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Many returned Fulbright teachers stay involved with the Teacher Exchange Program through grassroots alumni networks and/or the Fulbright Association. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange office at USIA (soon to be the Department of State), recognizes the significant personal and financial contributions teachers make toward pursuing the goals of the international exchange. These groups are dedicated to building a network of returned Fulbright alumni and friends of the program who share the common goal of working toward greater international understanding in their communities. Alumni groups are involved in a host of activities: they provide support for current foreign teachers, recruit applicants for the program, and make presentations at professional, community and school events. Fulbright groups are as diverse as the returned Fulbrighters who organize them; however, membership gives alumni a sense of a shared and common experience and the power to affect change.

The National Humanities Center’s Fulbright at Fifty Report recommends that the Fulbright program should "engage alumni" so as to "internationalize" communities in the U.S. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is committed to assisting alumni groups flourish and we encourage teachers to participate in the Fulbright Association and Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program activities. You will find a summary of opportunities for alumni work below:

I. FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION

Through the Fulbright Association, Teacher Exchange Program alumni may participate in nationwide and local chapter activities. As association members, alumni can support the Fulbright Program in the following ways:

• Join or start-up a local Fulbright Association Chapter in your area
• Participate in task forces, advocate for the Fulbright program, and attend the annual conference
• Nominate alumni teachers for Association Board positions
• Utilize current foreign teachers as USIA-sponsored Visiting Lecturers
• Participate in Fulbright Association Chapter Enrichment mini-grants

If you would like more information on becoming active in the
Fulbright Association please contact Lisa Chapin, Director
of Member and Chapter Services, at 202-331-1590 or visit
the Fulbright Association website.


II. FULBRIGHT TEACHER EXCHANGE ALUMNI NETWORKS

The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program encourages and supports a variety of alumni activities. Activities are open to alumni who are or are not members of the national Fulbright Association.

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program alumni can support the Fulbright mandate in the following ways:

• Recruit and serve as a resource person for potential future applicants
• Make presentations on your Fulbright experience at community events
• Provide a network of support to current foreign teachers and other alumni
• Provide pre-departure orientation services to U.S. teachers
• Lead and participate in relevant conferences and professional activities

III. SPECIAL GRANTS

The Fulbright Teacher Exchange office at USIA is awarding up to twenty $1,000.00 grants on a competitive basis to individual alumni teachers, small groups of two or more alumni, alumni organizations, or Fulbright Association chapters that support the above goals and activities. We encourage alumni to be creative and pursue projects that meet local or regional interests. Grant proposals should be submitted on behalf of at least two alumni (give names) and should be no longer than two pages. Please also include the following:

• The applicants’ contact name, address, e-mail and telephone number
• Organization and number of members, if applicable
• The names of Fulbright teachers and alumni involved in the activity
• A description of the goals and activity/activities
• A budget breakdown and narrative

Proposals that demonstrate long-term impact and collaborative activities are preferred.

Grant proposals will be reviewed by the Fulbright Teacher Exchange staff and awarded on an ongoing basis. For specific guidelines and application information please contact Jennifer Gibson, USIA, Teacher Exchange Branch, E/ASX, 301 4th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547 (Telephone 202-619-4547 or Fax: 202-401-1433). You may also submit questions or proposals via E-mail: jgibson@usia.gov. Notification of grant awards will be made within two weeks of proposal submission.

Upon completion of your activity, federal guidelines require that you send expense receipts to USIA as well as a brief but complete report documenting the activities performed during the grant.