Hosting Threatened Scholars

In 2002, SAR partnered with the Institute of International Education which was then establishing IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund.

The SRF is an independent organization but partners closely with SAR member universities in arranging opportunities for threatened scholars. The SRF currently provides fellowships to 25-40 scholars each year.

Scholars at Risk invites institutions hosting SRF grantees to join the network, building links with similarly interested institutions and faculty and increasing the combined capacity of the Network and the Fund to assist threatened scholars and promote academic freedom worldwide.

Identifying a candidate: Universities and colleges interested in hosting a threatened scholar are encouraged to identify and to apply jointly to the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) with specific candidates.

University or college contribution: Matching support must be provided by the host institution or other source, generally in the form of a stipend, salary or other direct funding for the candidate. In-kind contributions (such as housing, airfare, maintenance, meal programs, tuition waivers, office space, computers, language or other training fees, etc.) may be included in a support package and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. An itemized list of host contributions, with equivalent dollar values for any in-kind portion, should be included in any application jointly presented by a scholar and host institution.

Evaluating joint-applications: Joint-applications from a university or college and an identified scholar will be evaluated based on the candidate's academic qualifications, the quality/potential of the candidate's work, and the urgency of risks faced, as well as the level and nature of the university or college's matching support.