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Alex_H entered the room.
Alex_H: hello
Athena_Fulay: Welcome Alex
Alex_H: I have some questions about the application process
Athena_Fulay: The chat is actually taking place in the Fulbright room, if you have a specific question, I'm happy to help, but there are several program staff members in the Fulbright room.
Alex_H: i am interested in applying to Colombia
CIES_Jonathan entered the room.
Alex_H: is there a specialist for that country/area?
Lindsay_Hench entered the room.
Alex_H has left the room.
Athena_Fulay is going to Fulbright
Athena_Fulay entered the room.
You are in Fulbright.
There are 9 people in the room.
Alisha_Scott_(CIES): Hi Alex, welcome to the Fulbright chat.
Athena_Fulay: Welcome everyone.
Alex_H: hello again
Alisha_Scott_(CIES): Let us know if you have any questions.
Alex_H: Hi Alisha
Athena_Fulay: Thanks for your question, Alex. Adrienne Capkovic is our program associate for the western hemisphere and might be able to answer your question.
Alex_H: I am applying to go to Colombia
Adrienne_Capkovic: Hi Alex
Alex_H: Hi Adrienne
Athena_Fulay: Are there any campus representatives joining us today?
Adrienne_Capkovic: That's great! Do you have any questions about the process?
Alex_H: I am looking at several possible host institution in Colombia. Is there a way to have two affialiations or do I need to choose only one?
Agboto entered the room.
Kelly_Makowiecki: Nan, we all also have All-Discipline awards in all of our Sub-Saharan Africa countries, which allow applicants to apply for an award in a wide range of disciplines. If Literature is your specialization, then you would have to decide where you would like to do your Fulbright award and identify possible host institutions. You would then want to contact someone at that host institution to find out if they have a need/interest for your specialization.
Athena_Fulay: Welcome Agboto!
Adrienne_Capkovic: You can have two host institutions.
Agboto: I'm an applicant Thanks.
Athena_Fulay: To which country, Agboto?
Alex_H: how would I go about that in the application? I need two letters of invitation?
Agboto: Togo. I'm planing a research project on HIV/AIDS non governmental organizations in Togo.
Adrienne_Capkovic: Your time can be split between two institutions. For example you could teach at two different universities.
Alex_H: Even if the two institutions are in different cities?
Adrienne_Capkovic: Yes, you would explain in your project statement how you would split the time in your grant, and then you would need two letters of invitation.
Athena_Fulay: Agboto, do you have institutions in mind for your affiliation?
Alex_H: For Colombia, the grant description says: The Fulbright Commission in Colombia will facilitate in-country travel for lecturing and conference participation, especially at underrepresented regional universities. All scholars are expected to give at least one public lecture on their research during the grant period. What does this mean?
Agboto: Yes, I have already contacted the coalition of HIV/AIDS non governmental organizations in Togo. I have been in discussion with them for a few months now and they provided me with a letter of support. The US embassy in Lome, through the American Cultural Center also provided me with a letter of support after I sent them a draft of the proposal.
Adrienne_Capkovic: Well, that would be more complicated. Usually that would only work if the two universities are fairly close to each other. Since the max length for a grant to Colombia is 5 months, I would suggest that you pick two places close to each other.
Athena_Fulay: That's great, Agboto - you're half way there!
Agboto: Yes, I've been working on this for quite some time now.
Athena_Fulay: May I ask what institutions everyone is from?
Alex_H: OK. One more question: I will be applying under the LR option. What's the best way to reflect in the proposal title? A different title for each endeavor? I am not clear on how to differentiate both components L and R since I will be combining both while I am there --of course if I am chosen !
Kelly_Makowiecki: Agboto, I work with scholars interested in Sub-Saharan Africa, and I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have about your application proccess.
Adrienne_Capkovic: Lecturing is a requirement for grants to Colombia. They are saying that you will probably have to lecture at least once to a group outside of your class.
Adrienne_Capkovic: The title is not as important as the project statement.
