Western Carolina University logo with Coulter Faculty Commons

Upcoming Fulbright Specialist Panel

by | Aug 29, 2025 | Blog, Professional Development, Research, Teaching and Learning, University Support

Want to Learn More About Fubright Opportunities?

Flyer for Fulbright Specialist Panel on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Friday, September 12 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Hunter Library 186 or Zoom

Panelists:

  • Wes Milner, Director of Global Engagement, WCU Fulbright Liaison
  • Chuck Thomas, Dean of Library Services
  • Marie-Line Germain, Professor of HR and Leadership

Drop-ins welcome, pre-registration preferred
Pre-Register at http://bit.ly/4oQ7ci3

Finding the Right Fulbright Program for You

By Yanjun Yan, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering, UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching Winner 2023, Fulbright U.S. Scholar 2021 

It is with mixed feelings that I write about this as the funding for Fulbright has been turbulent this year. The good news is that as of August 22, 2025, several Fulbright programs are among 28 programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to get their FY25 budget released and Congress has a 15-day period to fully approve them by early September. Meanwhile, a budget of $287.8 million was proposed for Fulbright programs in FY26. Unfortunately, 22 other programs at ECA may get their FY25 budget cut. The Fulbright-Hays Program was funded through the Department of Education and was cancelled in FY25. 

Despite the recent funding turmoil, Fulbright has been the flagship international exchange initiative since 1946. Every U.S. dollar invested in Fulbright leverages an additional 60 cents in funding from private sectors or other countries. People may not realize that there are various Fulbright programs for different stages in their careers. Fulbright programs in the FY26 budget proposal include: 

Fulbright programs require U.S. citizenship to be eligible. The most suitable programs for faculty are the U.S. Scholar (2-12 months) and/or the Specialist (2-6 weeks). I will provide some tips on the U.S. Scholar program below, and we will offer a panel on the Specialist program on Friday, September 12, 2025, in Hunter Library 186, 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Zoom option (pre-register at http://bit.ly/4oQ7ci3 but walk-ins are welcome).

Explore Fulbright Opportunities

For Fulbright U.S. Scholar program:  

  • The programs can be research, teaching, teaching/research, or professional. Some programs are set in one of the types, but other programs may allow you to choose the type. A Research-only grant is treated as a non-taxable fellowship, but if the grant is used to support teaching, even partially, it becomes taxable income. The monetary amount of the grant can vary depending on location and the number of awards. As reviewers, we have seen applications from community college faculty who identified an equivalent host abroad, or researchers who pioneered a research field. All applications were reviewed by the suitability of the project and the preparedness of the applicants, and none of them were at a disadvantage.  
  • The programs may last from 2 months to 12 months. Some programs are set in their durations, while others may allow you to choose the number of months. The FLEX option may allow one to split their stay into two segments, but not all programs have the FLEX feature. 
  • Many programs require an invitation letter from the host institution, but some are optional, and some prohibit you from submitting an invitation letter. If you do not have a connection beforehand, you may still find a program that suits you. 
  • For a country with sizable Fulbright programs, there is often a Fulbright Commission with dedicated staff to manage the programs. Or else, the U.S. embassy in that country is the contact and manager of the programs. They often organize cultural and academic events while you are there. During the application process, you can also reach out to IIE (the platform for Fulbright applications) staff or alums if you have a question. 
  • About 60% of the grants provide dependent support. While on-site, there can be mini grants for projects or travel grants for presentations. Every family’s situation is different. You may need to consider children’s education, spouse’s work relocation, and renting out your house or finding a house sitter and/or pet sitter. Most programs expect you to find a rental room locally and pay for it, although some programs may provide some lodging support, or the hosts may provide lodging. It’s okay to ask the local staff if there may be English schools for your children. 
  • Most programs are in a single country, but there may be programs involving two or more countries.  
  • There are two rounds of reviews, and some countries may call for an interview. The first round of reviews is in the U.S. based on merit and the decision may be released in late November. The second round of reviews is in the host country to make the match. The final decision can be awarded, rejected, being an alternative (if the awardee declines the offer, you will be awarded), or switched to a nearby country (if you agree). 
  • At WCU, you could sync up your Fulbright U.S. Scholar application (due around September 15) with the WCU Scholarly Development Assignment Program (SDAP) application (due around October 1), with approval from your Department Head and Dean, or reach out to the Provost’s Office for more guidance on the timing. 

As a Fulbright alum or a supporter of Fulbright, you are welcome to join the Fulbright Association (FBA). I have been on the NC FBA board since summer 2023, and we have organized several events such as a panel in Fall 2023 “Meet WCU Fulbrighters”, a panel in Spring 2024 on U.S. Scholar, and the upcoming panel on Specialist on Sep 12, 2025. If you’d like to encourage your students to consider Fulbright, please contact WCU ONIA (Office of National and International Awards) and watch out for the third annual WCU Fulbright Week events, expected in Spring 2026.