Scholars at Risk (SAR)

In 2022, Dartmouth recommitted to the effort to support scholars throughout the world who face grave threats to their lives, liberty, and well-being. We joined the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR), an organization that supports such scholars. We are pleased to be a member institution and be able to offer a respite and temporary placement to our colleagues around the world who are experiencing persecution in their home countries.

As a SAR network member, we will work with the SAR team to support a scholar at risk by creating a visiting scholar, researcher, or professor position for a period of 6-12 months. In addition to assisting with visa processing, SAR will also provide advisory services for displaced scholars as they restart their lives and their careers in their new location. This includes assistance in helping the scholar find a permanent placement once their visiting placement at Dartmouth concludes.

NOTE :  As of May 2024 Dartmouth has put a hold on all new applications to it's Scholar at Risk program

It will be important to ensure that Dartmouth is a good institutional fit for the scholar and that they will be well integrated into the Dartmouth academic community during their 6–12-month position.

To facilitate this, the following materials should be submitted to Global.Dartmouth@Dartmouth.edu for a scholar at risk candidate:

• Candidate's CV
• One page summary of their scholarship and how it might fit into the work of others at Dartmouth, including possible courses they could teach/co-teach or research programs to which they could contribute, and any relevant details.
• Department chair's indication of support (via a letter or email stating such) including what the department can offer in terms of office space and courses to teach/co-teach, or other support
• Intended duration of stay and current location and visa status of the candidate
• Confirmation that the scholar has received or is applying for SAR Status through the SAR Network

The scholar is encouraged but not required to teach or co-teach a course during their placement. Significant guest lecturing in courses is another way to connect the scholar with faculty colleagues and students. The scholar may also use the time to conduct their research and/or writing projects, ideally with collaboration or consultation with Dartmouth colleagues. Active collaboration helps ensure that the scholar benefits from being a member of our academic community and reduces the risk of feeling isolated.

To support this effort, the Provost's Office has assembled a Scholar at Risk Committee to review applications and make recommendations to the provost. Committee members include:

• Lisa V. Adams, MD, Director of Global Initiatives, Associate Dean for Global Health at Geisel School of Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine
• Victoria Holt, PhD, Norman E. McCulloch Jr. Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding
• Yuliya Komska, PhD, Chair, Comparative Literature Program & Associate Professor of German Studies
• Samuel Levey, PhD, Associate Dean of the Faculty for the Arts and Humanities & Professor of Philosophy
• Ainsley Morse, PhD, Assistant Professor of Russian
• Victoria Somoff, PhD, Associate Professor of Russian
• Barbara Will, PhD, Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives & the A. and R. Newbury Professor of English

Once a scholar is formally offered a visiting position, the respective Dartmouth offices and the SAR Network will work with the scholar to support their visa process, arrange travel and support relocation, and design mutually agreed plans and goals for the scholar's visiting placement at Dartmouth. The Department Chair and all Dartmouth faculty colleagues who will work with the scholar will contribute to drafting the scholar's plan. A formal offer letter will outline expectations and responsibilities for both Dartmouth and the scholar.

Dartmouth's financial support will cover the following expenses:
Initial expenses:

• visa/legal/immigration fees
• travel for the scholar and any immediate family members
• furnishings/supplies (e.g., incidental home furnishings, a computer if needed)

Recurring expenses:

• salary
• health insurance (individual or family policy), other fringe expenses
• rent and utilities

Recognizing that Dartmouth can only offer a temporary placement of up to 12 months, the SAR Network and appropriate Dartmouth colleagues and offices will work with the scholar early on to identify and facilitate the process for permanent placement options. A Dartmouth Scholars at Risk Coordinator based in the Provost's Office will support the scholar with practical matters related to relocation and settling into life in the Upper Valley. This will include additional support for those scholars who are relocating with families and may need assistance with enrolling in public schools, etc.

For additional information about this initiative, please contact Global.Dartmouth@Dartmouth.edu