The Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence (SIR) program brings visiting scholars and professionals from abroad to lecture for one semester or academic year at U.S. colleges and universities that don't usually have the opportunity to host visiting scholars, such as: small liberal arts colleges, regional undergraduate universities, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges). Although the SIR program is a small component of the Fulbright family of programs, providing an estimated 46 grants in FY 2008, it is most beneficial to the hosting U.S. colleges and universities and their students, faculty and communities. Equally important, it is the only Fulbright program that enables visiting scholars to lecture at Institutions of Higher Education in the United States, thereby providing grantees with unique and significant professional benefits, a special opportunity for gaining an understanding of Americans and American institutions, society and culture, and the ability to take new-found teaching and community experiences with them upon returning home.
Summary of recommended institutional proposals for Brazil for the academic year 2008/2009
Name of Institution: Chatham College
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Grant Start Date: 8/15/2008
Length of Award: 9
Estimated Fulbright Funding: $26,450
Institutional support: $6.000
In-kind Support: housing and meals
Academic Field: Brazilian Culture and History
Chatham University is a private, nonsectarian institution consisting of three colleges, of which one, Catharine College for Women, offers baccalaureate degrees only to women. It enrolls 1,873 students and is located within close proximity to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chatham University seeks a female Fulbright Scholar in Residence to help the University, its neighboring institutions and the Pittsburgh Community to gain a critical understanding of the culture, politics, economics and development issues of Brazil, as the country its Global Focus Program will feature next year. Ideally, the scholar would be a generalist who could be instrumental in assisting its faculty in incorporating Brazil into their respective disciplines and in infusing Brazil into a wide variety of courses. The scholar would teach two courses per semester in a general subject area, influenced by her expertise as well as participate in and organize a variety of academic as well as non-academic activities both on- and off-campus.
Name of Institution: Lewis University
Location: Romeoville, IL
Grant Start Date: 1/20/2009
Length of Award: 4
Estimated Fulbright Funding: $12,850
In-Kind Support: $8,400
Academic Field: Sociology/Intercultural Studies
Lewis University is a comprehensive Catholic and Lasallian university with 3,800 undergraduate students enrolled in its main campus in Romeoville, Illinois and five regional centers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Nine percent of its students are Latino, mostly of Mexican heritage. In recent years, Lewis has launched a comprehensive plan to enhance Latino Studies and Contemporary Global Studies. The university seeks to augment these efforts by hosting a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Brazil with a background in Sociology or cultural studies. The scholar would co-teach two general education and Sociology courses, providing a Latin American perspective and would participate in a variety of student activities, including those of the Latin American Students Organization (LASO), to promote Hispanic cultural awareness. Also, the SIR would assist with the High School Leadership Conference it organizes each year to encourage more Latina/o youth to pursue higher education. Finally, the scholar would have the opportunity to work with a variety of community faith and immigrant groups to help implement community action, such as voter registration, policy advocacy, and grass roots organizing.
