Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This research paper analyzes the operational mechanics and underlying philosophy of the Fulbright Scholarship Program during its formative years. Established via Public Law 584, the program utilized foreign currency credits from the sale of post-war surplus property to fund educational exchanges. The author characterizes the program not merely as a technological or academic pursuit, but as a "cooperative enterprise" designed to foster international understanding through face-to-face contact. 

The administration of the program involved a complex network of government and private entities. The Board of Foreign Scholarships served as the final authority on selections, while the Department of State coordinated foreign policy objectives. Domestic screening was delegated to specialized agencies: the Institute of International Education for graduate students, the Office of Education for exchange teachers, and the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils for lecturers and researchers. Abroad, bi-national commissions managed fund disbursement and local institutional attachments. 

The study details specific eligibility and financial provisions for various participants. American grantees typically received international travel, tuition, and maintenance, though these funds were non-convertible to dollars. Foreign nationals primarily received travel grants, often requiring supplemental dollar support from private sources or host institutions. The author emphasizes that a "statement of purpose" was a critical factor in selection, as it demonstrated an applicant's maturity and potential as a "half-scholar, half-ambassador". 

The paper concludes by identifying a major defect: the program's reliance on finite surplus property funds, which led to the termination of agreements in countries like Turkey once credits were exhausted. Despite this, the author argues the Fulbright program successfully established a permanent trend in international education that private agencies and other governments eventually began to emulate.

Research Highlights

  • Primary Figures: Senator J. William Fulbright; Assistant Secretary of State Edward W. Barrett; Harold Mendelsohn; S. J. Niefeld.

  • Key Events: Passage of Public Law 584 (79th Congress) and Public Law 400 (82nd Congress); creation of the International Information Administration; presentation of the American Ballet Theatre in Rotterdam; Howard University players performing in Norway. 

  • Date/Location: January 25, 1954; Washington, D.C., with analysis covering exchange programs across 24 participating countries including Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. 

  • Archival Significance: Detailed administrative breakdown of the Fulbright Scholarship Program’s financial provisions, including a $20,000,000 aggregate currency limit; explanation of the inter-foundation loan system; analysis of the "war of ideas" and cultural assault strategies used during the Cold War.

Publication Date

1-1954

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