UT Designated Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader
- Oct 30, 2023
- Global Engagement and Strategy
The U.S. Department of State has recognized 46 Hispanic-serving institutions that have demonstrated noteworthy engagement with the Fulbright Program as 2023 Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leaders, including The University of Texas at Austin.
The designation comes on the heels of the University earning the Seal of Excelencia. This prestigious award exemplifies UT’s role as one of the country's largest and most academically esteemed Hispanic-serving institutions. This year, the percentage of Hispanic undergraduates rose to 28.2 percent from 27.9 percent.
The honor reflects the committed engagement among Fulbright and administrators, faculty members and students, highlighting the strengths of UT as a Hispanic-serving institution and destination for international students and scholars.
"UT has a long and fruitful history with the Fulbright Program, and we proudly welcome this designation as a leading Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution," said Richard Flores, deputy to the president for academic strategies. "As one of the largest, most academically prestigious universities, we are proud to be recognized as one of the best places in the country for Hispanic students to prosper. With more than one-fourth of our community being Latino, we warmly welcome this designation and the leadership opportunities it brings to our students, faculty and staff."
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. Established in 1949, UT’s Fulbright Program has ranked among the top 25 Fulbright-scholar-producing institutions during the past 15 years after sending more than 300 Longhorn Fulbright scholars abroad and welcoming nearly 500 visiting Fulbright scholars from around the globe.
“The University of Texas at Austin values its longstanding partnership with the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and we are deeply honored by the University’s designation as a 2023 Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader,” said Sonia Feigenbaum, senior vice provost for global engagement and chief international officer. “This distinction reaffirms our unwavering commitment to international exchange, exemplifies our dedication to fostering lasting connections around the world, and mirrors our efforts to prepare future leaders and global citizens. We are excited about our partnership with Fulbright as we continue our pursuit for excellence in global education.”
The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized the universities at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ annual conference. It first began awarding this designation annually in 2021.
