Hosting a Fulbright Scholar at ND

Notre Dame Global strongly encourages Notre Dame departments to host Fulbright Visiting Scholars. Hosting a scholar through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program requires no actual financial outlay from Notre Dame beyond access to facilities and programs. All University constituents, whether they be administrators, faculty, or students, can benefit from the presence of Fulbright Visiting Scholars at Notre Dame. These individuals enrich ND’s intellectual and research endeavors, international connections, and global perspectives.

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR)

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) Program enables U.S. colleges and universities to specifically address internationalization goals for their campus. The visiting scholars work across departments in a variety of ways that could include developing new or enhancing existing international programs, adding an international dimension to coursework, and providing an opportunity for U.S. students to learn about a particular country or region of the world.

• The program is open to all accredited U.S. institutions of higher education. The institution must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requiring nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs.
• Foreign scholars are eligible to serve as Scholars-in-Residence. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are ineligible.
• Scholar teaching responsibilities are limited to a maximum of two courses per semester.
• Proposals shall not authorize engagement in pastoral, missionary, or other professional religious activities.
• Proposals shall not authorize engagement in activities for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required.
• U.S. institutions may not host Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence participants in consecutive academic years. An institution hosting an S-I-R in a given academic year must wait one academic year before hosting a subsequent S-I-R. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a Scholar-in-Residence award.

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) provides travel awards through the Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF), which allows Fulbright Visiting Scholars currently in the U.S. to accept guest lecturing invitations at other colleges and universities. A representative of the institution requesting an OLF visit from a Fulbright Visiting Scholar must serve as the applicant for the OLF award. Notre Dame faculty can search the list of current eligible Fulbright Visiting Scholars in the U.S., and scholar contact information can be obtained through either the listed faculty associate or the host institution department.

Hosting a Scholar

A Fulbright award is very prestigious. Scholars coming to Notre Dame are likely to be excited and may be a little apprehensive about joining a vibrant new international academic community. It is important that they feel welcome at Notre Dame, both upon their arrival and throughout their time here. Providing scholars with work or office space, if possible, is desirable. Inviting them to departmental events, scholarly talks, campus activities, and generally introducing them to colleagues and to the culture of the campus is all part of providing a welcoming community.

Helping with the smooth execution of administrative details before and after the scholar’s acceptance by Fulbright, up to their arrival on campus, paves the way to a good welcome.

Host Department

Costs

The costs to host a Fulbright scholar are minimal to a department. Fulbright scholars receive a stipend for living expenses as part of their Fulbright award. Fulbright also covers travel to the U.S., visa processing fees, and health insurance. Notre Dame is not responsible for providing financial assistance or housing.

Invitation Letter

Faculty may be contacted by a prospective Fulbright scholar who would like to be hosted at Notre Dame, or a Notre Dame faculty member may have a collaboration with an international scholar whom they would like to invite. Such plans should be discussed with the department Chair as to whether the prospective scholar’s research interests or proposed activities are within the department’s capacity and whether there is interest in hosting a Fulbright scholar. If so, it is helpful (and sometimes required) to write a letter of invitation on department letterhead, minimally addressing the following:

• The fact that the Department is interested in hosting the scholar
• How the department is a good fit for the scholar’s research interests/and or proposed activities
• Name of the faculty associate (faculty mentor) and their contact information
• Proposed start date

Access additional information on writing letters of invitation for Fulbright Scholars. The letter becomes part of the prospective scholar’s application to Fulbright.

Before the Scholar Arrives

Institutional Response Form

Once Fulbright makes a possible placement for a visiting scholar, Fulbright contacts the University to confirm the placement via the Institutional Response Form (IRF). Fulbright's IRF must be completed for the DS-2019 immigration document to be issued to the Fulbright Scholar.

Leah Zimmer (lzimmer3@nd.edu), the University of Notre Dame's Fulbright Administrative Official, is responsible for the final signing off on the Fulbright Institutional Reply Form (IRF), which confirms the scholar’s affiliation with the University. It can vary as to who is the first recipient of this form, as sometimes it should go directly to the faculty associate and/or directly to Ms. Zimmer. Both need to sign, with the final signature being that of Ms. Zimmer, who then returns the form to Fulbright. Ms Zimmer will, in turn, inform the relevant department administrator when the completed IRF form has been submitted to Fulbright.

Visa Documentation

Fulbright sponsors the scholars and therefore issues their U.S. visa documentation. International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) is not involved in a request for a visa, as Notre Dame is not the immigration sponsor.

Establishing Visiting Scholar Status at Notre Dame

As soon as possible after the IRF form has been submitted to Fulbright, the department administrator should contact the Fulbright Scholar to get them established as a Visiting Scholar in the Notre Dame system. To do so, they will request that the Scholar provide information and documentation through Interfolio. Any questions that may arise should be directed to Joe Lyphout (jlyphou1@nd.edu).

Notre Dame E-Mail and Login

Once the Fulbright Scholar is fully entered into the Notre Dame system, they will receive an email with instructions about setting up their email account and login information.

Scholar Pre-Arrival Preparations

While there are no formal requirements regarding pre-arrival communication, the overall goal is to be as helpful and welcoming as possible as the scholar prepares for the transition. While the scholar is responsible for finding their own housing, the department should be prepared to help if needed. The hosting department may be asked to provide guidance or advice on other issues such as: transportation, schooling for dependents, banking, driver’s license, etc.

The department administrator should contact Leah Zimmer to inform her of the scholar’s arrival date on campus.

Once the Scholar Arrives

The faculty associate or another departmental representative must be available to assist the scholar immediately upon arrival. At that time, direction and guidance will be needed for obtaining an ND ID and access to the library, etc. Particulars on such should have already been communicated once the scholar is entered in the ND system through Interfolio.

International Scholar Orientation

While Notre Dame is not the immigration sponsor, once the scholar has arrived on campus, contact can be made with Leah Zimmer (lzimmer@nd.edu) to facilitate additional orientation to ND and the USA.

Resolution of Problems or Concerns

Concerns related to ND can be discussed and resolved through the departmental administrator or faculty host. If problems cannot be resolved at that level and additional input is needed, please contact Geraldine Meehan in NDG (gmeehan@nd.edu). Authorizations related to travel or matters related to the scholar’s J-I status, need to be resolved through the scholar’s Fulbright Advisor (noted on their DS-2019).

When the Scholar Leaves Campus

When the Fulbright Scholar leaves ND, they are terminated from the ND system through Personnel Actions, by the department administrator with access to that system.