Q The APLP is a 9-month program with a 5-month residency requirement in Hawai’i. Please explain what this means?

A The APLP is a nine-month program (mid-August to mid-May) with a five-month residency requirement in Hawai‘i. That means you live in Honolulu for a minimum period of August – December. However, you may choose to live and work in Hawai‘i for the full nine months.

During the initial five-month period (the fall semester), all participants are based at the East-West Center and live on campus. The first five months involves coursework and living and working within a diverse community. Fall semester program content focuses on two areas: a) personal and leadership development and b) interpreting emerging issues facing the Asia Pacific.

In the spring semester (January – May), participants engage in a range of flexible, customized activities for an additional 4 months (January to May). These activities include: working in internships in Hawai’i, the continental United States, or Asia Pacific; coursework at the University of Hawai‘i; developing applied leadership projects; carrying out extended field studies; or returning to employment. In all cases, including if the participant returns to employment in his/her home country, there is a continuation of the program through online and/or face-to-face meetings. The program concludes with a capstone May re-union conference in Honolulu.

Q Can I pursue an advanced degree at the University of Hawai‘i while enrolled in the APLP?

A Most participants in the APLP are registered as “unclassified graduate students” at the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa (UHM), and are therefore not enrolled in a program leading to an advanced degree. However, current or recently enrolled graduate students at UHM are eligible to participate in the APLP.

Only APLP classes may be taken at UHM in the Fall semester due to the intensive nature of the APLP experience. No elective classes are permitted.

If an APLP fellow is subsequently admitted for graduate study at UHM, some coursework completed as an APLP participant may be applied toward the requirements of the degree. This decision is based on the assessment of the graduate department in conjunction with the UHM Graduate Division.

Q Why must I apply for admission to the University of Hawai‘i as well as to APLP?

A The East-West Center works in cooperation with the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa, to provide full educational resources to its participants. Although the APLP Regional Core Issues Seminar and the Leadership Seminar are directed and taught primarily by East-West Center staff, they are officially offered as UHM courses so that course credits for these courses (and other elective courses in the spring semester) taken at UHM will be earned through the University of Hawai‘i. Therefore, in order for fellows to receive credit for their APLP coursework, they must fulfill the requirements for admission into the University of Hawai‘i. In addition, by gaining admission to the University of Hawai‘i, APLP participants enjoy access to all UHM facilities and services such as libraries, gymnasiums and career placement services.

Q What happens if I am not accepted into UHM? May I still participate in the APLP?

A Yes, you may still participate fully in the APLP and will have access to all UHM facilities. The only difference is you will not receive university credit for the APLP courses. If you are an international participant, you will receive a five-month visa and must work outside the United States in the spring semester.

Q Can course credits earned during APLP be transferred to another university?

A Transfer of course credits may be possible, depending on the individual situation. For all APLP fellows registered as students at the University of Hawai‘i Manoa, the University can provide transcripts of academic work completed during the APLP. Other universities then have the option to accept some or all of these course credits towards a degree.

Q What does it mean to be an unclassified graduate student?

A Unclassified graduate students are students who have been cleared to take graduate-level courses at UHM without being admitted into a specific degree program. Students do earn UHM credits, but in order for these credits to count towards a degree, they must reapply to a specific graduate program.

Q Can I take elective classes at the University of Hawai‘i Manoa (UHM) while enrolled in APLP?

A During the fall semester, elective classes are not permitted. The first five months of the APLP are an extremely intensive, full-time experience; it is NOT like taking normal graduate courses. Aside from individual coursework, the program involves teamwork projects and multiple activities outside the classroom, including field trips, evening lectures, weekend exercises, and off-campus conferences.

In the 2007-2008 academic year, the APLP courses were offered for a total of 8 credits. Since the majority of our students were non-US nationals, fulfilling the conditions of their visas required them to maintain full-time student status. Full-time enrollment status at UHM means a minimum of 8 credits for graduate students.

During the spring semester, participants may elect to take a full load (9 credits) of coursework at UHM in elective classes. Participants choose which classes they would like to take, subject to availability. APLP fellows working on an internship in Hawai’i in the spring, cannot take both an Internship and classes at UHM at the same time.

Q What does "equivalent to a 4-year bachelor's degree" mean?

 A To be eligible to apply to the APLP, applicants must have a 4-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited U.S. college or university or from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. Equivalency is determined by the University of Hawai`i. Generally, an equivalent could be a 3-year bachelor's degree plus a 1-year master's degree, or a 2-year bachelor's degree plus a 2-year master's degree.

Q Must I take the TOEFL test to be admitted to the EWC and the University of Hawai’i?

A Yes, this is a requirement for all international students (unless automatically exempt, see below). Your TOEFL test results can be no more than two years old. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be substituted for TOEFL (see below).

