Although the application deadline for most Fulbright programs for faculty members isn’t until Aug. 1, it’s never too early to apply.

Typically, the first reaction is: why start planning now? First, many awards require a letter of invitation, and it’s much easier to work out this requirement now than during the summer. Also, it allows departments adequate time to plan for replacements as well as adequate time for the personal planning involved in moving oneself — and a family — abroad.

The Fulbright programs for faculty members are administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars. Some of the program options to consider are:

• The core faculty program, which sends about 800 U.S. faculty members and professionals abroad each year to lecture and conduct research.
• The Fulbright Specialist Program, which is for short-term collaboration (two to six weeks) at higher education institutions in more than 100 countries. The Fulbright funds the international travel costs and an honorarium, and participating host universities cover grantee in-country expenses. These grants do not fund research but do fund seminars, workshops and collaboration on curriculum planning and have a rolling deadline.   
• The Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program, which provides about 40 lecturing and research awards that range from three to 12 months in length. Candidates should be eminent scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record.
• The Fulbright International Education Administrators Program, which funds senior higher education officials and international education professionals for programs in Germany, India, Japan and Korea. Participants learn about the country’s academic infrastructure and culture. The programs in Japan and Korea occur in June, the German program in October and the program in India is in March.

If you have any questions about the programs, contact Amy Henry, the faculty Fulbright contact at Georgia Tech or Karen Adams.