Austin College Is Top Fulbright Producer

Austin College is the number one producer of Fulbright students among Texas bachelor’s institutions for 2011­-2012—and among the top in the nation, according to a list of top Fulbright producers released by the Fulbright Program and published in October 2011 by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The Chronicle listed institutions by type, including Austin College among bachelor’s institutions—the only Texas school on that list. That category includes many schools with larger student populations than Austin College’s 1,350­member student body.

Additionally, with six Fulbright awards in 2011­-2012, Austin College surpassed all Texas educational institutions of any type last year—bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral— with the lone exception of the University of Texas at Austin, which received seven awards drawing on a student population exceeding 50,000.

“This accomplishment is a perfect example of the Austin College difference,” said Austin College President Marjorie Hass. “From day one, we want our students to succeed and our aim is to provide the guidance and resources to allow them to meet their goals and become their best selves. A welcoming community, challenging academics, and adventurous, hands­-on learning opportunities are the foundation for our students’ development. Faculty and staff see students as individuals, each with strengths to be drawn upon and passions to be ignited. Our faculty members work hard to help outstanding student candidates to be prepared for great post­graduate opportunities like the Fulbright experience. ”

“Why does Austin College produce more Fulbright students than almost any school in Texas?” said Patrick Duffey, Austin College Fulbright program advisor and dean of Humanities. “Our students are bright when they arrive at Austin College. Our goal as faculty and staff is to help them shine as brightly as possible while they are with us and help them to shine even more after they graduate. Our students have more international experience; more than 70 percent of our students study abroad before they graduate. Too, our language department is particularly strong, and this makes our students more competitive for the Fulbright. Because of the various types of internships and service work our students have internationally, they have ‘real world’ experiences that make them attractive to the Fulbright program.”

The six awards for 2011­-2012 are the highest number made to Austin College students in one year. “This success represents Austin College’s commitment to international programs that enhance the cultural awareness of our graduates, and also demonstrates the extraordinary efforts of our faculty who work with students to enhance their post­graduate success,” said Mike Imhoff, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty. “The Fulbright program is highly competitive and selects students who not only have exceptional preparation but also are able to present themselves persuasively in writing and later in an interview. Without our faculty’s guidance and energy, Austin College would not have this exemplary record of post­graduate success.”

See the Current and Past Fulbright Recipients

Comments? Email editor@austincollege.edu.