Hillary Jones Henry faced tough choices when he received his February stipend for teaching Swahili at the University of Wisconsin-Madison six days late, receiving one-fourth of the promised amount.
A native of Kenya, Jones Henry teaches under the federally funded Fulbright Foreign Student program, which places hundreds of foreign language instructors at universities across the United States for an academic year. The eight Fulbright Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA’s) at UW-Madison for 2024-25 are paid by the federal government, not the university and when the Trump administration froze State Department grant payments in early February, some couldn’t pay basic living expenses.
“I had to do weighing to find [what was] the most important,” Jones Henry told The Daily Cardinal. “I decided that my food was more important than the rent.”
Thankfully, Jones Henry’s landlord, a UW-Madison professor emeritus, was understanding of his situation. Still, some FLTA’s couldn’t make rent on time and were forced to leave their apartments, as Fulbright was slow in providing more details about upcoming payments.
“They did not explain the future [and] we were left in the darkness,” Jones Henry said. “You didn't know whether they are going to pay the next [stipend] or they are not going to pay.”
FLTA’s key in bridging cultures but under threat, FLTA’s say
Established in 1967, the FLTA program was designed to facilitate the learning of other cultures and languages for Americans, and develop the English and U.S. knowledge for foreign instructors. Onsee Khamphouvong, a UW-Madison FLTA who teaches Lao, described FLTA’s as “cultural ambassadors.”
“[FLTA’s] are not only teaching a language, because teaching or learning language, it means that you are learning other cultures as well,” Khamphouvong told the Cardinal, adding he teaches, audits classes and participates in cultural events in Madison.
At UW-Madison, FLTA’s teach a variety of less commonly taught languages, including Yoruba, Zulu and Thai. For some of the languages, particularly in the African Cultural Studies Departments, they are the sole instructor, especially at the more advanced levels.
But recent events have thrown the future of such programs, and the people and languages they support, into doubt.
On Feb. 13 the State Department initiated a 15-day suspension of federal grant funding for various international and educational programs, including the Fulbright program. The suspension, which aligns with the Trump administration's broader pattern of slashing government funding to eliminate perceived wasteful spending, was later extended and has still not been fully restored.
FLTA’s receive paid flights to and from the U.S. and monthly stipends of $1,320. Jones Henry and Khamphouvong expected to receive their stipend on Feb. 22, but the date flew by with nothing.
Though a check arrived on Feb. 28, it was only $330, below the rent they pay, and came with no explanation.
During this time, UW-Madison was “very helpful,” providing vouchers worth 10 meals and $400 for groceries, multiple FLTA’s told the Cardinal. Jones Henry added that Madison food pantries were also a big support and said some people who sympathized with them gave money.
A week after, Fulbright informed participants delays were due to a “temporary pause,” stemming from a new administration. And though the remaining stipend amount was paid a few weeks ago, and March’s stipend was paid on time, they weren’t given guarantees that April or May’s stipends wouldn’t be disrupted, Jones Henry said. His biggest concern is whether Fulbright could pay for his return flight to Kenya in May, something made more difficult as the Fulbright administrator in charge of flights was laid off.
Jones Henry voiced his view that the situation “wasn’t of [Fulbrights] making,” but instead one created by the federal government. When he came to the U.S. in August he received a warm welcome but feels more alienated in recent months, he said.
“When the new administration came in, that was the first time I started feeling the sense that I am a foreigner in this land, and perhaps my services are not all that valued,” Jones Henry said, adding he wouldn’t have come to the U.S. if he knew what the situation would’ve been.
Future of programs, languages in doubt
Demand is not equal among the roughly 50 languages UW-Madison offers, and some of the classes FLTA’s teach have one or two students. Without the Fulbright program, there is a possibility there would be no instructor for those higher levels, an administrator who asked to remain anonymous said, adding it could be difficult to justify hiring a faculty member for a class so small.
“If they cut [Fulbright] completely, or they do away with it, then I don't think the [African Languages Department] will have enough teaching assistants to carry out that job,” Jones Henry said.
African Languages Program Director Adeola Agoke told the Cardinal she didn’t currently have information to share if certain programs would be discontinued.
Even though enrollment may be small, the skills taught in these classes are important, Jones Henry said, noting if these lesser-spoken languages were not taught it could lead to less engagement with the rest of the world.
“There is no better way you can appreciate other people's culture than to learn their language,” he said.
Khamphouvong echoed this and said that though social media could connect people across the world, it “wasn’t enough” on its own.
“It’s [more effective] to allow other FLTA’s or people from other countries to come so they can interact with people in person,” Khamphouvong said, referencing a presentation on Laos he did on campus earlier this year. The majority of the attendees knew nothing about Lao at the start, but by the end they were dancing to the music and really enjoying it, he said.
“I would like them to keep this kind of program, but even if we don't get any support from the federal government, maybe the university should have some kind of budget so that we can keep our program,” he said.
When asked if he would recommend people eager to become a FLTA to still apply, Jones Henry said the program was very beneficial but advised caution.
“I'll tell them it's a good program,” Jones Henry said. “I might wait four years, though.”
Gavin Escott is the campus news editor for the Daily Cardinal. He has covered protests, breaking news and written in-depth on Wisconsin politics and higher education. He is the former producer of the Cardinal Call podcast. Follow him on X at @gav_escott.
