Alerts & Campaigns

Scholars at Risk undertakes activities on behalf of scholars still under threat in their home country—such as those suffering prosecution on improper or false charges or wrongfully imprisoned—as well as against widespread threats to an entire faculty, university or system.

Alerts

SAR issues two types of alerts on threats to scholars and universities. Alerts are shared through the SAR website, press releases, and circulation to the SAR public email list, which is comprised of hundreds of faculty, administrators, students, staff and other friends. 

Action alerts invite individuals to take timely action on behalf of a threatened scholar or in response to a wider incident, generally by sending letters, faxes, emails or making calls to media, policymakers and other key stakeholders. SAR provides background on situation, contact information for stakeholders and draft text for messages.

Information alerts provide information about situations which may be of interest to the list members but do not require action. These may include updates on prior action alerts (for example an annoucement of the release of a wrongfully imprisoned scholar who had previously been the subject of an SAR action alert) or new information.

Campaigns

In situations where threats to academic freedom or attacks on scholars or universities are especially serious or prolonged SAR may develop—on its own or partnership with affiliated organizations—campaigns coordinating various activities, including for example alerts, events and site visits. Such campaigns are generally coordinated by volunteer faculty or students at SAR member institutions under the direction of the SAR office and board.