1. Hosting Fulbright Students and Scholars at UF: Process, Benefits, and Responsibilities
Debra Anderson
Matt Mitterko
Director, International Student Services
Associate Director, Graduate International Outreach
International Center
Graduate School

2. Admitting Fulbright Fellows to UF
Matt Mitterko
Associate Director, Graduate International Outreach
Graduate School

3. Fulbright Program History
Program proposed by Senator Fulbright; created in 1946
“Promotion of international good will through exchange of students in the fields of education, culture and science”
Housed within Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Shared funding with US government and foreign governments (20%)
Approximately 8,000 awards offered each year
Other Fulbright programs: Specialist, US Student, Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship, Fulbright-Hays
Awards: 1,600 US students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 US Scholars, 900 visiting scholars

4. What is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program?
Fulbright Fellow
International student selected by Fulbright Commission or US Embassy for placement in US for graduate study
Funding given through competitive process
Eligible for Master’s or PhD degree
Receive 1-5 years of funding
All funding awards include stipend, health insurance, travel to US, allowances
Stipend determined by cost of living estimate (unless otherwise noted)
Funding may include tuition (partial support)
Total funding award will vary from country to country

5. Benefits to Admitting Fulbright Students
Can assist in internationalizing department
Applicants from 28 countries this year
Cultural exchange is required component of award
Bring research/professional experience from home country
Faculty Development program
Established network of Fulbright students on campus
Fulbright Lecture Committee/North Florida Chapter
Funding defrays costs of supporting a graduate student

6. Placement Agencies
3 placement agencies coordinate Fulbright Fellow program
AMIDEAST (America-Mideast Educational And Training Services)
IIE (Institute of International Education)
LASPAU (serves Latin America)
Overlap between AMIDEAST & IIE and IIE & LASPAU

7. Placement Agencies Agencies assist applicants with application process
Agency pays for application fees to 2-4 universities
Agency obtains release from student for managing application process
Agency wants best combination of:
student/advisor/department fit
cost-sharing
country interests

8. Fulbright Contacts at UF
Students
Matt Mitterko
Recruitment
Funding
Denise Bouton
Admissions
Credential Processing
Debra Anderson
Check-in
Visa Tracking
Retention
Scholars
Scott Davis
Placement
Monitoring
Admissions vs. Recruitment/Funding vs. Check-in/Immigration

9. Fulbright Student Stakeholders
Fulbright Commission
Placement Agency
Admissions
Graduate School (OGIO)
Graduate Program
UFIC
Fulbright Association
Fulbright Lecture Committee

10. How to Recruit Fulbright Students
Short-term
Contact Graduate School & International Center about prospects who have already contacted UF
UFIC Global for upcoming opportunities
Long-term
Encourage students of partner institutions to apply to Fulbright program
Contact Fulbright Commissions/US Embassies to indicate interest in hosting Fulbright participants

11. Fulbright Admissions Process at UF
Application submitted
By Placement Agency
Listserv address
Priority credential review
Office of Admissions
to Graduate Program
Graduate School
Program review of application
Graduate Program
Cost-sharing negotiation
College
Placement Agency
Offer of Admission

12. Admissions Processing Tips
Credential review may require additional documentation
Initiate review process in ISIS Admin as soon as possible
Verify if language instruction is necessary
Language support may be available, paid by agency
Consider conditional admission

13. UF Cost-sharing
2 forms of institutional cost-sharing available for Fulbright students
Latin America & Caribbean students – LAC Scholarship program established via Florida State Statute
Student automatically considered resident for tuition purposes for as long as they receive Fulbright funding (Fulbright considered federal fellowship)
Non-LAC students – eligible for non-resident tuition waivers
Requests reviewed by Matt Mitterko in Graduate School on a rolling basis
Approval granted based on support of Fulbright students (academic and financial)

14. UF Cost-sharing
Departments and Colleges are encouraged to provide additional funds to create a funding package for Fulbright students
Graduate Programs must confirm UF funding information for placement agency on Financial Award Information form (FAI)

15. Director, International Student Services
Hosting Current Fulbright Fellows: Transition, Responsibilities, and Visa Support
Debra Anderson
Director, International Student Services
International Center

16. Student Transition to UF
Student accepts offer of admission
Students must have DS-2019/visa to enroll
DS-2019 processed by placement agency
Student may enter US 30 days before start of program
Student must check-in with International Advisor

17. Student Responsibilities
Notify ISS (Debra Anderson) once Fulbright student has received offer of admission and accepted offer to attend UF
Integration with other Fulbright students already on campus prior to arrival – Fall Welcome Luncheon
Check-in with ISS (Debra Anderson) mandatory-what is covered when student checks in.
Arrival packets-from Fulbright sponsors and UFIC/Departments

18. UF Responsibilities for Students
To Placement Agency
Make all efforts to fund student until degree completion
Provide updates on student status change/satisfactory progress
To Student
Provide academic & language support if needed
To UFIC
Once Fulbright funding completed, assist in visa transfer from placement agency to ISS

19. Visa Transfer for Current Students
Students continuing at UF after Fulbright funding is complete must have their visa transferred from AMIDEAST, IIE, or LASPAU
This requires proof of funding from student + any departmental funding necessary to meet visa requirements

20. Hosting Fulbright Scholars
Debra Anderson
Director, International Student Services
International Center

21. What is a Fulbright Scholar?
Advanced PhD student or Faculty member
Selected by Fulbright Commission or US Embassy
Placement handled by CIES
Seeking short-term research opportunity
3 months – 1 year
All fields of study
Receive funding to pursue research
Must find departmental sponsor to accept award

22. Fulbright Scholar Stakeholders
Fulbright Commission
Placement Agency
(CIES)
Department
UFIC

23. Scholar Responsibilities
Contact EVS once you agree to sponsor a Fulbright visiting scholar
Have the scholar check in with Scott at EVS/UFIC
Airport pick-up
Assist with location of housing, getting around Gainesville and how to locate necessary services
Arrange office space
Integrate into departmental and community activities
Notify EVS if the scholar leaves before the planned end-date

24. Questions. danderson@ufic. ufl. edu sdavis@ufic. ufl. edu mmitterko@aa
Questions?