By Isabella Senno, The Daily Iowan
Recently, the University of Iowa has been named a top producer of Fulbright students for the 2016-17 year by the Chronicle of Higher Education. With a record-breaking 15 individuals being selected by the program, 12 of whom accepted the grant, this marks the second-consecutive year that the university has gained the elite label.
“The Fulbright scholarships are a great opportunity for students to take what they’ve learned here and expand that knowledge through cultural experience abroad, whether it’s teaching or research or a combination of those two things,” said Downing Thomas, a UI associate provost and the dean of International Programs. “It’s really part of that global mindset and cultural competency that students can develop.”
The program is also highly beneficial to the university, boosting its reputation as a top research institute. With 12 out of 36, or one-third of the applicants being accepted for this past year, that placed the UI sixth in terms of national ranking among research institutions. It is tied with the University of California- Berkeley, Duke University, and George Washington University.