Fischlowitz International Student Travel Fellowship

The Fischlowitz International Student Travel Fellowship is designed to enhance the experience of Grinnell College's international students by providing the opportunity to learn more about the United States through independent travel. A travel fellowship of up to $5,000 will be available each year. The fellowship is made possible through the generous support of Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz. Merle Fischlowitz '53 recalls that during his years at Grinnell, his association and friendship with many international students were among the most rewarding aspects of his education. He has always been aware that international students are an important part of the Grinnell community. Mr. Fischlowitz believes that an important part of education for international students is their opportunity to see the United States and to learn more about our culture than can be accomplished in few years of living and studying at Grinnell College. The Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship provides international students with the opportunities for both purposeful and casual exploration of the United States.

Selection Criteria

The applicant must be a degree seeking student of first, second, or third year standing at Grinnell College from a country outside of North America and not from any possession or territory of the United States. The successful candidate will demonstrate maturity, openness and planning in their applications, interviews, and recommendations. The Fellow must return to Grinnell for at least one academic year immediately following the summer travel. Travel funded by the Fellowship must include some time spent in a large metropolitan area, and must be in at least two regions (New England, Middle Atlantic, Southeastern, Pacific Northwest, South Central, Plains States, Mountain West and California) of the United States outside of the upper Midwest. Travel funded by the grant shall last at least 21 days, but no longer than 10 weeks. Travel can occur during the fall, winter, spring, and/or summer break periods. Grant recipients may begin their travel no earlier than the final day of classes in the spring semester of 2013 and must complete their travels before the final day of classes in the spring semester of 2014. Grant recipients who will be fourth-year students in 2013-14 must complete their travels in the summer of 2013 before returning to campus. Applicants are required to tie their travel together with a theme. Instead of just proposing travel to places that sound interesting, applicants must show what connects the places they wish to go and what they want to do in each place. Themes can be very broad or very narrow. Travel in each location is not limited only to the student's theme; for example, a student who travels to New York City to look at art may also visit other landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, or attend a Broadway play. Examples of possible themes include (but in no way are limited to):

  • Architecture
  • Natural wonders
  • Baseball
  • Borders
  • Public transportation
  • Cities near water
  • Food
  • The US Civil War
  • American race relations
  • Places where famous movies were filmed
  • Art
  • Religion
  • Music
  • Theater

Applicants who wish to discuss the appropriateness of their theme should meet with Doug Cutchins, x4408, cutchins@grinnell.edu.

Further requirements

Each Travel Fellow shall keep a travel journal of his/her experiences that will be submitted to the Fellowship Committee at the end of the summer. The journal may be supplemented by other reporting forms. For example, Fellows may submit an art project, a musical composition, or a performance. Fellows are encouraged to find ways to document and share this experience with the Grinnell College community. The journal shall be kept in Office of Social Commitment and on the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship web page for perusal by others. Existence of travel journals shall be publicized to all international students each year, regardless of whether they intend to apply for the Travel Fellowships. A selected Travel Fellow will present an on-campus colloquium in the fall semester following the travel experience. Travel funded by this Fellowship may be used only in the contiguous forty-eight states. Funds may be used only during the period of the award for transportation, lodging, food, and events or activities consistent with the spirit of the Fellowship. Up to thirty percent of the award may be retained to offset unrealized summer earnings to be applied to fees or tuition at Grinnell College during the following academic year. One purpose of this Fellowship is to provide international students the opportunity to encounter US life and culture outside of Grinnell, Iowa, and to become ambassadors of friendship for the United States. As their careers take them out into the world after Grinnell, Fischlowitz Travel Fellows have a responsibility to share their first-hand knowledge about and impressions of the US. Therefore, Fischlowitz Travel Fellows should not intend to reside in the US long-term, though they may plan to attend graduate school in this country and/or take advantage of their post-graduation OPT year of work.  As a part of their application, students certify that they do not plan to reside long-term in the United States and do not intend to immigrate here permanently. If Fischlowitz Travel Fellows decide to do otherwise later in life, they will work collaboratively with Grinnell College to repay the money they received as a Travel Fellow, thus granting a similar opportunity for future international students at Grinnell College.

Application Process

The following application materials must be submitted to the Fellowship Committee:

  • Application cover sheet, including a signed "Statement of Intent to Return to Home Country," from the Fischlowitz International Student Travel Fellowship application form, 2012-13.
  • 2-4 page essay describing motivation, learning goals, and preparation
  • Budget proposal (3 pages maximum)
  • Proposed itinerary (10 pages maximum)
  • Faculty recommendation
  • Photocopies of the applicant's passport and visa. These are to be held for safekeeping in case you lose your passport and visa while traveling on the Fischlowitz Fellowship.
  • A list of the places in the US that the applicant has already traveled to, and the length and purpose of this travel.
  • A completed and signed Scholarship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver

All applicants should follow these submission guidelines. An interview will be required of all finalists for the fellowship. The deadline for applications is Monday, February 11, 2013 by 5:00pm in the Office of Social Commitment, 1233 Park St. Because the CRSSJ (1233 Park St.), which houses the Office of Social Commitment, is inaccessible to students with mobility disabilities, please contact soccom@grinnell.edu if you would like to make alternative plans to submit your application materials.

Ethical Guidelines

All applicants are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines.