For the ninth consecutive year, Emory University was named a top producer of Fulbright scholars, adding to its expansive network of alumni grantees of the nationally acclaimed and prestigious award. Now, however, the 23 Emory alumni and current students who received Fulbright scholarships for the 2024-25 cycle are among more than 12,500 U.S. students left with significant funding deficits abroad. This worrisome situation leaves students stranded with minimal means to support themselves in foreign countries as they teach language classes or conduct groundbreaking research.
The Fulbright Program is one of the oldest and most well-regarded international scholarships, akin to programs like the Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship and Barry Goldwater Scholarship. However, the cessation of funding for Fulbright awardees is one of a slew of new U.S. Department of State budget cuts issued by President Donald Trump’s administration, including the reckless slashing of the U.S. Agency for International Development and a plan to shutter a dozen U.S. consulates abroad by this summer.
In addition to Fulbright awardees, those now pursuing or planning to pursue federally issued Gilman Scholarships or Critical Language Scholarships face uncertainty regarding continued financial support. This uncertainty follows the indefinite funding freeze for federal study abroad grants issued by the State Department on Feb. 12. From cuts targeting scientific research to language studies, the Trump administration’s unprecedented attack on education threatens to undermine American scholars and researchers across disciplines. Ever since these aforementioned government-sponsored scholarship programs were instituted, they have relied on a consistent stream of funding to attract talented students. Now, however, Trump’s dangerously unpredictable and isolationist foreign policy agenda endangers the livelihoods of U.S. students now caught in the crossfire of its reckoning.
Furthermore, Trump’s order to “close” the U.S. Department of Education is only one attempt to slash educational initiatives as a whole, both domestic and global. While Emory and other private academic institutions in the United States cannot control the federal government's attack on educational initiatives and funding under Trump, they can counteract it and support their students — or at the very least, not leave them in the dark. Scholars at other universities, such as Harvard University (Mass.), have expressed similar desires, as they have also received no word of any effort from their institutions to support them.
When asked about how Emory plans to support its students and alumni on Fulbright scholarships, Emory Communications did not state anything regarding the notice it posted on March 5 – a notice that does not address the University’s plan to protect them. Though University President Gregory Fenves’ February visit to Capitol Hill to “advocate” for these students was a good first step, the University has outlined no clear plan for future support. To prevent Emory alumni who are currently on Fulbright scholarships abroad from falling through the cracks, the Emory National Scholarships and Fellowships (NS&FP) Office should take initiative in advocating for the continuation of its funding for students.
While graduating during these uncertain times is daunting, Emory students should not feel discouraged by the potential dissolution of awards like the Fulbright, as chances to continue their postgraduate scholarship post graduation are still within reach through many privately funded scholarships. Students seeking educational experiences abroad should look for alternatives, both within and outside of Emory, especially by working with the NS&FP office. With Emory’s already established variety of internal awards that support scholarship and access to international education across all disciplines, students can pursue global scholarship opportunities like the Eagles Abroad scholarship and the Halle Institute for Global Research, among others. Students can also look to privately funded scholarships like Schwartzman sScholars to still participate in those educational experiences abroad. These programs receive a lesser volume of applications and still serve the same purpose of expanding access to education abroad, giving access to this opportunity for students who would otherwise see it taken away.
The above editorial represents the majority opinion of The Emory Wheel’s Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is composed of Editorial Board Editor Carly Aikens, Arts & Life Editor Hunter Buchheit, Allie Guo, Carson Kindred, Mira Krichavsky, Eliana Liporace, Niki Rajani, Josh Rosenblut, Ilka Tona and Crystal Zhang.
