Departments and academic units at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign can host scholars at risk through the Illinois Scholars at Risk (ISAR) Program. The ISAR Program assists and supports departments and units interested in hosting a scholar at risk on a visiting basis. The ISAR Committee works with departments and units to identify a scholar at risk to host. Such scholars are normally drawn from scholar profiles provided by the Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) and Scholars at Risk (SAR), an international network of higher education institutions and associations dedicated to protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom around the world. The ISAR Committee also assists host units in coordinating the arrival and housing for a hosted scholar at risk and in supporting the scholar at risk throughout their stay.

Funding

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has made available matching funds to support departmental and college efforts to host a scholar at risk. The ISAR Program minimum salary for a SAR-affiliated scholar at risk is $35,000 for a 12-month contract. If a scholar at risk has a family, the minimum salary needed to secure a visa is higher. For IIE-SRF fellows, the minimum salary is $50,000. Half of that amount ($25,000) comes directly from IIE-SRF. The other half ($25,000 minimum) must come from Illinois. The ISAR Program also provides $5000 towards relocation costs and an insurance supplement to cover insurance premium costs for non-IIE-SRF fellows. IIE-SRF fellows receive these directly from IIE-SRF. The ISAR Program works with Fairlawn Real Estate to secure subsidized furnished housing for all ISAR participants. All host departments and units are expected to provide appropriate support for the scholar’s work. Appropriate support varies depending on the nature of the discipline and work in which the scholar at risk will be engaged. Examples of support might include, but are not limited to, providing a computer, an office, or lab space where applicable.

If you have any questions about funding, please contact isarillinois@illinois.edu.

Academic and Professional Development Support for ISAR Scholars

Academic Mentor: Campus host units are expected to assign a faculty member as academic mentor for a visiting scholar at risk. The role of the academic mentor is to help the scholar at risk understand the department’s unspoken expectations and its political and social cues so that visiting scholar at risk develop a sense of being an insider rather than an outsider. The academic mentor should meet routinely with the visiting scholar at risk. Meetings provide a space for the visiting scholar at risk to discuss their professional activity. If the visiting scholar at risk will be teaching, the faculty mentor should provide sample syllabi and assist with course development. The academic mentor should provide information on any specific policies with regard to teaching or grading that the visiting scholar at risk should review, along with any classroom norms and best practices. The academic mentor may also want to explain particular research standards, resources, and publishing opportunities, among other things, of relevance to the visiting scholar at risk and the department. The academic mentor can work with the ISAR Committee in arranging for transportation when the visiting scholar at risk initially arrives and helping the visiting scholar at risk move into their housing. To review the ISAR Program Academic Mentor’s Checklist, click here.

Administrative Mentor: It is recommended that the visiting scholars at risk have an administrative mentor, in addition to the academic mentor. The administrative mentor will assist with ensuring the visiting scholar at risk’s visa and work authorizations have been issued and that travel has been arranged. The visiting scholar at risk’s administrative mentor will assist the visiting scholar at risk in enrolling in the institution’s payroll systems, and help with office setup and technical specifications, as well as obtaining keys and a university ID.  To review the ISAR Program Administrative Mentor’s Checklist, click here.

If you would like to get more information about the role and responsibilities of the academic and administrative mentors, please contact isarillinois@illinois.edu.