The University of Iowa is one of the top producers of Fulbright students for 2015-16, according to the lists released Monday in the Chronicle of Higher Education. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Top-producing institutions are highlighted annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Twelve University of Iowa students were awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant to conduct research, attend graduate school, undertake creative projects, or serve as English teaching assistants abroad in the 2015–16 academic year. This is the greatest number of placements the UI has ever secured in a single calendar year, resulting in a tied ranking for 27th on a list of peer institutions.

“The University of Iowa has always emphasized global engagement as an integral component of a well-rounded graduate. Being named a top producer of Fulbrights is recognition of the quality of our programs," said Barry Butler, UI provost. 

Read more about the UI’s 2015 Fulbright winners.

The Fulbright competition is administered at the University of Iowa through International Programs under the guidance of Fulbright Program Advisor Karen Wachsmuth. “We’re extremely proud of the accomplishments of each of these students,” says Wachsmuth, “and are excited to see the UI’s national ranking rise so dramatically among leading institutions that have traditionally excelled in Fulbright. In the past three years, the number of Fulbright student awardees from the UI has more than quadrupled, with a marked increase in diversity in the awardee pool.  None of this would be possible without the dedication of our Fulbright faculty mentors and faculty throughout the university who support these students and their commitment to possibility that the Fulbright program offers.”

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 360,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Over 1,900 U.S. students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields of study are offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English, and conduct research annually. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in over 140 countries throughout the world.  Lists of Fulbright recipients are available at: www.fulbrightonline.org/us.

“With a record number of Fulbright awardees, we are offering tremendous opportunities for students. These experiences will enrich their future careers and their lives for years to come,” said Downing Thomas, associate provost and dean of UI International Programs.

The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the United States Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the activities relevant to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program on behalf of the Department of State, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships.      

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to U.S. scholars, teachers and faculty to conduct research and teach overseas.  In addition, some 4,000 new foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study for graduate degrees, conduct research and teach foreign languages.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.