Alex_H: OK. That's good.
Agboto: I'm an assistant professor and biostatistician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Meharry Medical College in Nashville (Tennesse).
Adrienne_Capkovic: As long as you clearly state in your PS what you want to do, you will be understood.
Alex_H: What kind of information would you like to see in the letter of invitation?
Adrienne_Capkovic: That you are welcome to come to the university to complete your research and that there will be space for you. Nothing financial has to be stated.
Adrienne_Capkovic: The more specific the information, the better, such as what classes you will be teaching and what dates they want you to come.
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Alex_H: The letter will be probably written in Spanish. Can I submit my own translation? Is that OK?
Adrienne_Capkovic: Yes, you can do an informal translation of your own, and just send it in to us.
Adrienne_Capkovic: The translation can be emailed, mailed, or faxed to us.
Alex_H: I have a question about the Language Proficiency Form: Do I need to submit that even if I am a native speaker of Spanish ?
Adrienne_Capkovic: Were you born in a Spanish speaking country?
Alex_H: Yes
Adrienne_Capkovic: Then no, you don't have to submit one.
Alex_H: Thanks.
Adrienne_Capkovic: No problem!
Alex_H: One more question on the references (sorry to bombard you with questions!!):
Athena_Fulay: Great questions, Alex, I know I've learned alot!
Adrienne_Capkovic: It's ok!
Alex_H: Is there any preference for outside or in-house reference letters, meaning from my institution or other institutions? I am only planning to have one letter (Teaching Report) from my home university and the other two from other US universities.. is that OK?
Adrienne_Capkovic: That is completely fine. We do strongly encourage outside references.
Nan_H: I am a campus representative from Concordia University, St. Paul. I was just checking this out. I hope to have a faculty member applying soon and didn't want to miss anything. However, at this point, I don't have any questions in particular. Am I right that maybe next time when the applicant has questions, that would be more useful?
Athena_Fulay: Hi Nan, thanks for joining us today. These chats will happen with increasing frequency, and tend to draw more and more applicants the closer we are to the August 1 deadline.
Alex_H: Is being a naturalized citizen an issue for the application process?
Athena_Fulay: We encourage Campus Reps to participate in case they also have questions regarding the process.
Adrienne_Capkovic: No, a citizen is a citizen. We have a lot of naturalized citizens that apply and receive Fulbright grants, especially in Latin America.
Athena_Fulay: Nan - do you have Campus Rep information/questions you'd like to discuss? We have chats specifically designed for Campus Reps to talk about best practices and strategies in promoting the program with their faculty.
Agboto: I'm about to submit my complete application soon. But I will attend a few more of these chat sessions before doing the complete submission.
Athena_Fulay: Hi Agboto, we'll be there the first Wednesday of each month through August 1. 2pm, EST.
Alex_H: Thanks, Adrienne. One more: I just got promoted at my home institution, but my new rank won't take effect until Sept 1, 2008. Since the application is due on Aug 1, should I use my current rank and update it later on?
Agboto: Great. I'll put it on outlook calendar and will make it then. Thanks for the useful info.
Adrienne_Capkovic: Yes. Once you are officially promoted you will have to inform us, but not until then.
Alex_H: How do I do that once the application is sent online I don't think changes are allowed, right?
Nan_H: Athena - I don't have any questions in particular. However, I went to one local presentation, thinking I had little to learn. It made me decide to suggest to the then dean we sponsor a Fulbright scholar coming here. Now that program is applying for its second scholar. Therefore, I have learned that even when I don't expect to learn something, I do.
Adrienne_Capkovic: My collegues and I will be able to change your application and make additions as necessary.
Alex_H: Great!
Athena_Fulay: Hello Nan, Welcome!
Nan_H: I just gave my final final of the academic year and now want to learn more about the Fulbright program.
Athena_Fulay: The chat is actually taking place in the Fulbright room, please click the Rooms tab above, select the Fulbright room, and click the change rooms button.
