Elliott Hall and 189 West Main Street will be home to 95 Fulbright Foreign students in August.

Fulbright summer hub

University selected as host institution for two summer Fulbright programs

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2:32 p.m., May 8, 2015--During July and August, campus streets will be bustling with the sights and sounds of 95 Fulbright Foreign Students from across the globe.

The University of Delaware’s Institute for Global Studies (IGS) and English Language Institute (ELI) have been selected to host two orientation programs for Fulbright students and scholars.

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Three University of Delaware students and an alumna have received word this spring that they will travel abroad as part of the newest class of Fulbright Student Program award winners.

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Two University of Delaware students, John McCarron and Bridgette Spritz, have been selected as Peace Corps volunteers and will serve in Ghana and Rwanda.

Funded by the Department of State (DOS) and managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE), these programs serve as a “gateway” to the U.S. for the Fulbrighters, who will study and research at institutions across the country.

From July 27 through Aug. 14, ELI will host a three-week pre-academic English for graduate studies program for 35 Fulbright foreign students.

Students will hone their graduate research and communication skills, culminating in a TED talk-style presentation, which will be modeled by several guest speakers. 

In smaller groups, working with American graduate student mentors, Fulbright scholars will engage in activities on and off campus, explore resources available at U.S. universities and discuss strategies for succeeding in graduate school.

Activities include spending a day with a host family, as well as an international networking event with People to People and trips to local heritage sites like Philadelphia and Old New Castle.

During this program, participating Fulbright students will be challenged to forge new relationships and break down cultural barriers.

“Diversity makes for an incredibly exciting environment,” said Baerbel Schumacher, manager for international programs at ELI. “Everyone is new and there are no cultural enclaves. They all have to be outwardly oriented and very open. That’s what is so exciting for us.”

IGS is set to host approximately 60 foreign Fulbrighters in August for a week-long gateway orientation focused on cultural immersion, networking and the promotion of mutual understanding.

Working with collaborators from across many University units, the program will provide its students with an introduction to American life as well as a crash course in U.S. academic culture.

Dan Bottomley, associate director for grants and contracts with IGS, said the primary goal of the program is to introduce the Fulbright students to Americans. 

“We want to emphasize the many kinds of diversity present in the U.S. and that stereotypes and perceived expectations aren’t always correct,” Bottomley said. “Our goal is to create a bridge for cultural understanding and, while they are learning about us, we will be learning about them, too.” 

The two summer programs will not only ensure the success of participants in their Fulbright endeavors, but will also contribute to the cross-cultural understanding of community members.

“These students will be on Main Street, in Trabant, and around campus,” said Bottomley. “They will be interacting with the community every step of the way.”

For both ELI and IGS, these programs come as an opportunity to celebrate a dedication to excellence in their fields. According to Schumacher, “It’s really an expression of some of the unique features and quality of our ELI program. It is an honoring of the quality of our program and I guess faith among the sponsor that we will do an outstanding job.” 

IGS, slated to host three other programs for young leaders from the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, is eager to add to the myriad of cultural diversity present on campus this summer. “IGS has developed a real commitment to on-campus global programming,” said Bottomley. “We are being trendsetters in developing and working with the next generation of global leaders.”

This commitment to campus globalization has also become a University-wide priority, earning UD the prestigious 2015 Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Campus Internationalization.

To learn more about each of these programs, contact Don Bottomley at IGS and Baerbel Schumacher at ELI.

About the Institute for Global Studies

The Institute for Global Studies was created in 2009 to enhance the international dimensions of teaching, research and outreach at the University of Delaware. IGS provides leadership and support for programs and experiences that contribute to the education of informed, skilled, open-minded citizens of the world.

Best known for coordinating the University’s study abroad program, IGS also awards scholarships and grants to faculty and students for a number of global opportunities, and administers internationally-recognized programs such as the MEPI (Middle East Partnership Initiative) Student Leaders Institute, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders, and most recently the SUSI-WL (Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders) program. 

In addition, IGS sponsors such signature events as Global Month each fall and country-specific celebrations each spring.

IGS collaborates with other global partners on campus, including the Office for International Students and Scholars, the Confucius Institute and the Center for Global and Area Studies.

About the English Language Institute

Founded in 1979, the English Language Institute offers the highest-quality intensive English programs for degree-seeking students, business and legal professionals, English language teachers, and general English language learners from around the world.

With a core Intensive English Program, a unique Conditional Admissions Program, and 14 other specialized avenues of study for English learners each year, ELI is a leader in its field.

Article by Nikki Laws

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