Iowa State has a smaller number of Fulbright scholars than peer universities because of low application rates.

Sixteen students at Pennsylvania State University received Fulbright scholarships last spring, while no ISU student received the award.

Fulbright scholarships haven’t been awarded to ISU students since three students received them for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards grants to fund student-designed research projects for specific countries abroad. Recent graduates, postgraduate students and developing professionals and artists apply in hopes of having their projects funded. About 6,000 students apply for the program annually, but only around 1,000 receive the scholarship. Though Iowa State seems to have a low number of Fulbright scholars for a school its size, there are a few reasons why such a small number of ISU students become scholars, said Carolyn Payne, ISU Fulbright liaison. Typically, one to three students receive the award each year, she said.

“I think it’s typical for the kind of university we are,” Payne said.

Fulbright Scholarships tend to be awarded to students from universities with graduate degrees in subjects like foreign languages, area studies and anthropology, which Iowa State’s graduate college does not have, Payne said.

Usually, three to five ISU students apply for the program. Penn State sends many more applications for the Fulbright program, said Tineke Cunning, Fulbright coordinator at Penn State. Last year, 61 students applied, and 16 received the award.

Universities with fellowship offices tend to receive more awards, Payne said. These offices aid students in applying for many types of fellowships and scholarship programs, she said. Iowa State doesn’t have that kind of central office.

“If it had, it could be easier for students to apply for this and other fellowships,” she said.

Cunning said the fellowship office at Penn State publicizes the Fulbright program and provides preparatory workshops to help students fill out their applications.

Schools with many applicants for the Fulbright program probably have a component to encourage graduate students to study abroad. Iowa State doesn’t encourage graduate students to go abroad as much as it could, Payne said.