Eleanor Kirkpatrick Franco-American Fellows Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long has the Fellows program been in existence?
A: The Eleanor Kirkpatrick Franco-American Fellows exchange program began in 2009
Q: What is the timeline for the Fellows selection and travel?
A: Important Dates:
November 20, 2023: 2024 Eleanor Kirkpatrick Franco-American Fellows announced! 🎉
November 27, 2023: Fellows’ letters of acceptance and intent completed and returned
*Alliance Française d'Oklahoma City and Académie d'Amiens are closely monitoring travel health and safety and will offer alternate means of cultural exchange if international travel is not permitted.
Q: Where in France will the students be staying?
A: Students will be in Hauts-de-France Region, north of Paris. The Oklahoma State Department of Education has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Academie d’Amiens and we will be attending a school within their jurisdiction.
Q: Will students be staying with host families or in a hotel? If staying with a host family, will all members of the host family be vaccinated?
A: Students will be staying with host families. Although it is highly likely, at this time, it cannot be guaranteed that the host family will be vaccinated.
Q: What is the protocol if one of our students or a host family contracts COVID? Where would our students be required to quarantine and since they are minors who would stay with them?
A: In the event of a COVID infection by a Fellow, they will be moved to a hotel. We are sending two chaperones so that one will always be available to stay behind should a Fellow get sick.
Q: Is it possible for a parent to pay for their own airfare and hotel and have their child stay with them at the hotel and the student attend the French school and any Alliance Française activities?
A: It is not accepted for a Fellow to stay in a hotel with a parent. It defeats our cultural mission of living with a family and experiencing family life in France.
Q: How many days will our students attend a school in France and will all the Alliance Française students attend the same school together?
A: Students will attend school for ten days, however, 2-3 days will be field trips, such as to visit Paris, via train. All the Fellows will attend the same school.
Q: When students are not attending the French school, what is their itinerary?
A: When the Fellows are not at school, they will be with their host family. School ends between 5 and 6 pm, after which they will go home with their host. Weekends will be spent with their host family. Often, host families will plan weekend day trips with their Fellow.
Q: Are students able to attend for the week of Spring Break and return to OKC on March 20?
A: Unfortunately no, as is best practice, this program is designed as a two-week experience.
Q: Currently, the U.S. Department of State has a travel advisory to France at Level 3, recommending caution due to COVID. Will you take students to France with a Level 3 travel advisory in effect?
A: Alliance Française d'Oklahoma City and Académie d'Amiens are closely monitoring the evolving pandemic and alert levels. We will consider U.S. and France travel advisories in effect at the time of travel and make a decision that is in the best interest of the health and safety of our Fellows, chaperones, and host families. At this time, we have not made a decision based solely on alert levels.
Q: At what date will you make a final determination to proceed with the trip, book reservations, and notify families that the trip is definite?
A: We are closely monitoring the travel advisory level and will make a decision on travel by February 1, 2022. We expect to purchase tickets well before this date.