“Each year, the Chronicle of Higher Education publishes a list of colleges and universities that have excelled in certain areas in terms of having a certain number of Fulbright grants offered to students, faculty members, or both,” Assistant Dean for Administration and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ashley Green and Fulbright Program Advisor Joy Campbell said in an email.

MSU was named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards for 2021-22. The university was the second-highest producer in the nation this year, and one of 18 universities with this designation.

To be named a top producer for scholars, an institution is to have six or more grants awarded in a given year. MSU had 11.

Fulbright applicants must submit a lengthy application, including a project statement and bibliography, CV, several letters of recommendation, short essays on topics such as why they chose this country and how familiar they are with the host culture and much more. 

“Applications are first reviewed by Peer Review Committees in the United States,” Green and Campbell said in the email. “Applications selected to advance are then sent to the Fulbright Commissions in the various host countries for further review.”

The Fulbright Program was originally established in 1946 and is now considered the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. 

The Fulbright program offers international, educational and cultural exchange programs designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other nations. Fulbright is funded by U.S. government grants and operates through various initiatives in over 160 partner countries.

”There are Fulbright programs in diverse fields for students, scholars, professionals, and more,” Green and Campbell said in the email.

Fulbright recipients study, teach or pursue important research and professional endeavors while abroad.