For the third year in a row, the University of Arizona has been recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The award was announced Monday and acknowledges UArizona's longstanding commitment as a Hispanic-Serving Institution to the Fulbright Program, the federal government's flagship international educational exchange program.

"Ensuring that substantive opportunities like the Fulbright Program are accessible to our students and employees is an essential part of being an HSI," said Marla Franco, vice president of UArizona HSI Initiatives. "The University of Arizona's designation as a 2023 Fulbright HSI Leader is a byproduct of intentional partnerships across the university."

Image

The Fulbright Program sends U.S.-based students, scholars and professionals abroad to lecture or conduct research for up to a year, while foreign representatives visit domestic institutions. The program unveiled the Fulbright HSI Leader designation in 2021 to recognize Hispanic-Serving Institutions for promoting Fulbright opportunities on campus, and for noteworthy engagement with Fulbright exchange participants. UArizona was also selected as an HSI Leader in 2021 and 2022.

This year's recognized colleges and universities include two associate colleges, five baccalaureate colleges and special focus institutions, 14 master's colleges and universities, and 25 doctoral universities.

A Hispanic-Serving Institution is a higher education institution with an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 25% Hispanic. There are currently 572 HSIs in the U.S., including 21 in Arizona.

This year's Fulbright HSI Leaders were recognized for sending and/or hosting U.S. and international Fulbright students, scholars and specialists, as well as supporting on-campus engagement within the Fulbright Program during the 2022-2023 academic year.

"This designation as a Fulbright HSI Leader affirms our commitment to fostering global connections, cross-cultural exchange and the expansion of knowledge," said Elliott Cheu, interim senior vice president of research and innovation. "As one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scholars and an HSI, we believe international scholarship promotes a more connected and informed global society."

UArizona previously tied with Penn State as the nation's top producer of Fulbright Scholars and set a university record during the 2022-2023 academic year when 17 faculty members and researchers received fellowships.

"The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, which serves all UArizona undergraduates and recent graduates, is thrilled the University of Arizona is once again recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader," said Karna L. Walter, W.A. Franke Honors College assistant dean for student engagement. "In our work with applicants for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, we partner with colleagues in the Office of Research, Innovation and Impact who provide excellent support to faculty in their applications for Fulbright. Engaging and supporting applicants who seek to represent the United States abroad through Fulbright is an important goal that we will continue to pursue now and in years to come."

The Fulbright Program was founded in 1946 with the stated goal to "increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and people of other countries." The program awards more than 1,700 fellowships each year to allow approximately 800 U.S. scholars to travel abroad, while 900 international scholars come to the U.S. Since the program's inception, more than 400,000 students, teachers and scholars have been awarded Fulbright fellowships. The program, active in more than 160 countries worldwide, partners with governments, academic institutions, corporations and nonprofit foundations to host scholars.

Faculty and staff who are interested in applying for a Fulbright award can contact Research Development Services. Students can contact Karna Walter in the Honors College for more information.