UAA Delegate Michelle Steffens (left) at SCUSA conference.  "SCUSA is an excellent opportunity for socially-conscious individuals to unite in discussion of worldly issues and contemplation of the course of future events."

An annual conference devoted to international relations, economics, political science, and related social science fields, SCUSA is held each fall at the US Military Academy, West Point.  Visit the official SCUSA website to learn more about the conference. 

UAA can nominate two students to attend this annual conference. Applications are welcome from students majoring in a variety of disciplines, including economics, history, international relations, languages, political science, and related social science fields. The selection committee seeks students who have demonstrated interest in area studies, global issues, international studies, international relations, and/or foreign policy. Full funding is available for two participants who are selected in a competitive application process each spring.

Deadline: All applications for the Fall 2008 SCUSA Conference must be received by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship by 5:00pm on Friday, April 11.

The SCUSA Selection Committee will base its decision on the following criteria:

1. The guiding principles in the selection of the student participants will be academic excellence, demonstrated interest in at least one of the areas listed above, and the extent to which the Conference will play an important role in the academic and professional goals of the student.
2. The applicant must have an overall GPA of at least 3.2.
3. The applicant must have successfully completed at least one semester at the University of Alaska Anchorage prior to Spring 2008.
4. The applicant must be a degree seeking student at UAA and at least a half-time student (registered for 6 credits) in Spring 2008 with plans to register for at least 6 credits for Fall 2008. 
5. It is desirable that the applicant have taken at least one course at UAA that addresses international issues or is international in focus.
6. Students must submit the Application Form with the following (7-9):
7. The application must be accompanied by a 1-2 page (500 word) statement addressing why the applicant should be selected and the role participation will play in the applicant’s academic and professional goals. Additionally, the applicant should choose two round table topics and discuss their reasons for choosing these particular tables, the background and experience they will bring to these issues and/or regions, and what they hope to gain from participation in these particular tables.  See the application for list of 18 round table topics. 
8. The application must be accompanied by one (1) letter of recommendation from a UAA faculty member.
9. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant’s UAA transcript.
10. The applicant must agree to complete a post-Conference survey and to make a post-participation presentation at the Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium held on the UAA campus in April.
11. The student delegates will be expected to attend an orientation session in early October.
12. Only complete applications will be considered for review.

Visit the Success Stories Website to learn about UAA's previous delegates to SCUSA. 

Download:
2008 SCUSA Announcement 
2008 SCUSA Application Procedures
2008 SCUSA Application Form 

These forms may also be picked up from the Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarship in RH 119.

The student delegates to the 59th Annual Conference presented their Policy Papers at the 2008 Undergraduate Research Symposium.  Click the link below to view the presentations.
Umair Iqbal

At the conference, student delegates will be placed into round table discussion groups.  Over the course of the conference, these round table groups will create a position paper.  A good resource for position papers is the Model United Nations Handbook.