The University of Western Ontario has joined an international network of universities and colleges working to promote academic freedom and defend the human rights of scholars worldwide.
Western is the second Canadian institution to join the Scholars at Risk (SAR) program, which is headquartered at New York University and includes prominent American universities like Harvard, Johns-Hopkins, the University of Chicago, and a host of others in nearly two-dozen countries around the world. The only other Canadian member is Massey College at the University of Toronto.
By offering temporary or short-term academic positions, SAR members can help qualified scholars escape restrictive or dangerous conditions in their home countries and allow them to continue their scholarly work unimpeded. In return, these scholars contribute to their host campuses through teaching, research and other activities.
Apart from limited funding through a foundation associated with SAR in New York, funding for salaries, housing and other needs is sourced by the member institution for the period of the scholar’s stay.
With direction from the Office of the Vice-President (Research & International Relations), a steering committee of volunteers from each faculty will review potential SAR candidates on an ongoing basis. It is expected that one or two nominees will be considered at Western annually, depending on the availability of mentors and funding.
Current Faculty representatives include:
* Arts and Humanities: Donna Pennee
* Social Science: Scott Schaffer
* Law: Michael Lynk
* Schulich: David Cechetto
* Science: Shiva Singh
* Education: Rebecca Coulter
* FIMS: Sandra Smeltzer
The committee is currently soliciting Faculty representatives for Music, Health Sciences, Engineering, and Ivey and interested parties are encouraged to contact Vice-President (Research & International Relations) Ted Hewitt directly.
For more about SAR visit: https://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/.