EducationUSA Advising Center Levels of Service

These categories are a guide for U.S. higher education institutions to understand the general level of services provided by EducationUSA advising centers. Disclaimer: Centers should meet the majority of requirements (not necessarily all) to receive the designation given to them by EducationUSA.

Comprehensive

• Maintains up-to-date library of reference books/materials
• Adheres to Principles of Ethical Advising and Guidelines on Commercial Agents
• Offers individual advising
• Offers group advising
• Provides information on financial aid
• Advising facilities and services accessible over 20 hours per week, or sufficient hours to meet local demand at comprehensive service level
• Center offers advising staff with college degree (equivalent to US Bachelor's degree). U.S. experience (education or work) preferred.
• Center advising staff proficient in spoken and written English.
• Offers pre-departure information/orientations
• Center serves as liaison with Public Affairs Sections of U.S. embassies & consulates, local government, other organizations
• Offers regularly-scheduled introductory public orientations
• Center provides virtual consulting - basic and in-depth
• Center fully equipped (photocopier, printer, fax, TV/DVD, LCD projector)
• Offers advising through email, web-based, social media, instant messenger, etc.
• Center offers computers with internet access for visitors
• Center has access to video conferencing equipment e.g. internet-based
• Offers workshops on special topics
• Organizes/participates in alumni group activities
• Participates in college fairs, hosting EducationUSA booth
• Organizes college fairs
• Offers assistance to U.S. institutions
• Center conducts outreach to local high schools and higher education institutions
• Center has relationships with local high school counselors and university administrators
• Able to provide orientation on local educational system
• Able to describe and compare U.S. and host country educational systems.
• Able to verify Ministry of Education recognition/certification of local high schools and universities
• Able to facilitate communication with local secondary and tertiary institutions
• Able to organize public presentations for visiting U.S. representatives at off-site locations
• Able to host visiting U.S. representatives for promotional presentation
• Able to organize general U.S. higher education orientation sessions in which US representatives could make presentations
• Able to provide information on local government and foundation scholarships and other financial aid
• Able to display college & university-provided materials

Standard

• Maintains up-to-date library of reference books/materials
• Adheres to Principles of Ethical Advising and Guidelines on Commercial Agents
• Center offers minimum half-time adviser, or sufficient hours to meet local demand at standard service level
• Center advising staff proficient in spoken and written English.
• Offers individual advising
• Provide information on financial aid
• Center provides ability to describe and compare U.S. and host country educational systems.
• Center has relationships with local high school counselors and university administrators
• Can display US college & university-provided materials
• Center has access to video conferencing equipment e.g. internet-based
• Offers pre-departure information/orientations
• Participates in college fairs, hosting EducationUSA booth
• Able to provide orientation on local educational system
• Able to verify Ministry of Education recognition/certification of local high schools and universities
• May offer assistance to U.S. institutions
• Able to organize general U.S. higher education orientation sessions in which U.S. representatives could make presentations

Reference

• Maintains up-to-date library of reference books/materials
• Adheres to Principles of Ethical Advising and Guidelines on Commercial Agents
• Center offers no adviser, or minimal assistance available