Please take the TOEFL test as soon as possible. We recommend that this is the first thing you do when applying to the APLP as the process can take a long time. TOEFL fees are at your own expense.

a) All applicants from countries in which English is not the only official language (including U.S. Nationals and Permanent Resident Aliens for whom English is not their native language) are required to demonstrate advanced proficiency in the use of the English language. Proficiency is demonstrated by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The East-West Center minimum TOEFL score is 550 (213 for computer based and 79-80 for internet based TOEFL examination).

b) Only applicants in the following categories are automatically exempt from taking the TOEFL.

1) Native speakers of English from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand or Singapore.

2) Students who have received a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree within the last five years from an accredited college/university in the United States, Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, Singapore, and universities in Canada and Africa where English is the language of instruction. The TOEFL must be retaken if the degree was completed more than five years ago.

c) The Educational Testing Service at P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, USA, can provide information on registering for the TOEFL examination. Website: www.toefl.org

d) Official test score reports that are sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) are the only acceptable reports. The “Applicant’s Score Confirmation Report” will not be accepted by the UH Office of Admissions and Records. Please be sure to mark the EWC (Code No. 4868) on the answer sheet on the day of the test to enable ETS to send the score reports as quickly as possible. As part of the test fee, you are allowed to have your score sent to four institutions.

e) A photocopy or a student’s copy, even if certified is not acceptable as a substitute score report.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

a) The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic test (not the general test) may be substituted for TOEFL. Results must be from a test taken within the last two years. An overall band test result of 5.00 is required for admission to the University of Hawai`i. The East-West Center’s minimum is 6.00. Official score report must be issued to the East-West Center in a sealed official test center envelope.

b) Applicants should contact the nearest British Council/Embassy/Consulate or IDP Education Australia Office in their country for the nearest testing center. It is advised that you also check the IELTS web page for information on testing centers. Website: www.ielts.org

c) The English Language Institute (ELI) at UHM may still require students presenting a passing IELTS score to take an English placement test in any case for correlation with TOEFL.

Q What are the degree certification and transcript requirements for application to the University of Hawai‘i?

A All degree certifications and official transcripts submitted for your EWC and UHM applications must be submitted to the EWC Awards Services Office:

Award Services/APLP
East-West Center, JAB 2066
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96848-1601
U.S.A.

All official transcripts and degree certifications must be mailed directly by the institution or Ministry of Education to the EWC Awards Office. These documents should be mailed in an official university or Ministry envelope and mailed by that institution to the East-West Center. Documents mailed or hand-carried by the applicant or a third party will not be accepted as official or used for admissions consideration.

Q Is financial assistance available for APLP fellows?

A All APLP participants are granted a generous APLP Entry Fellowship by the East-West Center worth approximately $10,000.

Regarding the supplemental costs of participation in the APLP (accommodation, living expenses etc.), a number of East-West Center funding opportunities are available. However, these supplemental scholarships are competitive and require a separate essay found on the application form, as well as a financial disclosure form. (See Application Form and Application for Scholarship Funds.) Supplemental funds are awarded based on merit, proven need, program goals (such as diversity), and scholarship availability. Priority is given to the five-month residency period in Hawai’i, as well as supporting participants from under-represented countries in the Asia Pacific region in line with the mission of the EWC. Almost all supplemental awards are partial scholarships.

All APLP fellows are encouraged to find their own funding. In the past, the majority of APLP participants have been partially or fully funded by employers, government agencies, NGOs, fellowships, minority scholarships, and other external sources, including sponsors and family support; or participants have been self-funded.

Only after we review your application, and if you are accepted into the Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP), do we then award supplemental scholarships.

For further details on specific supplemental scholarships, please see Section C of the Summary of Financial Considerations.

Q Must I live at the East-West Center in order to participate in the APLP?

A During the first five-months (fall semester), the answer is yes. Living in an East-West Center residence hall, either Hale Manoa or Hale Kuahine, is required. Building a living and learning community is an integral part of the EWC experience. The EWC is unique among international institutions in its focus on community building at the campus level as a stepping-stone to community building at the regional level. For more information about housing see the Center’s housing facilities web page (see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/about-ewc/housing/).

During the spring semester, if you are living in Hawai‘i, you may live off campus. However, it has been our experience that participants choose to remain on campus. The accommodation is inexpensive (by Hawai‘i standards), very convenient, and you have direct access to a rich community life, as well all UHM and EWC facilities and personnel.

Q What are the EWC residence halls like?

A There are two main buildings: Hale Manoa and Hale Kuahine. Hale Manoa is 12-stories high, while Hale Kuahine is a smaller, quieter, low-rise building. There are options for all-male units, all-female units, or co-educational (mixed) units. All units have shared bathroom facilities. There are two handicapped accessible rooms in Hale Manoa.

