Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Prestigious Fulbright program offers opportunity abroad
 Graduating seniors can benefit from a federal program that provides grants to teach or perform research abroad. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, sponsored by the State Department, is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools overseas. Tracy Bee, a 1997 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and sociology, was USI’s first recipient of a Fulbright grant. She received an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) and spent a year in South Korea. “Living in Korea was such a privilege,” she said. “I learned about Korea while there, but I also learned greater understanding of my own country and culture, and was inspired to learn more. “Now, almost 10 years later, my Korean experience still leaves a mark. I think that I'm more aware of world affairs, more sensitive to immigrant and international visitor affairs, and more willing to question and get involved with my community both at the local and national level.” Bee went on to earn a master’s degree in international and comparative education from Indiana University, where she is now employed as academic advisor for International Studies. “My education and career path was definitely inspired by my time abroad,” she said. Twenty-one countries offer the Fulbright ETA. Some, like Korea, do not require proficiency in the language of the host country. Susan Wolfe, associate professor of German and Fulbright program advisor, said that the majority of Fulbright grants require a foreign language. “Students who don’t take a foreign language exclude themselves from the majority of the Fulbrights,” Wolfe said. “I plug the teaching assistantships because they don’t always require the language, but there are many that do.” The University’s other Fulbright recipients, Kirt Page ’98, and Walter Jermakowicz III ’03, received research grants to study at universities in Germany. Page graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and took three years of German at USI. Jermakowicz graduated magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, biology, and German. Wolfe encourages USI students to take a language while enrolled here. “USI offers majors in French, German, and Spanish, and a solid background in Japanese. Proficiency in a foreign language puts students at an advantage.” Germany, for instance, is offering 20 more teaching assistantships than in the past. “Future teachers receive preference for those assistantships,” Wolfe said. “Anyone going into teaching should really consider the teaching assistantships.” Wolfe said that though the Fulbright program is competitive, USI students are at an advantage because of geographic location. Areas with traditionally fewer Fulbright grants receive special attention. The 2006-07 Student Fulbright competition also aims to significantly increase the number of quality applications from African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans in order to accurately reflect the texture of American society and U.S. university population. More than 1,100 candidates receive a Fulbright grant each year. The program operates in more than 140 countries and grants are available in all fields of study. Applicants to the program must be U.S. citizens at the time of application, and hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent by the beginning of the grant period. Currently enrolled USI students should contact Wolfe at 812/465-7026 or swolfe@usi.edu. Applications must be submitted to Wolfe by October 10, 2005. Applicants will be interviewed by a Fulbright committee made up of faculty members drawn from the different colleges. Graduates and those who are not currently enrolled should apply online at www.fulbrightonline.org. For more information, visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program web site at www.fulbrightonline.org. For information on ETA opportunities, click on “Thinking of Applying/Types of Grants Available.” |
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