The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will host several orientations from now through September 7, 2012, for newly-arrived Fulbright Foreign Students, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs), Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange participants, and Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching participants, who are beginning their studies or teaching experiences in the United States this fall. The orientations will provide the more than 1,000 new participants with an introduction to the United States, U.S. higher education, and the Fulbright Program.

The Fulbright Foreign Student and FLTA orientations will take place at 17 colleges and universities across the United States, including community colleges and minority-serving institutions. During the orientations, Fulbright Students and Fulbright FLTAs, hailing from over 120 countries, will learn about U.S. academic culture, U.S. society and people, cross-cultural awareness, teaching methodology, and Fulbright grant responsibilities, as well participate in local cultural activities.

After completing their orientations, the Fulbright Students and FLTAs will travel to colleges and universities in all 50 states to begin their Fulbright programs. Fulbright Students will engage in graduate study and research programs, and FLTAs will help to teach their native languages to U.S. students.

Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange participants and Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching participants will travel to Washington, D.C. for their orientations. Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Participants will spend the next semester or academic year in an American classroom, while Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching participants will conduct their studies at the University of Maryland’s College of Education.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government. Since its inception over sixty years ago, it has provided over 315,000 participants– chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential – with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, to exchange ideas and to contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Media Contacts: Susan Pittman, PittmanSR@state.gov, (202) 632-6373.