Q What sort of cooking facilities are available for residents?

A Each floor in both residence halls is equipped with a communal kitchen for the use of all residents. The kitchens have multiple stoves and sinks and can be used by a number of people at once. Residents are given their own private cabinets for storage of food and cooking supplies, and space to store private refrigerators if they choose to purchase them.  . A communal refrigerator is available to all residents. Local supermarkets, including two excellent health food stores, can be reached by a fifteen-minute walk, or by bus, bike or a weekly shuttle sponsored by the East-West Center.

Q Can I bring my family with me?

A Due to the intensive nature of the APLP experience in the fall semester, as well as the extended travel by the APLP during Field Studies, it is highly recommended that spouses and/or children do not join participants in Honolulu during the first five months (August – December).

In the spring semester, wherever possible, the EWC will support visa applications for those participants living in Hawai’i who wish to bring a spouse and/or children to the United States. This is for the duration of the spring semester only (January – May). The participant is responsible for all costs involved. For safety reasons, the EWC residence halls do not accommodate children, so participants with families must live off-campus in the spring semester.

Q What type of computing and internet facilities are available to participants?

A All APLP participants receive 24-hour access to the two Burns Hall (the Center’s main building) computer labs which feature sixteen computers, all wired to high-speed internet and all equipped with word processing software and printing services. The University also has multiple computer labs throughout the campus with high-speed internet access.

The EWC residence halls have high-speed internet access in each room. It is highly recommended that participants bring a laptop computer to the East-West Center. The APLP has an intranet communications system called “The Hub”, which is used daily. This can be loaded onto personal laptops or accessed in the EWC computer labs. Hub training is provided.

Q What sort of exercise and athletic facilities are available to participants?

A The University of Hawai'i, Manoa's state-of-the-art exercise facilities, including a large swimming pool, are just a two-minute walk from the EWC campus. The East-West Center is also a short walk from UHM tennis courts and a nearby park with tennis and basketball courts. In addition, Hawai'i's mild weather and beautiful landscapes offer ample opportunity for ocean swimming, cycling, surfing, paddling, hiking, jogging and other forms of outdoor recreation. Using public transportation, participants can reach numerous beaches; the EWC is located only 3 miles from Waikiki Beach.

Q Do I need a passport?

A Yes, a valid passport is required for all participants. Non-U.S. participants will need passports to enter the U.S. and all participants will need passports to participate in the Field Studies. If you are accepted into the program and do not have a passport, please apply for one now. As a general rule, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the ending date of your APLP program. If you need a new passport, please apply for it now.

Q Must I enter the U.S. on a J-1 visa?

A Non-U.S. participants are expected to enter the U.S. under the J-1 (exchange visitor) visa sponsorship of the East-West Center. The Center will provide the necessary documents for the J-1 visa application. Application for a J-1 visa is made at a US Consulate, usually in your home country. The consular official issuing the J-1 visa will determine whether a two-year home country residence requirement will be imposed.

Exception: Full-time, active University of Hawai‘i students on F-1 visas may also be eligible to enroll in the APLP in the fall semester if they can receive written permission from their current UH degree program/UH-International Student Services Office, or possibly after graduation while on optional practical training (OPT) without changing their F-1 visa status, provided that their EWC participation is for a period of less than six months.

Q What are the terms of the J-1 visa?

A Please see the document entitled “Terms and Conditions of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program” on the APLP website.

Q If accepted into the program, do I make my own travel arrangements to and from Honolulu?

A Yes. Please note that ALL APLP participants must arrive prior to the first day of Orientation: August 11, 2008. This is non-negotiable.

Q What if I have a summer job or internship or summer school class or a family wedding that would cause me to arrive late for EWC Orientation?

A Please reapply for the APLP the following year. No exceptions will be made for late arrivals (after August 11, 2008). Everyone must attend Orientation, including Hawai’i residents.

Q Can I work during the APLP?

A APLP fellows will not receive authorization to work during the fall semester of APLP (August – December). The program workload is too intense. You will not be able to sustain a full load of APLP classes, field studies, outside class projects and activities, as well as a job. You will also not be able to participate fully in the EWC community and the APLP experience.

In the spring semester, employment may be possible, upon program approval. J-1 visa guidelines stipulate that exchange visitor visa-holders may work on campus only for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Please note that on-campus employment opportunities are very limited and not guaranteed. Participants working on full-time internships during the spring may be paid, however paid internships are increasingly difficult to find.

Q By when must I pay the EWC Program Fees?

A EWC Program Fees will be due by August 14, 2008. Failure to pay the program fee by this date will result in dismissal from the program and termination of the EWC Award agreement.