ScholarSupreme entered the room.
kelly_h entered the room.
Athena_Fulay: Welcome Scholar Supreme and Kelly Holtmeier
Adrienne_Capkovic: Anything else?
Alex_H: Adrienne, could you explain to me the purpose of listing Alternate counties in my application?
Adrienne_Capkovic: That is if you are not selected as a scholar to Colombia, sometimes we are able to move qualified applicants around to other countries.
Alex_H: Ok. So I can simply list countries that are geographically close to Colombia without having to explain my need to do actual research in those countries ?
Adrienne_Capkovic: Yes.
Agboto: Thanks to all of you for your time and help.
Agboto: Bye now.
Athena_Fulay: Alex - our peer review committees are regionally based. If you are open to being considered for other countries within that region, our committee members can take that into consideration if the applicant wants us to.
Athena_Fulay: Good bye, Agboto, see you next time - and best of luck!
Agboto has left the room.
Alex_H: Thanks, Athena and Adrienne, that's very helpful
Adrienne_Capkovic: You're welcome
Abby_CIES entered the room.
Alex_H: Do you have any posted statitics on the acceptance/rejection rate for applications to Latin America (or specific countries)?
Athena_Fulay: I wouldn't waste precious time/space in my project statement discussing how they project is applicable across different countries. But if you do list alternates, we would contact you to see how you'd like to proceed.
Athena_Fulay: Statistics vary from year to year, and don't really capture the depth of the competition pool....
Alex_H: Thanks, Athena. I see your point :)
Athena_Fulay: for example, if you're competing in an all disciplines catagory
Athena_Fulay: and 5 our of the 10 applications are in american literature, the competition will be tougher if that is your field.
Athena_Fulay: if you're in the field of business, and the only one of the 10, you chances are statistically higher. Or vice versa.
Alex_H: OK. I will try my best and will keep my fingers crossed
Athena_Fulay: Traditionally, English speaking countries are among the most competitive, followed closely by Western Europe, but Latin America is up there as well!
Adrienne_Capkovic: Good luck! Please feel free to call or email us with any additional questions.
Alex_H: Well, I guess I won't know if I don't try ;)
Athena_Fulay: Exactly!
Alex_H: Can I contact the Fulbright person listed in the grant description, Carol Robles, if I have further questions?
Adrienne_Capkovic: Yes, or you can contact me.
Alex_H: what's your email?
Alex_H: or how would i contact you?
Adrienne_Capkovic: acapkovic@cies.iie.org
Adrienne_Capkovic: I should be listed after Carol.
Alex_H: Thanks, Athena and Adrienne for your help. If I have additional questions (is it possible, really!!??) I will try to chat again next time or contact you via email. Many thanks!!!
Adrienne_Capkovic: OK, great! Glad we could be of help.
Athena_Fulay: You're most welcome! Feel free to contact us at anytime - we're here to help! The next one is scheduled for June 4th.
Alex_H: It's a great idea that you;re holding this chat sessions.
Alex_H: Many thanks, and bye for now
Adrienne_Capkovic: Bye
Athena_Fulay: Bye - thanks for stopping by!
Athena_Fulay: Best of luck!
Athena_Fulay: Nan - will you be attending NAFSA this year?
Nan_H: No. Concordia does not have many foreign students.
Athena_Fulay: This is our first year attending NAFSA in awhile, but since it's in Washington, we'll be having a Campus Rep workshop in DC right before it.
Nan_H: I know. I thought about attending, but am not free.
Athena_Fulay: I'm sorry to hear so, but hopefully we'll be in the St. Paul area again soon. Carol Robles was just their in March, I believe.
Nan_H: Time is running out. If you ever think of ways to help institutions as small as Concordia where faculty teach much more than research to keep us involved in global conversations about teaching, I would appreciate it. Bye
Nan_H has left the room.
Athena_Fulay: Hi Nan - I'm happy to discuss ways with which to engage your faculty.
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