Approaches to Apply for a Fulbright Grant

1. Approaches to Apply for a Fulbright Grant Michael Givel, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Oklahoma For: University of Oklahoma, Fulbright Information Session, June 10, 2011

2. Purpose of Fulbright Program • Fulbright flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by U.S. government • Designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries” • Opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns • Fulbright Program established in 1946 under legislation introduced by Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas • Fulbright Program sponsored by U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs • Approximately 294,000 “Fulbrighters,” 111,000 from the United States and 183,000 from other countries have participated in Program • Fulbright Program awards approximately 7,500 new grants annually • Currently, Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries

3. Types of U.S. Fulbright Programs • Core Fulbright Scholar Program • Fulbright Specialist Program • Designed to provide short-term academic opportunities (two to six weeks) for U.S. faculty and professionals. • Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program • Senior scholars with significant publication and teaching record • Fulbright International Education Administrators Program • Seminars designed to introduce participants to the society, culture and higher education systems in Germany, India, Japan or Korea • Fulbright German Studies Seminars • Fulbright NEXUS Regional Scholar Program • Brings together network of junior scholars, professionals and mid-career applied researchers from US and other Western Hemisphere nations for seminar meetings

4. University of Oklahoma Internal Application Review Timeline • June 10th -- Information session • July 1st -- Project statements due to reviewers • July 11th -- Reviewer feedback due • July 11th-- 22nd -- Additional assistance with development of formal proposals • August 1st -- Most proposals due to Fulbright U.S. Scholar’s Program

5. BEST PRACTICES AND TIPS WHEN APPLYING FOR A FULBRIGHT AWARD Basic Tips • Be sure to meet eligibility requirements and application deadline • Read instructions carefully • Determine why you want to go to particular country and what you propose to do before you begin the application • Conduct careful analysis of country’s social, religious, cultural and political conditions

6. Basic Tips • Projects that collaborate with host institution are often (but not always) more compelling • Application should be integrated as a whole • Proofread your application • Have colleagues and peers critique your application • Comply exactly with requirements, information, materials requested in application

7. References and Teaching Reports • Number and type of references vary by award type: • For Research Awards, requirement is three reference letters • For Lecturing or Lecturing and Research Awards requirement is one teaching report and two reference letters • Applicant responsible that recommendation letters submitted to Fulbright by deadline • Send copy of application to your references • Referees should submit their letters online

8. References and Teaching Reports • Do not exceed indicated number of references • All references must be in English • References should be from referees able to evaluate your teaching effectiveness; research abilities; ability to adapt; and merits of project • At least one letter should be from colleague outside your home institution

9. References and Teaching Reports • Departmental chair, dean, or other appropriate individual should complete the teaching report • If you recently arrived at University of Oklahoma, one reference letter should be from prior institution • If Ph.D. is recent or you are early in career, one reference should be from supervisor of your graduate program

10. Developing Contacts Abroad • Some countries require and others recommend letters of invitation • If you do not have contacts in country of interest, following should be pursued: • University of Oklahoma International Office • Appropriate international students and faculty, as well as area studies faculty • Colleagues who have gone abroad • Current and former Fulbright Scholars • CIES program officers

11. Developing Contacts Abroad •  You should also research country and its educational system • Some university Web sites are: • Library of Congress’s Portals to the World site: www.loc.gov/rr/international/portals.html • Braintrack: www.braintrack.com • Education index of over 8300 links to higher education institutions in 194 countries

12. Language Proficiency Report • Applicants for awards that require knowledge of foreign language must submit Language Proficiency Report • Report is optional for all other awards • Consult awards catalogue for specific requirements • Questions? Contact appropriate CIES program officer • Complete Part I of report online • Appropriate foreign language instructor submits an evaluation (Part II) through online reference system

13. The Project Statement •  Project statement should be three to five pages, single spaced, in 12-point or larger font size • Use headers and/or bullets if helpful in organizing and conveying key elements of project statement • In project statement you should clearly explain: • What you propose to do • Your methods, including hypothesis, aim, and timeline • Significance and background of your project • What benefits it will produce hosts, discipline, and applicant’s home institution

14. The Project Statement •  Previous Fulbright grantees should also address: • What accomplishments and contributions resulted from your earlier grant(s) • How a second grant will build on your previous Fulbright experience • What you will accomplish with second grant

15. Project Statements for Teaching Awards Also Describe • Why this country • What experiences indicate collegiality, adaptability, cultural sensitivity, ability to serve as cultural ambassador • Preparation to teach courses abroad • What do you propose to teach • How you adapt materials to culture and language of host country • How will you adapt to teaching environment in which first language for students may not be English • What impact do you expect on your teaching and/or professional work and how do you expect to use experience upon return

16. Project Statements for Research Awards Also Describe • What you will do – state clearly objectives and methodology • If research is quantitative or qualitative in nature • What is academic and professional context of project • Include bibliography (not exceeding 3 pages) referring to leading works by others and current state of field • What teaching and professional experience prepared you for this work • What significance does your research hold for discipline, development, host country • Why it must be done in this country • How local political or cultural issues may impact your work • How results will be disseminated

17. Curriculum Vitae or Resume • All applicants must include tailored curriculum vitae or resume with detailed publications list • For Fulbright Scholar grants, maximum length of C.V. is 6 pages • Maximum length of C.V. for Distinguished Chairs Program is 8 pages • Cite publications fully, listing them chronologically from most recent • Separate refereed from un-refereed publications • Include an employment history

18. Course Syllabi and Outlines • Two or three course syllabi or sample course outlines • Syllabi should indicate philosophy of teaching • Indicate when used or have they been developed for your application • Syllabi and reading lists should be no more than total of 10 pages

19. Materials for Applicants in Arts, Architecture, Writing and Journalism • Format all images, pictures and graphics into JPEG or BPM files • No more than 10 images • No more than 1 GB of information total • Format all movie and video clips into MOV, AVI or MPEG files • No more than 1 GB of information total • Format all sound and music clips into MP3 files • No more than 1 GB of information total • Format all writing samples into DOC files • No more than 1 GB of information total

20. Questions????