WCU actively encourages its faculty to pursue academic opportunities abroad. Cross-border scholarship promotes international program articulation, enriching academic life for faculty and students alike. Former Fulbright scholarship holders consistently describe their experiences as transformative, both professionally and personally. Fulbright is the flagship international opportunity for American scholars and institutions. A variety of programs serve different needs with long-term and short-term opportunities, overseas and in the USA. Several of these opportunities are outlined below, with links to specific program guidelines.

In the upper right-hand corner of this page, view the video of a workshop on strategies for developing successful Fulbright proposals, conducted at WCU by Maria Bettua, Assistant Director of the Europe-Eurasia Unit of the Fulbright Program at the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). She also serves as Program Manager for the Distinguished Chairs Program and for the United Kingdom.

Accounts of WCU faculty stories in a variety of media are also linked, below, from this Web site.

CIES administers various Fulbright programs on behalf of the US State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. You also may find the CIES Program Overview and "Tips for Applying" Web sites helpful. Narrative program descriptions on this Web site represent local interpretation of CIES program descriptions. For accurate, up-to-date program descriptions, please connect to the CIES Web sites hot-linked below.

Fulbright programs for US faculty

Traditional Senior Scholarships (US scholars)	This is the most popular Fulbright program for US scholars. Awards typically last between one semester and one full academic year. Some programs require foreign language proficiency; others do not. Awards are defined as lecture, research, or lecture/research, and are described in CIES catalogs, available online and in print. Details, including links to online catalogs and guidelines, about the traditional Fulbright Senior Scholar program may be found at:   http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/
Senior Specialist Program (US scholars)	The Senior Specialist Program (SSP) is designed for experienced American scholars to meet specific short-term needs defined by institutions abroad. SSP assignments are awarded for periods of 2-6 weeks. US scholars do not apply for individual assignments; rather they apply for inclusion on a CIES-administered roster of peer-reviewed professionals, who are then matched with request for assistance from Fulbright commissions abroad. For more information, contact:   http://www.cies.org/specialists/
Distringuished Chairs Program (US scholars)	The prestigious Distinguished Chairs Program awards are designed for scholars with outstanding academic track records in research and teaching. These appointments are highly competitive. Application follows a two-stage process, with short-listed candiates for each award invited to submit a final application. Approximately 40 awards are granted every year in a variety of countries. More information may be found at:   http://www.cies.org/ab_dc/
International Ed Administrator Program (US scholars: Germany, Korea and Japan)	The International Education Administrators Program (IEA) offers US university administrators with the opportunity to interact with peers abroad in their own higher education settings. Awards are offered for Germany, Korea and Japan. They typically involve structured visits, meetings and seminars. Grant periods run between 2 and 3 weeks. In addition to learning about higher education and national culture in the host countries, awardees are expected to offer perspectives on American higher education. Application deadlines depend on the country of assignment. The IEA Web site is located at:   http://www.cies.org/IEA/
German Studies Seminar (US scholars: Germany)	Approximately 25 awards are granted annually in the German Studies Seminar. Each year a different program topic is established. Seminars may be conducted in German or in English, depending on the current topic. For 2008-2009 the topic is "Science and Society: The Impact of Science on Policy Formation" (in English). GSS grants are two weeks long. For more information, please visit:   http://www.cies.org/award_book/award2008/award/Ful8257.htm
New Century Scholars Program (US and foreign scholars)	Each year, the New Century Scholars (NCS) Program assembles a global community of 25-30 prominent research scholars. Under the guidance of a Distinguished New Century Scholar Leader, NCS Fellows conduct year-long, in depth collaborations in a multidisciplinary framework on a topic of global concern. Additional details may be found at:   http://www.cies.org/NCS/

Fulbright programs for US institutions

Scholar-In-Residence Program	Overseas scholars are invited to compete for lecturing assignments at US universities for a semester or full academic year. The SIR program offers significant support for these placements. More information about the role of US institutions in securing host status for foreign SIRs may be found at:   http://www.cies.org/sir/
Visiting Specialists Program (Muslim World access)	This Fulbright program has been established to advance American knowledge of Islamic culture and civilization. The VSP/MW program offers opportunity for American instritutions to invite specialists from the Muslim world for short-term teaching and outreach assignments. Please connect to the following Web site for more detail:   http://www.cies.org/Visiting_Specialists/
Occasional Lecturer Program	Fulbright award-holders placed in American institutions for long-term assignments represent a vital intellectual resource pool beyond their primary host postings. Other US organizations may draw on this pool for short-term lectureships. The OLP provides travel awards for such assignments. Detailed guidelines may be found at:   http://www.cies.org/sir/olp/
European Union SIR Program	Through the EU SIR Program, experts in European affairs are selected as resident fellows for one-term visits to American campuses. Particulars about this grant program may be obtained at:   http://www.cies.org/sir/eusir/

WCU cross-border scholarship stories    WCU faculty share stories about overseas scholarship adventure (Flash video opens in new window)   John LeBaron's Senior Specialist Award to the University of Helsinki, Finland, May-June, 2006

More information from WCU faculty and staff

John LeBaron, phone 2454	jlebaron@wcu.edu
Jeanne Dorle, phone 3603	jdorle@wcu.edu
Lois Petrovich-Mwaniki, phone 3440	lmwaniki@wcu.edu
Amy Martin, phone 7196	amartin@wcu.edu

© Western Carolina University, 2007-2008