Grinnell among leading producers of Fulbright Assistants

Grinnell College is among the nation’s leaders in the number of graduates who are awarded Fulbright grants to work and serve in international locations, according to the U.S. Fulbright Program, in a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Grinnell is among the top 12 liberal-arts colleges in the country to produce graduates who are awarded Fulbright assistantships—seven 2009 graduates and six 2008 graduates. More than 30 Grinnell students and alumni have applied to the competitive Fulbright program in each of the last two years.

Doug Cutchins, who coordinates Grinnell’s Fulbright application process as director of the Office of Social Commitment, said that the rise in Fulbright awards reflects Grinnell’s commitment to a culture of internationalism. “With so many students studying abroad and coming here from other countries, applying for a Fulbright becomes a natural extension of their Grinnell experience,” Cutchins said.

Nearly 60 percent of Grinnell students study abroad for at least one semester during their four years. The Chronicle of Higher Education also recently noted that Grinnell has among the highest percentages (13 percent) of international students at undergraduate institutions.

“Both of these rankings are evidence of Grinnell’s emphasis on internationalism,” said David Harrison, director of the College’s Center for International Studies. “Grinnell’s interdisciplinary approach gives students different perspectives on global issues so they can understand the people, places, and processes that define today’s world, which leads them to discover how they can best contribute to the world.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides funding for one academic year of study, research, or teaching assistance abroad. The program, which is sponsored by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, equips future American leaders with the skills needed in an increasingly global environment. Finalists for the 2010-11 program will be announced at the end of January, and notification of placement begins in March. More information on the Fulbright Program.