Undergraduate Academic Affairs

November 20, 2009

UW is a top Fulbright-producing institution

Undergraduate Academic Affairs

UW is a top Fulbright-producing institution

2009 Undergraduate Fulbright Fellows Monica Barrett, Alexandra Duncan, and Cameron Rule (top to bottom).

The Fulbright Program recently announced the complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most 2009-2010 U.S. Fulbright Fellows. The success of the top producing institutions was highlighted in the October 19 print edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Twelve students—three current undergraduates, one recent graduate, and eight graduate students from the University of Washington won Fulbright awards for 2009-2010. Forty-seven students applied, setting an institutional record for the number of applications. Among research institutions, the UW shares eleventh place with Cornell University and is ranked higher than such institutions as Duke University, Dartmouth College, and Georgetown University. Additionally, the UW produced more Fulbright students than any other Global Challenge state university.

The Fulbright competition is administered at the University of Washington through UAA’s Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards and the Graduate School. Fulbright applications for 2010-11 increased by about 25 percent.

Under this program, 1,559 American students in more than 100 different fields of study have been offered grants to study, teach English, and conduct research in over 125 countries throughout the world beginning this fall.

Of the 1,557 Fulbrighters, 19% are at the Ph.D. degree level, 17% are at the Master’s level, and 65% are at the Bachelor’s degree level. Students receiving awards for this academic year applied through 570 colleges or universities. Click here for lists of Fulbright recipients.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program equips future American leaders with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly global environment by providing funding for one academic year of study, research or assistant teaching abroad.

Fellows undertake self-designed programs in disciplines ranging from the social sciences, business, communication and performing arts to physical sciences, engineering and education.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided approximately 294,000 participants worldwide with the opportunity to observe each others’ political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants. In the past 63 years, more than 42,000 students from the United States have benefited from the Fulbright experience.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Financial support is provided by an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State, with significant contributions from participating governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad. The Presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board formulates policy guidelines and makes the final selection of all grantees.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the activities relevant to the U.S. Student Program, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships.

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to American teachers and faculty to do research, lecture and teach overseas. In addition, some 3,850 new foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study, carry out research and lecture at U.S. universities, colleges and secondary schools.