Call for Nominations/Invitations: "Scholars at Risk Fellowships", 09/02

ANNOUNCEMENT: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS / INVITATION TO HOST--- IIESRF Fellowships for threatened scholars

Applications due: September 15, 2002

The Institute of International Education (IIE) and the Scholars at Risk Network announce the autumn application cycle for fellowships from IIE's Scholar Rescue Fund, supporting scholars who are threatened by violations of their fundamental human rights including threats caused by displacement, discrimination, censorship, harassment, intimidation, or violence.

Scholar Rescue Fund Fellowships

The Scholar Rescue Fund provides partial fellowships to universities and colleges willing to host temporary visits by scholars threatened in their home country or region. Universities and colleges in any country may serve as hosts. Academics, researchers, and independent scholars from any country, field or discipline may qualify for support. In most cases, a graduate degree will be required. Preference will be given to scholars with a Ph.D. or other highest degree in their field; who have been employed in scholarly activities at a university, college or other institution of higher learning during the last 4 years (excluding any period of suspension, ban or prohibition); and whose selection is likely to benefit the scholarly community in the home and/or host country or region. Applications for support of female scholars and scholars who are members of ethnic, racial, cultural or religious minority groups, or those otherwise underrepresented in their field, are strongly encouraged. Fellowships ranging from three months to one calendar year will be considered. Awards may be renewable for a second term. Up to 20 fellowships will be awarded for the 2002-03 academic year. Although the Fund invites applications from individual scholars, it does not provide awards directly to individuals. Fellowships are awarded to host institutions for support of specific individuals. The final award amount will depend upon available funds, needs of the scholar, costs of living, and duration of the visit. The host institution or other source must contribute additional support (generally in the form of a stipend, salary or other direct funding for the candidate, although in-kind contributions in the form of housing, airfare, maintenance, meal programs, or tuition support will also be considered). For this reason, candidates are strongly encouraged--but not required--to apply jointly with a university or college that has agreed to host the visit and to provide the necessary matching funds. The Fund, through Scholars at Risk, will work to match suitable candidates with institutions interested in hosting a scholar.

Application procedure & deadlines:

For scholars:

Candidates may apply directly or be nominated by a third party. Applications for 2002-03 fellowships should be submitted as soon as possible, but not later than September 15, 2002. Decisions will be announced in November 2002. Limited awards may be granted earlier on an emergency basis. Limited awards for pre-fellowship English language training may also be available, if needed to insure the success of the campus-based assignment. Complete application packages consisting of the following materials may be submitted by fax, e-mail or postal mail. Applications materials must be in English or the language of the proposed host country.

1. application coversheet (attached here and available at http://scholarsatrisk.uchicago.edu/IIESRF.htm);

2. current CV or resume (including degrees and dates obtained, and publications, if any)

3. letter explaining both (i) the situation of threat/risk from which the candidate seeks relief and (ii) the research, writing, teaching or other work the candidate would like to complete during the proposed visit;

4. two reference letters (one professional and one familiar with the candidate's situation of threat/risk);

5. any additional materials that will help to explain the candidate's work or situation (such as articles by or about the candidate); and

6. for joint applications only, a letter from the university or college that has agreed to host the visit and to provide matching funds.

For universities and colleges:

Universities and colleges interested in hosting a threatened scholar are encouraged to identify and to apply jointly with specific candidates. The Fund, through Scholars at Risk, can also provide profiles of threatened scholars currently seeking an institutional host and would welcome expressions of interest from potential host universities.

Applications:

Applications may be submitted by e-mail (preferred), fax or postal mail. Direct applications and inquiries to:

IIE Scholar Rescue Fund Fellowships Attn: Robert Quinn c/o Scholars at Risk Network 5828 South University Ave., Pick 124 Chicago, IL 60637, USA

Telephone: (USA) 1-773-834-4408 Fax: (USA) 1-773-702-9286 E-mail: rquinn@uchicago.edu Web: http://scholarsatrisk.uchicago.edu