US State Department Cancels Grant for University of Iowa Program: What This Means for Students

The U.S. State Department is pulling its support for the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. They announced that the program, which brings together writers from around the world, is no longer a priority, and they’re cutting nearly $1 million in funding.

Christopher Merrill, the program’s director, calls this news “devastating.” He expressed sadness over the end of a 58-year partnership with the State Department, which he described as productive and meaningful.

Usually, the program invites 30 writers for an 11-week session each fall. However, this year, they will only be able to host about 15 writers due to the funding cut. “We’ll do our best to create a valuable experience for a smaller group,” Merrill said, adding that they hope to explore new ways to sustain the program in the coming months.

It’s worth noting that three alumni of this program have even won the Nobel Prize for Literature, highlighting the program’s significance in the literary world.

Additionally, a mentoring initiative aimed at writers from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, and Myanmar, which launched last year, has also been canceled, along with a youth summer program.

This shift in funding leaves a big question mark about the future of the International Writing Program, which has played a crucial role in fostering global literary connections.

(By James Kelley, Iowa Public Radio/Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson contributed to this story.)