The Fulbright Program offers education in the USA for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds who have been carefully vetted by their national commissions and represent only the best in their field.

In light of COVID-19, extraordinary measures have already been implemented so that Fulbright scholars can continue or finish their academic pursuits. Since the outset of this situation, the Fulbright scholars have been granted accommodations to cope with exceptional circumstances. Many have been allowed to fly back to their home countries voluntarily and everyone continues their studies remotely, even though the online study is not authorized by the Fulbright program regulation. But in addition, we ask that due to the unforeseen circumstances the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Fulbright Program Sponsors and the US Department of State

consider making the Post-Degree Academic Training (PDAT) requirements more flexible!

Currently, the program is not providing flexibility by demanding certainty about the “in-person work” component of PDAT and making the document submission deadline stricter than it was before - shifting it to a 6-week timeframe when it was 4 to 6 weeks before COVID-19. At the same time, the job hunt has become more challenging because:

• Recruitment processes are temporarily suspended or delayed in many fields
• Companies have moved to remote work

The inflexibility that many of us have faced regarding these circumstances is jeopardizing the program’s mission and puts students in a precarious state. Granting flexibility in terms of deadline extension and “in-person work” requirement would provide grantees with the following opportunities:

• to utilize newly acquired knowledge in practical field
• to experience the American work environment
• of sharing their expertise with American organizations
• of making meaningful work connections
• to acquire new contacts for projects that can be implemented in their countries
• certainty to return to their home countries as skilled professionals who are highly valued due to acquired education and practical work experience

We specifically ask that the Institute of International Education, the Fulbright Program Sponsors and the US Department of State take into account the unprecedented circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and grant exceptional permission for two specific requirements:

1. Allow authorized positions to be performed remotely until it is safe to resume in-person work.
2. Allow extending the document submission deadlines up to 2 weeks prior to the program completion.

The Fulbright program was created by Senator J. William Fulbright. In his own words he meant to “bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship”. We expect that as Fulbrighters we are fully given this chance. Now more than ever it is vital to continue this mission to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries

If you agree, please sign the petition and support the current Fulbrighters in receiving this extraordinary opportunity!