them with an academic certificate program and a program designed to introduce them to aspect of the cultures of the United States and to provide opportunities to share their culture with the college and local community.

The 2012-13 academic year will be the fourth year of the NWCCI program. To date, Edmonds, Whatcom, and Pierce Community Colleges together have hosted 130 students from Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Panama, South Africa Egypt and Turkey.

Participants are chosen in their country and come to the United States for approximately a year of professional training and cultural activities. U.S. Embassies manage the recruitment, selection and nomination of candidates. Interested persons should contact the Public Affairs section of their local U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information about the Community College Initiative Program.

If you are interested in learning more about the Northwest Community College Initiative program, having a NWCCI student participate in an internship at your organization or visit your classroom or organization to speak about his or her culture, please contact Amanda Fletcher at Amanda.fletcher@edcc.edu.

		(Left): 2011-2012 participants Sharooq Syeda (India) and Benjamin Kangligi (Ghana) visit with Edmonds Community College’s president Dr. Jean Hernandez during a reception celebrating International Night at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.
		(Left): 2011-2012 NWCCI participants gather for an all-group meet up at a ropes course near Seattle for teambuilding and introductions.
		(Left): Egyptians from the 2009-2010 program pair up with students from the 2010-2011 program from Ghana, Brazil and Pakistan to watch a Seattle Mariners professional baseball game.