[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 30 (Monday, February 23, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING RUTGERS UNIVERSITY FOR WINNING THE NAFSA 2014 SENATOR PAUL 
           SIMON AWARD FOR COMPREHENSIVE INTERNATIONALIZATION

 Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I wish to honor Rutgers 
University for winning the 2014 Senator Paul Simon Award for 
Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA: The Association of 
International Educators. The award is named for the late Senator Paul 
Simon and is among the most prestigious awards for systemwide 
comprehensive internationalization. The award recognizes Rutgers' 
significant strides in providing a global education to its students, 
tackling global challenges through research, and working with diverse 
communities at home and abroad.
  The award honors the university's significant achievements in 
enhancing its global reputation over the course of its nearly 250-year 
history. One hundred and fifty years ago, the university first began 
this process when it welcomed to campus a handful of students from 
Japan. Today, Rutgers hosts nearly 1,500 international undergraduate 
students from over 125 countries each year.
  Through the Rutgers' Centers for Global Advancement and International 
Affairs, GAIA Centers, the university has established hundreds of 
strong research and education partnerships with key institutions on six 
continents. The centers' advising services, cross-cultural social 
events, and immigration processing have streamlined the arrival and 
cultural adjustment of nearly 7,000 talented international students and 
scholars. The centers have grown service-learning abroad and study 
abroad opportunities from just a couple of programs in the 1960s to 
over 160 semester and year-long courses. The centers also foster unique 
and strong relationships with the United Nations, one of only a handful 
of universities around the globe to do so.
  Rutgers actively participates in flagship international programs. 
Since January 2012, the university has hosted 73 Brazilian students for 
year-long, non-degree educational programs under the Brazilian 
Scientific Mobility Program. Rutgers was also one of only 20 
universities nationwide selected to host talented young African leaders 
for a 6-week civic leadership program under President Obama's Mandela 
Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
  Rutgers students and alumni received 26 Fulbright grants this year, a 
record number for the university. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program 
reported that this ties Rutgers for third place among research 
universities nationwide.
  The university's worldwide reception is higher than ever before. In 
2013, the Center for World University Rankings, CWUR, ranked Rutgers 
33rd out of hundreds of international institutions.
  I congratulate Rutgers University for winning the 2014 Senator Paul 
Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization, and I look forward 
to their continued success.

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