Bronx Community College (BCC) today announced that it has been named a Fulbright HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) Leader for 2024. Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recognizes select HSIs for their strong engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. 

Fulbright HSI Leaders demonstrate noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and encourage administrators, faculty, and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright on campus.  The Fulbright HSI Leaders Initiative also highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars. This is the first year BCC has been selected for this prestigious list. 

The 51 recognized colleges and universities include seven associates colleges, five baccalaureate colleges and special focus institutions, 10 master’s colleges and universities, and 29 doctoral universities.  

The Fulbright HSI Leaders were announced during the International Plenary Session of the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). 

Scott Weinhold, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, commended the 2024 Fulbright HSI Leaders for their support of the Fulbright Program. Weinhold said, “Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the Program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives, and talents of the American people.”   

“BCC has a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Interim BCC President Milton Santiago. “We are honored to be recognized this year, along with our CUNY counterparts, as a Fulbright HSI Leader in the Associates category for our work promoting excellence and equity in educational access for all students.”  

Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and in all fields with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.  Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex address global challenges.  Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program. 

The Fulbright Program implements a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its participants reflect all aspects of the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. In addition to HACU, the Fulbright Program also cultivates relationships with external stakeholders, including the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Diversity Abroad, UNCF, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, the American Association of Community Colleges, and Mobility International, among many others.