Rochester Without Borders: Advancing Global Teaching and Learning
Global education is an integral part of the University of Rochester’s strategic vision and our commitment to preparing students to thrive in an interconnected world. Today’s most global challenges, from climate change and global health to technological transformation and social equity, transcend national borders. Preparing the next generation of global problem solvers to understand and address these issues, requires a curriculum that extends beyond the campus and into diverse global contexts.
Role of Faculty
Faculty play a central role in making this vision possible. Across the University, faculty are weaving global perspectives into the curriculum in creative and meaningful ways, from education abroad and faculty-led travel courses to global internships, collaborative research opportunities, and virtual global classrooms that connect Rochester students with peers and experts around the world. Study abroad is one powerful facet of this broader ecosystem of global learning. Together, these experiences allow students to encounter new ideas, engage across cultures, and apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges.
Leading a Program Abroad
For many faculty, leading a program abroad becomes one of the most rewarding teaching experiences of their careers. Faculty-led programs transform the world into an extension of the classroom in ways that resonate with Rochester’s areas of scholarly distinction. Students studying global health might examine healthcare delivery and community health systems firsthand in partnership with local clinics and organizations. Those exploring optics, photonics, or engineering may engage with international research centers and innovation hubs shaping the future of technology. Courses in economics, public policy, and business can come alive through direct engagement with global markets and institutions, while programs in the arts and humanities may immerse students in the cultural landscapes that shape literature, music, history, and creative expression.
Education Abroad & Faculty-led Programs
Faculty are essential partners in bringing global education to life at Rochester. Through faculty-led programs, the Center for Education Abroad (CEA) creates immersive experiences that blend academic rigor with experiential learning, taking students from classrooms to field sites across the globe. Since their post-pandemic restart, CEA has launched several new faculty-led or organized programs in destinations including Ecuador, Estonia, Greece, Italy, and Japan, demonstrating renewed faculty engagement and student enthusiasm for these transformative opportunities.
Grayson Honig '27 (Florence: Lisio Italian Studies)
Variety of Options and Locations
Lisio Italian Studies - Creative Writing Tutorial Workshop in Florence: An advanced creative writing tutorial combining workshops, individual meetings, and writing projects. Students recommended by the Office of Mentoring and Student Advocacy received full funding to participate in this immersive program exploring the intersection of place and prose—an example of our commitment to inclusive excellence.
The Theater in England Program combines direct exposure to London’s world-class theatre scene with academic study. Over about two weeks between December and January, students travel to London, England to immerse themselves in live performance and British theatre culture.
The CRYSTAL Dynamics program, Led by Dr. Michael Ruggiero, aims to immerse students in cutting-edge research on crystalline dynamics, with applications spanning various fields such as organic electronics, porous crystals, and sustainable materials.
Supporting Faculty
Leading a program abroad requires significant time and commitment. That's why CEA provides comprehensive support throughout the program lifecycle, from initial concepts through logistics, health and safety protocols, and re-entry assessment. We're currently developing a comprehensive Faculty Handbook to empower and standardize program development. Schedule an appointment to meet with the Associate Director.
URochester Fulbright U.S. Student Grant Update
The spring semester marks an exciting time in the Fulbright U.S. Student Grant competition cycle—both the announcement of semifinalists for the current year and the beginning of recruitment for the next applicant pool. For the 2026–27 grant year, thirty-seven University of Rochester students and alumni applied through the River Campus and Eastman School of Music campus committees. Nineteen applicants have advanced to the semifinalist stage and are now awaiting final selection decisions, which are typically announced by mid-April.
Proposed Fulbright Projects
Rochester applicants proposed projects in seventeen countries, from Armenia and Laos to the United Kingdom and Uruguay. Proposed projects include teaching English and U.S. culture in South Korea, pursuing a master’s degree in mathematical philosophy in Germany, continuing advanced percussion studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Denmark, and conducting doctoral research in Spain. These projects highlight the intellectual breadth of Rochester’s Fulbright candidates and their commitment to cross-cultural exchange.
2027-28 Fulbright Competition
While the community awaits this year’s results, preparations are already underway for the 2027–28 Fulbright competition, which opens March 31. The Student Fellowships Office has begun outreach and recruitment through Fulbright information sessions and advising appointments to support prospective applicants. Rising seniors, graduate students, and alumni are encouraged to begin exploring potential host countries and project ideas now, as developing a competitive application typically takes several months.
Monthly Observances
Each month, the Office for Global Engagement will highlight holidays observed around the world, fostering greater awareness of celebrations across cultures and communities.
March 2 – Purim begins at sundown (Jewish)
March 3 – Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)
March 4 – Holi (Hindu)
March 6 – Employee Appreciation Day
March 8 – International Women's Day
March 14 – Pi Day
March 16 – Laylat al-Qadr (Islamic)
March 17 – St. Patrick's Day
March 19 – Chaitra Navratri begins (Hindu)
March 20 – Ostara (Wicca/Paganism)
March 20 – Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Islamic)
March 20 – Ostara - (Southern Hemisphere) Wicca/Paganism
March 21 – Naw Ruz (Baha'i)
March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day
March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27 – Chaitra Navratri ends (Hindu)
March 29 – Palm Sunday
March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31 – Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)
