On behalf of all of us at Fulbright Canada, our hearts go out to everyone who is impacted by the COVID-19 global health emergency, not just in Canada and the United States, but around the world. Please know that throughout this emergency, supporting the health, safety, and security of our grantees and their families, along with our alumni, is our primary focus. We also encourage all grantees, alumni, and Fulbright Canada partners and community contacts, to reach out to us at any time should they wish to.
As we all know, the situation continues to change rapidly. Following guidance from both national and international health agencies and, of course, our two governments, we have moved quickly to cancel all public events, in-person programs, and related events. We have initiated a voluntary early return protocol for all current grantees. At the same time, we are tracking all of our grantees and providing support for them. This support includes the following: providing the full grant payment to all participants, whether they continue on their program or return home, accelerating grant payments, a commitment to ensuring Fulbright alumni status regardless of early completion, and, of course, emergency support and guidance where necessary.
All programs scheduled for the next sixty days, along with all new travel, have been cancelled and/or postponed. We will be offering alternative programming, including on-line symposia, academic presentations, working group sessions, advising, and other meetings. More details on this will follow. We will be working with our various partners, most particularly universities, to ensure that students do not lose their year, that academic success does not go unrecognized, and that critical research continues to be supported.
There is no question that this is a time of considerable uncertainty and unrest. While we do not know exactly what the future may hold, we feel confident that by working together, strictly following the advice of governments and health agencies, and supporting each other, we’ll emerge from this crisis stronger than before. Moreover, I sincerely hope that we emerge even more dedicated to the common good and to the tremendous importance of education, knowledge, and research in what is an increasingly complex and interdependent world.
Thank you for your support,
Michael Hawes, BAH, MIA, PhD
CEO Fulbright Canada