The Foundation for Academic Cultural Exchange (F.A.C.E)

“Bringing families and cultures together, FACE to FACE”. The Foundation for Academic Cultural Exchange (F.A.C.E.) is dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding between people from around the world. It is the F.A.C.E. philosophy that greater understanding and tolerance of others develops through interaction on a personal level. F.A.C.E. offers an inbound high school academic year program, and academic semester program. 

F.A.C.E. operates through a network of Local Coordinators throughout the United States who provide support to the student on a local level. Local Coordinators interview and screen Host Families and supervise the program during the students’ stay. Local Coordinators submit monthly reports on school progress and situation reports concerning the student/Host Family relationship to the F.A.C.E. headquarters.

Academic Year Program – United States—International students ages 15 to 18 years of age travel to the United States, attend high school for one semester (5 months) or an academic year (10 months), and live with a volunteer U.S. Host Family. Students must complete an application in English, pass an English language proficiency test, submit transcripts indicating above-average grades in their home country school, and write an autobiographical essay. Students and parents are interviewed prior to acceptance. Upon acceptance, students are required to attend two orientations. The orientations, one of which is conducted in the home country, address issues such as American culture, English language issues, how to identify and report inappropriate behavior, program rules, and how to make the most of the U.S. high school experience. In addition, all F.A.C.E. students are required to attend a local orientation upon their arrival in their U.S. host community with their Local Coordinator. The primary focus of this orientation is to acclimate students to U.S. culture, review program policies and procedures, safety, identifying and reporting inappropriate behavior, and to prepare them for their academic year stay.

Host Families, after they are completely vetted and accepted into the F.A.C.E. AYP, are encouraged to review several students’ applications before selecting the student who would most appropriately match their family’s lifestyle and interests. Cost to participants is from $6,000 to $9,000, excluding transportation, and personal expenses. Student accident/health insurance is included in the program fee. Participant program fees are set by overseas partner organizations.